Christmas Dining and Living Room

I hope you're all enjoying the holiday season as much as my family and I are! The news said we have broken a record here in Michigan for not having any snow yet and for warm temperatures this late in the year. But it has been so cloudy!

I took some pictures this morning and they honestly looked like it was night outside. I ran errands today and had just gotten home from the grocery store when the sun peaked out for a second. Less than five minutes.

Fortunately, our dining and living room were neat and clean. I can't say the same for the kitchen as I had covered the cabinets with groceries.

So I paused and ran around like a banshee taking a few pictures. They're still not sunny by any means but there's no sunshine in the forecast so I have a feeling this is as good as it's going to get!

I added a boxwood wreath to our china cabinet in the family room and a small tree. I love having the lights in the evening when we're eating.

I filled this small tree with lights and icicles like the other tree but I also added pillow batting mimicking snow. I bent the branches of the tree down like they were weighted with the snow to add realism.

My husband made this 'trough' for me a couple of years ago. I filled it with a faux pine garland for a base then added more cream poinsettias, faux fruit, glittering ornaments and candles.

I showed you our living room in the evening recently. In the daytime, I love all the fresh white and flowers.

I didn't put anything on this wreath - just added some frosted evergreen bows at the bottom.

I added a faux garland to the mantel with lots of lights and lots of candles, all woven together with a gold sparkly ribbon.

I want to say again how much I've enjoyed everyone's Christmas home tours! I especially have loved how differently everyone decorates and it's still all so beautiful!

An article came through my Facebook news feed today from a popular decorating magazine. In it, designers were sharing the mistakes they feel that people do when decorating for Christmas. I had done most of them. So did you! Ha! So I promptly dealt with it by deleting the magazine from my news feed.

So I want to say - load your tables and shelves with all the knick-knacks that your grandmother gave you! Fill your house with fake greenery and put a Nativity on every surface! Buy a poinsettia for everyone you know! They may be "the mum" of Christmas, but they sure are beautiful! Decorate your house exactly like you like it and don't compare yourself to anyone else. It's YOUR house and it's YOUR memories. Traditions and family are far more important than doing things 'right.' Next year they'll tell you something else is 'in' or 'out' so do it your way.

Whew! I feel much better! Sometimes I get so tired of being told what's 'right' and how to feel about things.

I have heard other bloggers express that they had wondered if their house and their decorating was good enough. They had compared themselves to someone else and then been afraid they weren't as good. I've also heard another beautiful blogger express that blogging had changed a lot over the years and sometimes she felt she couldn't keep up.

You don't have to be better. You don't have to keep up. It's wonderful to be unique and be yourself. My style and your style may not be liked by everyone. That's ok. I really like my house. And I'm the one who lives in it.

My prayer for you this year is that you find your identity in Christ. Once you find that, it can't be shaken. When you follow the things that God has for you, you have a confidence that you're doing the right thing... no matter what anyone else thinks. A new year is coming. I'm praying it's a new day for each of us!

love and blessings~

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14

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Home & Garden, Tips & How To

Holiday Nights

I think my favorite thing about Christmas decorating is all the lights. There's nothing cozier than relaxing in the evening by the fire and the lights from the tree.

Ours light up the whole room and I really miss them when the holidays are over.

I have my decorations all done but the forecast is clouds, clouds and more clouds for the next several days so I thought I would share our evening view in the meantime.

I put a small tree in our dining room - perfect for romantic evening dinners. I filled the trough my husband made with faux evergreen, poinsettias, glittery fruit, ornaments and candles.

And I put (almost) every other candle we own on our living room mantle. A faux garland and a string of lights add sparkle in the evenings. I filled the hearth and ottoman tray with more cream poinsettias.

A large wreath hangs in the picture window.

I got this throw at HomeGoods. It's the softest! I think I'm going to have to take it up to our bedroom and use it more because I don't sit in here often.

I hope to catch a sunny day soon to take some pictures of the living room and dining room and post them. And I hope to show you my husband's contribution to the decorating! lol and a forehead slap! He was so happy with his idea that I had to leave it.

Be back soon!
love and blessings~

"Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house." Matthew 5:15

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Home & Garden, Tips & How To

Holiday Nights

I think my favorite thing about Christmas decorating is all the lights. There's nothing cozier than relaxing in the evening by the fire and the lights from the tree.

