Baby, it's cold outside!

Talk about the shivers!!! On my way home, I passed by this house located in Middleburg, Virginia.  The large icicle over the doorway was about 5 feet long- absolutely horrifying! I was already freezing cold and this just made me want to get home quickly and park myself next to the fireplace for the evening. We still have plenty of snow on the ground and with the latest weather forecast, it seems few will be escaping Mother Nature's icy grip this year. Brrrrr. 

I certainly hope there is another way into this house!?

Tuesday Tip

Got the after holiday doldrums? Me too.  It doesn't matter if it was a hectic over scheduled (many years) or a blissfully relaxing (this year) holiday season, I am always disappointed to see the holiday season come to an end. The best way I have found to enjoy January, the least exciting month to me anyway, is make a few simple changes to give the house a fresh look.



Winter white tulips in an alabaster vase.


My very first Tuesday Tip was about flowers and I found gorgeous purple tulips for that post. So for this year's first Tuesday Tip, I thought why not start there. After enjoying the Christmas tree and lots of fresh greens during the holidays,  flowers are a great way to transition and still have something pretty to look at around the house. Winter white tulips are available for another week or so and if you find white bland, there are plenty of colors available!



A dramatic change from holiday decor, but it still looks like winter.



Buy some new dish towels in fresh colors or fun patterns. I purchased these in the fall and now seems like the perfect time to give them a work out! This definitely falls into the category of LBE. Those of you who are using ugly old dishtowels...treat your hands and your dishes to something nice!



Brown and aqua...shocking choice!

  
Download new music to your ipod. I know this may seem unnecessary, but after a month of listening to wonderful Christmas music, my "old" songs suddenly seem stale. What are you listening to now?

I don't think anything says New Year like new calenders! One for the mud room and one for my desk.



January 2011...anything is possible!


I don't make resolutions, instead I am trying to commit to trying something new each week! Some of the things on my list include: recipes, nail polish, music and dog walking routes.



Someone put this in my stocking?! Love the name.


Tiny Tip:  In my first TT post, bloggy friend Holly of  Things That Inspire told me if you put a penny in your container, the copper will keep the tulips from drooping too much. I tried it and it worked! Over Christmas I had a few extra stems of white tulips I didn't know what to do with so I put 3 each in water with cedar clippings...it had the same effect and it seemed like they stayed fresh longer!  A happy accident!!! 

Nature's Perfect Ornaments!

I love pinecones! I have never had a Christmas or gone through winter without them. I think they truly are the most perfect of all holiday decorations.  Place them in an interesting bowl as a centerpiece on a dining or coffee table, pile them in a planter with birch branches for a natural look, or add greens and shiny baubles for a festive and even elegant twist. No matter what your style is, they always work with any budget and look beautiful!




Mixed with cedar, shiny red finials and garland...

 


on the living room mantle.

Tiny specimans with an acorn ornament...

 


in the powder room.

 



On the hearth in a old copper planter....

showing off a great leg on a favorite container! 

 And of course I think these are perfect too!

Enough is Enough!

Just in case you haven't heard...we have endured record setting snowfalls in our area!

The totals:
                 Washington, D.C. 59 inches
                  Virginia 72 inches
                  Maryland 75 inches

The weather forcast next week: SNOW!!!

You know things are bad when you see this...

My sister sent this fantastic image to me.  Please enjoy it in the humorous way it is intended.  From a design perspective, I really appreciate the high level of detailed styling that went into this photo shoot!!!