aka "The Beast"! We've had this tree for 15 years. We bought the first year we were in this house, and had no living room furniture. We still don't really have living room furniture….and it's a good thing! This tree takes up the whole room. It is NOT pre-lit, and has to be put together branch by branch, by branch, by branch. Did I mention branch by branch? And then the lights go on. It really is an almost 2 day process to get the darn thing up. BUT, it's worth it. At least in my opinion. I love how big it is and it makes me so happy to see it in the living room and in the window when I drive up to the house!
I have collected many ornaments throughout the years, and have made a ton too. This year I added the white/red mesh ribbon that matches the ribbon on my garland. I ditched the painted wood ornaments I made years ago, and added some silver/red ornaments I picked up at Target. I have decorated mostly with Red/White/Silver this year. Lovin' it!
I'm linking up with Sara at Thrifty Decor Chick and her Christmas Tree Party! Go check out her beautiful tree, and all the others linked up! Amazing!
I'm linking up to the Christmas Craft Link Party that Kate @ Centsational Girl is hosting, and House of Hepworths This is super, super easy!
I purchased two 8 x 10 canvases (sp?) from Walmart
Then used my Silhouette to cut out the numbers 2 and 5, and adhered them to the canvas
Then I just painted over the vinly with red paint. Easy peasy! After the paint dried, I peeled off the vinyl….and TA-DA! Super quick and super easy! Perfect idea for a quick craft!!
Now head on over to Centsational Girl and check out all the crafty goodness!
Mrs. Meyer's ……. have you heard about these products? Or tried them? OMG. Pure awesomness! I've seen the products countless times at the grocery store, even stopped, opened the lid and smelled them…but I never bought them. Why not? I have no idea, really. But, after swinging by the Nester's blog , and reading about how she LOVES (and even looks forward to) cleaning, I decided to give the products a whirl. Well, let me tell you……they are eveything people say about them, and MORE. I tried the dishwashing liquid, counter spray and cleanser. They are FAB! Smell sooooooo good, and clean amazing. I even had the laundry detergent in my shopping cart, but I just wasn't sure if I was ready to go "all in" yet. Now, I'm regretting it! MUST GO BACK TO THE STORE TOMORROW! Have any of you (all 2 blog readers) ever tried these products? If so, what did you think? Let me know! And if you haven't tried them, PLEASE DO! And let me know what you think! 🙂
Yesterday, Madi and I got to be "Queen for a Day" with some other mothers and daughters at O.C. Tanner , which is a high-end jewelry store here in Salt Lake City. Carl and I attend the school auction a few weeks ago, and purchased this Mother/Daughter date for Madi and I, and I am so glad we did! We had a great time! We had our own private room at the store, with champagne (for the Moms) and sparkling cider and OJ for the girls, along with some FABULOUS pastries. We got to spend 2 hours in the store chatting with friends, and trying on any of the jewlery we wanted. It was so fun! The girls all had a blast trying on the gorgeous engagement rings! The one pictured below was $142,000! It was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon!
As I was cruising the Christmas aisles at Walmart last night (looking for more red/silver ornaments!), I came across this CA-UTE white tree! And just one aisle over, I saw these funky blue/teal ornaments, which would match Madi's room perfectly! And, since I hadn't seen much of my daughter the past few days (busy with cheer, school, sleepover) I was missing her and thought I should surprise her with a tree in room! Here she is! Cute, huh?
Enjoy your Saturday! Madi and I are off to a Mother/Daughter Champagne/Tea today! Should be FUN!
So……the problem with linking up to these "blog parties" (at least for me) is that I don't get home until after dark, and taking any kind of photo in my house after dark is just crazy. So, I apologize ahead of time, these pictures are horrid. BUT, I promised I would blog everyday, and I'm forcing myself to just join with the fun that goes on in blogland. So, without futher ado…..here is MY Christmas Vignette. I have a large wall shelf in the breakfast nook of my home. I usually decorate it for every holdiay. Here is my shelf all dressed up for Christmas (sorry for the ugh photo!)
Just a hodge podge of misc. xmas stuff. Tai Pan star, ceramic snowmen I painted with friends, various boutique finds. After Christmas, this shelf is emptied of Santas, and will hold only snowmen (until Valentine decorations come out!)
I had to hit Target after work today……I was in need of cough medicine. I have a seriously BAD cough. And it's not getting any better! Ugh, make it stop! Anyhoo….I did a swing by the dollar spot (again!) and grabbed some more ornaments. Apparantly, there has been a run on dollar spot ornies, because there were hardly any red/silver left (what????). No worries, I grabbed a few cheap (more than $1 though) pkgs in the xmas section, got home and got the glue gun heatin'! I had a faux pine wreath that I have used for several years above the fireplace, and decided to rip it apart and glue on some more silver/red ornies. Not 100% satisfied, but that's okay. My mantle is coming along but missing oh, so much. Would love to link it to Layla'sMantel Party , but it's just not ready for that level! :) I promised myself I would blog everyday, so this is what you get today. My mantel! Ha!
I has some left over ornies….so I put them in some vases….not sure where I am going to put them yet. Right now they are on my coffee table with my CUTE coasters that my friend Pam made! Love 'em!
I was surfing blogs last week and came across this post at House of Hepworths. Love the awesome ornaments that Allison found at the Dollar Spot at Target. While I was there on Friday, I picked up a bunch of silver and red tubes. Both big and small. I had just purchased a new GORGEOUS garland at Costco a few days earlier, but knew it needed something else. Hello glue gun and ornaments! Here is my new and improved garland!
I apologize for the crappy photos! I can't seem to get a handle on taking photos of xmas lights in the house with/without the flash. ugh! Sorry!
I still had a bunch of ornaments left, and I obviously, couldn't let them go unsued, right? Um, no!! So I found a jingle bell wreath that I had won at BONCO about 1o years ago, and went to town with the glue gun again. It now has a home on my front door. And, I'm lovin' it! :) Doesn't take much to make me happy!
So……Carl and I aren't really big on gifts. Well, it really just depends, I guess. It depends on the year, what's going on, and 'ahem', our financial situation. Some years we do gifts….and some years we don't. Which is cool. It is, what is is! :) BUT…..if I had an unlimited Christmas budget….this is what I would wish for! In no particular order!
Easy, peasy! The Apple iPad. Next?
A Kindle. I'm an avid reader….'nuff said!
THIS Brother Sewing Machine. I'm jonesing to start sewing again. My machine bit the dust a few years ago.
