Monday, December 20, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Carolyn Braden says "Winter Wonderland In My Home!"
We are about to have a Winter Wonderland themed party in our home. Even though our house is still under construction, we've managed to make it look very "winter-ish" and pretty!
Here are some ideas we have for creating a winter wonderland in your home:
Buy sparkling snowflake ornaments (we found ours at Wal-Mart....a big box for $4.00) and hang them from your ceiling. We hung them at different lengths all around the first floor of our home.
Buy plastic vintage light up characters and place them around your home. We searched thrift stores, E-Bay, and peddler's malls and found quite a few. They are a kitschy and nostalgic way to turn your home into the North Pole. We even found a big plastic North Pole light up sign.
Place "snow" in corners of your home. We purchased cotton filler from a craft store to place around the home and around the light up characters.
Cover some furniture with white blankets or sheets.
Spray paint some twigs and branches white and make a winter bouquet that doesn't need water. I filled a vase with gold and silver ball ornaments and placed some gold, silver, and white branches. My grandmother gave me some silver berry-looking bouquet filler and I combined them all together and placed them in the vase. I tied little silver bows on some branches, put a sparkly "Joy" sign beside the vase and sprinkled a few ornaments outside the vase and sign. I placed it on the mantle.
Buy a vintage tinsel tree. Hang vintage ornaments on it. We placed a color wheel near by itto shine and make it dazzle.
For Winter Wonderland party favors:
I bought gum packs that had snowflakes on them. I created labels to place on the packs that had the party date and a "Thanks for coming to our Winter Wonderland".
I also plan to dip one half of an Oreo cookie into chocolate. While the chocolate cools, I will sprinkle snowflake shaped sprinkles on it. I will place them into clear plastic bags and tie them with ribbons.
Party food:
I love Chick-fil-A! We are going to purchase a tray of nuggets. If you pre-order, you can get a tray that will feed over 15 people for $40.00. It comes with 3 tubs of dipping sauces.
Chips Con-Queso. (Make your own Queso! Melt Velveeta cheese and mix in a jar of salsa. Easy!!)
Cheese cubes. Every party I have, the cheese cubes disappear first! I've stocked up on these this time.
Ruffles and dip. This always vanishes too! I make dip using 16 oz. of sour cream and a packet of Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning.
We will also have cupcakes to celebrate some of my friends birthdays. I purchased sugar snowflake cupcake toppers to place on the top of every cupcake. (Wilton's makes these).
We are serving 3 types of wine, several labels of beer, soft drinks, and water. I am also making a drink called Ice Queen. It's just champagne, white grape juice, and ginger ale.
Party ice-breakers:
I am renting microphone stands to use for our Karaoke part of the party. On our Playstation 3, I've downloaded Holiday music to sing along to. I have every SingStar game and I've also downloaded a few other party favorite hits. My friends love Karaoke!
We love to dance. I purchased The Michael Jackson Experience for Wii. I downloaded the Michael Jackson videos that are on the game to play at the beginning of the party. When we play the dance game, everyone will be familiar with the songs and see how well the games graphics match the videos. I love this Wii game! We also have Just Dance 1 and 2 if we want a Jackson break. I'm not sure my friends will need a break from MJ though. :)
I purchased Singstar Dance for the Playstation 3 Move. It's much harder than Just Dance for Wii, but it's really fun. It films you while you dance or sing and you can play it back for all to laugh at! You can have singers and backup dancers for this game. Many of the dances match the music videos that play. Soulja Boy's Crank that is hilarious! It also has N Sync's Bye, Bye, Bye. Trying to do that choreography will wear you out!
For the boys, we have Sports Champions for the Playstation 3 Move. It has sword fighting, table tennis, archery, and more! Although it's not necessary to have 2 controllers, I recommend having 2 if you plan on being able to play against friends and family members vs. the game system.
Party games:
Frozen T-Shirt. Whoever can get their frozen shirt unthawed and put it on first wins a prize! (Wet the shirts and place in plastic bags and freeze the night before.) Guests can unthaw the shirt any way they can think up.
