I'm such a SPAZ!

Courtesy of dictionary.com
spaz or spazz (spāz)
n. pl. spazz·es

One who is considered clumsy or inept.

Yep...that would be me. Clumsy and inept. Well at least for today. I started yesterday with "decking the halls with boughs of holly" and "Fa-la-la'ing". Needless to say I only got half done before I pooped out and went to bed. (That is me there on the left. I always wear a long black gown and lose 60 pounds before I start my holiday decorating, don't you?)

This morning I finished, but while moving my love seat out of the way so that I could get to the back of the tree (which faces the street) to decorate I kinda broke stubbed hurt my finger. The wedding ring finger...the one with no wedding ring. :0(

It is pretty sore and a little bit swollen and really hurts when I try to type...so I'm not going to. I'm going to just go watch Lifetime channel and let my finger rest for a night because this is going to be a busy week. I have lots to share.

Everyone have a great Monday and a great week and check back later to see some pictures of me at my company Christmas party, pictures of my Christmas Tree and other decor, maybe some baking pic? Who knows, could be.

Cloche Party with Marty!!

I've known about this party for weeks now, but as usual I've waited until the last minute to get all my ducks in a row and get this post done. I guess what I should say is all my partridges in a row...you'll see why in a minute.

First, props to Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for hosting this grand affair.

Everyone grab a glass of wine or a a hot cider and just wander through the different blogs and get some ideas on Christmas decor. Actually hang on and I'll make us all a cup of cinnamon tea.

Ok, back. Careful now, this tea is hot. So let me show you my humble little cloche decor and then you can head over to Marty's and see some of her very professional cloches.

First up is my partridge. I found this little bird at one of my favorite thrift stores, The American Cancer Society Discovery Store. I just loved it's plumpness and the colors. I didn't even know it was a partridge until I was paying and a lady standing next to the register said, "Oh, you bought the Partridge from the Partridge in a Pear Tree?"

I don't have a pear tree, so I've place him in a lovely wrought iron birdcage in a nest of pine and pine cones.

I had him on my coffee table in the living room, but the lighting wasn't too great there, so I moved him into my kitchen just for this photo session. The light still isn't great, but trust me it's much better than it was in the living room.

Since I have a Partridge, but no pear tree...I found the next best thing; a pear! A golden pear. I still haven't take out any of my Christmas decorations. I so wanted to have lots of sparkly things surrounding the pear, but it's so beautiful in it's simplicity that I'm sure it's ok to display as is.

My cloche by the way is an upside down hurricane lamp. I did the same thing for the previous cloche party, which you can see here. This hurricane lamp has come in very handy!

And I thought maybe the Partridge and the Pear might look nice together. What do you think?

My other little treasure I want to share is a Mexican Santa figure which I found at my local Goodwill. My sister was with me and we found the Mexican Santa, an Irish Santa, a Russian Santa, a Swedish Santa and an African Santa. Can't wait to show you those. But for today's cloche party...just the Mexican Santa.

I tried displaying him a variety of ways, he was so easy to work with. A lovely model, but then again he is Santa, he's used to having photo sessions.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

And here's the backside. You can really tell he's a Mexican Santa by his Big Sombrero and his Guitar.

Twas the night before Christmas
and all through the casa,
Not a creature was stirring
-- Caramba! Que pasa?

Los ninos were tucked
away in their camas,
Some in long underwear,
some in pijamas,

While hanging the stockings
with mucho cuidado
In hopes that old Santa
would feel obligado

To bring all children,
both buenos and malos,
A nice batch of dulces
and other regalos.

Outside in the yard
there arose such a grito
That I jumped to my feet
like a fightened cabrito.

I ran to the window
and looked out afuera,
And who in the world
do you think that it era?

Saint Nick in a sleigh
and a big red sombrero
Came dashing along
like a crazy bombero.

And pulling his sleigh
instead of venados
Were eight little burros
approaching volados.

I watched as they came
and this quaint little hombre
Was shouting and whistling
and calling by nombre:

"Ay Pancho, ay Pepe,
ay Cuco, ay Beto,
Ay Chato, ay Chopo,
Macuco, y Nieto!"

Then standing erect
with his hands on his pecho
He flew to the top
of our very own techo.

With his round little belly
like a bowl of jalea,
He struggled to squeeze
down our old chiminea,

Then huffing and puffing
at last in our sala,
With soot smeared
all over his red suit de gala,

He filled all the stockings
with lovely regalos -
For none of the ninos
had been very malos.

