My Christmas Mantel

I've been working on my Christmas decorating for the past few days and I think

I'm finally satisfied with  my tree and mantel - so I thought I would join

a couple of Christmas "linky" parties this week. 

The first one is being hosted by Rhoda at Southern Hospitality and this party

hilights Christmas mantels.

So, come on in and take a look!!!

All items on the mantel are things I already had on hand.  Some are repurposed from many

years of use and even items I use in my everyday decorating - like the little green glass votives.

They were a thrift store find many years ago, but I almost always have them in some

sort of vignette around my house.  I love those little gems!!! 

Another great find - these tall candlesticks. I purchased them 6 years ago when we first moved into our house - and they are always on the mantel.  They work really well for all holidays and everyday!!! 

The chalkboard frame is a thrift store find and it's another everyday decoration - but usually just

as an empty frame.  The chalkboard is a canvas that I sprayed with chalkboard paint. 

It moves around the house, too!!

I used a mix of faux greenery and live greenery that I cut from my

Weeping Alaskan Cedar in the front yard. 

I think I need to add a few more branches so it will drape a little better in the front and on the sides.   

Recently I made the square burlap rag wreath. 

So simple!! 

Strips of burlap tied around a square frame I had (actually it was a dump find)

I added some red garland, some greenery and a clock ornament.  

 The sled is a recent find at an antique store in Arkansas and I just added some greenery,

a cute pair of skates, ribbon and burlap garland.

The basket on the right I purchased at a garge sale for $3 and it is full of pinecones.

(they were included!!!) 

Nothing fancy or over-the-top, but it makes me happy!!

Hope you enjoyed a little peek into my living room! 

Come back in a few days and we'll take a look at the trees and the entryway.

And you should take a look at the other gorgeous mantels on the Holiday Tour!!!

Southern Hospitality

Have a great day friends!!!!

What I Wore

It's the day before Thanksgiving and I'm filled with anticipation for tomorrow!!

I'm truly blessed with an awesome family and can't wait to see their smiling faces!!!

 Oh yeah, and eat, eat, eat!!

I'll confess though - I've already eaten some, well not "some", but a pumpkin pie!!!

 Usually I'm too full to eat much dessert after our Thanksgiving Feast,

so this year, being the smart girl that I am (haha),

I decided to purchase a pumpkin pie this past week-end and

just eat it all week long!!  Pretty smart, huh??

Pretty smart 'til I tried on my jeans!!  Tight jeans are "in", right??

I'm linking up with The Pleated Poppy for some fall fashion inspiration!!

One day last week - I had lunch with my youngest daughter...........

The weather was gorgeous and we were able to sit outside and dine al fresco!!!

striped cardigan - american eagle

red and gray tanks - target

jeans - skinny distressed jeans - gap outlet

necklace - i think it's from the lovely poppy (etsy)

Monday - my baby boy turned 16 - so we went out to eat.

Sorry for the really bright photo!!

sweater - banana republic outlet

tank - target

skinny jeans - kohls

boots - steve madden

necklace - kohls

my hair - a little out of control - but it was pouring rain, so I didn't spend much time on it!!

Please go check out the great fashion inspiration over at The Pleated Poppy!!

Thanks for stopping by and please, my friends,

have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends!!!

Bring on Christmas!!!

I love, love, love Thanksgiving because it's all about family and food

and I have no intentions of  "rushing" through the holiday!!!

But, I didn't do any Fall or Thanksgiving decorating this year -

so -

I am extra ready to decorate for Christmas!!!!  So, Bring it on!!!

The tubs are still in the attic (but only for a few more days!)

but I've been browsing the world wide web for days........maybe weeks..........

for a little Christmas decorating inspiration.

I found some serious Christmas eye-candy and thought I'd share with you!!!

above photos via marthastewart.com

above photos via nellhills.com

 I love how the stockings are hung in the above photo!!

above photos via traditionalhome.com

 The photo below - I'm not sure if it's the tree or the kitchen!!!! But I know it's LOVE!!!!

via housebeautiful.com

above - GORGEOUS!!!!

I like the above wreath - but I LOVE the rusty "thingy" holding the wreath!!!! 

 above photos via countryliving.com

This also from countryliving.com (above).  I'm not sure I like it as a wreath, but would

love to create yarn balls (yarn wrapped around styrofoam balls)

in these colors and place them in a large apothecary jar!!

above photos via southernliving.com

See what I mean?? Serious eye-candy -

and none of it is from Pinterest.....

That could be another month's worth of posts!!!!!

What do you think??  Did you see anything you love???

Anything you'd like to re-create or make??

Are you ready to decorate for Christmas??

I am!!! Bring on Christmas!!!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving, my friends!!

Burlap Gifts for the Girls

This past week-end, four of us girls headed to the Historic

Ft. Worth Stockyards District to celebrate my baby sister's 40th birthday.

Yes, there were cattle involved!! (not above - below!!)

A longhorn cattle drive - to be exact..........

Maybe not a "true" cattle drive -

There were only 10, maybe 12 longhorns and they seemed to be trained

pretty well as the meandered their way around the block!!

It was still a sight to see! Such beautiful animals!!

It was nothing short of a perfect week-end!!!

Good times and great memories!!!

To help add to the festivities, I wanted to create gift bags for the other 3 girls,

and I wanted them to be unique and personal and fun.

This is what I came up with.............

Nothing fancy or expensive -

These bags are from Hobby Lobby and I think they were $6 each.

For each girl, I framed a quote that "fit" their personality and placed it in a 5x7 frame (also found

at Hobby Lobby) that I thought would match their home decor.

I didn't get a picture of each frame, but here they are wrapped.

I used the plain white paper that Hobby Lobby wrapped the frames in when I purchased them.

Added a strip of burlap with a shipping tag and tucked in a vintage looking card

appropriate for each girl.

I also placed a simple paper sack filled with White Trash in each gift bag.

White Trash is a party mix made with Chex cereal and white chocolate.

It is wonderful!! It's one of those things you can't stop eating!!

And my favorite thing for each bag - these burlap wine bags I made.

I made the flower rosettes from strips of burlap - simply twist and roll and glue!!!

Again - very easy and very inexpensive!!!

At first, I only had 2 flowers on each bag - but it just didn't look right,

so I added a 3rd flower to each bag.

Each bag was tied with jute twine and another vintage looking card was distressed and attached.

And because it was her birthday - I added a glittered letter to my sister's bag!!

I had fun creating the bags and I think they liked them.

Now, what other occasion can I create bags for??!!!

I'm linking up with Whisper Wood Cottage

for a burlap linky party!!!

Now that's my kind of party!!!

Go check out all the other great projects!!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!!!