Cold Snowman. It's hot potato using a stuffed snowman.
Cold Feet. How many socks can you put on one foot in 30 seconds?
Snowball throw. How many crumpled up balls of white paper can you toss in a bucket in 30 seconds?
Here are some ideas we have for creating a winter wonderland in your home:
Buy sparkling snowflake ornaments (we found ours at Wal-Mart....a big box for $4.00) and hang them from your ceiling. We hung them at different lengths all around the first floor of our home.
Buy plastic vintage light up characters and place them around your home. We searched thrift stores, E-Bay, and peddler's malls and found quite a few. They are a kitschy and nostalgic way to turn your home into the North Pole. We even found a big plastic North Pole light up sign.
Place "snow" in corners of your home. We purchased cotton filler from a craft store to place around the home and around the light up characters.
Cover some furniture with white blankets or sheets.
Spray paint some twigs and branches white and make a winter bouquet that doesn't need water. I filled a vase with gold and silver ball ornaments and placed some gold, silver, and white branches. My grandmother gave me some silver berry-looking bouquet filler and I combined them all together and placed them in the vase. I tied little silver bows on some branches, put a sparkly "Joy" sign beside the vase and sprinkled a few ornaments outside the vase and sign. I placed it on the mantle.
Buy a vintage tinsel tree. Hang vintage ornaments on it. We placed a color wheel near by itto shine and make it dazzle.
For Winter Wonderland party favors:
I bought gum packs that had snowflakes on them. I created labels to place on the packs that had the party date and a "Thanks for coming to our Winter Wonderland".
I also plan to dip one half of an Oreo cookie into chocolate. While the chocolate cools, I will sprinkle snowflake shaped sprinkles on it. I will place them into clear plastic bags and tie them with ribbons.
Party food:
I love Chick-fil-A! We are going to purchase a tray of nuggets. If you pre-order, you can get a tray that will feed over 15 people for $40.00. It comes with 3 tubs of dipping sauces.
Chips Con-Queso. (Make your own Queso! Melt Velveeta cheese and mix in a jar of salsa. Easy!!)
Cheese cubes. Every party I have, the cheese cubes disappear first! I've stocked up on these this time.
Ruffles and dip. This always vanishes too! I make dip using 16 oz. of sour cream and a packet of Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning.
We will also have cupcakes to celebrate some of my friends birthdays. I purchased sugar snowflake cupcake toppers to place on the top of every cupcake. (Wilton's makes these).
We are serving 3 types of wine, several labels of beer, soft drinks, and water. I am also making a drink called Ice Queen. It's just champagne, white grape juice, and ginger ale.
Party ice-breakers:
I am renting microphone stands to use for our Karaoke part of the party. On our Playstation 3, I've downloaded Holiday music to sing along to. I have every SingStar game and I've also downloaded a few other party favorite hits. My friends love Karaoke!
We love to dance. I purchased The Michael Jackson Experience for Wii. I downloaded the Michael Jackson videos that are on the game to play at the beginning of the party. When we play the dance game, everyone will be familiar with the songs and see how well the games graphics match the videos. I love this Wii game! We also have Just Dance 1 and 2 if we want a Jackson break. I'm not sure my friends will need a break from MJ though. :)
I purchased Singstar Dance for the Playstation 3 Move. It's much harder than Just Dance for Wii, but it's really fun. It films you while you dance or sing and you can play it back for all to laugh at! You can have singers and backup dancers for this game. Many of the dances match the music videos that play. Soulja Boy's Crank that is hilarious! It also has N Sync's Bye, Bye, Bye. Trying to do that choreography will wear you out!
For the boys, we have Sports Champions for the Playstation 3 Move. It has sword fighting, table tennis, archery, and more! Although it's not necessary to have 2 controllers, I recommend having 2 if you plan on being able to play against friends and family members vs. the game system.
Party games:
Frozen T-Shirt. Whoever can get their frozen shirt unthawed and put it on first wins a prize! (Wet the shirts and place in plastic bags and freeze the night before.) Guests can unthaw the shirt any way they can think up.
