The Desperate Diva

Looking Back

There are a couple of hours left in 2008 and I'm choosing to spend it in REST....:)  In a few short days, we will leave for Atlanta to set up our booth at AmericasMart Gift Show held each winter. This is where buyers nationwide will come to buy spring and summer products to fill their stores and kick off NEW SEASONS...!!! . BUT....before the year ends, I want to share a few of MY FAVORITE pictures from this past year. So join me as I LOOK BACK and remember some FUN and TENDER moments of 2008......

 

           

                                     

HAPPY NEW YEAR.....TO YOU....my treasured friends and bloggers Wishing YOU a BLESSED NEW YEAR....!!!!! 
Big Warm Hugs,
Cheers,
Dianne

Do You Hear What I Hear

As the day draws closer, I find myself stopping....just to be "Quiet" and "Listen"......to all the beauty that surrounds me of this most sacred day. This year I "Crowned" my trees in honor of our...KING...

From the moment I found these CROWNS....I knew exactaly where they would be used......as the PERFECT tree topper.

The small one below was just the right touch for my Charlie Brown tree in my breakfast room. I poked in some greenery and red berries to add a little filler and placed a  gold star at the top.

The larger CROWN was placed on the tree that sits in the foyer by the living room....This one is silver with boughs of holly and berries.....:)

And here are a few more glimpses of the season around our home....:)
     OK...My girls will be here soon for a few days spent together...Baking and Making...and soaking in all the warm moments of Christmas while we make memories to keep in our hearts forever. THIS is when MY Christmas really starts...The FUN is about to begin.....:)

I'll be back to share a few with you. Until then, draw those you love a little closer and start making YOUR holiday memories while remembering the reason for it all....Our King was born....!!!!
Warmest Holiday Hugs to all,
Dianne

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Yes, the lights are aglow, the last bow has been tied now it's time to soak in the magical holiday spirit and enjoy the next couple of weeks with my family and friends....:)
 Don't you just LOVE sweet charming pieces that make you smile. I LOVE to fill my home with things that make me SMILE...!!! From vintage snowmen and santas to sweet candy lights....!!!
  I use the hutch in my breakfast room to create a seasonal display of collected treasures that make me smile.....I am able to see this room from my kitchen and family room and it's the first room you see as you enter from the side porch. You know, the entrance that most everyone uses.....
 This room is so cozy at night when the lights are dimmed. One of my favorites is the red and white light strand that I placed along the bottom edge. It is SO PRETTY and just adds the perfect warm glow. I wish you could see it all lit up.
 The snowman above is one of my favorites too. I keep him out all winter to keep me smiling until the frosty ground outside starts to thaw....And who could resist the sweetness of these two....Don't they just make you warm inside.....:)
 This year I added a small white tree in this room and filled it with tiny PINK lights and sweet Candy ornaments.

This is another piece that is so much prettier all lit up. I wish I could share that in my pictures. I adore this little wool pig, made by a friend. It's so sweet and charming and looks perfect hanging among the candy treats.

And for my table, I chose to use a scalloped glass pedestal bowl and fill it with ornaments. It sits inside a boxwood wreath and adds a simple but charming touch.

I layered fun lime green and white polka dot napkins with some charming vintage Christmas handkerchiefs to add some softness and flair and poked them in the cute little Santa napkin holders.
I LOVE these little hankies......They add a little petticoat look to the heavier napkin on the bottom. I always layer my napkins. Doing this adds so much charm.....It gives your tables that WOW touch....:)
    OK...there's MORE coming tomorrow. I'm off to finish up some more products for market and can't wait to share those with you in a couple of weeks.

Until then, have a fabulous day and don't forget to look around and enjoy the things that make YOU SMILE.....:)
Biggest Hugs,
Dianne
www.thesugardiva.com

12 Days of Christmas

Each year at this time, I always remember the 12 Days of Christmas.... BECAUSE...it always begins the day after my granddaughter's birthday....:) And this was a VERY SPECIAL one..!!! Yes, our sweet Cassie just turned 13. It's official...!!! She's a teenager. Where HAS time gone. To celeberate I made her a BIG CupCake Cake...:)  And topped it with cute messages that I made.
 The one about "Kissing the Boys" was my favorite....!!!

I also made her a "Birthday Party Crown"....!!! It was my FIRST attempt at making one, and it turned out ok. Not too blingy but cute. Time ran short so I had no time to fuss over it....

We packed it up and loaded it in our car and headed off for the one hour drive to meet them at Cassie's favorite resturant. We arrived early and gave her cake to our server to bring out to the table as a surprise.....:)
 She LOVED it...and after stuffing ourselves at dinner, we decided to carry the cake back to their house and continue celebrating.

