'Tis the Season...

Warm Welcomes...What is it that you love most about this season? ...I love the lights, the fabulous decorations, setting the Christmas tree, parties, the time away from work and getting to be with family and friends, the gift wrapping, giving and receivng,...This is probably the only time in the year, that I drive slowly and try to catch a glimpse of the twinkling lights on a beautifully decorated Christmas tree through a living room window, or the light display and decorations on a lawn...Some are classy, some tacky, and some are so incredibly beautiful, that it makes one come back year after year. Sharing some light displays in my neighbood...

...dont you love the SUV with the colourful lights and the antlers...:-)

Enjoy the season and stay warm...

-Anu Somanath

Paper Christmas Wreath

It all started with an idea to create a Christmas wreath from recycled paper…a good month ago. Toyed with a number of ideas in between work and setting up new home and resisted ‘Googling’ to come up with something of my own. But as time drew nearer and festivities swinging in at work, friends’ and all around town, my impatience got the better of me. I ‘Googled’. And boy, was I pleased when I found this super fabulous blog by Lisa Tisle. Her paper wreath craft was irresistible and I really looked no further than my stash of wrapping paper, a pair of scissors, a stapler and card paper (the only thing I recycled eventually as I used a distressed shopping bag). I believe this tutorial from Lisa’s blog should inspire you too to make a wreath of your own this Christmas.
My chosen wrapping paper! Red and green are predictable, so orange is what I went with to create a autumny feel with fresh green.

After cutting out the ring per Lisa’s instructions, the leaves were a breeze to cut away. Infact, this could be such a fun kid’s project! Stapled sets of three leaves alternating green and orange… Started by stapling green leaves and did deviate from the blog’s instructions a bit here. There had to be some originality :P

That done, added the orange paper leaves...

...and bingo!!

I am linking this to the Christmas Carnival at The Key Bunch! :-)
Wishing all you lovely people happy festivities and a merry Christmas! Much love and warm wishes,

Weekend Wrap Up - Wk 10

I totally love weekends.. My weekends are always super busy, hectic, planned, chaotic, and manic …. all in one!! (don’t laugh)… Actually they are worst than this!! Friday morning was also the indi blogger meet… It was good fun to see the face behind indi blogger and meet a few other bloggers in Dubai!! So have you missed me in blog world last week? I’ve been super busy at work and even more busy at home… preparing for my fashionista’s birthday party!! Here is a glimpse of the cake.. It had a little make up bag on top with accessories on it… Simply wow!! We wore t-shirts with Sim’s photograph on it and ‘team Simone’ written on the back.. We thought it was the cutest idea.. My daughter noticed it.. and didn’t seem as excited as us… *sigh* Anyway!!! There were about 20 girls.,.. All of them got a make over… ~~ hair dos, fake hair, makeup, nail polish.. The girls were ever so excited.. Then my cousin (the only super model in our family) ~ Ashu… thought them to walk the ramp… And oh gosh!! I cant tell you how excited the girls were… they walked up & down… stopped to pose!! Truly all born to be models… As though the party wasn’t enough … we decided to put up the tree… Lights & décor to go up this week… coz we were simply exhausted.. Here is sharing one small décor idea… We randomly hung tree ornaments from the lamp shades… They look gorgeous.. Do you agree??

Are you joining in this week for the Weekend Wrap Up?? You know I wait eagerly to see you here!! .. So go on and join the fun... -

1. Do a Weekend Wrap Up post on your blog. It has to be 'your' photograph !! (post atleast one picture... its nice to see!!) and it can really be anything you did over the weekend – example – a fun recipe you tried out, a craft project, a DIY, a table top, a few candles, coffee with friends or a good book or a movie review… The list is endless… just about ANYTHING… and anything about YOU !! *smiles*
2. No images from other websites or magazines please!! This is about YOU.
3. Link back to my blog.... only as a courtesy, so we have more people joining the party.
4. Copy the 'permalink' from your 'Weekend Wrap Up' post (not the link to the front page of your blog).
5. Add your 'permalink' to the 'inlinkz' at the bottom of this post.
6. Click the link before you. Don’t forget to comment and if you like the blog, please follow.

Any questions, email me on torresp27@hotmail.com.

Please note, you DO NOT have to be a follower of my blog to join the party.. I'd love to see you here!!

For all my non blogger friends, please email me on torresp27@hotmail.com pictures and a write up of your Weekend happenings… and I’d love to see you here!!

Please grab the Colours Dekor Weekend Wrap Up button!!

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The Paper Boutique - TempleTree

Have you been to a fleeting glimpse -- I simply love Anu's blog and found the TempleTree!! Anu's done a fabulous post.. so I'm simply copying her post here!! A million colours jumping out at you and whirling you away into wonderland. Reds and greens vying with each other, while the blues simply transfixed. Silver and gold motifs bouncing around. Walking past TempleTree – The Paper Boutique at the Christmas Bazaar was wondrous. Meet Sonali Maniar, who brings colour into everything she touches. Temple Tree Paper is her venture, and she designs and makes the most beautiful products with paper. A graphic designer, Sonali has had her share of working with retail giants like Fossil, Lyric (the company that produces Barney) and JC Penny. But when she had to take a break from a full time career she went back to her first love – paper. And the Mumbai Temple Tree Paper store was set up. Her studio cum store in Bangalore is a recent addition. It’s a riot of colour and it’s like festival time all year round! Sonali started out scrapbooking for herself. Only when she started making tags and cards and expanded her range of work, did she think of going commercial. Now, her studio is set up at her home, and clients visit by appointment only. It gives her a personal sense of being in touch with clients and giving them exactly what they want, she says. Sonali custom makes a number of personal stationery things like notes, cards, gift tags, party invitations, and box invites. Working on greeting cards where she can exercise her creativity is her favourite activity. You can also pick from her range of gift wrap paper, wine bags, and boxes in all the colours of the rainbow. The next show Sonali is having is a group show on 10th and 11th December, in Chennai at The Marriot. Catch it if you’re in that part of the world! Website: http://templetreepaper.com/ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mumbai-India/Templetree-the-paper-boutique/389656025574 Store Locations: Mumbai Preyas, 20 Dadyseth Road, Babulnath, Mumbai 400007 Store Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10:00 am – 6:30 pm Bangalore Villa 319/2 Adarsh Palm Retreat, Outer Ring Road Belandur Post, Near Intel Offices, Bangalore 560103 By appointment only Call Sonali at +91-99452 77749 All pictures courtesy and copyright Temple Tree Paper