Christmas Outside

I have really been enjoying all the Christmas decorations that have been shared in blog land. There is such a wide range of styles and unique ideas, but all of in is so festive and such eye candy. Today I am sharing the front of my home. It is nothing fancy, but it is festive!



My black rockers are dressed up with some Christmas towel pillows.  I just took the pillows that where on them, placed the towels around them and tied the corners with some yarn. Easy and festive! On the tea cart I placed some Christmas wrapped presents and in my copper pitcher some trimmings from the yard. Then I just hung some red bells - which I need to change the ribbon.

Next to the rockers in the SL wall pocket I placed some more yard clippings. Another easy, pretty touch.

On the front door is a large wreath with glittery white and cooper magnolias, red berries, copper balls, pine cones and a woodsy Santa. I have had this for a few years now and still love it. Below is a close up of all the glittery flowers.

Next to the front door in the big ole planter I did a layer of yard clippings, then 3 different size wreaths and filled the center with Christmas balls.

On both sides of the front door I placed two little trees in urns and hanging a cross the front are some glittery gold stars.  And you know you must have some reindeer eating the front grass!

I don't think I have ever shared a picture of the outside of my home...

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit.  I really love when you leave me a comment and appreciate you taking the time.  From out home to your home - Merry Christmas!

I will be joining these fun parties.

Vanessa   At the Picket Fence for Doors & Porches

My Christmas Mantel - 2011

Happy Monday!  I have been looking forward to seeing everyone's Christmas Mantel. The mantel is such a focal point in a room, which is why we are always changing and changing, trying to make it special for each season.  And this is the most special season of all...so here goes

My favorite thing is Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus.  The Mister and I where in HomeGoods rug shopping and once we saw it we knew it was coming home with us.  Here is a close up their sweet, serene faces.

On the left side of the Holy Family, I have my thrifted silver bucket filled with glass balls and a beautiful red bird perched on the rim.

Then on the end of the mantel I have another new purchase, this beautiful latern with images of  pinecones and berries on all four sides.

On the right side of the Holy Family, I have some red glass hurricanes with snowflake cut outs - looks so pretty at night.

Another new purchase anchors the right end, this gorgeous red and gold angle.

The garland is a mix of faux and fresh.  The red flocked pinecones really drew my eye, but I also really like how natural the "branches" and the snow look.

Thanks for stopping by!!

I am joining these fun parties:

Marty for TTT

Kristen/Mantel Link Up
Rhonda's Mantel Party

 

Holiday Copy Cat

Let the fun begin!  I have been so excited to share my Christmas Wreath I made the the challenge.  I found this wreath in the BH&G Christmas Idea Book 2010.

I love the look of the grapevine wreath with the gold ribbon and the glittered red birds.  And since I have new Christmas china this year featuring red cardinals it was just perfect.



My birds are't cardinals, but I love how they have the glitter plus the beautiful red tail feathers. And the bonus was they had clip's to attach them to the vine wreath.  No burned fingers!!



This was such a easy projects and came together so fast...almost done....



And now it is hung up over the mantel.  I am really pleased with the way it turned out, and love the contrast of the shine, glitter and feathers against the more rustic nest and vine wreath.

Thanks so much for stopping by to see my copy cat.

 I will be joining the following parties:
Debbie's Holiday Copy Cat
Maureen's Sunday's With Santa

Rusty Angel Wings Winner!!!

Happy Friday!!  Quick post to announce the winner of the Rusty Angel Wings....

Trish from Love of Quilts...

If you have not visited Trish, you must stop by and visit. She has a strong love of family and friends, loves to thrift, and has been updating the outside of her home.  Trish was one of the first to ever leave a comment on my blog, and wow, did I ever need to know someone has reading what I wrote!!

Thanks to all who stopped by to see my Christmas Foyer and left comments - I really appreciate your taking the time.

Have a great weekend!!



Foyer dressed for Christmas..

