Persimmon Punch

Just a little pop of color to alert you to the new sweaters I've added to my Etsy shop. The flowers on this beauty are from a sweet vintage fabric, and the colors couldn't have matched any better. It was fashion fate...

The Magic of White Paint

It was time to put down the needle and thread and pick up a paint brush. I had a few items that were in dire need of a makeover, and a little white paint is my mini "furniture facelift" magic potion-- makes everything look a little crisper.

Found this table at the thrift store and snatched it up in a second. The hard part about painting in January is finding a place to paint. Our basement is "finished", it's too cold and wet outside, so... go to where it is a little less wet and and little less cold -- the garage. Can definitely see the signs of winter in our garage.

Anyhoo, here is the finished product. Nothing too spectacular, but definitely more my style. And definitely more deserving of a warm and dry place.

Sweet As A Candy

Federica from "Sweet as a Candy" blog is featuring me in her anniversary giveaway! I love this girl's blog -- it is exactly as it sounds -- sweet and charming. Her photos and layouts are always beautiful and I love her style. She features fashion, home decor and just wonderful tidbits about all things beautiful. But the best part is I get to live her wonderful Italian lifestyle vicariously through her blog. Take a peek at her blog -- you will be enchanted.

http://sweet-as-a-candy.blogspot.com/

And thank you Federica for making me look so good :) If you leave a comment on her post about the giveaway, you could win your choice of one of my caroline joy sweaters in my Etsy shop. Ciao!

P.S. I already sold one of the featured sweaters (the white one at the top) to one of Federica's lovely readers in Bologna, Italy! So I will be shopping and embellishing up a storm to make sure the shop is stocked with a wonderful variety of sweaters...

Happy January!

Wow -- already January 18th, and I think this is my second post of the new year. I guess "Up the number of posts on my blog" was not one of my resolutions. But I hope I am turning over a new leaf as of today, and will not be as absent as I have been of late.

January is one of those months that gets a bad rap -- the whole "coming down" off the holiday season, the weather is nothing to cheer about, and it is sometimes a bleak reminder of all that you need to do and "should do" in the upcoming year.

So in the spirit of positive thinking, I've decided to post some of my favorite things about January:

1. Official time for fresh starts and "do overs"

2. My beautiful twins celebrated their 5th birthday today -- Happy Birthday Bridget and Teddy!

3. My amazing mom also celebrates her birthday this month -- just another good reason for a "girl get-together"

4. Project Runway just started up again -- back in NYC, no less. Yea!

5. THE GOLDEN GLOBES! The kickoff of the Hollywood awards season. And while the lovely January Jones (pictured above) did not win for Best Actress in a TV Drama, her show did. Cheers to "Mad Men"!

Bring on the Oscars -- and Spring!

A Fresh Start

I have been MIA for the last couple of weeks. Post holiday blues. So to cure the blues, I made some new sweaters in some springy hues (yellows, greens, raspberry -- even blue). I just added about 10 sweaters to my Etsy shop, and they're really making me anxious for spring. I'm ready for a fresh start...

Merry Christmas

This is the third and final installment of Christmas Rhyme Time with Caroline. I've written many others, but ya gotta know when to say when ;) Besides, I still have to get started on 2009's poem!!!

This poem I wrote in 2005 after I had my twins. They're almost five and sooooooo excited this year for Christmas. I'm not sure we are going to make it through the day...

It’s been a different year,
What, with twins and all.
No more “quick stops” at Target
Or long trips to the mall.

With the holidays approaching
I needed a better plan --
I’m not nearly as mobile
With two more kids in our clan.

I tried on-line shopping
A sort of “cyber St. Nick”
All of my gift shopping done
With just a few easy clicks.

JCrew, Amazon
Toys R Us and more!
All of my favorite dot coms
Delivered right to my door.

The postman, the FedEx guy –
They all brought my things.
Everyday was like Christmas
Each time my doorbell would ring.

The mall at my fingertips.
My shopping done in no time.
But the best part of all:
No crowds and no lines.

It’s amazing what you can accomplish
While your little ones take naps.
Who knows – maybe next year?
I’ll even get it gift wrapped.

Another rhyme...

Time for poem number two. I wrote this one in 2001, after my first son Will was born. He's almost nine now...

CHRISTMAS PAST

Christmas of yesterday

Was quite a different story

A husband and a dog

Were my only two worries.

Office gatherings, parties....

What should I wear?!

Jewelry and makeup

And don't forget hair!

Holiday hangovers

From a nip of the nog

And shopping at Petsmart

To get gifts for the dog.

Up late Christmas Eve

Sleeping in Christmas Day

Presents galore!

The VISA I'll pay.

It sounds pretty good

And certainly not a bore

But I started to feel that

I wanted something more...

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Along came a baby

In March of '01

Who made the holidays more special

And certainly more fun.

Now time is a premium

But what really matters?

More ease or more joy?

I'd much take the latter.

I still have all the baking

And the presents to wrap

But unlike before

I do it all while he naps.

Big gifts may be less

And budgets may be tighter,

But the tree seems much prettier

And the lights shine much brighter.

Traditions are more meaningful

Simple things bring more joy

Christmas is more Merry now

Because of one little boy.

CHRISTMAS FUTURE

The meaning of Christmas?

It has become very clear

And it will only get better

Year after year.