Then chuckling aloud,
seeming very contento,
He turned like a flash
and was gone like the viento.

And I heard him exclaim,
and this is verdad,
Merry Christmas to
all, and Feliz Navidad!

Tablescape Under Construction or I'm so not ready!

I was hoping to have my Tablescape complete for today's Tablescape Thursday hosted by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch, but unfortunately my lunch hour was too rushed for me to pick up the fabric I needed for my flatware display and then I had dinner with my dad and my sister after work and now it's pretty late.

So I'm going to do an Under Construction Tablescape and share my post from yesterday. I've gotten part of the tablescape done, but there are still quite a few things I need and hopefully I can shop for the items I need this weekend and do a complete tablescape post next week.

Once you're done checking out my tablescape, be sure to click on the button below and visit all the other beautiful tablescapes being shared.

Tablescape from Iwanna Wednesday

I got lucky yesterday after work. I stopped by Goodwill on the way home from work to see if I could find some plates to display in the plate holder in my kitchen that were Holidayish and I found these. Here's the set of them in the plate holder. (Pardon my pictures, it's nighttime and the lighting isn't all that great in the kitchen)

Then here they are individually. There's a large and small plate that each match and then a middle size Snowman Plate.

I really loved them when I saw them and I took it as a sign that they were meant for me because they match the masthead/banner on my blog right? Iwanna'd them right then and there.

And the price was right. The large plates came in a set of eight with the smaller plates for $7.94.

The middle size Snowman plate's were a set of eight for $3.94. Not bad right? The plates are made by Sakura and these are the 1999 Snowman Version by Debbie Mumm.

There are four different designs of the middle size Snowman plate which I'll do a separate post on later...hopefully a tablescape.

I wanted to do a tablescape for Tablescape Thursday since I've never done one. I set the dishes up tonight but you know what I don't have that Iwanna?

A lot of stuff. I don't have any tablecloths or linens. I don't have any flatware/silverware. I don't have any red, green or blue goblets. I don't have any pretty salt and pepper shakers. I don't have any small cute little sparkly knicky-knacks to display. So what Iwanna today is all of the above. Let me show you.

First, I found these salt and and pepper shakers which match the plates and they're a fun design like the plates.



But then I saw these and Iwanna them too. Aren't they adorable? They're Christmas lights!



If I had found a more elegant and traditional set of dishes at Goodwill then maybe I would have used some salt and pepper shakers more like these.



Iwanna these green ones, but I think it's just because green is my favorite color, although these are truly gorgeous!



So on to the flatware/silverware. I have a couple of sets, but just silverware, nothing fancy or cute and certainly nothing Christmassy. But Iwanna any one of the below!

This one is by Spode and it has the prettiest little Christmas Trees on the handles.


These next ones would match the playfulness of my new dishes, but still are elegant enough that I could use them with a traditional set of dishes for Christmas and even for Valentine's day right? Iwanna these for sure!



Since I don't see myself buying flatware in the near future and it's really hard to find a set at Goodwill at the drop of a hat, I really loved this idea because you can just use your everyday silverware but look at how it's displayed!

Iwanna get some ribbon and netting tomorrow and try to do this. I think it would look even pretty with silk instead of the netting, don't you? And you could use this idea for tons of different holidays, pink for Valentines Day. Bright Green for St. Patricks Day. Orange for Halloween or Thanksgiving. Cute idea huh?



I really didn't have a lot of luck finding a tablecloth Iwanna'd, but I know that I can always just find the fabric Iwanna and have my mom make it for me. But I did like this one.


And now for the glasses. I do have some of those Christmas Holly glasses that I think everyone in the world has and those will do for now, but Iwanna these glasses since I can Iwanna anything in the world on Iwanna Wednesday.

These for fun with my fun new Snowman plates.

These for more elegant, traditional dishes...dishes that I don't have but Iwanna but that's a whole different post :-)



Ok...and now the Christmas Knicky-Knacks. Since my dishes are playful I thought that these peppermint tealights would be pretty scattered around don't you think? Don't you Iwanna some of these yourself?



And something that I have always Iwanna'd is a moving Model Train set under the Christmas Tree, but hey...why not set it up in the middle of the table so it winds through the center and everyone can enjoy it while they eat?

I think that's why no one hires me to design tablescapes :-) I'm a little off the norm in that department. But don't you think this would be a great idea?