Cold Snowman. It's hot potato using a stuffed snowman.
Cold Feet. How many socks can you put on one foot in 30 seconds?
Snowball throw. How many crumpled up balls of white paper can you toss in a bucket in 30 seconds?
Friday, October 29, 2010
Carolyn and Tommy Braden's Attic is Finished!
We've worked and worked and now it is complete. The floors turned out so beautiful! We are just about finished with the front porch and are also working on the foyer. The kitchen is after that. Moving right along.......
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Tommy's Taking Out The Closet!
is having a hard time with it as it was built in this order: drywall,
wood paneling, small wooden boards (why were those there?), then the
framing. It was built like a fortress!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Carolyn Braden's Working On the Attic!
attic stairs. It was there when we moved in and I can't stand to look
at it anymore! I'm also going to paint over the ugly neon yellow
that's currently on the walls. Since I still have a few weeks off, I
thought I'd put my time to good use. I'm also going to paint the
other bedroom in the attic as well. We painted the other one over a
year ago and now it's time to finish the whole space up! We're also
going to put new carpet on the stairs and the landing at the top of
the stairs. The carpet in the bedrooms isn't too bad so we'll wait on
replacing that for a while. T is working on the front porch and
foyer. He's also ripping the closet out if our bedroom since our walk
in is finished. The closet in our room was added in and takes up too
much space. Movin' along!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Carolyn Braden says "Stripping the Front Door.....Can't Wait Until I am Finished!"
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Carolyn Braden says "Our finished downstairs porch!"
upstairs porch is in "Key West" colors, and our downstairs is "Modern
Tropics" with accents of lime green. These colors and themes were all
designed by me, and my husband, Tommy, did all the construction and
handiwork. Both porches were put together using many things we
already had. We painted some things in different colors to freshen
them up. We had the reed fencing we put up on the downstairs porch
leftover from fencing our backyard a while ago. :).
Now....back to the inside of the house. Next up, mudding and sanding
the foyer and I'll be stripping the front door. By this fall, we
should be ready to put new columns on the front porch!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Today's the last day to vote for Carolyn Braden to win Oprah's Win Your OWN Show Contest!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
View and vote soon for Carolyn Braden's OWN Contest! July 3rd is the last day!
The deadline to view and vote for Carolyn Braden's audition is this Saturday, July 3rd!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Carolyn Braden says "Our downstairs porch is under construction!"
Our downstairs porch is under construction. It will be finished by Saturday. Renovating a porch is so easy and quick! It makes such a difference too! Photos will be posted when it is complete!
View and Vote for Carolyn Braden's Audtion to Win Oprah's Win Your OWN Show Contest!
This Saturday, July 3rd is the last day to vote for me to win Oprah's Win Your OWN Show Contest!
Carry Me Home, A book on Oprah's Book Club list.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Vote for Carolyn's OWN Audition!
http://myown.oprah.com/audition/index.html?request=video_details&response_id=5342&promo_id=1
Exactly only one more week left to vote! Thanks for your help! Yep,
I'm still way behind, but I'd still like you to vote for me. You just
never know......... :)
Exactly only one more week left to vote! Thanks for your help! Yep,
I'm still way behind, but I'd still like you to vote for me. You just
never know......... :)
Carolyn Braden
Sent from my iPhone
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Carolyn Braden says "My Hallmark card is in stores now!"
My Hallmark card is for sale on-line and is now in stores! Go to a
Walgreen's or a Hallmark store, go to the birthday cards section and
look for a card in black and white with a white dog with glasses on
the front. My name and city and state is on the card divider above my
cards. My picture and bio is on the back of the cards. The card is
in the "anyone" category. I saw it in a Walgreen's during a recent
trip to Florida, so I know it's out there nationwide!
Sent from my iPhone
Walgreen's or a Hallmark store, go to the birthday cards section and
look for a card in black and white with a white dog with glasses on
the front. My name and city and state is on the card divider above my
cards. My picture and bio is on the back of the cards. The card is
in the "anyone" category. I saw it in a Walgreen's during a recent
trip to Florida, so I know it's out there nationwide!
