merry christmas...

Oh holy night the stars are brightly

shining it is the night of our dear

Savior's birth...

Wishing you a joyous holiday

surrounded by your loved ones.

~ Merry Christmas ~

Love, Pam 

my after Christmas sale list...

I don't do Black Friday, I'm not lined up at the stores at 6am on the 26th,
but I do love the challenge of finding great bargains, however, the main motivation
 for me to hit the sales is getting a jump start on next year's gifts, wrapping supplies
and decor.

Make a plan of  items you're looking for, but be open!

I like small boutiques for unique items and gifts.
Hit them early, and if you have time scope out their merchandise a couple days before.

Here are a few items on my list this year, besides the usual ribbon and wrap.

Faux Fur Throws
are hot items, and go quickly, I have one in the living room, but would love to find
 one to warm up my white Ikea sectional in the family room.
Restoration Hardware has a nice selection, marked down to $79,  but I bet
they'll be reduced further depending on stock. Still available online.

wanderwithstyle.com 

Scented Gifts

This is a favorite evergreen scent that makes wonderful gifts, found at boutiques

and specialty stores - it goes quickly, too.

Thymes Frasier Fir
Candle $28, Diffuser $60, Room Spray $18

Embellish Gifts
I'm always looking for interesting items to embellish gifts...ornaments, monograms,
 picks, think of items you can use for occasions other than Christmas, too.

                           

Think outside the box
Don't forget the power of paint and glitter...if you don't see the perfect item.

from this...to this...

bbfi-oceania.com

or this to this...

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage

Planters
Did you plant paperwhites this year, if so, I'm sure you've been enjoying them for a
 couple weeks, they'd be such a nice gift for a hostess or neighbor early in the season.
Be on the look out for a unique planter to use next year.

Christmas Books
Fun gifts for children, adults, or styling your coffee table.
I love Christmas in American, Colorado Christmas, The Christmas Box.


kittenslostthermittens.com

I usually wait to buy ribbon and wrap about a week or more after Christmas when it's
 marked down even further.

Have a great weekend, hope you enjoy the last of your shopping and preparations!
I'll be back on Monday and then I'm signing off until after the New Year to hang out with
 my family, head to the mountains for some skiing, and get my completely unorganized
 house back in order!
  

a friend and her cottage...

My VERY sweet and VERY talented friend Shannon from Fox Hollow Cottage
 asked if I'd share some Christmas decor on her blog today.
Since I'm about 99.9% sure you guys are done seeing my holiday decor, and 

I know how much you all love pretty house tours, great diys, 

before and afters, and cool thrifting finds, I thought I'd treat you to all that and more

by giving you a peek into Shannon's blog...

There is so much inspiration I'm not sure where to begin...

how about her feature in FOLK magazine this month?!!

(If you're not familiar with it, it is a hip American country lifestyle magazine.) 

You can see her creative diy they featured here.

I remember first finding her blog a year ago at Christmas when I saw this. 

It wasn't just a pretty styled vignette...

it was a diy for vintage sheet music garland with mica glitter!! 

My comment on her blog:  Beautiful arrangement. That's making me think mine is a little too simple!

I had only been blogging a couple months, and I clearly remember thinking I was in

over my head with this kind of talent!  

While you're there don't miss out on her Cottage Tour here,

it includes the amazing renovation of this lovely challenge, and... 

...the coordinating dining room!

Here's a tiny peek at the new kitchen! 

I've only shown you a smidgen, 

you'll love her blog, home and inspiration!

But even more ~ her sweet, genuine ways and cheerful attitude are an absolute delight!

Stop by to visit Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage

HERE!

my neighbor gifts...

One of my favorite gifts last year was a pretty basket with

delicious homemade biscuits and honey from a special client, turned friend.

We loved the idea so much I decided to do the same for some

friends and neighbors this year...

I loved these tall glass storage jars resembling a beehive as the container,

after the biscuits cooled I stacked them inside,

and included a jar of gourmet honey and a new dish towel.

Tomorrow is going to be a perfect baking day because we're getting...

*~*~*~* SNOW *~*~*~*

Dried Cranberry and White Chocolate Biscotti are on my list.

 I've made this recipe from Bon Appetit for years here 

some of the reviews mention they're sweet for biscotti, but I've never noticed and

 don't make any adjustments.

They have a nice consistency - crisp, but not too hard.

What's on your baking list?

wrapping it up...a plan

Do you guys remember last year when I showed you my collection of ribbon and wrap

I scooped up at the After Christmas Sale here? (I also showed how easy it is to create

several different looks from a couple rolls of black and white paper.)

Here it is packaged for a *WOW* factor when the recipients open the BIG box from UPS!  

I like to have a color scheme or theme to keep the look cohesive.

I went with what was on sale last year... 

