Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Happy New Year!!!


I am busy getting the house ready for our New Years Eve Party, I am very excited, we always seems to have a good time. I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful New Years. But be forewarned, I am going to get busy with cleaning out and getting organized once Jan. 1st hits!!!!

Sunday, December 28, 2008

I'm Back!!!!!!!!!!!

I am thrilled to be back, I ended up in the ER and having surgery to remove my gallbladder. I spent 4 or 5 days in the hospital and got home right before Christmas. I am ready to get to feeling better and start going through boxes, files, and closets. Its time for a good cleaning for the New Year. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are planning a great New Year!!!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Only 1 more day of finals!!!!



Both my kids had finals today, they are off Thursday because of exemption and will have one final left for Friday. I am so excited for them to have a break. I admit I am one of those moms that loves when the pace slows down and the kids are home. Of course these days they spend more time with their friends than at home, but its the thought that counts right?


I was looking around at holiday pic's and found I love the whole white on white Christmas decor..well white decor in general! Its not a reality in my home between teens, dogs and a cat it would drive me insane keeping it all clean. But..I found several pictures I wanted to share, everyone screams color.. color.. color...but white is beautiful in decor. Hope you all have a Happy Thursday!!!!!!!!!
















Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Twas the night before finals..

and all through the house not a teen or mom was sleeping, only my spouse! LOL..its finals week for my teens and we have had a very busy evening! I am done..done I tell you with all my decor..could it be ? Or am I just so tired I don't know what I am saying? The elves have been busy with the 12 days of Christmas and its always fun to do even with the older kids. Each of my kids have a stocking on their door and each night the elf leaves a treat in the stocking. Nothing big, sometimes gum, sometimes a special little trinket..nothing too expensive. I am working on a tablescape for Christmas Eve..so if you have any ideas please pass them on. I have one for Christmas day but I want something more relaxed for the eve of Christmas..here are a few ideas I like..










Monday, December 15, 2008

Baby it's cold outside!

I woke up this morning and at 5:45 am it was 70 degrees, so I went out in clothes fitting for that temp. by the time I got to the mall it was 42 outside and windy. I was so cold and it was comforting to see others that had dressed like I was complete with goosebumps! I have finished my shopping but those darn stores keep sending me coupons for great deals so of course I have to use them. LOL I made not one but two trips to the mall today and bought way too much, but its a time for giving ..right?

I came home and went through my list of things I want to do to the house, of course knowing that my daughter is heading for a private university this summer brings me to my senses and reminds me it might be awhile before anything big gets done. Ohh well I can dream, can't I?




This is my dream closet!
Some of my fav, rooms.. below is a child's playroom done in a Circus Tent theme, how wonderful would that me for a child!




I love..love black furniture against red walls, it just pops!




Sunday, December 14, 2008

Holiday Home Tour...Welcome!










I am almost done with the decoration this year, not doing everything but enough to make the house sparkle! I have finished the Christmas shopping, just need to start wrapping. I love wrapping as I listen to Christmas music..maybe I should have been born an elf!! Maybe you could have a cup of warm cider and help me wrap!!

This is our tree in the family room..its has crystal, green, reds and golds. I used hydrangea blooms and feathers as filler..




Its not fancy, its been in my family for 40 years. I love it! Its simple and brings back so many memories of Christmas as a child...

Our Santa mug collection, can you tell I love Santa's?









Above the fireplace is decked out with santa's deer and lots of glitz!


















I collect Santa's, these are a few I display, I love their faces and they just make me happy whenever I see them.





Our stockings I always hang on the stairs, I like the touch it adds when people come in the front door. I also stuff them with tissue so they look plump even before Santa comes and fills them with treats!




This is the formal tree in our home, lots of lights, ribbon and ornaments. I have many elephants (that was my mothers fav), I collect the swarovski crystal stars and snowflakes they put out each year for each of my kids, they will remain on this tree until they move out and have a tree of their own!































Thursday, December 11, 2008

We had SNOW!!! I am in shock!!
















So the weather was so cold yesterday and they talked about snow and sleet, but hey when you have lived here all your life you know snow just doesn't happen..well it did. It started around 3:30 in the afternoon yesterday and kept going until late last night. It was not heavy snow but it was enough we made snow ice cream and played outside while it fell. It was just beautiful and made me smile!! I am still trying to understand how to take photos of my Christmas decor. but everytime I try it looks so bad. I am getting frustrated!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Mantel Magic for the Holidays

Lighted Garland Draping an evergreen garland over a mantel is a nice way to decorate in a hurry. Make sure to wire or tie each end to a concealed nailunder the mantel so the greenery stays put. Tiny white lights andsimple decorations of fruit or ornaments will complete the look.

Candle Extravaganza Go to excess with this display of white candles that can take you from November through February. Perfect for a fireplace that is no longer functioning, the candles light up the normally dark fireboxwith romance and sparkle.

