Christmas is over!?!?! Oh well, 2011, here we come!!!!

Santa has done his job, and done it well. It's time to say goodbye to Christmas. Where did the time go? I'm still listening to Christmas music as I write this post. I'm just not sure if I'm ready to put it all away yet. I guess it is time to take down the holiday bling.

Everything will be looking so bare for while. But don't you just love how BIG your room seem when the tree is gone? Simplicity will rule the first few weeks of January in our home. What to put back up? What will I get back out of the cupboards? Is it way too soon for just a hint of flowers? I am SO ready for spring.

What will you be doing differently around your house in the new year? Now is the time to make some changes. Start the new year off with a fresh coat of paint. Maybe new towels and a rug for the bathroom. Before you put all the non-holiday stuff back. Take advantage of the open space. Be brave, do something around the house, you have always wanted to try. Come on......you know you want to.

A Christmas makeover

Want to do something fast with the kids that they will love?? Change your boring, white refrigerator into a happy snowman.

Most are magnets I already had. You can buy round magnets at any craft store. The 2 big eyes are just black construction paper with a flat, business card magnet glued behind them. No I did not paint on the scarf. It's dry erase maker!! My daughter thinks it's the "coolest" Christmas decoration in the house. Go ahead, after school, do it with the kids. Merry Christmas all.

The New Year....What will it bring??

Are you already thinking of what you want to do around the house after all the holiday decorations come down? A new coat of paint on the kitchen walls? Or maybe a new finish on the cabinets? What about the forgotten guest bathroom? When you were getting it ready for company this Christmas season, did you notice it could sure use a makeover?

Something as simply as a new shower curtain and new knobs on the vanity, can make all the difference in the world. A new coat of paint can brighten, or changing the color, can change the entire feel of the room. It doesn't have to be huge remodel or anything scary all at once. Changing out the counter can be a small project. How about a frame around that old mirror?

Change one thing in the room every week. One little thing. And before you know it....you will have a whole different room.

Images of this year's Christmas Tree

A copper wire and Spanish moss nest I made with a real, tiny egg our chickens dropped last year.

Lots of sparkle. As you will see, I have a thing for icicles.

I've been collecting them for years and now Michelle is really getting into the collection.

Vintage ornaments are my favorite.

And of course had to do a pink chenille throw for a tree skirt.

The tree itself, is a new addition this year. An awesome Salvation Army find!! Yep, prelit 7' tree for........get this, are you sitting down............

.........$20.00!!!!!!!
My favorite Christmas tree to date.
Merry Christmas everyone!

Updated Christmas mantel

Well after looking at so many other mantels, I felt that mine needed a little tweeking. So here is the finished product.

the tree will be coming here real soon. I'll have pics tonight, So happy Christmas decorating for now :)

Time to say goodbye to fall and Welcome Christmas

I never did get around to doing too much to my mantel for the fall. Put some feathers in a glass jar and of course put "Rockey" up there. Nonetheless, it's time to say goodbye and welcome Christmas.

Bye Rockey, see ya next year.

Oh, do I see a little shabby seaside theme coming into view??

Yes I do think so. Vintage ornaments, glass pieces and shells. Oh I think it's coming together.

A few of my favorite things tucked in to the vintage silver and white tinsel garland. A little glitter here and there.

Oh would that be a glitter cottage under glass. Why yes it is. This is a new tradition we have adopted, making glitter houses. Together, as a family, we make a new one every year. This was our first attempt 2 years ago. A little pink cottage.

This was last Christmas' addition. A little white chapel. Who knows what we will do this year. Any suggestions?

I think the branches on the right side are missing something. What do you think?

I have had this angel for years. She is made of tin and hold a candle inside. I made these feather trees years ago.

That's what the right side needed. A little more pink.

Well it took me a few hours to clean off the old fall and welcome Christmas, but it's done and I am happy.