Category Archives: etc.

etc. / Find

Photo Christmas Cards

December 14, 2012

It’s that time of year.  Time to order Christmas cards.  Really, weren’t cards totally boring before the invention of photo cards.  I love sending and receiving them.  This year I’m ordering from Minted.  They have fantastic holiday cards to suite any taste and the quality of the paper and options are amazing.  You can even have rounded corners and patterned edges to your cards.

Here’s a few of my favorites.  I haven’t decided which one I’m going with, but how can I go wrong with these options?

Minted has this really great option that makes choosing the right card for you photo really easy.  The Find it Fast feature allows you to upload an image and then it displays your image in ALL the cards.  Isn’t that awesome?  You don’t have to select each card one by one and add the image and then decide if it will work.  This feature saved me lots of time.

Are you sending out photo Christmas cards this year?  How many do you send out? This weekend I was discussing with a friend who are the people that really should get a Christmas card.  I really only send cards to close family and friends.  I keep my list pretty short.  How long is your list?  I’m curious.

DIY / etc.

Milk Bottle Scarves

December 12, 2012

I love serving drinks in my milk bottles (aka old Starbucks frappacinno bottles) at parties.  I like to wrap twine and string around the necks and put custom stickers on them.  I think great parties are made in all the details.
When I got the first Christmas Pottery Barn Kids catalogue of the season, I noticed red scarves on milk bottles as one of the props in the photograph.  I’ve been wanting to make my own version.  And how simple and cute did these turn out.
All you need to do is cut a 1″ width strip of felt down the long side of a felt square (they are 12″ long).  Cut fringe on either end of the scarf and the cut a 1 inch slit in the middle of the scarf about 2 1/2″ inches in.  Wrap the scarf around the bottle neck and put the other end of the scarf through the slit, pull snug.  Attach the buttons using glue dots (they wash of easily).  And you of course need cute paper straws.  I got these adorable Birch Bark Straws at Paper Source. 

I’m itching to have a party of some sort.  I’m considering a good old cookie exchange.  I really need an excuse to serve eggnog in these fun cozyfied bottles.

And don’t forget to enter to win the Winter Wreath.

DIY / etc.

Vintage Sign Letters Garland

December 11, 2012

So, this weekend I lucked out and got to go to the Pasadena Flea Market.  Late Saturday afternoon, my friend and I made plans for an early rise the next morning.  We had an awesome day.  No kids, no husbands, no real agenda, just a fun day of wondering around.  But, it was one of those Flea Market days where I just couldn’t catch a break.  Everything I wanted was already sold or being purchased at the very moment I happened upon it.  But, they are just things and I did come away with a fixer-upper metal filing cabinet (that I’ll share soon) and these fun vintage metal sign letters.

I bought JOY hoping to display them in some way for Christmas.  I decided to use this festive silver tinsel to hang it on.  The letters already are conveniently bent on the back for hanging on their signs.  So, I just bent them a little further and then just simply hung them on the tinsel.  It’s the easiest garland I’ve ever made.  I love the black and white with the sparkle, it’s graphic and glitzy all at the same time.  

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Wreath Giveaway!

December 10, 2012

It’s about time O + P had a giveaway.  So I’m going to give away one of my Winter Yarn Wrapped Wreathes away (a $30 value).  This one, with the little bottle brush trees, is one of my faves.  I am so thankful for all my faithful readers.  I’m not bragging, just excited about I few milestones my little blog has made recently.  And it’s all thanks to you guys, the ones who visit regularly, leave comments for me, and pin and share my ideas.  I’m really grateful.

Not that anyone really cares except me, but here’s O + P’s latest accomplishments:
1000+ pinterest followers
300+ facebook likes
79,000 visits to the blog last month

Here’s how to enter, you have the opportunity to enter multiple times:

1. LIKE Oleander and Palm on Facebook
2. Follow Oleander and Palm on Pinterest
3. Follow Oleander and Palm on Twitter
4. Follow me on Instagram (@jeranmcconnel)

or if you have already done those things, here’s some other options for an entry

5. Share this giveaway on your Facebook page
6. Tweet this giveaway
7. Pin something from O + P to pinterest.

Leave a comment for each entry you make.  A winner will be chosen randomly on Sunday December 16th, so that I can mail this wreath in time for Christmas.

