Revisiting Last Year's Christmas Mantel ...

<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends!  Are you still full?  I sure am!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before I share our holiday home, I thought I'd show my sweet, new blogging buddies what our Christmas mantel looked like for the past few years:</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6ioats35NbJpKkO4iWqK03QjMZmJSo4Du3lpH3ygRJ7Gr0mzu-1fYVE4gdGUx1elXUMTw-HdR_37KVgVGU87Ln-2BOim6XKwEDUol3TOqG11czd6ZuXrttqqGZfwrO48HyQnXyegQhI/s1600/moverall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6ioats35NbJpKkO4iWqK03QjMZmJSo4Du3lpH3ygRJ7Gr0mzu-1fYVE4gdGUx1elXUMTw-HdR_37KVgVGU87Ln-2BOim6XKwEDUol3TOqG11czd6ZuXrttqqGZfwrO48HyQnXyegQhI/s640/moverall.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was filled with sequined nutcrackers of varying sizes:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQYb5cDtgFdWt2EQ0NCDD3p6K3PsjZOfLa2fQbcCl-6Gbb_lEKXYYqBxwBdS9ysghfMjQ1l8Xb-p87NwAJ3x4gZ27ulks_7Jp-4ipilcyTRzOW4bWZkA2-mTpdfpIgMUHS9Aa-T83nwc/s1600/lmantel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQYb5cDtgFdWt2EQ0NCDD3p6K3PsjZOfLa2fQbcCl-6Gbb_lEKXYYqBxwBdS9ysghfMjQ1l8Xb-p87NwAJ3x4gZ27ulks_7Jp-4ipilcyTRzOW4bWZkA2-mTpdfpIgMUHS9Aa-T83nwc/s640/lmantel.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32pAcKohDye8qFTSPnNB5uBB0dpRV3GtEcLP4ns9Ka1uzg3HAwTLydsJklZqU348BHMFSPVeFJckOfQgJc_jCBc0JqAzyNLcnNMR5HngObE1QSM0u2VfDmGukm25f5pzf4h8pvEflNLA/s1600/rmantle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32pAcKohDye8qFTSPnNB5uBB0dpRV3GtEcLP4ns9Ka1uzg3HAwTLydsJklZqU348BHMFSPVeFJckOfQgJc_jCBc0JqAzyNLcnNMR5HngObE1QSM0u2VfDmGukm25f5pzf4h8pvEflNLA/s640/rmantle.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Littles fellas perched on top of festive holiday nuts:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrR8H6GS7bxytrC2GIQloT5lVLorhU1dwFq8s5oD5pr-cyKcjWWSM16AitrAJJCEWE78exFVKkYClHF9RwMIxacxKk0uLCUpMZgK4-_LIDhKzR7UtsCwD0vQPkzPEZgTEOJmaQsglTfM/s1600/nutcracker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrR8H6GS7bxytrC2GIQloT5lVLorhU1dwFq8s5oD5pr-cyKcjWWSM16AitrAJJCEWE78exFVKkYClHF9RwMIxacxKk0uLCUpMZgK4-_LIDhKzR7UtsCwD0vQPkzPEZgTEOJmaQsglTfM/s640/nutcracker.jpg" width="344" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, lots of sparkle and beaded garland:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Iumy5JwyTcvr4naj-9FgqwYURAWIKcSto-nJIhn46DWwXSIiEIcMVnGjfVycJkqzUxBfXGJhKMTkuoFqqySzjUcW6iybmYWMUuQx-kPhdlh1ThKG7pC6pbQjAaE2OIWyQGysYbCp56w/s1600/close5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Iumy5JwyTcvr4naj-9FgqwYURAWIKcSto-nJIhn46DWwXSIiEIcMVnGjfVycJkqzUxBfXGJhKMTkuoFqqySzjUcW6iybmYWMUuQx-kPhdlh1ThKG7pC6pbQjAaE2OIWyQGysYbCp56w/s640/close5.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcaJtBc0oD0TgXX3vdOv2gzAP7DteiHGUXIn5Wfn4Sr9BwE3gCHxGLfugPFonHn_7Q1pKkiWhjvrhPO3VLf0oG932fQMr5ovRPDQic6tSZ5JVtvlIdPEr9X3jbqyfuvs1my6Yc6Zt8YE/s1600/mclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcaJtBc0oD0TgXX3vdOv2gzAP7DteiHGUXIn5Wfn4Sr9BwE3gCHxGLfugPFonHn_7Q1pKkiWhjvrhPO3VLf0oG932fQMr5ovRPDQic6tSZ5JVtvlIdPEr9X3jbqyfuvs1my6Yc6Zt8YE/s640/mclose.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It glowed and shimmered when it was all lit up at night:</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaRh_FoqEhy84XHT_K_2s1K-c11EwgOv0hrKkF_CDDoebH0s4f5zD6j1f4-KoIZqex_klBY5j0HZ3sTTi8UCZYJ8R8w1pEfrre8fAp_hz37ll-oxfumxN35LE8XpGTb06YFfOZXVs31I/s1600/mnight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaRh_FoqEhy84XHT_K_2s1K-c11EwgOv0hrKkF_CDDoebH0s4f5zD6j1f4-KoIZqex_klBY5j0HZ3sTTi8UCZYJ8R8w1pEfrre8fAp_hz37ll-oxfumxN35LE8XpGTb06YFfOZXVs31I/s400/mnight.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While I loved the *blingy* look, I decided to do something different this year.  Lemme tell ya' ... I was stumped what to do until my sweet 5 year old kiddo inspired me ... can't wait to share it with you !!</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOAOdxQGP3biaM4xNlSU2lTqdVAvk_4qwB5AZ4I4oq9Yhzs4vDlG5P99tKs_IJqAanb2ghQzCsPpLbeNC8Uyx6RCZGv2c3OEWdO114xaf4e0bpca2mMdEmyHz6VCaUD-cK4wITPK4e_M/s1600/xmasbelieve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOAOdxQGP3biaM4xNlSU2lTqdVAvk_4qwB5AZ4I4oq9Yhzs4vDlG5P99tKs_IJqAanb2ghQzCsPpLbeNC8Uyx6RCZGv2c3OEWdO114xaf4e0bpca2mMdEmyHz6VCaUD-cK4wITPK4e_M/s400/xmasbelieve.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have a great day and happy decorating!</span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/248/3B01215062574D4D6FFA221C1E7FF50B.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a><br /><br /></div><div align="justify"><br /></div>

