Christmas around the house

some of our decorations this year...

Numbered "Pottery Barn" Jars

I found these jars at Tuesday Morning for only $4 each!!

They are exactly like the Pottery Barn one- I was so excited...

I decided to do beach-y stuff in them after much thought: shells, sea glass, and sand.

Last week was a lucky week for finding great stuff... more to come!

New Member of the Family: "Blue" the ceramic dog

I spotted this guy at Pier 1 and HAD to have him!

John said sure so I went back a couple of days later and picked him up-

he was the last one!(phew)

Here's how Amber and I got him safely home:

And here he is in his new home:
Love it!

i made a "Nonna Wreath"

I absolutely LOVE this. Once again, I got the idea and tutorial from Jones Design. Two reasons I had to make this: 1. we have a Nonna of our own in the family- my mom! {Nonna means grandma in Italian} and 2. i needed a winter type wreath for my front door and this looked super easy and fun to make- and it was!
I used my Joann's coupon and got a wreath form for $4. Then the felt by the yard was 1/2 off so I got that for $2. $6 for a new wreath- pretty good, huh?
You just cut strips of the felt into 2-3" pieces. Wrap the wreath form(I think Emily used a 10" rounded hard foam but I used a 14" green squared off foam- I wanted it bigger- I don't think it matters what kind you use) first and glue in place with got glue. Then start bunching/twisting/turning the felt pieces all the while adhering it with hot glue as you go. (this will use a bunch of glue!)
I went around the outside and then 2 more rows working in. Then I realized I needed to do one on the outside also. I had a yard of felt and it covered the whole wreath with some left over to make some flower pins for my friends for a New Years treat! :)
Here it is on my yellow door- isn't it cute and cozy looking?

my winter mantle

i stuck my "m" up there to decide if I like it. what would the "m" stand for? mommy, mantle, merry? or i could flip it upside down and make it a "w" for winter? hmmm....

i didn't want to put all my pretty mercury glass away for the year yet so I decided to create a "winter-y" themed mantle display. I also used my favorite new book page wreath that I learned how to make here.

I realize I still haven't posted our pictures from Christmas Day- whoops!

They'll be coming tomorrow- I promise!

let me introduce you...

to our new friend mr. chilly!
I couldn't resist- I knew Mickey would be NUTS about it(because he L O V E S penguins)-

and I was right!
The giant hug I got from him made the purchase well worth it.
And now he is outside with his new friend the giant metal peacock.

I wonder who will join them next year?!?

Got him here: www.patinawhite.com (at her Christmas show)- click on Show & Tell to look at her house, ect.- it's gorgeous!

spooky slimy wreath

I got this idea from good old Martha- you just spray paint a grapevine wreath and a bunch of plastic toy snakes, tuck them through the vines, and voila! a snake-y halloween wreath. I added a big black crow because I love them for extra spooky-ness.

I love how it looks against my new yellow door!