Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!

Wishing everyone who visits a wonderful Holiday and a happy, safe New Year.

I will be away until after the holidays!

Image from Avanti Holiday Card (www.avantipress.com)

It's finally really official!

Finally! After announcing sometime ago that I was going to officially open an Etsy store, it has finally happened. I posted items for sale yesterday, and already sold two knitted throws. How exciting is that? Now, I have to get going and get more items in the store. Thank you all out there in blogland for supporting me and giving me such confidence to get my store going. I really appreciate all the blog friends I have made.

Oh, Baby It's Cold Outside!

Ohhhhhhhh, baby it's cold outside; and I'm not going out there!

Dog #1, CocoBeanie! Asleep on her bed, notice the heating pad?

Dog #2, Harley! Asleep among the warmth of the fleece blanket. I can't tell which end is which, he's in such a tight ball! Notice anything else? That would be Dog #3, BackStreet! The little white tail sticking out from under the fleece blanket.

I told you that it's cold outside!

I am no fool! I'm staying right here...all warm and cozy!

Oh Christmas Tree...

Oh Christmas Tree....here are the last of my holiday decorating pictures. The tree! We have a skinny tree, which we pile on the decorations, the tinsel, the glitz and sparkle. We love our little tree and all the ornaments which adorn it. Our little tree is an eclectic array of ornaments that we have collected over the past years. It's so much fun to unpack and unwrap each and every ornament, the flood of memories come rushing back. I hope you enjoy a glimpse of our little tree!

Our 'little' tree....

An angel adornes the top!

One of my favorite ornaments!

This little 'Santa' sits high a top the tree.

From country, to vintage!

More angels, more snowmen!

An eclectic mix, but they all mean so much!

This little guy makes me smile! He's so full of fun and cheer!

I hope you've enjoyed a view of our little tree!

I got presents....

Look what I got....my wonderful swap partner's package arrived in the post today. Kathy, from Kathy's Cottage was my swap partner for 'deck the halls' swap. Kathy's package arrived today just full of wonderful delights....

Just a peek into what arrived....

A delightful cone, filled with my favorite.......Dove Chocolates! I can see myself enjoying a few of these tonight!

*******

Here's a vintage bag, made with the most gorgeous lace....wait, there's more - this JOY banner.

******

The most delightful winter tags, made of course by Kathy! They are just beautiful, and the handmade card too.

and...there's more. Two vintage ornaments! A delightful snowman (couldn't get a good picture, but you can see how cute he is) and a pickle. I've been wanting a little pickle ornament forever, I love the story behind it.

And....my favorite - HOT CHOCOLATE! Now I can sit down tonight and nibble on the 'Dove' chocolates andddddddd have a hot cocoa too! Thanks you so much Kathy for the wonderful swap package. I just loved it all! It's been great having you as my swap partner and getting to know a little about you.

Thank you again Kathy.

More Holiday Cheer...

With a storm fast approaching and temperature's falling, I thought it a good time to post a few more pictures of our holiday decorating. Enjoy, and I wish you all a wonderful, happy weekend!

You guessed it....another TJMaxx bargain purchase! I just love these little guys!

This is the kitchen window. It was hard to get a good picture. I draped the window with garland and hung silver pears with a cheerful holiday banner.

My snowman wonderland. I have a small collection of snowmen which I've not put out for a few years. I decided this year, I would put them atop my television hutch in the family room!

Two little deer sitting on the bedroom dresser!


My button collection filled with bottle brush trees!


More bottle brush trees sitting on the coffee table in the family room! I used a small vintage candy dish filled with buttons. The other tree is set in a vintage cup and saucer!
*****

Ornament Swap...

Oh, I'm soooooooooo excited. I participated in my first swap for 'deck the halls' swap hosted by Home is Where Your Heart Is http://www.monicaanderson.blogspot.com/). I was so nervous! Not having participated in a swap before, questions overwhelmed me....What should I make? Will my swap partner like it? And, then after making it...Not sure I like it? Not sure it looks good? Will my swap partner like it? Well, all of my questions have been answered....yes, yes she likes it! My swap partner was Kathy at Kathy's Cottage (http://www.kathyscottage.blogspot.com/), and she likes it! She received my package today, and likes it! Oh, I've said that haven't I! Anyway, she had a terrible day starting out today according to her post (nasty car trouble, no...terrible car trouble), and then when she got home there was my swap package and she likes it! Oh, I said it again, oh well...she does! I'm so glad that I participated in this swap and that Kathy was my swap partner. I'm meeting just the best people in blogland! I've been waiting for her package to arrive so that I could post pictures of what I sent her...so, without any further delay here it is.

I made her a toile covered box, with lots and lots of glitz and glitter on top!

Can you see all the glitz and glitter?

What, there's more inside?

Some of the items all packaged and ready to be sent off to Kathy.

Almost ready to be taken to the post!

Finally....all packaged up and ready for the trip to my blog friend Kathy. Oh, I'm so glad that she likes it!

More Glitz & Glitter...

Here are a few more holiday decorating pictures. I'm only posting a few at a time (don't want anyone to be too bored). I keep saying that I'm done decorating, but everytime I go out (like to TJMAXX), I seem to find something new that I just absolutely have to have! Even though I'm not changing my decorations from years past, I thought I needed some new glitz and glitter. Therefore, I've been purchasing a few new additional items that have lots of sparkle. Well, enjoy and visit again soon for more pictures. I promise there won't be many more, well maybe I shouldn't say that? Oh, and if any of you are interested....final snow fall total at our house from Saturday...approximately 10 inches! Love that SNOW!

Fairies, you have to have a fairy or two who join in the holiday festivities!

This arrangement sits on top of my old vintage desk set that is in my living room!

The arrangement of fairies stays up year round...I just add holiday decorations to the vignette. I try to keep the little fairies looking more woodland, so that they do blend in all year round.

This little guy is one of my new additions. Isn't he just the cutiest? I loved the blue high top shoes, so you guessed it....just had to buy him. I added the glittery star to his little tree, and when time permits he will get a little black top hat! (See what I mean about finding new items to add to the decor! Another TJMAXX goodie.)

This is a small vintage dish that I set by the fire in front of a fountain that I have. I filled it with lots of glitter and glitz! I love how the fire reflects off of the glitter.

The coffee table in the living room! Do you think it's getting too glittery?

Another view....see the dried flowers in the beautiful jar? Remember the picture I took on my anniversary post....couldn't part with the roses, so I dried them and they now sit in this beautiful jar to continue to bring me wonderful memories!

I hope you have enjoyed this little tour. Remember, there will be more pictures to follow...I haven't even gotten the tree yet! (You can see a glimpse of it in the above picture.)

Snowing...

Look what it's doing today! Just had to post a few pictures of the fantastic snow we are getting today. The weather forecaster's said that the major part of the storm would hit the east side of the mountains and that the Salt Lake Valley would see only minimal rain with some patches of snow. If the following pictures are any indication of what minimal rain, with patches of snow means....I can't imagine what the east side of the mountains are getting!

*****

*****

*****

.....and,there's more since I took these pictures this morning! Love it! PS....Will be posting more of my holiday decorations soon, so stay tuned!