Ours light up the whole room and I really miss them when the holidays are over.

I have my decorations all done but the forecast is clouds, clouds and more clouds for the next several days so I thought I would share our evening view in the meantime.

I put a small tree in our dining room - perfect for romantic evening dinners. I filled the trough my husband made with faux evergreen, poinsettias, glittery fruit, ornaments and candles.

A large wreath hangs in the picture window.

Faux Report

Patrick Swayze Turns In His Grave After First Reviews of ‘Point Break’ Remake Hit The Web

HOLLYWOOD, California –

Patrick Swayze made a name for himself in the 80s and 90s, starring in feature films like Road House and Ghost, but one of his most iconic rolls was in the heist/action film Point Break, co-starring Keanu Reeves, that was released in 1991. The actor has since passed on, but as reviews of the Point Break remake have begun hitting the web, reports have indicated that Swayze is, indeed, rolling in his grave.

“I saw the trailer for the new Point Break, and I have to say, it looks pretty damn awful,” said film reviewer Charles Junior. “I watched it and said, ‘Oh man, Patrick probably rolling over in his grave right now,’ and as it turns out, he really is.”

Swayze’s headstone has reportedly fallen over multiple times, and groundskeepers at the cemetery say that they know it’s because he’s in there, going out of his mind.

“I keep picking it back up, but then it falls back over,” said one cemetery worker. “Problem is that damn Point Break remake. Making that poor man turn over and over in his grave. It’s sad. They should just pull it from release before it causes Mr. Swayze to get no eternal rest.”

Keanu Reeves, Swayze’s co-star in the original film, is still alive, but yet had no comment on the half-assed remake. Point Break is scheduled to hit theatres on Christmas day for some reason.

Faux Report

Obama Breaks Tradition, Removes Menorah From White House During Hanukkah

WASHINGTON, D.C. –

For over 200 years, a Menorah has been lit each night of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah in the White House, despite no president ever being Jewish. This year, though, President Obama has ordered that the Menorah be removed, and that none be brought in throughout the building’s many offices.

“This is a joyous time for families, and a time to remember the love and faith we all share by celebrating with gift giving and togetherness,” said Obama from inside the White House. “We have a Christmas tree in the White House, and that is enough. We are an all inclusive country, but let’s not forget, that this is also my home, and I celebrate Christmas.”

Many people have protested the president’s decision, although he says that there is no reason to change now.

“Hanukkah has already started, and we didn’t light any candles, so there’s no reason to get all up in arms over it,” said Obama. “Next year, you’ll have a new president at this time, and he can have the Hanukkah traditions or not, I really don’t care. Since it will probably be Trump, and he’s a full-blown racist, you probably won’t get anything in the White House.”

Home & Garden, Tips & How To

Christmas Family Room

Christmas is in full swing at our house. I have always loved decorating for Christmas and try to change things up every year.

Our family room is where my husband and I spend most of our time when we're relaxing. It's sunny in the day time and cozy at night.

Winters can be dreary so when decorating for Christmas, I love lots of trees and sparkle and flowers.

Our fireplace has a gas log that's easy to flip on. It makes winter almost enjoyable.

We had a real tree every year for many years but, as I mentioned yesterday, it bothered my husband's allergies. So several years ago, he bought us the largest artificial tree we could find. I felt it was a good compromise and love how tall it is.

Most years I put a garland on our tree but this year chose not to. Instead, I loaded it with several sizes of glittering snow flakes and lots of icicles.

The fur throw on our couch is from Pottery Barn. Michigan winters are long and cold and our couch is where I hibernate.

I put some more sparkly trees and a worshiping deer on our sofa table behind our couch.

I left our mirror above the fireplace and added two lengths of garland from Hobby Lobby. I have two of these little wooden wheel barrows. This one holds cinnamon scented pine cones which fill the room with their scent, especially when the fireplace is burning.

The coffee table holds a vase of white amaryllis and pine and two sleighs of faux evergreen and more scented pine cones. I put them everywhere and also burn pine scented candles. I love when friends tell me that our house always smells so good. And the candles make up for not having real evergreen.

I'll be back soon with pictures of our dining room and living room.

love and blessings~

"'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah;
For out of you shall come forth a ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.'" Matthew 2:6
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