'Twas the LIGHT before Christmas....

I did it...a clever title....hahahahaha!

Okay not so clever...I try.  But I do think some of my holiday decorating is clever.  For the mere fact that it is relatively inexpensive, super easy to put up and makes a pretty big impact!

Several months ago I featured a few light fixtures I spruced up with a little paint...my dining light being one of them!

View fullsize

It is a tad more "traditional" than my current design tastes, but as I pointed out it is one of my favorite things to decorate during the holidays.

In the fall, it gets a simple fall garland....

View fullsize

And of course, Christmas....

View fullsize

A strand of plain ole' green garland, stick in a few berry picks, and then maybe a few hanging ornaments.  This year I added some white picks and some little "crystal" doodads I got on clearance at the fabric store last year.  

This year I didn't change out the shades.  I have a set I bought on clearance and painted gold.  One year I am going to cover them in plaid or paint them red...maybe add some beaded edging...something.  But it isn't on my list of things to do this year so...whatev.

Simple.  Inexpensive.  Big impact.  Perfect. 

Simple decorations for the cabinets...

Last week I featured the Christmas lighting above my kitchen cabinets.

When I added the Christmas lights, I felt like I should spruce it up a bit for the holidays. 

View fullsize

Fortunately I had some left over ornaments, glass beads and some berry stems I usually just stick in a crystal vase!

Since I was adding glass beads and ornaments to the vase, I decided to put the berry picks in something to hold them in place, as well as take up a little space.  I used a paper towel roll cut down to size, stuck the berry picks in the roll and then I poured the beads and smaller ornaments around it!  

View fullsize

The last few years I have been buying the Southern Living holiday cookbooks for my daughter and myself.  They have some great recipes and they are great for displaying because the covers are so festive and beautiful. I display the most current on a plate holder on my counter and the others are displayed on top of my cabinets....

View fullsize

View fullsize

HINT!  When you are taking down your decorations after the season, use a sharpie, ziplock bags and masking tape to label where everything goes....put all the beads and ornaments in bags, use tape on garland, wreaths and bunches of picks and sprays, and mark the underside of all your display pieces. 

There is no reason to break the bank when decorating for the holidays.  Use what you have.  Shop after the season clearance and garage sales.  You would be surprised what you can buy for practically nothing!

I bought all these ornaments and the little metal trees on 90% clearance in MARCH last year!!!  I bought boxes of holiday glass beads on 75% clearance at Pier 1 several years ago. And of course the holiday cookbooks are something I have been collecting for the last few years...but they are also something I see all the time at garage sales...for pennies!

I buy seasonal decor throughout the year...on clearance, at garage sales and auctions and then I stick them up in the attic.  Every year I add one or two little elements...trust me, before you know it you will have more than you know what to do with! 

Cabin fever....

We are on day 4 of a winter storm.  The sleet and ice came in Thursday, followed by about 8 inches of snow Friday. High temperatures in the low 20s so nothing is melting.

Day one isn't so bad because of the anticipation and I knew I was prepared. Day two is okay because it is so nice to wake up and know you have no where to go (and couldn't get there if you did).  Fire is cozy. Chili and soup in the crock pot. Maybe a batch of chocolate chip cookies.

Day three I start to get a little stir crazy...but there were a few good football games on so it wasn't horrible.  Pretty much a typical Saturday without an auction!

But by today, I was done with this stuff!  I had Brian take me to Walgreens and Target just so I could do some non-essential coupon shopping!!  And as soon as the leftover chili and soup had been served for lunch, the rest went in the garbage disposal. 

The only highlight today was a small spike in the temperatures...a whooping 30 degrees!  But that was enough for Katie, Brandon and his girlfriend Taylor to get out and make a snow man.....

View fullsize

And the Ginger dog even got in on the action.

No school tomorrow...and the roads are still pretty bad!  It's days like this I am reminded why I have to live somewhere with four seasons!  As much as I love Colorado, I don't think I could do this for 6 straight months!!!

Adding a little Christmas lighting to your kitchen....

I always admire all the decor some people put on top of their kitchen cabinets!  But other than a few pieces of crystal and a few VERY old bottles of wine, I really don't do a lot.

As a matter of fact, I had so severely neglect my cabinet tops, the grease and gunk had run amuck.  Then I saw this nifty idea on Pinterest about putting wax paper down and I featured that little chore here several months ago. Before Thanksgiving, I changed out the wax paper and wiped down the crown molding.  I was soooo proud of myself for actually following through with the plan!

Anywho, the tops of my cabinets usually get neglected during the holidays as well.  But I had a lot of "leftover"  stuff and I am so in love with my UNDER cabinet lights that I decided to give the tops of my cabinets a little festive facelift!

Stringing lights without the ugliness of extension cords is really not that hard.  I decided the best place to hide an extension cord is through the cabinet above my refrigerator. It is a small cabinet with little use and the refrigerator would hide the cord! 

View fullsize

The first thing I had to do was move the fridge so I could drill a hole in the underside of the cabinet.  Okay, seriously, move your fridge a few times a year and clean!  I do at least once a year and still had this nastiness under my refrigerator!

