Festive Silver - Decor for the Holidays

    RELIGION - Whether you're into Christmas, Hanukkah, Festivus, the Winter Solstice, Yuletide or New Years the "in colour" this year isn't really a colour. Its silver.

    Move over red and green – neutrals, metallics and peacock shades are the hot holiday hues of 2008.

    This year’s decor is taking a cue from the runways. PARA Paints chose a royal-inspired festive palette of plumy purple, flat silver, icy white and cream and, the season’s rising star, cobalt blue.

    For traditionalists, deep blue paired with silver and white is stepping up as a wintry alternative for the now oh-so-passé combo of red and green.

    Metallics, including classics like silver, gold and bronze, are also popular again this season. Metallics in a not-too-shiny, midtone finish are particularly hot this year and mixing metallics isn't as hard as it sounds.

    For the more adventurous host or hostess you may want to embrace the monochromatic trend. A combination of white, cream and silver can evoke a warm but wintry feel, while copper, beige and brown creates a natural-yet-chic atmosphere.

    You don’t have to spend a gazillion dollars

    When money is tight, holiday decorating doesn’t have to mean placing a single white candle on the table. Getting the house ready for the holidays on a budget simply means being a little resourceful, decorating experts say.

    Carefully revamping or creatively using what you already own can create lush looks in lean economic times. Objects found in the home can be used to create a sense of richness and warmth in a family room. The idea is to convey a sense of abundance.

    ie. Find a clear glass bowl and fill it with ornaments of a single bright colour for an eye-catching display.

    Set a budget and follow it closely, reuse your stash of decorations, bring in the great outdoors, and remember that it’s supposed to be fun. Paint or glitter can refresh the decorations pulled out of closets and basements and spray paint can be your best friend.

    Try buying a large roll of wide ribbon and making bows that can be placed on trees, garlands on staircases and gifts. Making your own bows is cheaper than buying new ones.

    You can make wreaths look new by attaching new fake berries, sprigs or pine cones.

    Try using nature to update your decor, for example, by gathering twigs, pine cones, branches and pine boughs and arranging the items in a vase, as though they are part of a flower arrangement. Spray painting the cones festive silver can also work wonders.Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/11/
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Thanksgiving + Self Portrait

    Cooked the first turkey of my life. Results......Best. Turkey. Ever. So juicy you didn't need a knife. The recipe comes from a mixture of my Mother-in-law and my Sister-in-law's turkey recipes. Thank guys:

    20 pound pre-brined Turkey
    Stuffing used:
    Whole yellow onion
    Fuji apple
    5 cloves of fresh garlic
    4 celery stalks.

    The magic is in the butter and white wine used. Cook about 1 cup of cooking white wine with 2 cubes of unsalted butter. This is what I used to inject the turkey with. The cavity of the turkey needs to be patted down with rock salt before the stuffing is added. Cut another 2 cubes of salted butter and place several slices under the turkey skin. Lastly sprinkle garlic salt on the bird after rubbing it down with vegetable oil.
    Cooking time was about 5 hours on 350 degrees. We basted it every hour. It was delicious!!


    After my Tryptophan induced nap I took these of myself while laying on the couch. This is something, I rarely see. A picture of myself.

    I love this time of year. Food, friends and festivites till the new year!! Happy Holiday's everyone.
    Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/11/
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Tiny Books in progress

Teenagers cutting back on Fashion

    FASHION - American teenagers are being forced to cutback on fashion this holiday shopping season. Why? Because their parents are cutting back on spending, and this means allowances are being cut, parents are reining in on their children's credit cards and teens are being told to GET A JOB whenever they ask their parents for more money.

    All of this is the result of the current recession and credit crisis in the United States.

    THE GOOD NEWS: The holiday sales this season are EXTREME. All the companies are DESPERATE for cash, afraid of going bankrupt and are offering 70% sales or better. This means for those of us who do have spending money we can stretch our budget a bit farther and buy more clothes (or more quality) than we normally do.Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/11/
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

    I'll be taking a short hiatus this week, returning to South Dakota to spend Turkey Day with my sis and our 88-year-old Mom. I'll be back next week with a fresh batch of B/G art. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/11/
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The other one

Danielle & Michael :: Wedding


    Had the pleasure of shooting with a good photographer friend mine in Florida over the weekend.
    Tony Schreiber was an extremely gracious host along with his wife Maggie, daughter Alex & son Max. (Don't tell Alex but I used her toothbrush and she'll probably get cooties now.) Good times man. Had a blast taring you up on Rock Band, (not really, he smoked me). Thanks again, Tony.

    The flight was SOOOOOOO long. And if flying across the U.S. isn't enough, I had a layover in N. Carolina. When I finally got to Florida, (first time by the way) the weather was just great. I have to say though that the humidity there was crazy. NOTHING like anywhere I've been. Best way to describe it is it felt like I was in the shower the whole time I was there.

    The Wedding was a very grand affair with no details missed. It took place of a very nice part of North Miami called Williams Island. The wedding party was HUGE, (22 altogether not including the bride and groom) and everyone looked like they had walked out of magazines. Very classy folks. This wedding even had a 10 piece Latin band. I'm gonna guess they were Cuban. So good! Did a montage just for them. This wedding was a real blast, and I hope it's not my last time in Florida either(wink, wink). Enjoy the shots!

    ~Sam


















    Little bonus montage of Tony the Tiger. He's is a beast at rock band! Look at his fancy shirt, ppffff. Thay don't make clothes like that for guys my size :(Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/11/
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Kate & Mark at Our Lady's and Englemere

    I'm a little bit behind on my wedding updates as you'll see from this late September gorgeous warm sunshine bathed wedding. A far cry from our cold dark Novembers. Kate & Mark were married in West Byfleet in Our Lady's Church, a lovely church with a huge stained glass window and skylights to let in lots of natural light, always a bonus. After the service we all set off to Englemere in Ascot, the bride and groom leading the way in a soft top bug followed by a campervan full of bridesmaids and a stretch bug full of groomsmen.

    Once at the reception everyone enjoyed the lovely grounds and sunshine and the exclusive use of the building too. Fun games were out for the kids and maybe the odd grown up for good measure and the party went on till the small hours.

    One of Kate's bridesmaids has her make up done
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    Their son looking very dapper
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    All hands
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    The beautiful Kate awaits
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    The modern church
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    Bridal entrance
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    The ring exchange
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    About to leave in the soft top bug
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    The White House at Englemere complete with bride and groom
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    A kiss bathed in golden light
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    Fun in the gardens
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    The room set up
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    What's he seen?
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    Ah yes, the great bug extravanganza
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    Two of my favourite natural captures of Kate
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    Did he really just say that?
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    I think you'll find he did
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    Shocking
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    I love this shot of these two, so beautiful
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    First Dance
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    As they lit the pathway with lanterns we just had to end with a night shot
    PhotobucketSource URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/11/
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