Decorated Christmas Trees

I finally got my trees decorated!

 

Our pencil trees stood lit for a week without any decor, but they looked so great all lit up at night ... and all day too.  Our fresh tree stood for several days without lights or decor, but it smelled so sweet.

 

Finally I pushed myself all day Saturday to get those trees decorated.  Alas, the job is done.  Too worn out to take photos, I postponed that for this morning.

 

Here they are:

 

Inspired by this topper from my mother-in-law ...

 

 

I decided to make one tree a sort of vintage tree, using only what I have already, which isn't much, but I'll add to it thru the years ...

The elf was from my mother-in-law too.  The drummer boy and two bulbs were from my mother when she got rid of some of her ornaments several years ago. 

 

This is from the loving people at Hospice who helped us care for my mother-in-law before she passed away (Jan. 2012).  We do miss her and my father-in-law (who passed away July 2011).  I love pulling out the few Christmas things I have that remind me of them. Delightful!

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A favorite tree is my nativity tree, decorated with things about the Holy Family, Jesus, angels, and faith ...

 

 

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I have a felt nativity that I don't add to my nativity tree, but I did use it on a small tree ...

 

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My tallest pencil tree is decorated a bit rustic ...

 

 

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Another tree is sort of jewel tones ...

 

 

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One last tree is for a few snowmen (and the like) ...

The little red bows are some I made for our first Christmas, many years ago.

 

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Now, the real or fresh tree ...

It's filled with assorted ornaments we've acquired over the past 32 years, and include the sentimental ornaments people have given us.   

The things on the wall are a bit distracting, but I didn't want to try to store them somewhere, so they remain.

 

 

Wow, nothing like taking all day to get this post completed.  The good thing is, I haven't set here all day, I've only spent a few minutes off and on throughout the day, in between the other things I've completed, like wrapping dozens of presents and taking them to the post office to mail them to the kids and grandkids.  Now, I'd better wash my dishes and get dinner ready. 

 

It feels so good to have the decorating done and the presents mailed.

Merry Christmas!

 

 

 



Warehouse Dining

Green Wedding Shoes shows off this Warehouse Bridal Shower

 

What I noticed and liked:

the spool tables - each seating two people,

the long serving table in the center - though it does seem a little tricky to reach for most,

the color used on the table - plates and what's on top of them, foods - very earthy setting.

Merry Christmas!

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

 

― C.S. Lewis

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image from HERE

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A Babe, born in Bethlehem

The Christmas season is a time to celebrate the priceless gift of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His birth, which we commemorate during this season, is more than the symbol of a holiday. He is the Son of God, the Redeemer of all mankind, the King of kings, the Prince of Peace, and our joy and salvation. This Christmas season will have greater meaning as we seek to follow His example and live His teachings.

The True Meaning of Christmas

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Click on the link to watch and listen to a beautiful music video
O Come, Emmanuel 
The Piano Guys
 

Japanese Washi Nativity

I saw this a few years ago and loved it.  It was over $300.00 so I never bought it, but every once in a while I wonder if I could make one myself.  I'm afraid I'd get too frustrated because I'd want it to be perfect, and perfect isn't easy for me ..., and I would spend way too many hours trying to create it.  I just wanna save the look though ... I keep thinking that someday ... ?  

This year ..., still loving it ..., I googled it again and found one sold HERE at Ebay for the winning bid of over five hundred dollars.  Oh, why do I love the expensive things?

 

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I also found this framed Washi Nativity from Crafty With The Pennies, and I suppose I could make this one in a lot less time. 

 

 

 

A Calendar - Family Celebrations

It's Show and Tell Time!

A review of one of my favorite things.

 
Family Calendar
with birthdays and weddings of everyone in the family - beginning with my parents, but also including my grandparents.  It also includes Christmas and a few other special holidays.

My dad creates this calendar every year for each of his children and married grandchildren. I keep it beside my computer so that I can see it daily because I love to be reminded of the reason to celebrate these special people in our lives.  It doesn't always lead me into action, but it does always lead me into grateful thought. 
I love that my father takes the time to do this each year and gives one to me.  I love him and my mother.  They are awesome people.


 

A Christmas House

 

A lovely look from Between Naps on the Porch

 

 

(I like the desk/table it is on too!)

 



Cookies

I love Chocolate Crinkles, and these have an added bonus.