Revisiting Last Year's Christmas Mantel ...

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends!  Are you still full?  I sure am!Before I share our holiday home, I thought I'd show my sweet, new blogging buddies what our Christmas mantel looked like for the past few years:It was filled with sequined nutcrackers of varying siz…

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"IT'S ...

<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">beginning to look a LOT like Christmas (sing it with me now) ... EVERYwhere you gooooo !!"  Yes, folks, Dasher and Dancer; elves; Santa; and the "reason for the season" have landed in our home.  </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being the tease that I am, thought I'd share a few peeks!</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ynxKegGpZwk1x03u16C8LsxC09WPCIQToxzPFXTXevMSSRzJtBFDpFYKKC4uIc1NZ_8Cwr2TlzxSCgIp7M_us0vz-stAKvskogBIeMxEaqRcyYsmBdAEjr7TjLzC_dqAFCUJo1hpg-k/s1600/xmasbelieve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ynxKegGpZwk1x03u16C8LsxC09WPCIQToxzPFXTXevMSSRzJtBFDpFYKKC4uIc1NZ_8Cwr2TlzxSCgIp7M_us0vz-stAKvskogBIeMxEaqRcyYsmBdAEjr7TjLzC_dqAFCUJo1hpg-k/s400/xmasbelieve.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyD1JVcfOJsCicfaGHrIcdNwQGLbDa9TS7Wc6AEqEhef7QQe6vnpXt7jjyBcsmXxhvA-nE0i7jMJLSySO8UoQuStXZPCdovs1Pktf1iPAysPhYChaPjAoXcixCgWta9KLXm1ry_RIgg5I/s1600/xmaschurch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyD1JVcfOJsCicfaGHrIcdNwQGLbDa9TS7Wc6AEqEhef7QQe6vnpXt7jjyBcsmXxhvA-nE0i7jMJLSySO8UoQuStXZPCdovs1Pktf1iPAysPhYChaPjAoXcixCgWta9KLXm1ry_RIgg5I/s640/xmaschurch.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uWsIcSjQfipaPo2FQHZHbGRxiA5Pz7-Pt5CbTOpn0FaLL4ts__RLQqEKfrLIkCMtxneXCEa9K2hU7_GrtlN5NNp8lzWSbh22y9h1w4fzdIsnUQsplJbd0EUu30QICJLMNSEEH2Nw_zg/s1600/xmasyule.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uWsIcSjQfipaPo2FQHZHbGRxiA5Pz7-Pt5CbTOpn0FaLL4ts__RLQqEKfrLIkCMtxneXCEa9K2hU7_GrtlN5NNp8lzWSbh22y9h1w4fzdIsnUQsplJbd0EUu30QICJLMNSEEH2Nw_zg/s400/xmasyule.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgN0pP6gVY6WhnE6xMjXSmgpvGAsFDrn94VLMM2fWTJehmrxEiNW-nKerzZq8Qv9p71Z-wkhyphenhyphen5QWhFEK7fWIujZz267VSS44dYR6cgI3nOjEkUmSFTr_cHn1CSWdBqliNLKj4NYnoccA/s1600/xmastool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgN0pP6gVY6WhnE6xMjXSmgpvGAsFDrn94VLMM2fWTJehmrxEiNW-nKerzZq8Qv9p71Z-wkhyphenhyphen5QWhFEK7fWIujZz267VSS44dYR6cgI3nOjEkUmSFTr_cHn1CSWdBqliNLKj4NYnoccA/s640/xmastool.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5dLYrNP1-KGCO94EovDO7NF_1StZmwZ-YzqClHE4tjIrq4DilkCLDB2py13ZwGk1BEMgFSiahMIZspTGLNtoi9WhKBnx_qY_eQLvwJY3tgP4dtoflNbK4jOK6Hhr6-EgqmFDF6E_YXw/s1600/xmastreeclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5dLYrNP1-KGCO94EovDO7NF_1StZmwZ-YzqClHE4tjIrq4DilkCLDB2py13ZwGk1BEMgFSiahMIZspTGLNtoi9WhKBnx_qY_eQLvwJY3tgP4dtoflNbK4jOK6Hhr6-EgqmFDF6E_YXw/s640/xmastreeclose.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvx35XHEXjCjmhXh4yIsX-ByzLicXuS-n9E8bQQo36Jz6uW_YFlga2hj3OKAdGPaZ5nePg71YK7JxFc8XqIQYMTykMlTU0P8_SEhA5psHPI3kVYvonLipMUYavbb6jrqyIUDNzLbcTAQ/s1600/xmaslantern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvx35XHEXjCjmhXh4yIsX-ByzLicXuS-n9E8bQQo36Jz6uW_YFlga2hj3OKAdGPaZ5nePg71YK7JxFc8XqIQYMTykMlTU0P8_SEhA5psHPI3kVYvonLipMUYavbb6jrqyIUDNzLbcTAQ/s640/xmaslantern.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3x32If2VL4g9krkER4FfUxEo1DwUO2hk6fiswXs_Aly_VyoHcqu4PWy_sZ_Csp7EOTfjxqXIrtTvPQfTpDBZuVay3a3ompVfHmC17dK7iXf7a3DvXNQKuhG3ZZP19HYEiG8Zv3x3W1Lk/s1600/xmassnowtree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3x32If2VL4g9krkER4FfUxEo1DwUO2hk6fiswXs_Aly_VyoHcqu4PWy_sZ_Csp7EOTfjxqXIrtTvPQfTpDBZuVay3a3ompVfHmC17dK7iXf7a3DvXNQKuhG3ZZP19HYEiG8Zv3x3W1Lk/s640/xmassnowtree.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWa1EAHTq8N_5EqiA8QHyPCN4M6xJRhiCOkqI0THSZkmEC57abvokFHwRmHVqFFAWuGcYXcQhxpf0UUMfkydil5sBFnEfC4J0-etpsar2Ma6wAKulQQQZnhTbZzC4hkx8TfBFEXmw_nkE/s1600/xmasfamily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWa1EAHTq8N_5EqiA8QHyPCN4M6xJRhiCOkqI0THSZkmEC57abvokFHwRmHVqFFAWuGcYXcQhxpf0UUMfkydil5sBFnEfC4J0-etpsar2Ma6wAKulQQQZnhTbZzC4hkx8TfBFEXmw_nkE/s400/xmasfamily.