Gratitude Give Away

Three days before Christmas and I'm excited about still being a design blogger going into 2010. There were times this year that I was ready to throw in the towel and put my time and energy into something else....For a while I stopped writing. When I least expected it I'd receive emails that encouraged me...Again, I was excited to get back to my computer and write about one of the activities I absolutely love writing about....design.  I've met wonderful fellow bloggers, clients and a few vendors too. In saying that I'm offering a gratitude give away! Between now and New Year's Day you can enter the give away by leaving a comment telling us what you are grateful for as we enter 20010.... It's that simple.
The winner will be announced on my birthday, January 2nd.  This is a great give away selection.... Pillows from the Thomas Paul pillow collection. There are two 100% cotton pillows with a neutral canvas background and dark chocolate print. These pillows will the perfect accent  on a multiple of solid and patterened sofas.

Thomas Paul Pillow Collection - "Zinnia" & "Nest"

Looks Like Christmas

Here, in northern Virginia it just began to feel like Christmas. I can't remember the last time we had snow during the holiday season from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, but oh boy it's beginning to feel like Christmas today.  The entire east coast has more than enough snow on the ground, malls are closed in some areas and I can't help but get outside. I couldn't take pictures today...too hard to walk in 18" of snow without snow boots. So I'm posting these beautiful holiday exterior  doorways to get excited about....enjoy.

The Nate Berkus Show

For those of us who are huge fans of decorator Nate Berkus, we're about to see more of him. We know Nate from appearing on Oprah for the past six years and now it's paying off for him in a big way. Harpo and Sony Pictures Television will announce next week they are creating a show for Berkus that will probably appear this fall...look for, "The Nate Berkus Show", in September.

Washington White House Christmas

The First  family opened the Christmas season this week with festivities at Presidential Park and the White House. First Lady Michelle Obama hosted a tour of the decorated White House.  More than 80 volunteers from 26 states worked on the decorations.... I wonder how you get on that decorating committee... .If you missed it I'll share some of it with you here....

The annual White House Christmas Tree Delivery... This year an 18 foot Douglas fir is delivered to the Blue Room which is the official location of the White House tree. 

Lions tigers and bears....Oh my!

 

This is a beautiful LED tree....Yep it works Mr. President.

Wednesday was the official lighting of the national Christmas Tree in Presidents Park.

The Douglas Fir decorated in the Blue Room.

 

I absolutely love the decorated Red Room.

A nod to Christmas past Former First Lady Laura Bush...East Room, Christmas 2008

 

Then First Lady Hillary Clinton, Christmas 1993.

  The Reagans in the Blue Room... Christmas mid 1980's

 The Kennedy's, Christmas 1961

 

The last time we had young kids in the White House... Christmas, 1962