Happy New Year 2011!

We are off, in just a bit, to begin celebrating the arrival of 2011 with some friends. But before I go, I wanted to wish you all a happy New Year.  I plan to spend some quiet time tomorrow reflecting on my resolutions which I will (of course) post about!

I hope that 2011 brings joy and blessings to us all!

DeChristmafication

As we have been traveling during the Christmas holidays this year,  I finally get to start tackling the official deChristmafication process tomorrow.  Actually, as OCD as it may be, I have had to fight an urge to go home early from our trip just to start!  I love Christmas decorations, but I hate putting them away from a practical standpoint and just want to get it over with ASAP after the presents have been opened, but this year that didn't happen. 

One thing I am doing this year to ease my pain, is to get new storage containers for our gazillion ornaments.  Really, I am excited about this!  I have been shopping for a month for just the right containers.  I have found a couple like the one above and to the left that are just what I have been looking for.

But if I had some real spare change, I would get these from Frontgate because....well, because they are just so darned pretty! Frontgate Plaid Ornament Storage 

New Years!

When I woke up this morning I had that feeling.  That feeling is that little stirring of excitement I feel over the New Year and the possibilities that it represents.  I feel almost like a child, excited about this figurative fresh start.  I feel a surge of energy to tackle new projects and organize old ones.  I get just giddy about making lists and tackling new challenges.  I am coming to the realization that New Years just makes me happy!  Now, I am off to think about my resolutions and what I want this New Year to look like...

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, dear friends! 

I am so grateful for the fun and friendship you bring to my life.   

Motorcycles and Christmas

A few months ago, I wrote about the ESAB partnership with Orange County Choppers and at the Christmas party I actually got to "meet" the bike up close and personal. 

Cats in a Box

Merry Christmas from Thomas No Pants and
 Emelda No Shoes

Christmas in Charleston

We took a break from all the busy, hectic, must be, must do and snuck off to Charleston on Sunday afternoon.  It was a much needed break and great time spent just with the 5 of us.  Here are some pictures I took of our day:

 Our day started with a visit with the man in red.  My sweet DS2 asked for a Chess set for Christmas and Santa informed us that no one had asked for one of those this year! 

 This lovely gentleman was seen wandering downtown.

 Ahh...empty sidewalks

 Now if this isn't a brilliant marketing strategy I don't know what is!

Simple and Beautiful

 Shopping in Charleston...LOVE it!

 Even with the cold weather we have had lately, there were beautiful blooms to be found.

 There is just something about that water.

 peeking...

Merry Christmas!

Cupcake Poppers...GREAT for Christmas!

I have been seeing these everywhere...in the bakery and grocery store bakeries as well!  So cute!!!!  I can't wait to try these, especially when I saw how easy they are. 

Check out this video with the "how to":

 



Touches of Christmas, Outside.

Yesterday I was out in the cold and snapped a couple of photos of some of our outside decor:

 I love using natural greenery from around the yard (thrifty, thrifty!) to decorate!

 Of course, the light post had to have a bow.

and Emelda No Shoes keeps watch over it all.

Merry Christmas from Heidi! My 1st Guest Post!

A few weeks ago I introduced my friend Heidi on my blog through her wonderful fall decorations. I got so many comments and emails wanting to see more of sweet Heidi and her house that I asked her to do my very first guest post!  I am so excited to have Heidi sharing her feelings about Christmas and also touring us through a few of her beautiful decorations!




Heidi
Photo by Sarah McClendon Photography

  "I love Christmas time! I love it for the obvious reasons - presents, food, parties and family get togethers. The main reason though is that Christmas is the time of year we celebrate the birth of Jesus!!! We celebrate a little baby being born in a barn…not an ordinary baby though. This baby was born to save us from our sins. Though I know why He was born in a stable with mangy, dirty animals, I just cannot help it; I wonder what that barn would have been decorated like if they knew that the Savior of the world was to be born there. Would there have been any great finds from the local TJ Maxx (yes, I’m a Maxxinista!)? Or gum drop garlands hanging from every stall? Maybe the decorator would have hit the half off sales. After all, Jesus was born in a barn to signify that He is accessible to ALL of us. Deals would have to be part of the charm right? Well, we all know that there weren’t any grand decorations or hoopla. None of it existed. But, oh how I love all of the hoopla, don’t you?

Normally, the thought of bringing 10,254 bins (just kidding-it’s only 10,253 bins) filled with stuff up from the basement would send me into a panic, but not THESE boxes. Nope, THESE boxes are the decoration I put up to celebrate what I KNOW is coming! So this year, when you bring out all of that “hoopla”, remember that this is YOUR contribution to the decoration of that ole, dirty barn. After all, we are decorating for a KING!"

"All wreaths and ribbon were bought at Carole's Southern Charm in Dawsonville, GA, several years ago. They really do look real-that's why I still paid about $20 for each wreath (at half off!) but it has been totally worth it. I've used them for about 6-7 years now. I made the bows on the wreaths. Get someone to teach you how to make bows-best crafty thing you will ever learn."