Ornamental Elements Nestle candlesticks among greenery, and rest an ornament or tree-topper finial on each candlestick, securing it with a little candlewax. This is a great way to showcase special ornaments, though besure to secure the elements of this arrangement so nothing getsbroken.

Candle Display Interestingly textured candles add a romantic glow to a woodfireplace mantel. Massing the candles together and arranging themwith an eye toward their height and shape will make an attractivedisplay.

Golden Flower Pots Decorate your mantel as a stunning focal point with these ideas. Aspectacular candle and ornament display within the firebox. On top ofthe mantel, small flowerpots that have been painted gold and toppedwith personalized ornaments for a fun and easy project.

Ivy Topiaries Here's an easy mantel decoration. Look for tree-shaped topiaries at the garden center or florist. Embellish with a wrap of ribbon or a few tiny ornaments. Keep watered well for a decoration that will look good through the holidays and beyond.

Sugarplum Style When decorating for the holidays, choose decorations that fit into your existing decor.

Musical Dreams The love of music can spark a creative mantel that features musicalinstruments, candles, and ribbons. Nearby, a music-themed tree sticksto the silver, gold, and white color theme. Copies of sheet music areused as special touches on the tree and in the gift wraps.

Copper and Gold Metallics are a great theme for fireplace display. Small trees in garden urns flank the candle display in the center. Pinecones, copper-toned ribbons, and metallic decorations adorn the trees and firebox candle arrangement.

Simply Blue and White A mantel that features holiday elements add to an existing display of blue-and-white platters. The evergreen swag can be garnished with sheer ribbon and draped simply across the fireplace. A few more evergreenbranches can be tucked between the china.

Pinecone Swag An antique sideboard can be decorated in a manner that could also be used on a mantel. Footed glass compotes filled with miniature pinecones, then garnished with matte glass ornaments and satin ribbons.

Glitter and Glow Mantelscape A small collection of candleholders and some common objects add up to a stunning mantelscape.

Nutcracker Mantel A parade of nutcrackers standing guard on a stately library table is assembled into a textural "garland."Mix Old and New You don't have to chase everything off your mantel in order to decorate for Christmas; add greenery and fruit or ornaments for a holiday look.

Long rainy day!


We had a cold front blow through today so we ended up with a huge downpour. I am sooo ready for full on cold weather. I looked at several tablescapes today, trying to decide on what I want to use for Christmas. I love doing over the top tablescapes. Tomorrow is my personal deadline to have the house finished with decorating and all I can say is I hope its a very long day as I will need all the time I can get. Here is a table scape I am thinking of for the holidays..I love how simple but elegant it is! Later I will post some of mine that I have done in the past..


This is what I am working on, bringing back those old Christmas cards, I think they are wonderful!
This was my mom when she was young..she was my mom and my best friend. She passed away from cancer....she made me who I am now!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Crazy Monday
















So today started slow and I was not feeling 100% but I did manage to get more decor done and make a bigger mess with tubs of Christmas items everywhere. Also found out what I thought would be just us for Christmas is turning into lots of company, not to complain, just really changes everything. I am done shopping, thank the good Lord and now need to wrap. I am still trying to figure out this whole blogging thing and how to add pic's and also trying to understand how I can get others to visit me. For now..I just talk (uggg type) to myself.








The first pic. is of my main Christmas Tree, still trying to figure out how to get a good shot of it!
Than we have the stockings, dim but I will keep trying!
My collection of Santa mugs, I will add candycanes to them tomorrow!
And finally my santa's, the lights under the snow are not on, so I will have to take another pic later..
So there..proof I am working..LOL


















Sunday, December 7, 2008

Still Decorating!

So today my hubby and I worked on taking more boxes out of the attics and putting out Christmas items. After he put the garland and lights on the stairs I put up the rest, complete with stockings. I put out my collection of Santa's, they always make me smile. My son came home at 7am after having going to a lock in at our local gaming place. Its usually all guys and they play video games all night long, can you imagine? Not me! My daughter went out today and took pictures with some friends and her boyfriend, they came out cute. Later this evening we watched the Hallmark channel with back to back Christmas shows. Tomorrow evening I am attending a Christmas party with a few friends, should be fin and gearing up for another party at the end of the week with my bible study class. All and all this was a nice weekend, keep your fingers crossed I will get the rest of my decor up by Wed. !!!

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Saturday Tour of Homes

Today is my first day to blog so be kind as I have never done anything like this before. My dear husband and I went on a Christmas tour of homes in our community. It was so much fun..so many ideas and really inexpensive ones at that. Thats me in a nutshell, I love to decorate but will only do it on a budget. And trust me when I say anyone can do it, you don't have to spend thousands to make it look like you did.

My hope with this blog is to connect with others who have like interest and learn more about this whole blogging thing. I hope you will put me on your list to come back and see how I am doing..who knows maybe I will catch on quickly!!