*I am shipping only to the US and Canada.  I am sorry I can’t include all my other overseas readers in this giveaway.

Thanks again for reading.  I have some fun Christmas DIY’s, crafts and ideas coming up this week.  So be sure to come back.

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December Memory Verse

December 8, 2012

This really is the most wonderful time of year. I am feeling very overwhelmed by God’s love for us. I hope this Season is one of Joy and Peace for you, and that you aren’t frazzled by all the STUFF that HAS to be done. I’m trying to keep it simple. Today I’m doing a little Christmas baking, not because I have to, but because I want to.  
When I was a kid, we all learned and recited the Christmas story for Luke 2:1-20. My mom always had great actions and dorky arm gestures to help us remember the next verse. It worked, and I still remember her moves and the passage. Last year Denali, Dylan and I memorized it as well.  We are a little rusty this year, so we’ll need to practice at dinner each night.  Hopefully by Christmas eve we’ll be good to go.
Since I had so much fun making things from birch wood this year, and I’m seeing birch trees everywhere, I decided to go with that theme.  You can download the FREE December Monthly Memory Verse here.  I hope you enjoy this one, and feel free to share it with your friends and family.  
If you want to know more about my Monthly Memory Verse, read here.

Design / etc.

Grey Nightstand

December 7, 2012

Remember the nightstand I bought at Salvation Army?  Well, I finally made sometime this week to work on it. With a little sanding and some fresh paint, this thrifty find is now one of my favorite pieces of furniture.
Because this little dresser had an icky laminate top, I used my How to Paint Laminate Furniture method, and it came out beautifully.  I will share more of my how-to and the products I used tomorrow. 
I moved it into my bedroom last night.  I had fun this morning putting out some of my favorite nick nacks.  The little bronze owl is from my youngest brother, Joash, he brought it back from India for me.  I haven’t seen him in a long time and I miss him, so I keep it close to me.  The butterfly and beetle are from Papua New Guinea, that’s where I grew up.  And the basket is from Sri Lanka, my parents moved their after the tsunami and did relief work.  

So, what do you really think?  Too much grey?  I know, I’m kind of addicted to the color.  I don’t think you’d ever know I paid $22 for this bad boy now.  I love that!  People pay $300+ for nice nightstands and I’m sure it’s nice to just buy new furniture, but I’m pretty proud of my bargain.  My house is full of hand-me-downs, fixer-uppers, and thrift store finds.  It’s one of a kind, no one else has one just like it, that’s for sure.

etc. / Find

Vintage Style Tinsel Tree

December 5, 2012

This year we are being soooo untraditional.  I’m still not sure if I am ok with it.  But we DIDN’T get a real tree this year!  I love real trees, nothing compares.  I love the smell, the lights and I love their imperfections.  We always have one, well I guess we had an artificial one in Papua New Guinea and Yemen, but always in the States.  We are heading to my parent’s house in Northern Cal for Christmas this year.  So, last year I bought this cute silver tinsel tree after Christmas thinking it would be a fun alternative to a live tree.  And we wouldn’t have to worry about the tree dying while we are gone. 
I love the sparse branches and it feels very retro.  I have it in our dining room and it’s really quite glamorous (which I am totally not) in there.   
I’ve been collecting vintage and vintage style glass ornaments since we first married.  My mother in law got me started.  I mostly like natural objects like pinecones, nuts and a few woodland animals, mostly in metallics and a little green and red.  These are kind of an investment. But, almost all of them were bought the day after Christmas, so they were at least 50% off. I love my fancy ornaments, and I am that awful mom that doesn’t hang my kids handmade ornaments on the family tree.  I have little trees in my kids rooms, and they can hang whatever they want on them.  Anyways, I thought my ornaments would really look great on a tinsel tree.  And they do.  But, I’m still missing the lights and the  pine smell that can’t be replaced. My kids are even ok with it, I’m the one that’s a little bummed.  So, for now I’m sticking with the tinsel tree, but we’ll see how long I last. Maybe we need just a little one. 
I got these really great ornament hooks at World Market.  They come in gold as well.
I found a few sources for some pretty good looking tinsel trees.  That champagne colored one is pretty great.
Green Tinsel // Champagne Tinsel
Silver Tinsel // Set of trees
What are your thoughts on having an artificial tree? Are you a sucker for a real tree like me, or are they just a hassle and too messy?