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love our cute visitors we get to enjoy for the season!</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhie2R41ckp-bumO60Bn8rfyM_-vOH42JpivaB6Lp5PVWfLeJ0kij02IO0kcbrKrpAEbAO-9fvYXYmp9ugXmuAbh4rOw8_kkcRDBzqWNgk4cSZzc9sS6QN_tzPnT2lsjvDVeODqijll8D4/s1600/xmaselfcandy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhie2R41ckp-bumO60Bn8rfyM_-vOH42JpivaB6Lp5PVWfLeJ0kij02IO0kcbrKrpAEbAO-9fvYXYmp9ugXmuAbh4rOw8_kkcRDBzqWNgk4cSZzc9sS6QN_tzPnT2lsjvDVeODqijll8D4/s640/xmaselfcandy.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGVqBFCIDvztKvYxhxW5gIkR2JThp-JM1CxPpHbOLrPrQKyf-haGFpvwJebRUOLVbDKzhfDCqpWUZXKgrN5r7bncSSXkDC0HdoIM_1YRkCOwXlZoVopOwCP6Qltm8hV8NlKs3bppxoKw/s1600/xmassantabake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGVqBFCIDvztKvYxhxW5gIkR2JThp-JM1CxPpHbOLrPrQKyf-haGFpvwJebRUOLVbDKzhfDCqpWUZXKgrN5r7bncSSXkDC0HdoIM_1YRkCOwXlZoVopOwCP6Qltm8hV8NlKs3bppxoKw/s640/xmassantabake.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SqtQwif0XeD-kOipsa3bX7VzHil71uO5DJN420ToanMP3I5Qr0R10AuDdETPM5J8YfFmLQCE3jwFTng1g4Y3lxGqC7MmBVswMGGMicimB2ZNrd0NziUB0dkxCqXpP-mNT2S_B-PTTw0/s1600/xmaselfladder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SqtQwif0XeD-kOipsa3bX7VzHil71uO5DJN420ToanMP3I5Qr0R10AuDdETPM5J8YfFmLQCE3jwFTng1g4Y3lxGqC7MmBVswMGGMicimB2ZNrd0NziUB0dkxCqXpP-mNT2S_B-PTTw0/s640/xmaselfladder.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcDGvkJoRlIFFs7-eZOBchlNfj9iKjXSIvWs-Qbi5hEH12Nxrpbx5VRSoi12RqkpdtlrTPsKZ0mknRa-KnnfbQuwJ_AnP2jxviL2nv_WBU_wS8EctoG3POehjUYeA9fYuf6NqR9GIRuY/s1600/xmassantafire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcDGvkJoRlIFFs7-eZOBchlNfj9iKjXSIvWs-Qbi5hEH12Nxrpbx5VRSoi12RqkpdtlrTPsKZ0mknRa-KnnfbQuwJ_AnP2jxviL2nv_WBU_wS8EctoG3POehjUYeA9fYuf6NqR9GIRuY/s640/xmassantafire.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBFU5SftjFng_F9Y2BBroPPQjCHAt19hbEr8nZ-GfKrOEhwVh9wRMv64U038oK103EUWZIRtn97rlsMme15pc68X-tUz8ZskVlyw_qCokUbyGHdw3XFKRjs5v0v6CG9eTL5dmK3iokhA/s1600/xmaselftop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBFU5SftjFng_F9Y2BBroPPQjCHAt19hbEr8nZ-GfKrOEhwVh9wRMv64U038oK103EUWZIRtn97rlsMme15pc68X-tUz8ZskVlyw_qCokUbyGHdw3XFKRjs5v0v6CG9eTL5dmK3iokhA/s640/xmaselftop.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I look forward to showing you more very soon.  For now, I'm enjoying decorating </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">others' homes for the holidays, too !!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I'm linking up with:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Dittle Dattle/<a href="http://dittledattle.blogspot.com/2011/11/amaze-me-monday-50.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DittleDattle+%28Dittle+Dattle%29">Amaze Me Monday</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Coastal Charm/<a href="http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/2011/11/ntt-no89grand-opening-and-giveaway.html">Nifty Thrifty Tuesday</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/<a href="http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/2011/11/tuesdays-treasures_21.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MyUncommonSliceOfSuburbia+%28My+Uncommon+Slice+of+Suburbia%29">Tuesday's Treasures</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My Backyard Eden/<a href="http://www.mybackyardeden.com/2011/11/make-it-yours.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+mybackyardeden%2FSJvZ+%28My+Backyard+Eden%29">Make it Yours</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">At the Picket Fence/<a href="http://www.atthepicketfence.com/2011/11/inspiration-friday-no-42thanksgiving.html">Inspiration Friday</a></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/248/3B01215062574D4D6FFA221C1E7FF50B.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div>