Hi all!  If you are like me you have been busy dressing your home for Christmas - so much fun, so much work...but so worth it!  I have to say I am so blessed to have such a loving husband and son, they have done 95% of the decorations this year. I am still  in recovery from my second surgery a month ago, and these wonderful guys stepped  up to bat, took over and have made our home so festive. Any whoo...I thought I would share the foyer table today since I want to save  most of the rest of our home for all the up coming parties - see how dark it is in the family room?  No peaking!!  I can't wait to see how each of you has decorated your home for this so special season.

When you come in the front door the first thing that draws the eye is this so happy Santa with presents in hand.  I love his white boots,  gold and white jacket and gold pants.  Look at his gorgeous blue eyes - you just know he wants to grant your Christmas Wish!

Behind Santa is the foyer table that holds some festive Christmas decor.  The tree is at least 10 years old and came from Bombay.  It  has  a pineapple topper with crystal star on top, red and green glittery leaves, berries, pine cones all show cased in a  gold pot.

Did you notice the Rusty Angel Girl next to the tree?  She is new this year, and she has a friend in another room.  I love the look on her face, so serious but believes what she is praying for will happen - true faith.

Angel Girl is also next to a very pretty crystal vase filled we yummy smelling pine cones with glittery stars and balls....

and a JOY snow globe with a Frenchy looking clock... 

On the bottom shelf is some faux gifts and a Snowman on a sled... which ties in with another area, that I will show you later...

Next is a sneak peak at my Christmas present...I have been looking for a table to fill a empty corner of the family room....well I finally found one that would work and  told the Mister about it...and now it awaits the  Christmas Tree's corner to take up residence.  Now, for the give away...if you like the Angel Wings candle,  become a follower, or let me know you are and I will randomly pick a winner.  This is for the wings only - they stick in any wax candle. I will draw announce the winner this Friday by 4 est.

Toni

I will be joining these so fun parties:

Potpourri Friday

TTT

WOW

Open House

Sundays with Santa

What's It Wednesday

Feathered Nest Friday

Flaunt it Friday

Happy Thanksgiving

Liebster Award

Happy Tuesday.  I was given the Liebster Award from Peggy at Pear Tree Design.  Until I read her post about this award I was not sure how I felt about all the "awards" that are pasted around blog land.  Peggy wrote that she loves awards since then she knows someone is reading her post/blog.  I never thought about it like that.  I am not one of those big blogs that generates 100's of comments on the smallest think I post, so yes,  these awards to confirm that someone thinks enough of my blog to post a link to mine.  Thanks so much Peggy for thinking of me.

This award is to showcase up and coming blogs with less then 200 followers.

The rules are to post and copy the award to your blog, thank and link back to the person who gave you the award and pick 5 more blogs and leave them a comment.



Here are my picks:

Mtashie at The Place

Robin at Happily Home After

Zuni at Chickadee Home Nest

Shirley at Zelda's Apron

Chrissy at Roses, Rhubard, and Pearls

Hope you wonderful ladies enjoy your awards - I enjoy each of your blogs and always look forward to a new post.

I will be off line till after Thanksgiving.  I truly hope everyone has a blessed day with family and friends - and has that extra piece of pie!

Toni





Last years Sales..

Hello Friends!  I just could not wait any longer!  No not  full blown Christmas Decorating, but it was time to let this new treasure out of the basement.  Last year for four weeks I looked at this so cute, fully, girly decorated tree.  I wanted it. Bad. But, it has pink and purple.  Not good when I am the only girl in the house, but it also had this...

Yes, that shows half price, and this was days before Christmas.  OK, so I was not that in love.  Here is a picture of the whole tree.

So cute and girly. 

See told you it was cute!  Pink and purple...so not the colors I have used for Christmas before, but this year it will be in a corner of the kitchen.  Want to know what I paid?

Yes I saved $225 by waiting till after Christmas!  So what did you buy after Christmas that was a super bargin?