We removed all the cute cards and filled it up with 13 candles as she reminded us that no one had sung to her yet...LOL  So...we all sung " Happy Birthday " as she blew out her candles. And it was time to cut that cake...:) Cassie cut and served us...Oh my, such huge pieces.....

We had so much FUN last night with our girls...It was a GOOD DAY....:)
 The cupcake above was left over from Cassie's birthday sleep-over party. Love the crown topper. So adorable....OK.....I'll be back tomorrow and start sharing some of my holiday decorations with you. Until then, it's countdown time to Christmas. Only 11 days left. Enjoy each one as this most glorious holiday arrives to fill our hearts with peace and love.....remembering the Reason for the Season....:)
Holiday Wishes to each of you,
Bigges Hugs,
Dianne
www.thesugardiva.com

 

And the Winner Is....

Congratulations to Joanne Kennedy for choosing the number closer to the winning number #80...!!!  Joanne chose #100 making her the WINNER of my 100th Post Give-A-Way....:) The winning number was selected by my hubby for the year we were married. How sweet..!! Congratulations Joanne. Your goodies will be on their way to you today.
  Little Pearl girl wanted me to tell you that she is not very happy with her Mommy and Daddy right now. She had to go to the vet and have her " Little Girl Surgery " Friday. When she came home she just looked at me and cried and cried.....I felt SO bad....:(
They had her all wrapped up in a little sweater bandage. She could hardly move and just didn't understand what she did to deserve all this.....!!!
   Just look at those eyes....you could tell she was in pain. 
She only wanted to be held and loved and became a REAL lap dog the past couple of days. We took off her bandages and put her  " Desperate HouseDog " tee shirt on her. She was certainly feeling a little desperate...
 She just cuddled up and slept most of the time, not wanting to eat or play.
 I promised her that in a few more days, she will be as good as new and back to being the Silly Girl that she really is.....:)

All SHE wants for Christmas is to run and play. I'm sure Santa will make it up to her and she will soon forget and forgive....:)
Again, Congratulations to Joanne for winning my give-a-way.  And thanks to all who entered. I'll be back soon to share some of my holiday pictures with you. 
Biggest Hugs,
Dianne
www.thesugardiva.com
  
 

100th Post Give-A-Way

It's my 100th post and I want to celebrate...!!!  To show my appreciation to YOU...All my sweet sweet blogging friends, I am having another Give-A-Way and will be sending something special to one lucky person. All you have to do to win is leave a comment on this post....AND....choose one number from One...to...One Thousand....The person who comes closer to the winning number will Win the Prize....!!! And just in time for Christmas.....This is what will be coming to the winnner.

It's one of our Feather Wreaths......in Apple Green.....and it comes with that pretty little ornament you see hanging there.  The best part is that you can also use this wreath as a centerpiece by placing it on your table with a glass globe and candle. Just be creative. And that's not all.....You will also get this adorable holiday linen towel...:)

I'll always remember gettting my blog all set up and then trying to figure out WHAT I was going to do with it....:) I had NO IDEA why I was going to blog in the first place. After seeing a few blogs and how personal they seem to be and since I LOVE sharing and exchanging ideas, well, it seemed that this was a great way to do that. I remember sitting there.....all ready to create my post and thinking....OK...WHAT do I say...LOL  So I started with some pictures of my girls and after that ONE post...I WAS HOOKED....I knew then, that I had a NEW HOBBY.

Little did I realize the amazing  journey I was about to begin.  Words cannot express the joy and personal pleasure I've experienced. The most important of them being....ALL of YOU....!!!  From cherished friendships with so many of you and meeting and getting to know such a talented group of wonderful fabulous gals. I appreciate and LOVE your comments and just want to THANK YOU for your visits.
Ok.....now think of a number between One and One Thousand....and send that to me with your comments. The winning number has already be choosen by ME....GOOD LUCK to each of you. This give-a-way ends at midnight Sunday, December 7, 2008...!!! So get your numbers in NOW.....:)

The winner will be announced on Monday.  I'll be finishing my decorating and will start sharing that with you next week.  So until then.......
 MERRY MERRY YA'LL.......!!!!!!
Big Hugs,
Dianne
www.thesugardiva.com

I'm Late...I'm Late

For a very important date.....December 25th......Yikes....!!!  I'm starting to feel like Alice, however this is NOT Wonderland...And the pressure is mounting. After pulling out boxes and boxes of Christmas decorations LAST WEEK.....this is what I've been looking at and stepping over for more than a week now.