"IT'S ...

beginning to look a LOT like Christmas (sing it with me now) ... EVERYwhere you gooooo !!"  Yes, folks, Dasher and Dancer; elves; Santa; and the "reason for the season" have landed in our home.  Being the tease that I am, thought I'd share a few peeks!I love our cute visitors we get to enjoy for the…

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Nautical Christmas Tree ...

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last year, I was truly flattered to have been hired by local business owners, to decorate the Christmas tree in their shop, <em>Marine Service Center </em>(where they sell all things fast and fun on the water), as well as to spread Christmas around their home.  In years past, the Christmas tree at their store had been a nautical themed tree in blue, red, white and gold.  With the permission of the owners, last year, I traded out the gold accents for silvers ones ... added nautical rope and burlap, along with snowflakes and branches at the top.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">This year, I was happy when the owners asked me to come back and "play" again.  They didn't want to change anything from what I had done last year, so, I was happy to recreate the nautical tree again ... </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just a few pics:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcBXD2TwW1NJJPg8hDORo7JTHwI8jqo09WCjkOcB18uRthWVrtcvhurJJoE-SH508yod4s07Rq_-Vbw35PDuw51UP7et2ctIBQE_UBLpmv67HeQ8ESdJd6okQ_UpqNvl_DZq55aGr7C4/s1600/kaylastoreoverall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcBXD2TwW1NJJPg8hDORo7JTHwI8jqo09WCjkOcB18uRthWVrtcvhurJJoE-SH508yod4s07Rq_-Vbw35PDuw51UP7et2ctIBQE_UBLpmv67HeQ8ESdJd6okQ_UpqNvl_DZq55aGr7C4/s640/kaylastoreoverall.jpg" width="368" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wnWsDC_mrCIZz7HJmoDm2h1bGzeMy90m-mtd4b1Sq1ofofM471pY5Wt4JniiQjDAG5TD3raWaqF8C4tpNL0vz2riul4REXJRYzkVpm8I5BXiPOkYjilRNYdurVsGpNzuMBNlrm5UNEQ/s1600/kaylastoretop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wnWsDC_mrCIZz7HJmoDm2h1bGzeMy90m-mtd4b1Sq1ofofM471pY5Wt4JniiQjDAG5TD3raWaqF8C4tpNL0vz2riul4REXJRYzkVpm8I5BXiPOkYjilRNYdurVsGpNzuMBNlrm5UNEQ/s400/kaylastoretop.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I loved adding the nautical rope ... truly something one wouldn't expect to see on a Christmas tree!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7zEJ6mMeX9hcM0iHyOfeTUgxCMsCsI8ahY-90vTUK2wKhBGlI7mGCYFz16I86T5GkJc8BQHSm70C30tWbEyvl78u98-BEL0yMDwOSd6u8inuX1cGJAgRMIyoZZwE5wO1yf9gC_Qlebk/s1600/kaylastoreclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7zEJ6mMeX9hcM0iHyOfeTUgxCMsCsI8ahY-90vTUK2wKhBGlI7mGCYFz16I86T5GkJc8BQHSm70C30tWbEyvl78u98-BEL0yMDwOSd6u8inuX1cGJAgRMIyoZZwE5wO1yf9gC_Qlebk/s640/kaylastoreclose.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjNrDpWb7H-tYHrON1z6x_64H_L9h4-w09CK_uakUec15tyzCcZBRrNVyy0jIozHv-rzLOCql6Akjo02hSIuN1bZTaNSCKv74lD-CgLJhxDjagzyJGMTxxTNGnE5N6UuSMDVOsXb1EyE/s1600/kaylastoreclose1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjNrDpWb7H-tYHrON1z6x_64H_L9h4-w09CK_uakUec15tyzCcZBRrNVyy0jIozHv-rzLOCql6Akjo02hSIuN1bZTaNSCKv74lD-CgLJhxDjagzyJGMTxxTNGnE5N6UuSMDVOsXb1EyE/s400/kaylastoreclose1.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Down below, I wrapped the presents in blue paper, along with white boxes (with red ribbon).  </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvFyLm4sauNpWuL93vpF6fTOIiBYUzkOZflzjK9vcjXakUS6tx6EBxOH9oiIzSf8OO4Reu4cnlo1YpJ1HedBBKiFl5A0sGUy-2EwPo5rGignr5BVGCcUFqeU1MSCSFGCpE7puL9Rdz2k/s1600/kaylastore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvFyLm4sauNpWuL93vpF6fTOIiBYUzkOZflzjK9vcjXakUS6tx6EBxOH9oiIzSf8OO4Reu4cnlo1YpJ1HedBBKiFl5A0sGUy-2EwPo5rGignr5BVGCcUFqeU1MSCSFGCpE7puL9Rdz2k/s400/kaylastore.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm now busy splashing Christmas around their home and look forward to sharing those pics with you, too!</span></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the meantime ... LOOOOOK what is FINALLY up and blinging away in our dining room !!  I'm in LOVE and can't wait to show you our Christmas dining room!</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1qUE3RCt2Rp4pO-zSJdaTmfuXP3jLBfb5Uv4oy5BBxbCmDEx8XFOlWs3xRBM9oVamQjwBzUYwhK9lI4Y00OwHif-U1dyE-AZpRY9ifUzkHyqmDQPtTV7xBMJdRS5FUq5O6qGj2j74LE/s1600/newchandie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1qUE3RCt2Rp4pO-zSJdaTmfuXP3jLBfb5Uv4oy5BBxbCmDEx8XFOlWs3xRBM9oVamQjwBzUYwhK9lI4Y00OwHif-U1dyE-AZpRY9ifUzkHyqmDQPtTV7xBMJdRS5FUq5O6qGj2j74LE/s640/newchandie.jpg" width="360" /></a></div></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As always, thanks for stopping by, friends ...</span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/248/3B01215062574D4D6FFA221C1E7FF50B.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><br /></div>

