Little Christmas, It's a Wrap and A Designer to Know

Christmas Eve Eve, Now Forever Known as Little Christmas

OK, not in the truest sense of the 'religious' meaning, but in the meaning that has to do with the celebration we have with our friends the Harringtons (Thomas and Terese).  You see, we used to have our Christmas gift giving extravaganza on Christmas Eve Eve. Then a few years back, it just wasn't happening so we moved it to January.  Why stress ourselves out? Why not start a new tradition.  So, being the first weekend after the New Year now, our celebration fell right on Little Christmas this year. How perfect.

This year sister Di and brother in law Al swung by too. It's a pretty relaxed night that involves (well half the time anyways) wearing your pj's if you want and eating pizza. What girl doesn't love hosting a pizza night? Hello, Mama Lenas? Can I place an order to be delivered? Why yes you can, thank you very much.

I enjoyed a blueberry Cosmo (made with Stonewall Kitchen Blueberry cocktail syrup- yum).

I also enjoyed opening all my gifts. So did the Harringtons.

This hat was screaming Thomas when I found it. The Harringtons head to Jamaica in March and I know Thomas will be styling this baby and working it to the max.

We also gave him something for before he leaves.

Terese loved the color of her new planter. Gorgeous turquoise. Again, reminded me of their Jamaica trip.

In addition to enjoying the presents and the company, we all had a good laugh watching the 'Honey Badger Don't Care' video on YouTube.  Cracks me up, because honestly, it really does seem like 'the honey badger don't care.

We also enjoyed the pizza (shroom and onion, one of our regular orders).............

....and the salad that Di brought. (Yay Di, thanks for leaving the leftovers that I wrestled you into leaving. I needed a salad fix.)

Oh no, it's over so quickly. Friends saying goodbye and,......

.....apparently solving all the world's problems.

I think that's the end of the Christmas gift giving and receiving. OK, so we milked it out. Why the heck not?

If You Haven't Heard of Sania Pell, Let Me Introduce You

My blogging/etsy friend Cari-Jane from Hybrid Handmade introduced me to Sania Pell via Pinterest.  I am so happy she did. I've featured design by Sania on Mercantile Muse before and I probably will over and over again.  I love her  use of neutral color with pops of brightness, her mix of styles, her combination of old and new, her clean yet warm aesthetic.  I could go on.  Here's some pictures from her website, which you really should visit.

Add to that her homey-craftiness, her flair for styling a photo, and I think she's downright brilliant.

Moonset Meadows

As I got up from my desk this morning to turn the tea kettle off, I spied this and grabbed my coat and camera. I wish I'd seen it sooner. It was so fleeting. The moon saying 'until we meet again'.

The people that travel our road to work and the kids on the school buses must think I'm a nut. I'm always out there, regardless of weather, in my pajamas taking pictures. That's what happens when you see something that pretty in the morning.

Have a Tuesday to remember. We are sure to as we're off to the Bruins game tonight. I do love my Bs. Fingers crossed for a win.

Ta ta for now,

Blog Finds from Gotta Blog It & New Giveaway

Oh, The Places You Will Go

Hi guys. If you subscribe via email and didn't get the Muse yesterday, I'm really not sure why. Perhaps a glitch with blogger?  Anywho, you can access yesterday's post right here.  If you missed Sunday's, that's because I took a day off. That's allowed, right?

To the subject at hand, our last shop and blog link up brought lots of super things our way. I've posted about some of the entries in the Gotta Have It Shop Link Up before and thought it was about time I included some things I've found through the blog link ups we've hosted.  So, here we go..........

An awesome pillow project from the every crafty Laura at DesignShare!

Love this one. She used an old tshirt of her daughters to make this pillow pop.

Check out Laura's tutorial here.

It doesn't have to be Thanksgiving to be thankful. I love Angela's positive attitude at Garden and Sea.

Check out Angela's thankful post here.

How about a cool Upcycled dog bed? On wheels no less?

Check out the scoop at Different Shades of Green.

Thank you to everyone who has been sharing their shop and blog links this time around!

Notice: Time for a New Giveaway

Here's a giveaway with a choice. Mercantile Muse's new giveaway is for

either your own set of customized monogram note cards, as pictured below OR

a 125px X 125px ad on the Mercantile Muse sidebar until the end of the year.

So, if  you have a shop or blog you want to advertise, you can reach new people with an ad on our sidebar, or if you don't have a shop or blog, or would simply prefer the notecards. You can choose these notecards.

Giveaway runs ONLY ONE WEEK through December 6th, 7am est.

Here's what you gotta do:

Here's what you must do to enter:

*Follow this blog (check out the right hand sidebar for ways to follow), and tell us how you're following.

*Visit Bates Mercantile Co. and tell us what your favorite item is.

(if you already 'follow' and 'like' Bates Mercantile Co. & Mercantile Muse, just say so in your comment)

Earn one extra entry for each of the following:

*Like us on Facebook, and let us know you did.

*Spread the word about this Giveaway (receive one extra entry for each way you share this giveaway):

            *Blog about

            *Tweet about

            *Tell your Facebook friends

            *Pin this on Pinterest

 

            *Stumble it on Stumble Upon

            *Tumble on Tumbler

Have a fantastic Tuesday. I'm about to do some raking.