My Year in Review 2011

Can you believe that the big ball drops tonight?
Tomorrow we'll have to write 2012 on our checks.

 Who writes checks anymore, really? LOL

  

I thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of the projects

 I did over this past year ...

Keeping Time in the New Year 

Discarded Ladder Turned Bookshelf 

 Some Sweet Eye Candy

From Arggg to Oooh La La 

From Black to White 

  

From Canvas to Sign

The Heart of the Home

Homemade Vintage Locker Inspired Basket

Pottery Barn Inspired Pizza Board

Some French Beachy Yummy-Ness

 This Ones for Birds

My First Palette Project 

 Shew, whatta' year huh?

I wanted to say Thank you so much for being there for me this year.

 I battled cancer and felt so much love from people that I had never

 even met. You have no idea how your words of kindness

 helped to heal me. I looked forward to every comment that you guys left.

I never felt alone.

I feel truly blessed for the friendships that I have made.

for that I send a HUGE

 THANK YOU!!!

I hope that I have inspired you guys. That you know that my lil' blog

 is created out of love. That this community is something I cherish and I feel 

 blessed to be a part of it. I pledge to continue on inspiring you guys

 with creative ideas and new uses for old things : )

  2012 will be a big year for me. 

February will be my 15th wedding anniversary,

 my birthday and

 marks my 1yr anniversary of being CANCER FREE

Then in March I will be a first time grandma.

 Lots of changes and a time for growth.

 I'm looking forward to sharing 2012 with you : )

  

 Good bye 2011

 HELLO 2012 !!!!

I'm partying at:
DIY Showoff 
The Romantic Home 
Between Naps on the Porch 
 

Our Christmas Decorations 2011

Can you believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve?
I know it is because my 9yr old keeps telling me just how many days are left.

 I need to buy her the Hallmark Countdown Ornament

so next year she can tell me, 

"Did you know there's 5 days, 8 hours and 53 minutes till Christmas?"

Whelp, I thought I'd share some more of my decorations.

I'm sad to think that I have to put it all away in a couple weeks : (

Enough whining. Onto the decorations.

Here's our mantle ...

This probably is my most favorite mantel since I've moved into this house 20yrs ago.

Simple garland filled to the brim with pine cones and red berries.

My coffee filter wreath hangs above it.

 I couldn't find the right wreath but this one works pur-fect-ly.

And notice the pictures in the stocking holders?

 They're like 5 years old. My 18yr old HATES them.

As long as they're there I'm still in my 30's, lol

and being Mom though, I have final say : )

 I used a vintage red metal toolbox in the fireplace 

with candles from the Dollar Tree surrounded with Magnolia seed pods.

 Living in Florida, we don't get to have fires too much (only about 5 times during the winter)

Of course, it will come out Christmas Eve before we go to bed so 

Santa can come down the chimney.

Did you happen to notice the bag of coal?

 It goes to whoever's been naughty this year.

 Santa hangs it on the receiver's stocking

 Usually it sits next to the "wish list" container

 on Christmas morning : )

The angel was given to me by my Mom.

 She means so much to me, both the angel and my Mom

Her wings and head move back and forth as she watches over the lil' creatures.

Our table is ready for our Christmas BBQ ...

 Yup, we're having BBQ. Sounds yummy doesn't it?

 I kept the centerpiece simple.

 A vintage herb basket filled with pine cones and an antler

 I love everything, especially at night

 I hope that you have a 

 WONDERFUL HOLIDAY

Merry Christmas : )

 I'm partying at:
 Grown From Scratch
Savvy Southern Style 

Our Christmas Tree 2011

I sit this morning in a very quiet house.

 Something that doesn't seem to happen often.

 As I sit here, gazing at our tree I thought I would share with you

some of our decorations this year.

 But, when I stated to look at all the pictures I've taken, 

 there were just too many ... 43 in all.