Nautical Christmas Tree ...

Last year, I was truly flattered to have been hired by local business owners, to decorate the Christmas tree in their shop, Marine Service Center (where they sell all things fast and fun on the water), as well as to spread Christmas around their home.  In years past, the Christmas tree at their stor…

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Fall Breakfast Area

<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Sunday, folks ... and, come on in!  Welcome to what *used* to be our Fall breakfast area.  It's all looking like Christmas right now, but I wanted to share with you what it looked like just last week!  </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are a few changes to this area since I shared it last time.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpCYDkKi6hRyx4YWleNJmr52ytVeu5-Ef0y5rzOuF1Hd2ewjfRkboNGhZSx_j-fZUf7hv_MFlMgh0kjoJ1DeC6eb0b4Fqfy-Eeq2SNpixgSSi2Zxk0d6L2-otwHa6XmeTqr0hgzxJBEM/s1600/fallbreakfastoverall1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpCYDkKi6hRyx4YWleNJmr52ytVeu5-Ef0y5rzOuF1Hd2ewjfRkboNGhZSx_j-fZUf7hv_MFlMgh0kjoJ1DeC6eb0b4Fqfy-Eeq2SNpixgSSi2Zxk0d6L2-otwHa6XmeTqr0hgzxJBEM/s640/fallbreakfastoverall1.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The biggest change being that I painted the table base Annie Sloane Old White, and I also asked my sweet friend to recover our chairs.  It's actually extra fabric that I had stored away!</span>  </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigo3_CG_iaIbUf8ZuANNr5jIAls_6f5rtx37I5UoPWHeZYE4swNRBodf7EwcSACLv9brKWn8Os-A3UIbPlvtlR_EOzoDDUyRGGnsACjlzrp_snOSPkfrRSYPtehxSHxOqjL9l7HGWv2Rk/s1600/fallbreakfasttable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigo3_CG_iaIbUf8ZuANNr5jIAls_6f5rtx37I5UoPWHeZYE4swNRBodf7EwcSACLv9brKWn8Os-A3UIbPlvtlR_EOzoDDUyRGGnsACjlzrp_snOSPkfrRSYPtehxSHxOqjL9l7HGWv2Rk/s400/fallbreakfasttable.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also added a bit of this fabric to the center of the table, layered on top of a *burlap-y* looking fabric.  I then placed a grapevine pumpkin on a cream cake stand and covered all of that with a large glass cloche.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxBvd_7NQGaigC4TTeatRPjcoVL1p5_hRfKsNMNMQ5ty0j7YEnw7nO1Pu9K1-hCmdlr6H4KrLHjlwEh6AqAPM5Ue3usN1jm8tvWb9PK00_2Au8Vh1rncb9V0_LuWeCgC-rZQ_P_VmLa4/s1600/fallbreakfastcenter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxBvd_7NQGaigC4TTeatRPjcoVL1p5_hRfKsNMNMQ5ty0j7YEnw7nO1Pu9K1-hCmdlr6H4KrLHjlwEh6AqAPM5Ue3usN1jm8tvWb9PK00_2Au8Vh1rncb9V0_LuWeCgC-rZQ_P_VmLa4/s400/fallbreakfastcenter.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also added "EAT" above the window ... I painted the letters Old White, followed by Chateaux Grey (to tie in with the neighboring dry bar, which is done in the same colors).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhI4jPW8B1PBcIPDoQT5L7bWG5DPaky3Glabqma87uVVPU3Ca-pA1a-5ZKpuPCYCxYhhUXnqHj68IP8v7SKy7UG2wB4s6SIv_dU6PtF6PYJ5gV-aPVDf-sZXNUnLEwo0GuYkJY8fJLb8I/s1600/fallbreakfasteat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhI4jPW8B1PBcIPDoQT5L7bWG5DPaky3Glabqma87uVVPU3Ca-pA1a-5ZKpuPCYCxYhhUXnqHj68IP8v7SKy7UG2wB4s6SIv_dU6PtF6PYJ5gV-aPVDf-sZXNUnLEwo0GuYkJY8fJLb8I/s400/fallbreakfasteat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A view of the breakfast area from the great room ... you'll spy our Family Fall tree, which has become a tradition in our home every Fall now.  For the last two years, it has been in our sitting room, but, this year, I decided to place it by our breakfast table so that it would feel more "present" during the Fall.  I loved sitting at the table, and staring at all of the pics ... lots of memories always come flooding back, and I love that:</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwK2pJzs-6UuXxJmLHaQwlW-eNAL0aOfUSfwGmXMZUe1jLAhSMsBBkcsoXEurbN2Y0LTB3JFqpWaY4tHiYNRMMhNOV-QHJuBFJXcOGQBBeCdyDDAu4I0Kw_5bdVZrR-4JbuWLoozCO9U/s1600/fallbreakfastoverall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwK2pJzs-6UuXxJmLHaQwlW-eNAL0aOfUSfwGmXMZUe1jLAhSMsBBkcsoXEurbN2Y0LTB3JFqpWaY4tHiYNRMMhNOV-QHJuBFJXcOGQBBeCdyDDAu4I0Kw_5bdVZrR-4JbuWLoozCO9U/s640/fallbreakfastoverall.