MiXin' uP the ManTeL

I decided this year to mix things up a bit and do something a little different on the mantel.  Here's an idea of what we looked like last year...stars brightly shinning...

And this year it looks like this...a WinTer WOndeRLanD...

I opted not to decorate our playroom tree this year...lazy...so I had a bit of extra to add to the family room decorations.  I added a bit of blue to the standard red and green and I'm thinking I kind of like it.  It's a little more whimsy and fun.  Reminds me of something off of the Elf movie...witch happens to be one of our all time favorites.

A lot of the big snowflakes came straight from the dollar store (last year)...and most of them in a package of at least 2 or more (we're talking CHEAP).

I think I was originally inspired by this cute print by eighteen25 (pic below) for the color combo.

And just a few more bits of the rest of the room. 
A little ball ornament can go a long way!

And because I just couldn't give up the stars...they're still shinning brightly, just in another room.

Fun to mix it up once in a while, easy way to get a new look with NO money spent.
How are you mixing it up this season?

BiG fan of Christmas

If I haven't told you before, I'm a BiG fan of Christmas. BiG. I love everything about it. Really. EverYthiNG. Can't get enough of the carols, the baking, the parties and get togethers...but most especially the decorations :) Every year I look forward to breaking out the lights and the tinsel and trimming the tree...or in our case, tReeS. I know, normal people have ONE tree and usually consider that enough to make it through the holidays. But here...well, frankly it's starting to look like a sparkly, twinkling forest.  Somehow we've managed to accumulate numerous Christmas trees over the years and because of that, more lights and more tinsel. So I wasn't surprised when my oldest woke up the other morning (after I had spent the previous evening setting up the trees and Christmas decorations), walked out and said to me, in awe of the excess sparkle, "Wow Momma, we have a tree in EVERY room!!"  I know son, it's a bit much...but did I tell you, I'm a really BiG fan of Christmas. Really. BiG.

Here's what you get hit in the face with when you walk in my front door this time of year (the family room)...

Want closer look?

Is it just me, or is it REALLY hard to get a good pic of the Christmas tree?

Found this sign this year, had to have it... 

There does seem to be some confusion about this point in our home sometimes (hence the time out chair above).  I do have a 2 (almost 3!) and 4 yr. old.

And in another room (the living room)...

And in yet, another room (the kids toy room)...

And let us not forget the REAL reason for this season...

Happy Birthday Jesus.

hOLLy jOLLy

So I might be a little LoT addicted to pennant banners right now and have also found a new love for burlap recently.  So last week I mixed them all together and added a pinch of "the best time of the year", here's what I got...



A HoLLy JoLLY BurlaP Pennant banner. I've made a few of these for Halloween and Thanksgiving, thought I'd give Christmas a try.





Now if you'd excuse me, I'm off to have my cup of cheer :)

For mY PeEps

I can call you my peeps, can't I? I mean a lot of you that left comments I've only blog stalked before I haven't met before. So I'm not exactly sure we're homies, yet :) But BiG thanks for leaving the comments anyway. And I guess I should give props to those who are related and were kind enough to stop and humor me a bit. Thanks to you all as well. So...as promised, I'm blogging a little of what I've been up to.


ChRiSTmaS OrNamENt WReaThs. I stole the idea found the idea here, who stole the idea found idea here. They looked like a cinch, so I thought I would give them a try.

First I'm cheap so I raided I was economically responsible and made my purchases from dollar store.



Once I got started, of course...



I had a hard time...



Picking one color combo (side note: if you look closely you can see me somewhere in this one...it's a where's waLdo wreath)...



Cause you know, I'm fiCkLe. Although, I am a bit partial to this one...



I'm planning on doing a tree in these colors this year. Can't wait. Question...I hear there is snow in the forecast this weekend, technically doesn't that mean I can start decorating for Christmas? Just asking.