Wishing You All a Very Merry Christmas!

May the joy of the season be with you always!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Thank you to The Graphics Fairy!

All Through the House

Hey everyone!  This will be my final post for the year, so it's basically just some random shots taken here and there around the house and outside, too.  I'm feeling a bit burned out, I'm sure I'm not the only one, and decided now was a good time to take a breather.  Anyhoo, now for some randomness!

I'm trying a new place for our cards this year.  I like it, but Abby keeps knocking them down...lol!

I've seen several ways that people reuse or recycle their Christmas cards, but I like to keep them and reminisce over years gone by.  I turn ours into simple little booklets by punching a couple of holes in each card & binding them together with rings.  I then tie a ribbon around each bundle and attach a tag with the year.  They just become part of my Christmas decor.

I am so addicted to linens and most especially the seasonal ones!

I didn't do much holiday decorating in my craft room, but I did add just a couple of little things.

This sweet little porcelain deer had belonged to my sweet MIL, and it's quite old......just like some other things around here.....lol! 

Red berries and cotton stems -- love how this looks!

This is one of my favorite places to decorate seasonally.  I made the snowflakes last year and just added some lights.  I'm not great at chalk art, but it's still fun to leave a message on this chalkboard.

These plates are melamine and have been used in the past for the grands' table.  More cotton stems finish it all off.

This chalkboard is in my laundry room.  Yep, such an artist....NOT!

I always like to do a little something in the main/guest bathroom.

A yarn cone tree (from last year), candle and lamp sitting on a silver charger, and some fun hand & fingertip towels (from many years ago) are all that's needed in here.

Outside is super-simple this year, too.  We decided not to do the eave lights, but I did reuse the wreaths from last year around each of the exterior lights.

I've been using this wreath inside for several years and decided to move it to the front door.

I am happy to say that I did not purchase one single new Christmas decoration this year, and I have really been enjoying the more scaled down and simpler look.  Who knows what next year may bring!

As I mentioned earlier, this is my last post of the year.  I'm excited to really enjoy the rest of the holidays, just being with my family.  I wish all of you a wonderful and 

VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Down Through the Chimney

Hey everyone!  I hope y'all had a wonderful weekend.  We had a nice rain early Saturday morning, which left the air smelling so fresh and clean.  I'm sure it also gave those very thirsty trees in Christmas tree lots all over town, a much needed drink -- poor things have been waiting for the perfect home since Black Friday, to show off their beauty!  The Man and I had a little holiday event to attend, a bit of shopping, but mainly just chill-axing with Christmas music playing.  I only have 2 more posts to share before I wrap-up things for the holidays.  Today I thought I'd share our family room, or as I like to call it, our hearth room.  Come on in.

Actually, Santa couldn't get down through this chimney, but he could come in any door and warm up by the fire.  I'm surprised Abby isn't on her little heated pad -- she loves her spot here in front of the fireplace!

I kept things very simple on the mantel.

Love having my little "grands'" photo cubes hanging from the garland.

A close-up of the photo cubes that I made several years ago!

I always find a special place to hang this little sock.  It was a gift for The Man from his aunt when he was 5 years old.  It had a silver dollar inside.  I've always been afraid to wash it, but it is looking pretty scroungy.

I made our stockings last year out of drop cloth. 

Love these red, battery-operated, timer candles!

The Man's nutcracker collection.  I haven't found one I like so far this year.

The basket is holding some faux garland & pinecones with a string of lights on the bottom.  It gives such a nice glow at night.

Got this wooden Santa at GW several years ago.

Now he's just cute!

Have had the little wooden train for years -- from McFrugal's, I think.  The handmade runner is from Peru & was a gift from The Man on his trip this past Fall.

Burlap goes well with any and everything!

Now, if the real fire is too much for you, this DVD is the answer.  It plays beautiful Christmas music with the sounds of a crackling fire in the background.

Okay, on to some "Nanna bragging!"  