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieO0zKpz-3KDTGZ_FhkUSlQo8HFek9WqKyd95-pqdii1SSmeRcIXKeXNJMy95zq-fiV5uypqq6x1GUJXmwcrOzjBGVYSYbtgUNUU6-mwl2PRPKmIN5b5lk88ltnRRBCbXmsOWsmhmnaSE/s1600/fallbreakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieO0zKpz-3KDTGZ_FhkUSlQo8HFek9WqKyd95-pqdii1SSmeRcIXKeXNJMy95zq-fiV5uypqq6x1GUJXmwcrOzjBGVYSYbtgUNUU6-mwl2PRPKmIN5b5lk88ltnRRBCbXmsOWsmhmnaSE/s400/fallbreakfast.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Crazy tree topper:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJJyRU_K4O4yNxHMC7Zx56H7g1FbkgscMZHjHE94R8Us-HpSUh_V-1beZ8fdhLrvjdChQ5wPyUEB2GLFuINWViUGfA-_-_I2dNgIaOlUEc9mIni46fCuR7QQ7RKJIwHXOS5bGSN6cWig/s1600/fallbreakfasttopper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJJyRU_K4O4yNxHMC7Zx56H7g1FbkgscMZHjHE94R8Us-HpSUh_V-1beZ8fdhLrvjdChQ5wPyUEB2GLFuINWViUGfA-_-_I2dNgIaOlUEc9mIni46fCuR7QQ7RKJIwHXOS5bGSN6cWig/s400/fallbreakfasttopper.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I fill this tree with special family pictures ... moments which we are so thankful for ... like the first moment I held my son:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Xi-yeW1J9hLIvKkaezpHkAr0o85OiblaLKUaw8iroq3el_qp16ozn78yv20VrxY7dPBTRGUtSA1SZl0F_BjOy6TcjqpMDOP8zQGQe3oxyHYGVVNbbWHuxFX_jXQ89ZpnLc0cx9Q7lJ8/s1600/falltreeus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Xi-yeW1J9hLIvKkaezpHkAr0o85OiblaLKUaw8iroq3el_qp16ozn78yv20VrxY7dPBTRGUtSA1SZl0F_BjOy6TcjqpMDOP8zQGQe3oxyHYGVVNbbWHuxFX_jXQ89ZpnLc0cx9Q7lJ8/s640/falltreeus.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Special sayings:</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnIUzNAzGZ0oAj3r_EITBRnyACBbn4rNpfK7qOzmNhCYbk94V4D_ZTw0a8xNOHWUPZLg-yGkaf02FH_Njt6m8eXVy6HO2zMk_X7x9r2neiQ2tKswJIk_Nn28fRnHuAMCQ9aOxTyP6H3g/s1600/fallbreakfasttree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnIUzNAzGZ0oAj3r_EITBRnyACBbn4rNpfK7qOzmNhCYbk94V4D_ZTw0a8xNOHWUPZLg-yGkaf02FH_Njt6m8eXVy6HO2zMk_X7x9r2neiQ2tKswJIk_Nn28fRnHuAMCQ9aOxTyP6H3g/s400/fallbreakfasttree.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, fun times with friends (like the day last year that my husband and I renewed our vows for our 15th wedding anniversary, surrounded by great friends, on the beaches of Punta Cana):</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYttj_ZEjgOfDd3WgY_Xj-d6_yjWYjkN1WKZ7pWvBSvgYFIUQs9_69nrkJuGKCkJzSrjxnFVsXslGzsKRYVdmtE1DviRFCPREx7jNj2I3R3Adb4_1LgWjJhITHP3x-8PQyiUwvs8NrzM/s1600/falltreeclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYttj_ZEjgOfDd3WgY_Xj-d6_yjWYjkN1WKZ7pWvBSvgYFIUQs9_69nrkJuGKCkJzSrjxnFVsXslGzsKRYVdmtE1DviRFCPREx7jNj2I3R3Adb4_1LgWjJhITHP3x-8PQyiUwvs8NrzM/s640/falltreeclose.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The family tree has since been moved to another room, and I look forward to sharing that, along with the rest of our house, which is now all dressed up for Christmas!</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the meantime, come on over and party at these wonderful blogs:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Dittle Dattle/<a href="http://dittledattle.blogspot.com/2011/11/amaze-me-monday-49.html">Amaze Me Monday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Kristen's Creations/<a href="http://kristenscreationsonline.blogspot.com/2011/11/share-your-creations-party-13.html">Share Your Creations Party</a></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Thanks for stopping by,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/248/3B01215062574D4D6FFA221C1E7FF50B.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div>

Fall Breakfast Area

Happy Sunday, folks ... and, come on in!  Welcome to what *used* to be our Fall breakfast area.  It's all looking like Christmas right now, but I wanted to share with you what it looked like just last week!  There are a few changes to this area since I shared it last time.The biggest change being th…

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Simple Snapshots ...

