May Your Days Be Merry and Bright!

Hi!

May Your Days Be Merry and Bright!!

Happy Holidays!

Michelle, Burl and Cricket!

the Jones Victorian Estate

Pretty Labels!

Hi!

I just love vintage labels. Lucky for us, the Internet has a host of free labels that you can copy and paste.

I love them because they can add a beautiful finishing touch to anything that you make, purchase or just want to change.

Like a watering can!

Like a jar! I added a bit of lace for fun!

These are just a few of the labels I have collected. I cut and paste a portion of the label or just change the wording! For yellow label above, I changed Lemonade to Limoncello! Presto!

Don't you just love your computer?! I do!

Add a special touch to your gift giving with a personalized label for your very special treat!

Love,

Michelle Gregory

the Jones Victorian Estate

A Delicious Home-Made Gift for the Holidays!

Hi!

Are you looking for a really tasty gift for the holidays? Are you trying to find something easy to make because most "home-made" goodies are time consuming or complicated?Are you worried because time is running out and you need something special? 

I have just the gift! Limoncello! It's tasty, it's fast to make, it's easy with very few steps!

Do you want to try it? Let me help...

Here are my bottles with labels and ribbons all ready for gift giving!

How to start? Easy!  Step One:

Purchase a  750 ml bottle of your favorite Vodka. If you are like me and really don't drink, ask for a nice one. Pour it into a big GLASS container. I suggest glass because it's clean and won't taint your beverage. 

Next, remove the zest of 10 to 12 lemons. Zest is the yellow peel of the Lemon. Use a potato peeler and get as little of the pith, white part underneath, as possible. It's what makes the beverage bitter. 

Seal tight and place in a cool and dark place for 5 days!

Mix once  a day.

Step Two:

After 5 days, prepare your simple syrup; 3 1/2 cups sugar to 5 cups water. Bring to a quick low boil, turn off and let sit to cool. Cool to room temperature and add to glass container. Your mixture will be yellow! Mix Well.

Seal tight and rest for 1 day!

Step Three:

The next day, pour the liquid through a strainer for the big peels and then cheese cloth for the tiny ones. 

Step Four: Pour into sterilized bottles and seal. I used a tiny peeler and put a couple of thin lemon peels into each bottle for fun! You can use canning jars or any jars you have on hand!

Step Five: I made labels on my computer and printed them for the front and an explanation label for the back! "Mod Podge" is a wonderful product that makes your labels stick!

Step Six: I dolled them up with holiday ribbon and you are done! It's beautiful, tasty and completely unique! And just think, YOU DID IT!

Here's my finished product with a "Merry Christmas" tag.

Be bold, have fun and others will too!

Love,

Michelle Gregory

the Jones Victorian Estate

Windows, Windows, Windows!

Hi!

Well for a wonderful early Christmas gift to myself (hehe), I found these beautiful wood sash windows!

Nope, I'm not using them for replacement but rather for Art!

I just love them so you will see them popping up all over the Estate with special messages and colorful artwork. I can hardly wait to start!

1 small, 4 medium and 8 large....

The small one turned into a "ho ho ho!" window on the front porch!

This window became the special welcome for all who passed by... 

"May Your Days Be Merry and Bright!"

So let me say to you, 

May your days be merry and marry and bright!

Love,

Michelle Gregory

the Jones Victorian Estate 

Flea Market in Orange!

Hi!

It's Flea Market Saturday in Orange this week! It's downtown Orange just off Chapman Avenue and Almond!  I have found so many treasures here while walking my dog and eating a delicious, freshly made tamale. It's incredibly smaller than the Long Beach Antique Flea Market so you can just relax and enjoy a wonderful outing!  Great for Christmas shopping!!!

I'll see you there!
Love and Smiles,
Michelle Gregory

the Jones Victorian Estate

Infused Vodka!!! Wowowowowow!

Hi!

One of my favorite aspects of Christmas is making gifts and thinking of the special packaging that makes gift giving so much fun!

This year my sister, Sue, told me about infused Vodka...

With Skittles!!!

Check out these bright and mouthwatering flavors!!!

Since I love Hot Tamales Candy,  we even thought that would be delicious with a kick! The vodka changes color with the candy and it's sweetened so it's ready to  enjoy!

This year, I made Limoncello! 

It's pretty and this liqueur is served chilled after the meal, "digestivo."

I thought what a great post because if you are thinking of a special, special Signature Drink,

wouldn't infused Vodka be a hoot?

And then, we can talk about how it's presented!!

What's on your Christmas list?

Love and Smiles,

Michelle Gregory

the Jones Victorian Estate

A Wonderful Photo Shoot with the Spada Family!!!

Hi!

When a Wedding and Reception is over and the  Bride and Groom are whisked away, for me it is  bittersweet. In that moment I relive the fun of the months of planning, the expectation of the day, and the excitement of their commitment and celebration! 

Luckily for me, some of my Bride and Grooms return. Whether its attending a friends or relatives wedding, an anniversary stop by or a photo shoot, it gives me the opportunity to see them once again!

One of my favorite aspects of my job is when one of my Bride and Grooms come back to celebrate their Wedding Anniversary...

But a close second  is when they come back with their family!!

Meet Ralph and Patti Spada! They were married 8 1/2 years ago and just a couple of weeks ago, they came back with their family to take some wonderful family/holiday pictures.

I loved having them and I simply love the "Then and Now" pictures!!!

Thank you so much Ralph and Patti! Please come back again!!

Love and Smiles,

Michelle Gregory

the Jones Victorian Estate

Wow... timeless!!