Both these trains are adorable. Last year I bought a really miniature set at the Dollar Store. Once the track is put together it measures about as round as a large cake plate. All my nieces and nephews really liked it...not to mention my 23 year old son :-)



I don't know if I will be able to pull this all together for Tablescape Thursday because I'm also still trying to finish up my cloches for the Cloche party on Friday, see the sidebar for details. That's why this blog is called Titere con Bonete because I truly don't' want to leave any puppet with a hat on because Iwanna be a part of and take a part in everything! Happy Wednesday ya'll!

Iwanna Wednesday - Tablescape Supplies

I got lucky yesterday after work. I stopped by Goodwill on the way home from work to see if I could find some plates to display in the plate holder in my kitchen that were Holidayish and I found these. Here's the set of them in the plate holder. (Pardon my pictures, it's nighttime and the lighting isn't all that great in the kitchen)

Then here they are individually. There's a large and small plate that each match and then a middle size Snowman Plate.

I really loved them when I saw them and I took it as a sign that they were meant for me because they match the masthead/banner on my blog right? Iwanna'd them right then and there.

And the price was right. The large plates came in a set of eight with the smaller plates for $7.94.

The middle size Snowman plate's were a set of eight for $3.94. Not bad right? The plates are made by Sakura and these are the 1999 Snowman Version by Debbie Mumm.

There are four different designs of the middle size Snowman plate which I'll do a separate post on later...hopefully a tablescape.

I wanted to do a tablescape for Tablescape Thursday since I've never done one. I set the dishes up tonight but you know what I don't have that Iwanna?

A lot of stuff. I don't have any tablecloths or linens. I don't have any flatware/silverware. I don't have any red, green or blue goblets. I don't have any pretty salt and pepper shakers. I don't have any small cute little sparkly knicky-knacks to display. So what Iwanna today is all of the above. Let me show you.

First, I found these salt and and pepper shakers which match the plates and they're a fun design like the plates.



But then I saw these and Iwanna them too. Aren't they adorable? They're Christmas lights!



If I had found a more elegant and traditional set of dishes at Goodwill then maybe I would have used some salt and pepper shakers more like these.



Iwanna these green ones, but I think it's just because green is my favorite color, although these are truly gorgeous!



So on to the flatware/silverware. I have a couple of sets, but just silverware, nothing fancy or cute and certainly nothing Christmassy. But Iwanna any one of the below!

This one is by Spode and it has the prettiest little Christmas Trees on the handles.


These next ones would match the playfulness of my new dishes, but still are elegant enough that I could use them with a traditional set of dishes for Christmas and even for Valentine's day right? Iwanna these for sure!



Since I don't see myself buying flatware in the near future and it's really hard to find a set at Goodwill at the drop of a hat, I really loved this idea because you can just use your everyday silverware but look at how it's displayed!

Iwanna get some ribbon and netting tomorrow and try to do this. I think it would look even pretty with silk instead of the netting, don't you? And you could use this idea for tons of different holidays, pink for Valentines Day. Bright Green for St. Patricks Day. Orange for Halloween or Thanksgiving. Cute idea huh?



I really didn't have a lot of luck finding a tablecloth Iwanna'd, but I know that I can always just find the fabric Iwanna and have my mom make it for me. But I did like this one.


And now for the glasses. I do have some of those Christmas Holly glasses that I think everyone in the world has and those will do for now, but Iwanna these glasses since I can Iwanna anything in the world on Iwanna Wednesday.

These for fun with my fun new Snowman plates.

These for more elegant, traditional dishes...dishes that I don't have but Iwanna but that's a whole different post :-)



Ok...and now the Christmas Knicky-Knacks. Since my dishes are playful I thought that these peppermint tealights would be pretty scattered around don't you think? Don't you Iwanna some of these yourself?



And something that I have always Iwanna'd is a moving Model Train set under the Christmas Tree, but hey...why not set it up in the middle of the table so it winds through the center and everyone can enjoy it while they eat?

I think that's why no one hires me to design tablescapes :-) I'm a little off the norm in that department. But don't you think this would be a great idea?



Both these trains are adorable. Last year I bought a really miniature set at the Dollar Store. Once the track is put together it measures about as round as a large cake plate. All my nieces and nephews really liked it...not to mention my 23 year old son :-)



I don't know if I will be able to pull this all together for Tablescape Thursday because I'm also still trying to finish up my cloches for the Cloche party on Friday, see the sidebar for details. That's why this blog is called Titere con Bonete because I truly don't' want to leave any puppet with a hat on because Iwanna be a part of and take a part in everything! Happy Wednesday ya'll!