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just a few snaps of a Fall afternoon taken last week ... I love the sun streaming into the sitting room:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Zw4_LWjgfUPaaE7FvpNssAgqA7jnTBZ9mR6-Gx6syQir5xNxft0eMW27vGlKMoF6fzrRoFFXE4R95jkraNKxnaZgH1t-y_ER6fVDYcR-JMOkKJijRCNoYMGDQ20pOlvVFeTOzR1w9N8/s1600/fallsittingsun2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Zw4_LWjgfUPaaE7FvpNssAgqA7jnTBZ9mR6-Gx6syQir5xNxft0eMW27vGlKMoF6fzrRoFFXE4R95jkraNKxnaZgH1t-y_ER6fVDYcR-JMOkKJijRCNoYMGDQ20pOlvVFeTOzR1w9N8/s640/fallsittingsun2.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Love how it highlights random leaves and branches ...</span><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijl69eqmmW5wQ0uWB1CjhEBuXWaPvb_551lpzuembiUY4w8KF7VxgCGEPohyphenhyphenHDnwJXAoETCSddHCGSLcOFNhaJmBCwXIVIEYd6qiYoPwJ1P7042FIUslnkeXzO11lpOsFJweEXu9tBR4o/s1600/fallsittingsun3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijl69eqmmW5wQ0uWB1CjhEBuXWaPvb_551lpzuembiUY4w8KF7VxgCGEPohyphenhyphenHDnwJXAoETCSddHCGSLcOFNhaJmBCwXIVIEYd6qiYoPwJ1P7042FIUslnkeXzO11lpOsFJweEXu9tBR4o/s640/fallsittingsun3.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and how it bounces the reflections of the mirrors onto the walls:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkJUdkLoZSXAyGIUolH3M1tW49PfnsxrXckVRsZmsjQIIBDmzQW9pRE3o8DXUlHQTzlCFjYdFKDJsHAZU_Oxcq5atFbuMIRcZD2O3rJV2Q0Ht5YJxSclHEP0_xA8EePcnau07JZbENxY/s1600/fallsittingsun1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkJUdkLoZSXAyGIUolH3M1tW49PfnsxrXckVRsZmsjQIIBDmzQW9pRE3o8DXUlHQTzlCFjYdFKDJsHAZU_Oxcq5atFbuMIRcZD2O3rJV2Q0Ht5YJxSclHEP0_xA8EePcnau07JZbENxY/s640/fallsittingsun1.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Wait until you see the sun reflecting off of the Christmas tree ornaments which are in here now ... yippee!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Have a great day, <br />everyone,</span></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/248/3B01215062574D4D6FFA221C1E7FF50B.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>

Simple Snapshots ...

Just a few snaps of a Fall afternoon taken last week ... I love the sun streaming into the sitting room:Love how it highlights random leaves and branches ...and how it bounces the reflections of the mirrors onto the walls:Wait until you see the sun reflecting off of the Christmas tree ornaments whic…