View fullsize

After moving the fridge and sweeping up the nastiness, drill a hole big enough for an extension cord to pass through in the underside of your cabinet and another one directly above it on the top of the cabinet.  I used a hole saw attached to my drill. (Seriously, I am not left handed...I just can't take a picture with my camera while holding the drill with my right hand!)

View fullsize

View fullsize

String the extension cord through the holes leaving the end you will plug your lights into (the "female" end) on top of the cabinets. 

View fullsize

I used a strand of small white lights. I SERIOUSLY advise you to test the lights BEFORE you string them out!  Nothing is more frustrating than doing all this work only to find that your lights don't work!

I just strung them out and laid them on top of the cabinets...really no need to "anchor" them.  

I attached one of my "remote plugs" to the extension cord so I could use my little remote clicker to turn the lights on and off. You can buy the remotes at Lowe's.  They usually come with three plugins and a remote clicker. Neat little devices that let you turn your lights on and off with a click of a button so you don't have to climb behind your trees! On some of my decor I use timers...but I don't want the trees or these lights on a timer so I used the remote!

After adding your timer or remote to the extension cord and plugging in your lights, plug the extension cord into the outlet behind the refrigerator and move it back into place. 

View fullsize

After my son-in-law installed my under counter lighting (featured here) I decided I might-kinda-eventually want some lighting above my cabinets. Now I am convinced.

But for the season, the little Christmas lights will do.  And since I was putting up festive lights I had to give some of my crystal a little festive uplift as well.  I will feature that, and a few other little "Christmas pops," in the near future!

Again, soooo simple...big impact...inexpensive! 

First Winter Storm....

View fullsize

We normally don't get hit this hard this early.  But the ice started falling around 11 this morning and we are expecting up to 8" of snow tonight!

For the northerners or mid-westerners, this might not seem like a lot.  But a few inches of snow in Northwest Arkansas can grind our lives to a halt.  School was cancelled last night before an ice pellet ever hit the ground and the grocery stores were packed!

The bird feeders are full, fire wood is stacked by the door, fridge is stocked and the truck is in the garage...I'm ready!

View fullsize

Perfect time of the year to enjoy a cozy evening by the fire!!!

Something old, something new, something borrowed

Something BLUE!!!!

No, not a wedding...CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS!!!!

I kind of look at my heirloom pieces as my "borrowed" since I will eventually pass them along to one of the kids!  And of course I always have my "old" decorations from years past!

This wreath on Pinterest was my inspiration for one of my "something news".... (click on the photo and it will take you to the website with a tutorial!)

I love it and I wanted a wreath to hang over my funky little mid-century leaf clock in the living room.  I wanted to do blue and silver but I guess the "soft blue" isn't in this year so I couldn't find any small light blue ornaments. This is what I ended up with....

View fullsize

A grapevine wreath, crystal covered stick garland, dried baby's breath and ornaments. And a LOT of hot glue!  Mine's a little "fluffier" but I like the fullness of it!

Since I had garland, baby's breath and ornaments leftover, I decided to use it on the fall box I featured here....

View fullsize

All I did was remove the "fall" foliage and sunflowers and stick the Christmasy stuff in it. I am contemplating putting some lights in it but for now I think it is pretty as it is!

View fullsize

And since I had a few of the blue ornaments packed away from last year, I have my "something blue!"

As I have mentioned, I am not really into the  "vintage" decor stuff.  But I like little bits of it here and there. This little box is turning out to be a handy little decorating element...super easy to change with the seasons.  I think in the spring I will stick some daffodils in it and then maybe some big yellow sunflowers in the summer...the possibilities are endless.  My kind of decorating!!!

And while I am at it, I will share my other "new."  Every year when Brian and I go to Colorado I try to pick up a little something Christmasy in one of the many little shops in Georgetown or Breckenridge.  This year it was these little guys...

View fullsize

Little snow birds. Perfect!

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.....

I'm linking up with The Humble Brag!!!

The most important tradition of all...giving!

If we are smart, we set budgets for our Christmas giving.  

So before we get too far into the season, I want to challenge each and every one of you to budget for a very special gift!  The gift of "random acts of giving."

For years our family participated in the Angel Tree...and I still think it is an important thing to do as a family.  But several years ago I decided that I wanted to make an immediate impact on as many people as I could.

Random acts of giving...

Every year I put 5 $20 bills in my wallet.  When I "hear" a tug, I give one away to a complete stranger.

I've given them to Sonic car hops, strangers in line at the gas station, a small child in the checkout line at the grocery store....whenever my heart says "give." 

Trust me...if you listen very carefully, your heart will tell you the person to give it to. And trust me, it will be a person who desperately needs it.

Take the challenge....

Merry Christmas!

View fullsize

Traditions....pajamas!

There are a few traditions you just don't mess with.  Katie reminded me of this last year when I contemplated changing the colors on my bannister wreaths from gold and red to blue and silver.  Gold and red are traditionally the colors I decorate with during the holiday season.

