My 100th post Giveaway!

Finally! The day has come and this is my 100th post since I started blogging in May of 2009. I have been wondering how to celebrate this milestone and cannot think of a better way than to announce a GIVEAWAY! This one is FABULOUS and it's open to all bloggers from all countries.

This is what you can win:

12 issues of Marie Claire Magazine

12 issues of Harper's Bazaar Magazine

12 issues of Good Housekeeping Magazine

10 issues of House Beautiful Magazinegoo

or 10 issues of Country Living Magazine

I will draw three winners on the 15th of December 2009.

1. You'll get one ticket if you leave a comment.
2. Two tickets if you become a follower.
3. Three tickets if you advertise the contest on your blog with picture and a link.
4. Four tickets if you place my blog on your blog list.

Please write in your comment what you have done, so that I can write down the number of tickets you get.

Ideas for your Thanksgiving Table

It's soon time to invite family and friends for Thanksgiving dinner. Even though we now live in Norway we still try to celebrate Thanksgiving every year. It is one of the many beautiful traditions that we brought back with us after having lived in the US. We focus on all the things we are grateful for and enjoy time together with the people we love.

This is also a chance to create a festive autumn table. Here are some ideas to help you decorate your special Thanksgiving table this year.

Make an elegant menu card

Placecards can be so much more than just a piece of cardboard. Use your imagination.

Use family photos to remind everyone that Thanksgiving is all about family.

Stamp or write a message

on a linen tablecloth

on your glasses

on your candles

on your simple white napkins or on your napkinrings.

Make a striking centerpiece using flowers in rich colors

or use simple white flowers with rich fabrics.

You can also bring nature inside by creating a centerpiece with vegetable, fruits, pinecones, twigs, branches of spruce or leafs

How about a glass vase filled with kumquats and topped with a pinecone-shape candle?

Candles always creates a festive atmosphere. Find new ways of decorating with them.

The most beautiful candle displays are often the simples. Use everyday items like corn or multicolor popcorn kernels.

You can even use snacks as a decorative element on your table.

However you choose to decorate your table, let it reflect your personal style. Look around your home for things that you can use to make your table special and unique. Enjoy!

Pink Poinsettias

Driving the bus home from Poland we did a quick stop outside Berlin. Running through the store I saw these beautiful pink poinsettias. Two of them had to come home with me! I wrapped them up as best I could and they survived for a few days inside the luggage compartment of the bus. Now they are placed in my kitchen window, proudly announcing that Christmas is soon here. If you take a closer look, you'll see that it is actually snowing outside! This is Norway!

I couldn't leave without sharing this fabulous pink photo of my husband. We are celebrating his 40th birthday this weekend.

For more pink Saturday posts visit Beverly over at How Sweet the Sound.

The Lexington Company

I love the Lexington company. I'm not a shabby chic kind of girl, but my dream home would be a New England style home with a front porch, stone fireplace and plenty of Lexington pillows and throws.

Not far from our summer house there is this cute little Lexington store.

I bought two pillows that look perfect in my striped chairs.

Now I just want new pillows for my sofa as well. Maybe a christmas present?

If you want to be truly inspired go to www.lexingtoncompany.com and take a look at their holiday collection.

Happy Birthday Baby!

Today is your 40th birthday! Finally you will be in your forties too and stop saying that you are a man in your thirties married to a woman approaching 50 (which I apparently did the moment I turned 40 last year). No more teasing baby!

I am wishing you all the happiness in the world. You deserve the very best of everything sweetheart. You are the kindest, most generous, patient, funniest man I know and I love all those things about you. You are simply THE BEST! Keep me laughing and I will stay with you until all your teeth fall out, your head looks like a bowling ball and your butt sags. (Just don't start wearing those white grandpa underpants...)

For the family party this Sunday I got to use some of the crystal glasses I bought in Krakow. Aren't you glad I bought 60 of those? (Read all about it here.)

I wish I could have bought you one of these for your birthday:

Or brought you here:

But you did get a Nespresso Lattissima (and it wasn't covered with pink Swarovski crystals...)

And I am taking you to see these guys on Friday:

I hope you'll have a fabulous birthday!