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Instagratitude 2012 Recap

December 2, 2012

I’m so pleased with the Instagratitude Project.  Thanks so much to everyone who participated.  Do you know that 276 photos were shared on instagram with the #intsagratitude2012 hashtag?  I am so excited with how many times people shared their gratitude this month.  It was really inspiring and uplifting for me to share and see what everyone else was sharing.  It definitely put me in a better frame of mind each day.

Here’s my Instagratitude picutres.  If you participated, I’d love to know what you thought, and how this affected you this month.  I’m already looking forward to Instagratitude 2013!

etc.

Foxy Finds

November 28, 2012

Are you loving Foxes?  Cause they are everywhere!  I’m a sucker for a cute woodland animal, you know I love owls.  I found a great Pinterest board called all the owls have been eaten by foxes and I’ve been pinning them on my Foxy Finds Board.  The fox is definitely trendy.  Trends are fun, they give you something new to hunt for.  And they make me want to figure out how I can put my own personal spin on the trend.  How do you feel about trends?
  

Here’s a few cute foxy finds that I’ve found browsing the world wide web.

Fox Screen Print // Fox Sweater // Tea Pot       

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A Stylish Deal

November 27, 2012

I want to share a great deal with you. It’s at one of my favorite stores, Target!  Yesterday we spent the whole day traveling home from Idaho. We had a fantastic Thanksgiving vacation with Lon’s family. But, with two flights, a shuttle to where our car was parked at LAX and then the 2 hour drive home, it made for a LONG day. And tomorrow I’m hoping on another plane again first thing in the morning, and Olivia and I are flying to Northern California to see my parents. So, to ease the pain of all this travel, I treated myself to a couple fashion magazines. 

Right now at Target, if you by InStyle and People Style Watch magazine together, you get a $5 Target gift card.  Now that’s a deal!  So, we swung by Target on our way to the airport so that I could snag up this deal.
  

These December Issues are packed with Gift Guides, which I love. They give me great ideas for stylish gifts for the more fashionable members of my family. InStyle has an article on 50 gifts for under $25. I probably won’t be buying the $495 metallic clutch, but fashionable finds under $25, that’s more my speed. That’s what I love about InStyle, they show you the ultimate in luxury alongside the just as stylish, but reasonably priced finds. I’m loving the “Home Made” cookie stamp and the fun kitchen whisks that collapse for more compact storage.  
People Style Watch has a fantastic Gift Guide as well. They feature 100 gifts at every price point and they even has some exclusive deals for their readers. I loved the C. Wonder personalized gifts they selected. I’m super tempted to order some the Colorful Print Mugs with their cute monograms. These could be a great gift for my girlfriends and sister in laws.  
And that $5 gift card was burning a whole in my pocket. I had my eye on these nativity tea light holders. They are regularly only $4.99 (oh there’s a wise men one as well), but this week they are only $4.49. I’m so ready for Christmas. Today is my only day home, so I’ll be madly cleaning, unpacking and then repacking. But, I really want to find a couple minutes to put out some Christmas decor. So, here’s my start. And what I nice reminder of the true meaning of Christmas this is. Thank you Target for a deal and a symbol of what this season is really about.  
“This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™, but all my opinions are my own http://cmp.ly/3/KqtZiE”