Most of you will recognize the "strange" man on the poster -- yes, Alice Cooper.  He lives here in the Valley of the Sun and puts on a concert every year to benefit The Solid Rock Teen Center that he established several years ago for "At Risk Teens."  This year he reached out to the gymnastics' center where my granddaughter, Taylor, is very active.  Cooper wanted a few girls who could perform some specific routines for the dance part of his concert.  Long-story, short -- our granddaughter (on the left) was one of the five girls chosen.

Beautiful girls, but I'm rather partial to the one on the left!  The girls had been practicing like crazy, but one of the girls hurt her back, and Taylor was asked to take over her part.  She had 2 weeks to learn a whole new routine, but she met the challenge and soared!

Taylor is our oldest granddaughter, by about a minute....lol!  Here she is with her twin sister, Riley.

Riley isn't into gymnastics.  She is our animal lover, most especially horses!  I just love this photo!

Well, let's call this a "wrap," but you may just get the thrill of another post from me today (or tomorrow).  Hope you are enjoying the holidays!

 

Sugar Plums are Dancing

Hey everyone!  Are y'all surviving the Christmas chaos?  I don't care how hard you try, this time of year just seems to race by and leaves most of us wondering what happened.  I hope each and everyone of you can find the time to just "breathe" and "be in the moment."  After all, it is the most wonderful time of year!  Today I'm sharing a tour of my kitchen.  I spend a lot of time in this room and even more time walking past it on the way to my craft room, so I like to add lots of whimsy and color.  Grab a cup of something, and come take the tour with me.

I love having something pretty on the island.

What could be more simple than apothecary jars filled with bright, colorful ornies?

       

   

I always like to have a wreath on the pantry door and seasonal aprons hanging near by.  

    

I have not purchased ANYTHING new for Christmas this year, but I did make 

2 of these pompom snowmen.

Talk about whimsical......this little tree is about as happy as an itty-bitty tree can be!

This is the same tray I used for my Fall dishes.  The Santa cookie jar (sitting on a stack of small BHG plates from Walmart a few years ago) & the teapot were purchased from Lillian Vernon about 35 years ago.  It's just not Christmas in my kitchen until these two treasures make their appearance.

I'm just lovin' my roly-poly pompom Santas!

Some holiday stainless is close at hand for setting the table.

I decided to keep my cotton stems out for awhile and simply added red berry stems.

Coffee, tea, & hot chocolate!

If this holly-jolly little guy is waiting to hold some cookies, he will be very disappointed.

Betty Crocker is not coming here this year!

I'm lovin' my turquoise crockery pieces......a bit of greenery, red berries & ribbon make me smile!

Well, no, not really!

Above the cabinet decor got very simplified this year.

Getting up on the big ladder is becoming less appealing with each passing year!

Top of fridge......son's cookbook is a permanent item!

Well, that wraps up the kitchen tour.  I do hope you enjoyed yourself.  I have a few more spaces to share and will be doing that very soon.  Remember to be kind to yourself during this hectic and chaotic time, and just "breathe."

I sometimes like to party with these lovely bloggers:

Monday

Cindy at Dwellings--The Heart of Your Home for Amaze Me Monday

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Mondays

Tuesday

Maria Elena at Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at Our Home

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life  for Inspire Me Tuesday

Leslie at House on the Way for Twirl & Take a Bow

Mary Beth at Cupcakes and Crinoline for Project Inspired

Wednesday

Suzy at Worthing Court for The Scoop

Karin at The Style Sisters for Centerpiece Wednesday

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Before and After Wednesday

Thursday

Kelly at Live Laugh Rowe for Live Laugh Linky Party

Richella at Imparting Grace for Grace at Home

Pamela at From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday

Friday

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Anything Blue Friday

Jody & Stan at Rooted in Thyme for Simple and Sweet Fridays 

Amanda at Serenity Now for Weekend Bloggy Reading