 So, to save you from Christmas Overload

 I'm gonna show ya our tree first

 cuz ain't that where Christmas decorations start?

 Without further ado ... Our 2011 Christmas Tree 

LOL, just sounds more exciting when ya say it that way

This tree is actually a HUGE 14 foot tree which I bought from Sams

about 10yrs. ago. It comes in 3 sections. The BIG bottom,

 the middle and the top.

Since I didn't want a big tree this year I just used the middle and top.

 I placed it on a spare tire with a board covered with burlap

to raise it up. It's stable and gives plenty of room for the gifts

I swore I heard, "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain" as I was rigging it

 The Hubby says it has a Victorian feel.

I don't see it but maybe you will ...

This Santa face is one of my most treasured ornaments from my Mom

 (she gave me like a billion from her collection)

 I basically used things that were given to me
as well as things I had around the house,

 odds n' ends I picked up at garage sales/Goodwill

and TONS of pine cones (they're EVERYWHERE).

 I love these reindeer I bought at a garage sale for $.25 a piece,

 I have 4 just stuck in around the tree.

 I kept our presents simple.

 Using brown craft paper, green jute twine and 

stamped on the receiver's name with no sender, makes it more fun.

I have received a lot of compliments on the wrapping that it may

 be how I wrap from now on.

 Not only is it very neutral but it was inexpensive.

 Thank you for sharing my tree with me.

 Here's a sneak to my next post ...

Now to make some cookies for Santa with Kricket : )

I'm partying at:

 Savvy Southern Style
{PRIMP} 

I'm SO Excited, I Got My Christmas Gifts Early

 I got my Christmas gifts early this year.

Santa brought me these Asics Gel 2160's.

I LOVE them. They're SO comfortable and my first pair of running shows.

He also brought me a NXE armband for my iPhone,

a new pair of earphones that wrap over my ears.

And, my favorite toy a Nike+

that will calculate my runs.

Santa listened so well to what I was asking for the past couple months.

My goal this next year is to take up running and possibly do my 

first 5K in October.

I live in Florida so I'm thinking that I'll join the Y 

when it starts getting too hot to run outside.

What have you asked for this year?

Has he brought you anything yet?  

Note ** Santa still has to drop off my stocking ; )

 

A Special Email from Santa

Kricket got a email today from someone REALLY special

 SANTA

Directly from the North Pole

Thanks to PortableNorthPole

for making my daughter's eyes sparkle.

Skin Polish Scrub for CHEAP

I am a sucker for homemade Christmas gifts.

So, when I came across this super easy and cheap recipe over at

Northern Cottage I knew the perfect Christmas gift for my girlfriends.

I gathered my supplies

- White sugar

- Body wash (I use Suave)

- A pretty jar

 First, start by filling the jar to the top with sugar (a hint given from Northern Cottage)

Pour sugar in a bowl and add the body wash to the desired consistency

 After blending, pour into jar.

 Make sure to wipe off any drops to keep jar clean

 Put top on 

 Make a cute label. Mine weren't that cute but let me show ya the one

 from Northern Cottage

ADORABLE right?

 Anyhoo, I hope that it inspires you to make some

 homemade Christmas gifts.

If you're anything like me, you'll keep one for yourself ; )

$2 Ballard Inspired Pet Canister

A few months ago I pinned on Pinterest this picture

from Tidy Mom

Her project was inspired by Ballard Designs Pet Canisters

which go for $45.00 - $54.00

 There is NO way I can afford a metal canister to just hold my

pet's food. I mean I love Vixen but the size I want is $49.

 Ummmm, NO!!!

So, I've been on the look out for the perfect size "popcorn" canister.

 Ya know the ones that come out this time of the year and hold

 a small continent of popcorn.

 The problem I was finding is the canisters are MUCH smaller than the ones

 I use to get as a kid. That was until today.

 I was cruising around Goodwill and found this awesome popcorn canister

 for $2. That along with some primer and spray paint will make the perfect dupe.