  Everything is such a mess. We have NOT had time to finish our decorating much less go shopping....!!!  We've spent our time catching up on getting our orders shipped and taking care of business...Whew....And it will ALL be finished TODAY....Yea....!!!!
  It always takes so much longer than planned and there's too much to do at once. Look at my poor ugly tree that has just been sitting here crying for....HELP...LOL   I see there's a hole there that still needs to be fluffed....
  And boxes full of ornaments and trim waiting to find their spot to Sparkle and Shine.
And oh my goodness.....our tree skirt has started collecting dust....guess I'll be taking it outside for a shake down...:)
  But not all is lost, we DID finish the outside and the tree in our family room...... and it helped me keep my holiday spirit and brighten my week as I worked and waited to get back to doing the things I LOVE....There's lots of catching up to do, and it WILL get done. Soon I hope. Then I'll be back to share it all with YOU....:)
 In the meantime.....I have a SURPRISE FOR YOU....!!!!   I almost let something VERY IMPORTANT slip past me. My next post will be my 100th Post.....!!!  And I want to CELEBRATE it with YOU.....So....Come back tomorrow for my 100th Post Give-A-Way.....One of you will win a Sweet Treat from me just in time for the holidays...

Until then......
Gotta get busy cleaning and decorating.....don't want to miss Christmas......:)
See you tomorrow,
Biggest Hugs,
Dianne
www.thesugardiva.com

HGTV

I may not have made it on Oprah, but Jennifer, from Pear Street Studios, one of my dear sweet friends made it on HGTV.....!!! Some of you already know Jen. She designed my web site and blogs and is such a talented gal. I was SO EXCITED to watch her tell all about her beautiful Christmas Mantel on HGTVs 25 Great Holiday Ideas show on November 28th. If you missed it, not to worry. It will be aired again several times. Just go here to find the times and dates......:)
Here is a picture of her mantel. I was so busy looking at Jen.....I never noticed her matel....:)  I recorded it so I could go back to see it several times...!!!

She did such a great job and didn't look nervous at all. I'm not sure I could have done that. Congratulations Jen.... You're a STAR....!!!!

Speaking of Stars.....Do you realize just how many of our blogging friends have been in the spotlight this year. In addition to Jen, I'm proud to say that some of my other friends have also been in the news.

Cindy from My Romantic Home blog, was also on HGTV. She also did a fabulous job. AND....Book Blogger and author friend Barbara Jacksier has a NEW BOOK coming out in July called.....Cozy Waterside Cottages. I can't wait to get my autographed copy....:)  And lets not forget Kim at Dear Daisy Cottage, she has written several editorials for Romantic Country Magazine this year.....and what wonderful job she did. I'm keeping ALL my copies. And I HAVE to mention the talented and tireless gal who travels and gets no rest....the editor of Romantic Country Magazine.....Miss Fifi herself.... SHE is always in the spotlight and brings  all those charming and exciting pages to life. I don't know HOW she does it.

So many other blogging friends have been published this year in various magazines and publications. Penny from Lavender Hill Studio with her simply beautiful mosaic....and I'm sure I have missed a few.  It's just so amazing to see so much talent in our blogging circle and I'm so proud to call them all "Friend"...!!!  I am blessed to know these special girls and I want to wish them ALL...Congratulations on jobs well done...:)  I look forward to seeing what the new year will bring about.
Cause you can't keep a GOOD WOMAN DOWN..!!!

OK.....be sure to check out the listings onHGTV and watch Jen make her TV debut. And if you are looking for some web or graphic design, then she's the one to call. She is such a sweet sweet friend and deserves her time in the SPOTLIGHT....:)

I'll be back in a day or so with some goodies to share.
Biggest Hugs,
Dianne
www.thesugardiva.com

It Should Have Been ME...!

Imagine the surprise I got this morning as I sat in front of my computer with my coffee as I do so often, catching up on news, etc. I usually delete MOST of my emails that come each day,  since I don't have time to read them all. This morning was an exception, as I noticed that Oprah had just held her yearly Holiday Show with products picked by her. Instead of showing off her usual expensive gift ideas, the show was about how to find thirfty ideas to save money. This caught my attention so I opened the newsletter to see what she had done. I didn't have to sift through too many ideas to find the one that made me say.....WOW...!!!

There it was.....a Cocoa Cone. On the Oprah Show...!!! Only it wasn't MY Cocoa Cone. Boo Hoo...LOL  
http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20081118_tows_holiday/4

I have an inspirational success story that I need to share. Maybe this coming year I can do just that, with all of you, my faithful friends and bloggers. The idea for the cocoa cone came to me at one of the lowest times of my life. It was truly the answer to prayer, and I must SHARE that story with you soon.
As for now.....well....I have to get back to the Cocoa Cones...:) The orders are stacking up and shipping time is running out. I will see you REAL soon to share some holiday ideas from MY HOME to YOURS.....!!!

Take care, miss you and will be back soon...PROMISE...!!!
Big Hugs,
Dianne