Friday, December 28, 2012

The Fun Just Never Ends!!

UGH ... the kids ALL have the stomach flu ... they have been barfing since Christmas Eve ... today is December 28th ... and instead of being lil' dears and being sick for the same 12 hours ... they have been stringing it out. ... i.e. one gets better, the next one says, "I don't feel very good ..."  I have not slept soundly for 96 hours ... I have not left this house for 96 hours ...



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So in between loads of laundry and holding the lil' darling's hair out of their face while they puke in the toilet, I'm going to download a few more Christmas pics ... mmmkay? ... here we go....



I had to redeem myself from the last post when I showed you my half decorated porch tree (I ran out of red ornaments) and apparently EVERY STORE ran out of red ornaments so I supplemented with lime green ...


Look how much snow we got! YAY!


These were the gifts that we gave the neighbors this year ... a bag of Christmas potpourri ... cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and orange, and a lemon ... simmer it on your stove and YUM... smells sooooo good ...


HA! Do you see the message scrawled on my hand?  That's MY smartphone .. writing notes on my palm ... very efficient ...


This Christmas Tree is made from strips of fabric I had leftover from other projects ... and curtains ...


I made these Christmas Stockings from Home Depot drop cloths ... stay tuned for tutorial ...



We displayed our Christmas cards on these old window frames that were salvaged from a remodel ... thanks Linds!






One of my thrift store Christmas trees ... I glammed it up by putting it in a THRIFT STORE pot, then shredded some book pages (it was a silly romance novel from the Dollar Store -- don't panic), then used the shreds for "filler" ...



Even "The Loo" couldn't escape the Magic Christmas Decorating Fairy ...


As long as we're wandering around the house taking random pictures ... here's a favorite sign we have in our kitchen ... good daily reminder ...


Wanna see where we hang our keys?  ok ...



More wandering ... oh look, freshly laundered piles of clothes that just two hours ago were splattered in vomit, a karaoke machine, a child with an XBOX remote in hand and a bucket (just in case) by his feet ... good times...


good times ...


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Chalkboard Plates



Like I've said before, my decorating budget is .... well... non-existent.  And I'm a gal that likes to feather the nest ... know what I'm sayin'? Most of my decor has come from thrift shops and hand-me-downs which I have repainted and given a new home... 

 
I found these white plates at our local thrift shop.  I used some vinyl chalkboard paper (which can be purchased here), cut the paper in a circle, PRIMED the paper (very important), stuck it on the plate, and VOILA a fun kitchen wall art!    

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Holiday Home


Holiday Home Tour starts ..... NOW!


I like using pictures of The Nativity thoughout our home... 
keeps us focused on the REASON for the SEASON ...


My mom's holiday mantel ... she bought the reindeer on a huge discount because the antlers were broken ... that didn't scare her none ... she figgered out how to WELD them back on ... clever girl ...


 ... love this green hutch and Christmas garland from Better Homes and Gardens (than mine)...

white stars, like the painted cabinet


My Dollar Store Christmas Tree ...
displaying spray painted chalkboard frames, book page pennants, dollar store ornaments, and such ...


and my book-page-glue-gun-burn-tree....
quick and easy, but highly dangerous and painful to make ...


Mom's Holiday Table ...all set for Christmas Breakfast ...


Isn't it pretty?  I am obsessed with chalkboards and brown paper package decor ... from 6th Street Design School

star advent calendar



I have different types of Christmas TREES scattered throughout the house ... most bought from thrift shops or handmade ... money doesn't grow on TREES, y'know!  heh heh ...


My "new" favorite holiday piece - this hutch was a desk in my little sister's room... little sister got married, moved out, I sweet - talked my mom into giving it to me, re-painted it, and VOILA!  A Christmas Hutch!  Thanks Ma!


I love the simplicity and symmetry of this mantel from radiobutlers blog....

The Butlers: Christmas Decorations: The Living Room


My mom made these Christmas pillows from Pottery Barn napkins sewn together ... who woulda thunk?



     A close up of my Dollar Store (and proud of it baby!) Christmas Tree ...


   My folks festive Holiday porch ...                                        


I like how my mom wrapped her pillows to look like Christmas presents ....


Isn't this cheery?  Help yourself to some Christmas-Eye-Candy!

beautiful


Okay, now check this out ... no fireplace?  no problem!  My little sis DREW a fire on a chalkboard frame then hung their stockings by the "chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would we be there!"  


check out her amazing blog at lindsayandandrew.blogspot.com


My front porch ... 
Yes, I totally ran out of red ornaments half way down the tree and I'm not even scared to admit it ..


Love the wreath hanging on a chalkboard sign ... AND love the name of this blog ...

wreath over chalkboard in hallway by kitchen


Our living room .... the "snow" in the vase is from shredded plastic bags ... that didn't make a huge mess on the kitchen floor for a scant amount of fake snow ... nope ...



Living Room Armoire ...festive, but a logistical nightmare every time I need to get in there to retrieve a serving plate ... *sigh*



My favorite Holiday "House" -- Salt Lake Temple all decked out in lights!  Beautiful!


  Kitchen Hutch ... the backing on the hutch is wrapping paper and the plates are a diy chalkboard creation...


Beautiful Christmas Trees on this homestoriesatoz mantle ...

christmas mantel



Living Room ... I made the wreath from a dollar store evergreen wreath then popped in the roses and berries from a bouquet I held at my sister's wedding ...



Just plain cute ....

so simple yet so cute


Mom's Kitchen Window ...



Love the iron gate on the mantel ...



Anthropologie?  nope -- Lindsay's clever Christmas creation!  gosh I love being related to her!




My Christmas Mantel ... with ruffle stockings that I made from Home Depot drop cloths....


More Dollar Store love ...


Crazy 'bout this old door ...


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Happy Holidays!!