2011 was a good year...ready for 2012!

So I have been a bit nostalgic while wrapping up 2011 in my household and with my business. This past year was filled with some challenges but also with many blessings. I am grateful to all my clients, new and old, who keep my job fun and exciting every day. I am grateful that I ventured out to start this blog mid-year and had the opportunity to connect with so many talented and inspiring people! I just dipped my toe in the blogging world in 2011 but for 2012 I will be diving right in! I was absolutely amazed at how gracious and open the blogging community has been and I am resolving to blog more regularly next year. Here are a few thank you's to the people who opened their space up to me in 2011:

Thank you to Caroline over at SmartyPantsMama for inviting me to contribute here about Moms creating nooks of their own!

Read more here

Thank you to Toujours for inviting me to contribute here:

Thank you to www.SheKnows.com for featuring Homestyling101 and many of our holiday decorating ideas here!

And now that 2012 is staring us in the eye...why not pledge to take it by storm! Come join the SmartMamaLUTION and tackle those New Year's Resolutions one day at a time! I took the pledge and I will be guest posting one of those days, too!

Take the Pledge!

Now I'm off to start ringing in the New Year! See you all in 2012!

Celebrating with inspired tablescapes

I have been very busy (haven't we all!) and I haven't had a chance to blog much about decorating for the upcoming holiday festivities. In fact, I am a bit intimidated by all the beautiful holiday decor I have seen throughout the blogosphere the past few weeks. Since my dining room table is currently covered in Christmas cards, catalogs, contracts and school projects, I had to search the lovely land of Pinterest to find some motivation to create a beautiful tablescape this weekend. Check out some of my faves....

What do you think......Simple and Elegant:

Source: theperfectpalette.com via Joanne on Pinterest

Graphic and bold:

Source: realsimple.com via Joanne on Pinterest

Unexpected Color:

Source: blog.amyatlas.com via Joanne on Pinterest

Earthy and Natural:

Source: thenateshow.com via Joanne on Pinterest

Gorgeous Metallics:

Source: luxeandlillies.blogspot.com via Joanne on Pinterest

Let's see if I can get anything on my table this weekend. Which would you choose?

Toujours Magazine: Holiday Decorating Guest Blog!

Today you can find me over at the Toujours blog....I know you have heard me rave about how stunning the online publication is so you can imagine how tickled I was when Editor-in-Chief, Meghan Beierle-O'Brien asked me to contribute to their blog! I tossed up a few of my holiday decorating tips....some of which I need to implement myself this very weekend! Please hop over to their blog and while you are there, leave a comment, subscribe to the blog, subscribe to the magazine...you know the drill. You surely don't want to miss anything Toujours publishes...it is always a feast for the eyes!

Read my Toujours Contribution HERE!

Check out their holiday issue as well...they just added a beautiful holiday decorating insert....their Design Editor, Emily Ruddo has such great style!

Toujours Holiday Issue HERE!

Toujours Magazine: Holiday Decorating Guest Blog!: Toujours Magazine asked East Coast designer, Joanne Palumbo , to share her favorite decorating tips for the season. Seeing as Joanne styl...

Charitable giving with your holiday gifts

As I slowly work my way through my insanely long Christmas list, buying gifts for my friends and family whom I cherish so much, I am continuously reminded about how blessed I am. Not just because I have such wonderful people in my life but because we are all fortunate enough to be able to indulge ourselves and our children in this massive shopping frenzy.

I also take the time to give to the less fortunate, whether it is adopting a family in need, putting some toys into the Toys for Tots bin or dropping extra change into the Salvation Army Santa collections. The idea of children without something to celebrate just about breaks my heart:( So when I am shopping for the people I love, love to buy those gifts that give back, too.

Salvation Army

Let's face it, I still have to get something for my dear aunts or teachers but when the gift gives in return, it is much more meaningful. Here is a round-up of some of my favorite charitable gifts this season:


I love this Etched Mercury Class Candlepot from Pottery Barn where 50% of purchase price goes to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Pottery Barn

I also love these super cool, graphic mugs from West Elm that benefit Teach America- 50% of purchase price goes to that charity. Isn't this a great teacher gift? Check them out, they also have mugs which donate to other charities...you can find one that suits that special someone!

Teach America Mug from West Elm

You absolutely have to check out this amazing website, Presents for Purpose. This site is filled with wonderful gifts and all purchases benefit a specific charity. It is like one-stop-charitable-shopping!

Here are some of the things I loved at Presents for Purpose:

Loving this bracelet....and you pick the charity it benefits!

Cool Metro Tote- can be personalized and donates to your selected charity!

Or this beauty of a charm bracelet benefiting children's cancer...so special!

I hope this helped your holiday shopping with a little bit of giving back, too! Do you have any charitable gifts you like to buy? Happy Shopping!

BTW- I was not given any money or gifts for publishing this post- I just like to share the things I like with the people I like:)

The amazing holiday issue of Toujours Magazine!

So I have finally come out of my turkey-induced food coma to find the breathtaking holiday edition of the online-magazine Toujours. It is chock full with 140 pages (yes, you read correctly!) of great gift ideas, design inspiration and amazing features (loving the Brooklyn artist feature!)

toujours

Absolutely stunning: you can view it below! Enjoy!

Open publication - Free publishing - More entertaining