Sent from my iPhone
Carolyn's Audition: View and vote for her to win Oprah's win your OWN show contest!
http://myown.oprah.com/audition/index.html?request=video_details&response_id=5342&promo_id=1
Only about one week left to view and vote for me. If you have voted
for me, thank you so much! Yes, I am way behind many other people in
my number of views and votes, but nontheless, I will keep trying. I
have so many creative ideas and know I must share them with the
world. No matter if I win this contest or not, trying still puts me
out there. I always remember this saying: "You can't win if you don't
try". That is such a true statement. Remember that . :)
Sent from my iPhone
Monday, June 21, 2010
View and vote for Carolyn Braden to win Oprah's win your OWN show contest!
http://myown.oprah.com/audition/index.html?request=video_details&response_id=5342&promo_id=1
Please keep voting! Thank you!!!!
Please keep voting! Thank you!!!!
Sent from my iPhone
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Please subscribe to my blog if you are a reader ;)
Did you know that if you subscribe to my blog or blogsyou can choose
to not get e-mail updates whenever I post a new blog? So many people
read the same blogs every day but they never subscribe because they
think they will be bombarded with blog updates all the time. I know
I've unsubscribed to many sites because they've sent too many e-mails
to me.
The reason why I am asking for subscribers is because I'd like to know
if anyone out there likes the fashion ideas I know are going to be
hits in the fashion world (carolynsbloomingcreations), if anyone gets
home design ideas from my husband and I (bradenhomestyle),or if anyone
thinks the way I do or feels the same as I do (pammiepeacock). I have
received e-mails from people that have followed my blog to my website
so I know some people are at least viewing my blogs. So........if you
are one of those people that I listed above, subscribe to my blog or
blogs please :). I read Kelly Cutrone's book recently and I feel as
if I am searching for my "tribe", as Kelly described it. I'm a little
curious too. I've never asked for subscribers before and now I think
it's time for me to do so. Don't be afraid. :)
to not get e-mail updates whenever I post a new blog? So many people
read the same blogs every day but they never subscribe because they
think they will be bombarded with blog updates all the time. I know
I've unsubscribed to many sites because they've sent too many e-mails
to me.
The reason why I am asking for subscribers is because I'd like to know
if anyone out there likes the fashion ideas I know are going to be
hits in the fashion world (carolynsbloomingcreations), if anyone gets
home design ideas from my husband and I (bradenhomestyle),or if anyone
thinks the way I do or feels the same as I do (pammiepeacock). I have
received e-mails from people that have followed my blog to my website
so I know some people are at least viewing my blogs. So........if you
are one of those people that I listed above, subscribe to my blog or
blogs please :). I read Kelly Cutrone's book recently and I feel as
if I am searching for my "tribe", as Kelly described it. I'm a little
curious too. I've never asked for subscribers before and now I think
it's time for me to do so. Don't be afraid. :)
Thursday, June 17, 2010
View and Vote for Carolyn Braden's Audition to Win Oprah's Win Your OWN Show Contest!
Votes and views needed! The last day to vote is coming soon! JULY 3rd!!!!
Please go vote for me to get Carolyn Braden's Turning the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary on Oprah Winfrey's new network, OWN!
See the full YouTube video on how to make the vinyl record bowl here:
If you haven't stopped by my website or YouTube page yet, do it today!
My website:
www.carolynsbloomingcreations.com
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Vote for Carolyn Braden's Audition to Win Oprah's Win Your OWN Show Contest!
Votes and views needed!
Please go vote for me to get Carolyn Braden's Turning the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary on Oprah Winfrey's new network, OWN! You can vote until July 3rd.
See the full YouTube video on how to make the vinyl record bowl here:
If you haven't stopped by my website or YouTube page yet, do it today!
My website:
Monday, June 14, 2010
Carolyn and Tommy Braden: Cheap Renovations to Make a Porch Look Fabulous!