Candy Cane Stripes, Peppermint Candy, Polka Dots

 Red, White and Green

 and found fun items to pull it all together. 

This cute 'Snowball Fight' bucket was from Gordmans, it included six soft fabric

 snowballs, I added a little snow for fun. 

Who wouldn't love S'mores and Hot Cocoa? Especially if it coordinates!! :)

(detail boy and I aren't s'mores fans, but mr. simple makes up for us)

I embellished this boxed S'Mores and Hot Cocoa set with some bright ribbon,

 the silver bell ornament and tag. 

A unique container I filled with chocolate Santas and 

a gift for the mom,  a candle boxed in a complimentary color.

I'm sure I have as much fun putting this together as they do opening it!

It doesn't take much more time or money to deliver beautifully wrapped gifts,

 just a little planning the wrap and ribbon at the After Christmas Sales.

Don't fret over it being overwhelming, just grab what coordinates and it will work!

 Another tip:  Take a photo of what you've purchased and put it in your 2013

calendar under October or November and when it comes time to think about

the holidays next year you'll have a head start.

Do you shop the after Christmas sales?

Stay tuned for a post later this week for what's on my list this year and

thinking outside the box when shopping.  

Christmas 2012...home tour

Welcome friends, thank you so much for stopping by our
 Christmas 2012 Home Tour...a recap of all our holiday decor.
I'm so thankful to live in Colorado, and for our dusting of snow one morning
 last week, no matter how slight. I'd be more than happy to have several inches
for a white Christmas!

Living Room with our our unconventional tree here.



Coffee table

A gorgeous tray that I won, which deserves a post all its own.

A favorite Christmas photo from years ago is encased.

The Dining Room and the blinged out chandelier here.

Family Room with Pottery Barn Knock Off pillows here.

Mantel here





Kitchen - Pre Favorite Things Girlfriend Party here






If you'd like to check out the changes to our home and last year's
Christmas Tour go here.

I'll be ready to sit back and enjoy the sparkle and magic of the season,
right after I do some holiday baking, and finish a bit of shopping!

Linking up with Melissa at The Inspired Home here

and The Nester @ Nesting Place here

Courtney at A Thoughtful Place here

 Kim @ Savvy Southern Style ~ Wow Us Wednesdays here

the winner...

I had planned on using Random.org to choose the giveaway winner,

 but there was one comment I couldn't stop thinking about, I wanted her to win.

I had decided to send her a gift whether she won or not...then it dawned on me,

I didn't say how the winner would be chosen...can you read between the lines?

------------------I----------chose----------the--------winner----------------

I didn't fret about it being the right decision, because I knew you'd agree.
 If I could bring her joy in the simplest way I wanted to...

Congratulations, Marcia! 

Marcia Kraus said...

I want to thank you for your blog. Today is the anniversary of my dear mom's death and was feeling a bit low. In reading your blog and looking at the beautiful pictures, my spirits were lifted. You see, Christmas was my mother's favorite time of the year. She decorated EVERYTHING. But it wasn't cheesy. Your style of decorating reminds me so much of hers. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Please keep posting....you never know when you will touch someone deeply and when they most need it.Happy Holidays!
Marcia

Happy Weekend, dear friends!

dining room bling...

Do you know it has been exactly one year since I told you I was planning to update
 my dining room, and get rid of the brown here.
I can't believe it's still not finished...maybe 2013 will be THE year!
I have a plan to change out the high-end cabinet and replace it with the free one we found
 on the sidewalk in our neighborhood here..more on those plans after the holidays.

Speaking of holidays, I went with over the top more bling in the dining room,
 but only on the chandelier and kept the rest of the room subdued to compensate.
 

Since we went with the unconventional tree here we had a lot of
ornaments we weren't using, so...I blinged out the chandelier!
The reflection in the mirror shows the nail head ceiling here.

The view from below, I simply hung a collection of high-end and low-end glass
 ornaments from their hooks.

I like the glam with paired our farm table.
The only other decor I have in the dining room are some crispy evergreen boughs,
pine cones, a glass bowl of more ornaments on the table, and simple arrangement
on the cabinet.

Remember how excited I was to find the chairs with the open backs,

in anticipation of using accent pillows that would be visible...I made the first ones.

It's called White Bunny Fur, it's soft, cozy, (and made a big mess) perfect for winter, and

my favorite is the texture it adds to the smooth high gloss finish on the chairs and the

rustic wood table.  

I had the captain's chairs professionally re-upholstered, they had a roll on the
back I wanted removed and thought it was best left to the pros.  The Vermicelli fabric
brings in the modern look I'm going for (not there yet) and has a great texture, almost
embroidered looking.

A view from above...



Be sure to stop by tomorrow, the winner of the present will be announced.
Have a wonderful day, friends!