She isn't old enough to remember when I switched from silver and red. And she doesn't seem to mind that most of my Christmas wrapping is now silver and blue rather than red and gold.  

In her mind, you don't mess with "traditional decorations."  

So when I did my "traditional" decorating on the Friday after Thanksgiving, I pretty much stuck with the tried and true...the red and gold "traditional" colors, with a few little "changes" here and there.  I know burlap and chevron and "vintage" decor is all the rage, but I'll just stick with "tradition."

Over the next few weeks I will feature a few simple decorating ideas that may help you start your own decorating traditions! I try to keep it "timeless."  In other words, I tend to avoid the "fads."  Makes it easy to decorate year after year and it is a heck of a lot cheaper than buying all new decor every year. 

Traditions are important. 

The few years I didn't do the traditional Christmas eve pajamas I heard about it.  

This tradition started when my kids where younger and insisted on opening "just one present" on Christmas eve.  I don't do gifts on Christmas eve, but they were little and impatient.  So I started getting Christmas pajamas and that was what they opened Christmas eve.  

The older they got, the more fun it became to find the perfect Christmas pajamas!

The down side is I make everyone shower and primp Christmas morning and then put their pajamas back on for pictures.  All that has to be done BEFORE we open gifts.  For "little guys" that can be a drag but I think the older "kids" appreciate the fact that once a year we get an awesome picture of our entire family...all decked out in pajamas...lol!!!

View fullsize

This was the ONLY year Mitchell couldn't make it home because of a bowl game!  I mailed a "stocking box" with his pajamas to his hotel!

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

I have no idea what Katie is laughing about! But the boys are always doing silly things so it is a wonder we ever get a straight smile in any picture of all of us!

View fullsize

I have hundreds of these pictures...and even now going through them to find a few to feature is so much fun!!  

Yes, traditions are important.

More importantly, it is never too late to start a new tradition...after all, it has to start sometime!

A week to give thanks....

It is a shame so many people limit themselves to ONE day of "thanksgiving."  We should be thankful for every day and every person who touches our lives!  EVERY day!

Thanksgiving should be the day we celebrate the things and people we are thankful for!!

It is no secret I am thankful for my family.  And tomorrow I will celebrate with the people I am most thankful for! 

I have featured my grandparent's china here and here.  But I have never featured one of my FAVORITE pieces I inherited from my Great-grandmother. A turkey platter!  I remember my great-grandmother serving our turkey dinner on this platter the years we spent the holiday with them in Dallas.

I forgot to feature it in "My Favorite Things" because I normally store it on the top of my cabinets and only thought of it when we needed it to serve the turkey!

That was a mistake.  I am so thankful for my family...past and present...and from this day forward it will be displayed with all the other family heirlooms I have inherited!

View fullsize

Make an effort to incorporate a "family treasure" in your holiday celebrations.  Even if it is just a tiny token.  

After all, if it were not for them, we would not be here to celebrate with our family and loved one.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!  

Christmas stockings....

I can't believe it is time to start featuring Christmas decor.  I have been trying to get my son to take "professional" pictures of my fall decor so I can feature it, but time is running out.  In a week, it will all come down and the Christmas will go up! 

This week has just flown by!  I'm still in "Monday mode."  But I have had 3 vacancies in the last week and my new on-site manager is just moving in, so I have been working every day.

Last night I got to go to "teen court."  Interesting process.  My baby daughter had a little fender bender in her new car.  Didn't hurt the other car, but it deployed her airbag. Any idea how much one of those puppies cost?  A pretty penny, but not as much as it would cost long term to claim it on insurance. So she has to pay 1/2 the cost of the repairs and the worst...her car has sat in the driveway for two months.  

Anywho...teen court.  She pled guilty to "careless driving" Tuesday and agreed to go to "teen court" last night. She had to get up on the stand and a "jury" of 6 of her peers asked her questions about school, work, the accident, driving record, etc.  Then they "deliberate" and hand down the sentence.  She got 10 hours of community service, a defensive driving course and 4 weeks of "jury duty."  Nice little lesson. 

So in my tiny bit of spare time I have been doing a little sewing.  Again, not my favorite thing to do but I had a little leftover burlap and fabric and wanted to make something special for Christmas.  

View fullsize

As I have mentioned, chevron and burlap are not necessarily my "decorating tastes" but I knew these would look cute in my flea booth.  And both are really popular right now. I have to admit, I really think these turned out cute!

View fullsize

One of my favorite things on these stockings are the little "tags."  I made them out of large paint stir sticks.  First I cut the sticks in 4" pieces. I painted one side and the edges a festive color (red on some, teal on a few), painted the other side with chalkboard paint, drilled a whole in the end and tied them on each stocking with festive ribbon.  Cute....

I made a few extra chalkboard tags to sell by themselves. I think they would be neat to tie on a big gift....maybe one too big to wrap...like a bike or Barbie house!  Or someone could add them to their own stockings! 

The stockings are one of the "Pinterest" projects I tagged eons ago. Not a hard project and takes very little fabric.  And as always, if you can sew a straight stitch, you can make one!