Southern Living magazine just did a spread all about Americans and their porches in the summer. It had me thinking......we have two wonderful porches on the back of our home. One is a "sleeping porch" that is off of one of the bedrooms on the second floor of our home and the other one is off the kitchen on the first floor of our home. I thought if we have these two wonderful porches, we should utilize them!
As it turns out, it is a very inexpensive makeover. By doing it ourselves, we have been saving a lot of money. We started on the upstairs porch first. This porch is going to be in a "Key West" color theme. We have screened it in, put outdoor carpeting down, purchased two adirondack chairs in light blue and lime green, repainted our vintage metal glider couch in white and lime green, and repainted a vintage small metal table. We have to put some finishing touches on it tonight and it will be wonderful!
In the next couple of weeks, we are going to put outdoor carpeting on the downstairs porch and start making it look great too! I'm going to put a reed blind on the outside railing side of the porch with two long curtains on either side of the blind. Then the other side of the railing will have a reed fence attached to it. This porch will be done in neutral, tropical colors.
Pictures will come following their completion!
Vote for Carolyn Braden to win Oprah's Win Your OWN Show Contest!
Please go vote for me to get Carolyn Braden's Turning the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary on Oprah Winfrey's new network, OWN! You can vote until July 3rd.
If you haven't stopped by my website or YouTube page yet, do it today!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Carolyn Braden Says: Go vote for me to win Oprah's Win Your OWN Show Contest!
Only 2 weeks left until the end of the contest!
Please go vote for me to get Carolyn Braden's Turning the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary on Oprah Winfrey's new network, OWN! You can vote until July 3rd.
If you haven't stopped by my website or YouTube page yet, do it today!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Carolyn Braden says: It's my birthday, so go vote for me to win Oprah's Win Your OWN Show Contest as my present!
It's my birthday today, so go vote for me as a wonderful present!
Please go vote for me to get Carolyn Braden's Turning the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary on Oprah Winfrey's new network, OWN! You can vote until July 3rd.
http://myown.oprah.com/audition/index.html?request=add_video&entity_id=208208739If you haven't stopped by my website or YouTube page yet, do it today!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Carolyn Braden's YouTube Channel: Check it out!
If you haven't checked out my YouTube channel yet, do it! My how to show, Carolyn Braden's Turning the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary, is posted there. If you've ever wanted to be creative, but didn't think you could, my show could probably help you! :)
Help Carolyn Braden Win Oprah's Win Your OWN Show Contest!
Here's your daily reminder:
Please go vote for me to get Carolyn Braden's Turning the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary on Oprah Winfrey's new network, OWN! You can vote until July 3rd.
Thanks so much and have a sparkling day! Click the link below and vote as many times as you wish!
Monday, June 7, 2010
Vote for Carolyn Braden To Win Oprah's Win Your OWN Show Talent Search Contest!
Here's your daily reminder:
Please go vote for me to get Carolyn Braden's Turning the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary on Oprah Winfrey's new network, OWN! You can vote until July 3rd.
Thanks so much and have a sparkling day! Click the link below and vote as many times as you wish!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Help Carolyn Braden win Oprah's Win Your OWN Show Talent Search Contest!
Here's your daily reminder:
Please go vote for me to get Carolyn Braden's Turning the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary on Oprah Winfrey's new network, OWN! You can vote until July 3rd.
Thanks so much and have a sparkling day! Click the link below and vote as many times as you wish!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Help Carolyn Braden win her OWN show! (Oprah Winfrey's Talent Search Contest)
Here's your daily reminder:
At least until July 3rd, when the voting window closes. Please go vote for me to get Carolyn Braden's Turning the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary on Oprah Winfrey's new network, OWN!
Thanks so much and have a sparkling day! Click the link below and vote as many times as you wish!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Carolyn Braden says "Vote for me to win the OWN (Oprah's Network) Talent Search Conets!
Here's your daily reminder:
At least until July 3rd, when the voting window closes. Please go vote for me to get Carolyn Braden's Turning the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary on Oprah Winfrey's new network, OWN!
Thanks so much and have a sparkling day! Click the link below and vote as many times as you wish!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Carolyn Braden says "Vote for me to get my show on OWN!"