I will be joining:
Linda for NTT
Maureen for Sundays with Santa

Forcing Bulbs for Christmas

Hello everyone!  I am getting so excited to start my Christmas Decorations, but I will wait till after Thanksgiving.  In the mean time I have been "drawing" up my plans for this years decoration.  I have not forced bulbs in a few years, so I have made that part of my plan.  Back in September I bought both Paper Whites and Red Tulips to use this year.  The tulips have been in the fridge as they must chill or they will not bloom.  The Paper Whites do not require "chill" time.  Here is what I used to plant the Paper Whites.

A couple of glass containers, a couple bags of rocks and dyed moss, a open metal vase and of course the bag of Paper Whites.  This little project is also thrifty.  A bag of seven bulbs was $4.88, the rocks and moss where a couple of dollars each, the metal vase, a GW find, was a dollar as was the glass containers. I also used a couple of plastic grocery bags for the open vase. Very inexpensive for the "wow" factor they will deliver. Plus, the  price at the florist for forced bulbs being around $20 a bloom, this is a big bang for the buck!

As you can see my bulbs have already started to sprout.  For the glass containers I just put in about 3-4 inches of rocks the pushed a bulb a couple of inches into the rock then added water to just below this level.  Here is how they looked when I was done.

They already look pretty!  I will most likely add ribbon to dress it up later on. Planting in the open metal vase was a little messy, but still easy and will really be beautiful on the buffet in the dining room.

Here I just spread my red moss around the sides,  added two plastic bags to the middle then placed the bulbs close together.  They do like to be crowded.

Next I just added moss to the top and watered.

So easy!  One thing I learned from an elderly neighbor years ago was to water your bulbs with a mix of 7 parts water to 1 part white (rum, vodaka) alcohol.  This will stunt the growth of the stem, but not the flowers.  You will not have to worry about the Paper Whites falling over.  This does not effect the blooms.

If you have never forced blooms before I hope this makes you want  to give it a try - the will not disappoint!

I will be joining these fun parties:
 Susan for Met Monday
Erin for HomeMade Monday
Kristen for Tuesdays Treasures
Linda for Nifty Thrify Tuesday
Sherry for Open House

Guest Room

Hello all.  I thought I would share one of my guest rooms.  When we moved in I let my Mom design it as I expected her to visit more often.  After six years I am ready for a change.  For the last month or so I have been gathering things to give it an updated look.  I hope to have it completed in the next couple of weeks.  In the mean time, here is how it looks now.

This good is good size, about 15 X 13 with the bathroom in the room,  it has some interesting angles, as you can here.  This is looking in from the hallway.  Full morning sun streaming in.

The hardest part about redoing this room is the bedding.  I love four poster beds, but the mattress sits so high that bed skirts have to be made custom for it.  The skirt on this bed has to have a 22" drop, standard is 15".  This bedding my Mom picked out from JCP, then she altered the skirt.  Once again I  regret not letting her teach me to sew.  She is 75 now, and probably would alter another for me,  but I know it would be a hardship for her.

Next to the bed is this little glass top table.  I love the bling lamp, it is so cute.  I found the fan and kimono at Cost Plus, along with the large fan over the bed.

On the wall across from the bed and next to the bathroom I have the dresser.  On top is a Asia doll/figure that my Mom found. In a old humidor  I arranged some poppy's and artichokes, I thought it had a Asian feel.

The above picture is looking straight into the bathroom.  I really love the shower curtain with all the beading. It also was found at JCP.  On the back of the toilet I have a candle wrapped in bamboo stalks.

On the wall across from the tolet, I have these little plaques with Chinesse symbols for love, happines, harmony and family.  Underneath is the towel rack, love the fringe on these towels.

On the side of the room with the toilet is the vanity.

Here are a couple more shots showing some of the art work.

These two prints I found for a dollar each at Walmart, then picked up the frames for $2 each - very thrify and still fits the theme.

  Since starting this blog I have learned you need to take a picture to see how something really looks.  Looking over this post the room seems kinda empty, which looking at it in real life it does not.

Well I hope you enjoyed the tour of our main guest room. I love all your comments, thanks for taking the time to leave them.

You will find me at these fun parties:

Susan for Met Monday
Kim for Wow us Wednesday