"I purchased this tree several years ago at TJ Maxx (yes, I truly am a Maxxinista!). It takes care of "outside" lights for us. I got the big red bells at Hobby Lobby. The tree also holds cinnamon sticks, grapevine stars (Hobby Lobby), and sprays from everywhere. I add some every year! Juicy tidbit: this tree STAYS decorated. We just carry it around to the garage on the side of the house and put it in the basement. No, I feel no remorse about doing this, EVER.

The sleigh was bought at Wal-mart several years ago-it's so old, it LOOKS old!! My sister gave me the glass jar filled with birdseed and wrapped with berry garland several years ago. Gives me that nice outdoorsy, old fashioned look that I love. The Santa Crossing sign is one of my FAVORITE finds ever. Was doing some after Christmas Shopping (yes, again) at an antique shop and found this treasure. I just attach it to the tree using floral wire. Stocking another great sign from Dondee Hicks."

Come on inside!

"We are not art collectors, but this horse left us "speechless" when we saw him. He was not one of our bargain pieces, but he was worth every penny. He just lights up the room. I have two garlands on the mantle. One is just plain fake greenery. I wrapped LOTS of white lights around that and then added the beautiful gold poinsettia garland on top of that. That beauty was purchased at an after Christmas sale at Duck Duck Goose in Dacula"

"Where do I start?? This tree is a compilation of many after Christmas sales. I honestly don't think I have paid full price for any ornament on my tree! Even the white frosted balls were bought at K-mart the day after Christmas one year. They are Martha Stewart; that's why they are so fabulous!"

"Another half off sale after Christmas. I bought tons of these at a store in Dacula too. My Christmas theme is "outdoorsy with a posh twist" Reindeer also abound. Love those little guys! It's funny because when I bought these feather balls, we didn't have our puppy. Turns out our puppy is a duck hunting dog and these drive him (and me) crazy!"

"I love my kitchen-it has a fabulous area to display some great pieces, as it's the center of the downstairs.  The book, "The Night Before Christmas" is displayed on an wrought iron picture easel.  Just put your favorite (pretty) book on any plate stand and it instantly becomes a pretty piece of art.  The pottery plate was made by me and my son when he was 5 and still agreeable to such things!  It's the most precious thing I have ever made-took a while to get all of those thumbprints but I sure am glad to have them.  You can take everyday items like my ivy plant, add a Christmas bow and you have instant Christmas glamour."

~ Heidi

Linked to Kelly's Korner: Show Us Your Life - Christmas Tour,
The Nester's Christmas Tour of Homes,

My uncommon Slice of Suburbia: Tuesday Treasures

White House Christmas

I love Christmas specials on TV.  It takes me back to being a kid and eagerly awaiting those few Christmas specials on our 3 channels!  But, as an adult, one of my favorite Christmas specials each year is HGTV's White House Christmas tour. I love to see how it all comes together and how each year differs from the last (oh, and dream that one day I can be part of the decorating crew!) 

I even have my kids totally hooked on it (which makes it easier for me to commandeer the TV when it comes on!!!).  We will even put a little sticky note up next to the TV to remind us of when/where is scheduled to air.  Well, tonight is the night!  8:00 PM - BE THERE! 

22 Years

Can it have been 22 years already? 

Where does the time go???  It was a cold December day, 22 years ago, that I walked down the aisle to become Mrs. DH!  What a journey we find ourselves traveling, together...

Welcome to THE Dining Room!

What can I say!  The Dining Room project has come to an end and I am sooooo glad.  We finished up just in time to enjoy spending Thanksgiving in there, and promptly began Christmas decorating so I didn't manage to get any photos without the decorations.  I hope you will appreciate a little before and after fun!

Welcome to our before dining room

(the first couple of "before" shots were the ones sent to me via email

 when my DH found the house):



The BEFORE.....



the AFTER!

Another BEFORE...

 and... 



    

AFTER!

Here are more detail changes, before....

I thought we were going to have to replace the chandelier...

but the shades made it a keeper!





These window treatments were re-purposed from our last house.  They were too short for the height I wanted to hang them, so I found a remnant (literally the end of a bolt) of raw silk in just the right color, cut it into 4 equal strips and added it onto the bottom with some coordinating trim.  Presto!  I now have  NEW, custom drapes!  Hot glue is your friend!!!! I also used the drapes to recover the chairs.

Here are a few more  random shots of our "new" dining room!

 We still have a few things we want to add to the dining room...a BIG rug, just to name one, but I will have to find just the right one so that may take a few months!  Now, I am off to tackle more Christmas decorating and to start planning our next project!

Tally:

Primer/paint/Spackle/sand paper, etc. $175.00

Hole Patch kit $ 15.00

Electrical receptacles/covers/supplies $ 30.00

Shades for Chandelier $ 45.00

Curtain $ 79.00

Window Treatment supplies (fabric/trim) $ 17.00

 Total Cost for Project: $361.00

For more fun reads check out:

Linked to Hooked on Houses Holiday Tour Week 1
and

Metamorphasis Monday

Stories of a House: Project Diaries, Volume 12

Southern Hospitality's Top Projects