Salted Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Crinkles from Cooking Classy

 

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These are Christmasy looking cookies I saw at  I Am Baker



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and these from Love the Day

 

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How about some Christmasy Brownies
from Barbara Bakes



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A Slice of J O Y

Fun idea from I Heart Naptime

 

 



Singing Garland and Framed Songs

What a great idea - write out your special song or message this way
seen at Tip Junkie

Awesome!

and also at Tip Junkie



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Christmas Stuff

LilyBean's Paperie shows how to make this darling, bright and cheery Whimsical Christmas Tree decor



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This Cute Owl Bag/Wrap is a sweet thing since owls seem to be the in thing right now.

Found on Tales of a Trophy Wife

Make these big bags from grocery sacks for wrapping gifts or make them from small lunch sacks for favors.

 

 

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Dress up your drinks with buttons and a scarf like these from The TomKat Studio

(and don't forget the cute straws)

 

 

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 Bend a name and wrap it.  Use it on the top of a package.
Learn how at Consumer Crafts

 

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Fun cover up for a lamp from May Days - I'd really like to see this done.
FYI- I first saw this on My Repurposed Life



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FAITH

Faith will help us to safely climb the gospel path, overcome every challenge of mortality, and return to the majestic presence of our Heavenly Father.

Satan will use such things as doubt, fear, or sin to tempt us to let go of faith and lose the protection it offers.

- Unbelief in the Lord or His gospel will cause us to resist the Spirit of God. 

- Fear distracts from and undermines faith in the Savior.

- Sin diminishes the presence of the Spirit in our lives, and without the Holy Ghost, we will lack the spiritual stamina to hold onto and exercise faith.

 

image found on Google Images

Faith and reason are like the two wings of an aircraft. Both are essential to maintain flight.

If, from your perspective, reason seems to contradict faith, pause and remember that our perspective is extremely limited compared with the Lord’s.

 

 

Do not discard faith any more than you would detach a wing from an aircraft in flight.

 

By Faith All Things Are Fulfilled By Elder Marcus B. Nash

 

 

Decorating for Christmas

In my home, holiday decorating is my thing ... from lugging the boxes out of storage to lugging them back in when it's all cleaned up.

 This last week was the week for take down and set up.  So I ...

 

... packed up all of my trinkets that were on my shelves. 

While not in use, they stay safe in these boxes in my STUFF room.  Those boxes remain empty the rest of the year ... well, except for the tissue paper that gets stored with them.

 

 

After taking things down and packing them up I moved on to the fun stuff

... put up the Christmas decor in my kitchen. 

I only have a few things to help the kitchen look a bit festive.

 

 

... put up my pencil trees and added lights, though I have not added any other decor to them because I am waiting for the real thing before I get my ornaments out. But, I'm loving the lights.  So anxious for a real tree ..., maybe sometime the beginning of next week.

 



 

... put up garland and added lights and other decor, 

 

 

... set up nativities. 

I was feeling lazy at that time and didn't put them all out.  I usually fill my hutch with nativities, but this year it was just the entertainment center.  I'm already missing a few that I didn't put up, but that hutch is filled with other things, so they'll stay put away.

 

 

... lastly, my boxes with snowman and other decorations found their way into the family room and the items inside each box were carefully and lovingly placed in whatever shelf or table or corner pleased me best.  Some items found a change in scenery as I went along, but in the end each found their final resting place. Well, final unless I do some more tweaking the next few days.  It is what I love to do.  It just takes me so long to do it.  I love to pull out the sentimental items that fill my heart with joy as I place them in view for the holidays.

 

 

About the last set of photos:

1. New addition for the year is my bowl of snowballs! 

After Christmas last year I purchased a couple containers of white balls, and this year I purchased a silver ... whatever you call it ... the thing the bowl sits in ... at Good Will last week, just because I liked it.  When I started decorating and found the white balls I decided to pull out a clear bowl and put those three together to create my bowl of snowballs.  I'm lovin' it.

2. Just a little garland and fun around the bench and clock - shown mostly to see where our elf (in #7) sits today.

3. Not so new, and not so visible - the framed art is something I did years ago - kind of a water color print.

4. Even older - (Hanging from #3) a favorite of mine, made by my sister in law and given to us several years ago.

5. Probably the oldest item in my Christmas collection - a Santa moon that belonged to my mother in law.

6. Also very old - a cloth wrapped heart my grandmother gave me years ago.

7. New addition - Our elf - I decided to begin this tradition for our grandchildren this year ..., and we're havin' fun.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

 

Good Food?

