Christmas- Came and Went

Apparently,

   I was asleep for most of the month of December. It came in like a freight train..and left just as quickly.

I did really well with the shopping, and organizing this year, and even had a husband Elf help me do a bunch of the wrapping, but it just didn't seem like the normal "Christmas Season" to me this year.

Maybe it was because we were forced to hear the Christmas carols in early November, or because the stores were stocked well before the Halloween costumes were displayed, or maybe because we have had an unseasonably WARM fall/early winter? I was literally wearing short sleeves and no jacket one day while shopping on Main Street.

I normally have the tree and decorations up by the first weekend of December, but this year, we didn't even attempt to get the containers out f the garage until the second weekend, and Scott and E  bought our tree at a Lions Club stand one week night in the pouring rain (while I sat in traffic driving home from work),and it sat on the porch for 3 days to dry out, and then stood in the family room for another 2 days until it got lights and decorations.

And now, here we are in the first week of January, and I'm actually loving the warmness and comforting feeling of the holiday decor, and the tree had to be taken down, due to the drying branches, and the weather is finally starting to feel like it should for Christmas! 

But,  I'm ready to start cleaning the house, de-cluttering, and donating things to Goodwill, and getting the house in order for the next holiday...Valentine's Day!

I want to share a few of my Christmas decorations/decor so that you can enjoy it as much as I did...even if it only lasted for 2 weeks this year!

For the past 3 years E and I make a "Family" Christmas ornament that we add to all of the gifts that we give to family and friends.

Here are those that we did in this year, 2010, and 2009

Our Front Porch

Antique Child's wagon with lighted presents and giant ornaments

Antique sled and Milk Jug

I bought both pairs of ice skates at Goodwill (It's difficult to see the black pair on the ground.

The scarf is mine, and the basket came from Homegoods, and the greens came from the trees in my yard

Here is my mantle in the Living Room..

 I just love this picture of E opening his stocking on Christmas morning..sitting on the hearth, laughing with excitement!! (Had to share it!)

The Coke Crate is a yard sale find that I purchased over the summer, and the ornaments are Vintage Glass  that I purchased at Goodwill.

The little "Charlie Brown" tree was given to me by my mom...I love this little tree!

More pictures of the Living room decor..

I love Apothecary jars! 

Pillow was made by Scott's grandmother, and the little Santa bear reads Twas the Night Before Christmas

The Coke Crate on the second shelf was my other yard sale find from the Summer. I purchased little favor boxes, and glued #1-24 on them and had a piece of candy inside each day for a homemade Calendar. 

The little mouse was one of my purchases from the Lucketts Holiday open house, and the Christmas Memories Book is one of my most treasured items. It was given to me at my Baby shower, and every year since my son was born we fill in a page. It's so much fun looking back at each year!

Lastly, Here's our tree from this year! It was beautiful! 9' Tall, and smelled Ah-mazing!

I don't have a theme for my ornaments, I've been collecting them since I was 13, so it's a very eclectic mix!

Ours was a very Merry Christmas, I hope yours was as well!

Lucketts Holiday Open House

On Saturday, my girlfriend Karen and I planned a day trip to Lucketts Holiday Open House in Leesburg, VA. We wanted to get some ideas for the holidays, and enjoy a girl's day (without kids) of shopping and conversation.  What would be better then 2 girlfriends taking a day trip? Well...it was even better when the twosome became a foursome, and our mothers came along!

If you live in the Baltimore/DC/Northern VA area, you really MUST take a trip to Lucketts. It's a great place to not only shop for beautiful home decor and antiques, but a great place for inspiration.

Check out their website,  or Blog, and tell them that you heard about the store from me!

Now, what you've all been waiting for.....Here's the EYE Candy!!

The Design House

One side of the Front Porch

My mom liked the room below,

esp. the garland covered deer head!

I liked all of the fur!!

The Woodsland Themed room was Beautiful!

And This Mirror was FAB-TASTIC! (Is that a word?)

I'm going to attempt to make this ornament garland!

And, a few pics from the Store

Not only was this buffett gorgeous, but it had ring cookies and hot apple cider for us too!

And you all know this Blogger (..Marian, aka Miss Mustard Seed.)

..I loved all of  her Music Sheet inspired decor!

What do you think of this sign?

I love it!

We left Lucketts with a few purchases,

and a lot of Wonderful ideas!

Looks like we have a lot to do in the 48 days left until Christmas!!

Yes, consider that a friendly reminder!

M-I-A

I've been MIA lately from the blog! We've had a lot happen in our house. School started, we were all in a wedding, our entire finished basement flooded thanks to Hurricane Irene. And life has been hectic.

I haven't had any time to work on Fun projects, as we've been consumed with all of the activities at school, and now the complete renovation of our basement.

I am photo-documenting the before and afters, and as soon as we show some actual progress, I'll share our journey!

Stay Tuned!!

Angie

The Bridal Tea

Warning: Post with LOTS of Pictures and projects!!!

This past weekend, I braved the weather caused by Hurricane IRENE, to co-host a Bridal Shower  for my friend Karen.

Karen is getting married in October,(only 34 more days girl!!)

Karen's mom, her Maid of Honor Crystal, her gf Kim, and I held a Bridal Tea in her honor.

It was very girlie, shabby chic, and the perfect place to be on a Rainy Saturday afternoon.

Here are some of the Details of the Shower..

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Our vision for the shower was to include her colors of gray, ivory, and peach, and we wanted her to have a special seating area in the center of the party.

If you remember the before picture from my "la vieille chaise", you would note that there were two identical chairs...so what happened to the "other" chair you ask?

Here she is now!!

I sanded it down (lightly) painted it a grayish-black, then waxed, painted it ivory, distressed, and finally covered with a clear glaze tinted with a peach color.

I purchased a frame from a yard sale, (which was painted bright red),and removed the gaudy picture. I primed it gray, then painted with two coats of  white. Then Added Chicken wire to the back with some staples. I made a mini banner with fabric, ribbon, and felt to embellish and attached it with mini clothespins! 

Scott helped me paint a Family Name Sign to give to the Bride and Groom, and we continued with the wedding colors and distressed it to match the chair.

I also painted a small "KEEP CALM AND SAY I DO" sign to get a laugh out of the Bride!

I purchased the flower petal pillow at TJ MAXX to add softness and comfort to the chair!

Scott found a white board Easel for me at Goodwill, and I painted it white, then covered the white board with Chalkboard Paint and wrote a little "Welcome" Message for the entrance into the Tea Room

As guests entered the room, they saw a bakers rack Display with old dolls, The Mother of the Brides gloves from her high school prom, a top hat, lace and doilies.

Then they saw a table with a tea pot that was custom painted by the maid of honor for everyone to sign as a keepsake to Karen.

We had a guess how many teabags in the pot game, and requested that everyone leave a word of wisdom about marriage or love for Karen and hang it on the chicken wire frame

Each table scape included a tea cup filled with Italian cookies as a take home favor, and the centerpieces were each different tea pots filled with floral arrangements made by the mother of the bride, and her best friend.

The "lite fare" consisted of tea sandwiches and salads, sangria, water, iced and hot teas, coffee, and punch!

Then Desserts Galore!!

The brides place setting included a personal table covered with vintage lace and linens, a handmade tea platter, her special chair, and a hat from her childhood!

We played silly games, she opened presents, we ate, and enjoyed a fun girls day!

Congrats Karen, looking forward to your special day!!