I'm going to blog this all the time now! At least until July 3rd, when the voting window closes. Please go vote for me to get Carolyn Braden's Turning the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary on Oprah Winfrey's new network, OWN!
Thanks so much and have a sparkling day! Click the link below and vote as many times as you wish!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Carolyn Braden says "Vote for me to have my own show on OWN!"
Put Carolyn Braden in the search box and vote for me!
I want Carolyn Braden's Turning the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary to move from YouTube to a cable network, OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network!
Vote for me every day as many times as you wish until July 3rd! I need to be in the top five to be considered for a show!
Please vote for me and thank you so much in advance! Have a sparkling day!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Carolyn and Tommy Braden's Sidelights
beautiful woodwork under the siding on the front porch!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Carolyn Braden says "Our house is moving along!"
We now have both stained glass sidelights put in our doorway to the foyer of our home.
Our walk in closet is so Sex in the City! I feel like Carrie whenever I open the door! We converted a small bedroom into a large closet. It is truly a dream closet! My husband and I love fashion so much, therefore we have a lot of clothes. Finally our clothes are hanging up and are not wedged in our previously small closets getting wrinkled up. Everything is out where I can see it. I had a standing glass and wood cabinet that I am using to display my jewelry. I used black velvet jewelry display bars to display everything so I can see it.
Next is mudding, sanding, and painting the foyer walls, then we will be working on getting our kitchen up and going. Right now, we have our kitchen in a second floor room (the house was an attempted duplex at one point) that doubles as a laundry room. It will just be a laundry room when the kitchen on the first floor is complete. :)
We are getting many ideas for our home using This Old House Magazine.
My husband loves the magazine and the show. He's learned how to do so much on his own that he should be the next host of TOH!
I also love looking at Southern Living magazine for some good ol' south traditional home decor ideas.
Our walk in closet is so Sex in the City! I feel like Carrie whenever I open the door! We converted a small bedroom into a large closet. It is truly a dream closet! My husband and I love fashion so much, therefore we have a lot of clothes. Finally our clothes are hanging up and are not wedged in our previously small closets getting wrinkled up. Everything is out where I can see it. I had a standing glass and wood cabinet that I am using to display my jewelry. I used black velvet jewelry display bars to display everything so I can see it.
Next is mudding, sanding, and painting the foyer walls, then we will be working on getting our kitchen up and going. Right now, we have our kitchen in a second floor room (the house was an attempted duplex at one point) that doubles as a laundry room. It will just be a laundry room when the kitchen on the first floor is complete. :)
We are getting many ideas for our home using This Old House Magazine.
My husband loves the magazine and the show. He's learned how to do so much on his own that he should be the next host of TOH!
I also love looking at Southern Living magazine for some good ol' south traditional home decor ideas.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Carolyn Braden: Since September
The stained glass side lights are all repaired.
The foyer has been drywalled and is about to be mudded and taped (paint already picked out for that room and the stairwell).
New front porch lights.
Outside basement door repaired and painted.
Garage side access door and trim painted.
Some more outside house trim painted. A couple of new windows installed as well.
New outside security light installed.
New ceiling fan and light installed in downstairs soon to be kitchen.
As always, I am sure there are some more things we have done and I may have repeated some things I've said before.
Moving along......
---Carolyn
The foyer has been drywalled and is about to be mudded and taped (paint already picked out for that room and the stairwell).
New front porch lights.
Outside basement door repaired and painted.
Garage side access door and trim painted.
Some more outside house trim painted. A couple of new windows installed as well.
New outside security light installed.
New ceiling fan and light installed in downstairs soon to be kitchen.
As always, I am sure there are some more things we have done and I may have repeated some things I've said before.
Moving along......
---Carolyn
Carolyn Braden: Closet almost finished!
drywall was successful! It's painted, the floor sanding and
varnishing is this weekend, and the trim will be up by next week!
Tommy really should be on This Old House. ;). No training in ANY of
the stuff he's done in this house. What a fast learner!
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