Noodles From Scratch found at A Cake Bakes In Brooklyn
I've wanted to make home made noodles for a long time now, but just haven't tried it.

My mother in law used to make them and we loved them.

When I saw this recipe I decided it was finally time ..., but when? 



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Peach Cobbler Muffins from Barbara Bakes



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Sweet Corn Spoonbread from Our Best Bites

I don't think I've ever had this kind of corn bread before.

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Clear Plastic Cosmetic Bags

It's Show and Tell Time!

This is not a paid advertisement - it's just a review of one of my favorite things.

This in one of those things that I am grateful for because it contains small items in a place where I can see them and get to them as I want or need them.

 

clear plastic cosmetic bags

 

I don't have a certain brand, I just get what looks like something I'd want and use ..., and, of course, isn't to expensive.

 

 These little items aren't just left in the bottom of my handbag getting thrashed around.  They are contained in something I can see thru so I can find what I need quite quickly.

 

 (Do you see that little tool in there? That little tool is one of my favorite things too.)
 

 

I have one for note/name cards when I do family history work.

 

 

See thru containers is definitely a thing I like. I'm a visual kinda girl.

 

I keep the clear plastic bags from purchased bedding and use it to store things too.

What more can I say - - - I love clear storage containers ...

 

I love that I can see right in to know for sure what is inside without having to lift the lid and look.

I know this favorite item is very much like some of my previous favorite items. Most of my scrapbooking and crafting containers are see thru - here, here, and here.

 

Pom Filled Bulb

I was looking at the tree and cute bulbs at I Heart Organizing ..., checking out each individually decorated bulb ..., and found this one ..., it's my favorite of all.

 

 

I love pom poms ...,  these look like they might have the silvery threads ..., that would add some sparkle when the lights glow ...,

 

 

She has several different bulbs - 40 or 50 ..., no two alike ..., and close-up photos to show a few of them.  A few more can be seen here.

Hanging BULBS on the Ceiling

Did you notice this on Yahoo?  I would love to see this room!  1764 bulbs/ornaments!

 

 

 

Beautiful Arrangement

I do believe that
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
And, I also believe that each "beholder" sees things differently.

This beholder thinks that this flower arrangement seen on Snippet and Ink is most beautiful. 

Beautiful colors, textures, and flow, all contained in a beautiful tiered vessel.  Just lovely!

 

 

Think of Beauty and Be Happy

image from here

“Think of all the beauty still left around you

and be happy.”

 

― Anne Frank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Elf on a Shelf Ideas

We've seen a lot about Elf on a Shelf and there are a lot of cute ideas out there.  Clever people everywhere!  :)

 

2 Crafty 4 My Skirt has a post about creative ideas for your Elf.  I'm just showing one of many, so click on over there to see the rest.  She gives her sources for each. 

 

 

okay, so I am showing two of many ;)

 

it's just so fun!

 

 

Christmas Wrapping

from Deck the Halls

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Is this wrapping wallpaper?  Lovely!  From Living Beautifully
(I just love looking at the beautiful photos on her blog.)

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Christmas Stockings

Old sweaters become stockings - from Freddy and Petunia

Similar to here

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How to make Stockings - 12 Templates at Tip Junkie



LIFE

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“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.

Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is a dream, realize it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it.

Life is a promise, fulfill it.

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is a tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it.

Life is too precious, do not destroy it.

Life is life, fight for it.”

― Mother Teresa

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"Let us be of good cheer as we go about our lives.

Although we live in increasingly perilous times, the Lord loves us and is mindful of us. He is always on our side as we do what is right. He will help us in time of need. Difficulties come into our lives, problems we do not anticipate and which we would never choose. None of us is immune. The purpose of mortality is to learn and to grow to be more like our Father, and it is often during the difficult times that we learn the most, as painful as the lessons may be. Our lives can also be filled with joy as we follow the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Full message from Thomas S. Monson found HERE

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Ruffled Tree Skirt

Ruffled Tree Skirt from The Crafted Sparrow

 

A Room Full ...

 

This room is filled with fun!

What I see / love in this bedroom from the Land Of Nod catalog -

 - glittering doily collage on the wall,

- hanging light strands,

- bunched lights on the floor,

- fabric ruffle tree,

- banner/bunting. 

- maybe the rug too ... it looks a lot like a couple I have ... and love. 

 

hmmm!  I wonder if I will use any of these looks in my home???  thinking ... ... ..!