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Fall Dry Bar

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can you believe that Thanksgiving is only a few short weeks away ?!  I can't ... where has this year gone ?!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I thought I'd share part of our breakfast area today.  </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of you may remember that I painted our dry bar this past summer ... it went from this:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ61Ju19pqMCP-HAkD9GsXKAMCaNfmvyU2EtKxc5vKGEIsZMTmx4xUeIDJBaq1n76qnXiG2W2yGdg23bpqrFtM3Kc6DaRKUo_61w_qNRDFQm6evB3ZH2f3deN3pZzHh-zypXp7NLGoM6U/s1600/drybar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ61Ju19pqMCP-HAkD9GsXKAMCaNfmvyU2EtKxc5vKGEIsZMTmx4xUeIDJBaq1n76qnXiG2W2yGdg23bpqrFtM3Kc6DaRKUo_61w_qNRDFQm6evB3ZH2f3deN3pZzHh-zypXp7NLGoM6U/s400/drybar.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To <strong>THIS</strong> (I painted one coat of Annie Sloane's Old White chalk paint, followed by two coats of Chateaux Grey).  I then distressed it a bit and waxed (clear).  I also removed the center, glass doors to allow for more of a display area.  Here it is dressed for Fall:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-QzjKpC0aYPdR4RdcHzcgGzPMjtOLnzecoBE1VUbc2X1b63-gCVM4KVFurH2xfs2fcbt6AN2MhDCCi2G9_gqLLSTx8bOCQP7mrg_lAfWvbXAxK6ZQ9ukGumJ2RIYWXR5rvbFu5RzKrY/s1600/falldrybaroverall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-QzjKpC0aYPdR4RdcHzcgGzPMjtOLnzecoBE1VUbc2X1b63-gCVM4KVFurH2xfs2fcbt6AN2MhDCCi2G9_gqLLSTx8bOCQP7mrg_lAfWvbXAxK6ZQ9ukGumJ2RIYWXR5rvbFu5RzKrY/s640/falldrybaroverall.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdLy5Ks267DuPR3Rtz3Jpn483BzWp428KTvZM-DMav0F6LGyBmyjtBh4TJMWyeQwcCV8L54lhNHoNb_WdhID2xJZyyzdKbOnPP4CuNQg8IMtoe2xWKnMaoGGSiBAYc4SwRTzZiAMOKYE/s1600/falldrybarclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdLy5Ks267DuPR3Rtz3Jpn483BzWp428KTvZM-DMav0F6LGyBmyjtBh4TJMWyeQwcCV8L54lhNHoNb_WdhID2xJZyyzdKbOnPP4CuNQg8IMtoe2xWKnMaoGGSiBAYc4SwRTzZiAMOKYE/s400/falldrybarclose.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My white ceramic roo from Home Goods (last year), nestled on raffia and a glass cake stand:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQHPtbd63nQV2fZmlsgPbYko1odkISHW0vhwaJE4bU0fnk8gYqvalzMK6xTaobf-DLxFh0cMIrdx7yaXRohi6B3PI_LHqC3sHBqV2J2OH8BKKduVxZGLQ0R3wbaCBhH8_6E-f_XhVVaEw/s1600/falldrybarroo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQHPtbd63nQV2fZmlsgPbYko1odkISHW0vhwaJE4bU0fnk8gYqvalzMK6xTaobf-DLxFh0cMIrdx7yaXRohi6B3PI_LHqC3sHBqV2J2OH8BKKduVxZGLQ0R3wbaCBhH8_6E-f_XhVVaEw/s400/falldrybarroo1.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I filled a cream soup tureen with a few Fall picks ... you can see the *Menu* chalkboard peeking through in the back that I created out of black poster board and chalkpaint markers:</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWV3bR-QK7wJ97LUeQUIivnRMJ5ZqAf6bpPbCFfZuTrtKMU9-yC71P7k9fWrn1mHnrWmYhMLuKsfSB64WT-0yg0W-Yxj9BSKEzvrcWIPVUxgetDFl2mWMZevQXw9mwiw6ycHgOYMOaooM/s1600/falldrybarmenu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWV3bR-QK7wJ97LUeQUIivnRMJ5ZqAf6bpPbCFfZuTrtKMU9-yC71P7k9fWrn1mHnrWmYhMLuKsfSB64WT-0yg0W-Yxj9BSKEzvrcWIPVUxgetDFl2mWMZevQXw9mwiw6ycHgOYMOaooM/s400/falldrybarmenu.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another one of the beautiful, handcrafted velvet pumpkins that I won in a giveaway hosted by a sweet blogging buddy, Lela:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyId78j5EJxZfD9YfdGN-6XkpAIicg7Lw_nLtkmGiYHremvAqoNN-kgeAEFbY0OBDVfTO6p5ue4Oo22aL1B23gUIWfEfx14l4F1TiJx8zCcnx1r_Cc77cHkcfsEIec8x82ndLcjDUVyk0/s1600/falldrybarvelvet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyId78j5EJxZfD9YfdGN-6XkpAIicg7Lw_nLtkmGiYHremvAqoNN-kgeAEFbY0OBDVfTO6p5ue4Oo22aL1B23gUIWfEfx14l4F1TiJx8zCcnx1r_Cc77cHkcfsEIec8x82ndLcjDUVyk0/s400/falldrybarvelvet.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Up above, the shelves have a few little pieces of Fall, too.  I recently bought the stainless "Give Us this Day our Daily Bread" piece from GoodWill for only $2!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8vZIFLF7nX1Wi0JW8Za4kSJRHC_EhqWAEp9aGMMgTPbign9Qil4SFyTnZSMxzoiorAYgI99jOZ3adH2amxm1oFCD9tM7rtPNZ0QQh3Cq_9IOGh-xvFhjfTD2rLjbyGJQiA0f0JqQXes/s1600/falldrybarshelves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8vZIFLF7nX1Wi0JW8Za4kSJRHC_EhqWAEp9aGMMgTPbign9Qil4SFyTnZSMxzoiorAYgI99jOZ3adH2amxm1oFCD9tM7rtPNZ0QQh3Cq_9IOGh-xvFhjfTD2rLjbyGJQiA0f0JqQXes/s640/falldrybarshelves.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Simplicity:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPO-lDqG-3x9o2DIK05Aqq1uEJ4xOURFtOIyi2SBSYN2zNA809-TqNJy07L-Kfuz_4rXV3Lz_i2pCHeMrtcg_rRYLLQcUsh46ysT_62T5Om6KRC1WgT1duEnYxTg-x1CAg7_K1vgbQETk/s1600/falldrybarpumpkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPO-lDqG-3x9o2DIK05Aqq1uEJ4xOURFtOIyi2SBSYN2zNA809-TqNJy07L-Kfuz_4rXV3Lz_i2pCHeMrtcg_rRYLLQcUsh46ysT_62T5Om6KRC1WgT1duEnYxTg-x1CAg7_K1vgbQETk/s400/falldrybarpumpkin.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, you may have spied my new rooster prints that I found at Kirkland's earlier this Spring ... perfect for Fall!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UT1tohyphenhyphenTPlQv69YZGL5Szp2Jx7oetboTcMGCryWvPefse9VkruY7GaFKYgqNi01WTDv4yQ6JKUx_bedgtPF5XA5V6L3wdd67OzKZZBKA2Mu_nA8GXW8df9x7RUspRjXYYQ5etxAHSo4/s1600/falldrybarroos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UT1tohyphenhyphenTPlQv69YZGL5Szp2Jx7oetboTcMGCryWvPefse9VkruY7GaFKYgqNi01WTDv4yQ6JKUx_bedgtPF5XA5V6L3wdd67OzKZZBKA2Mu_nA8GXW8df9x7RUspRjXYYQ5etxAHSo4/s400/falldrybarroos.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Admittedly, though, I have to laugh because this area no longer looks as it does in the above pictures ... it has already been transformed for Christmas!  And, I look forward to sharing it all with you soon!</span></div><div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the meantime, come</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> on over and play at these fabulous parties:</span></div><div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Dittle Dattle/<a href="http://dittledattle.blogspot.com/2011/11/amaze-me-monday-48.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DittleDattle+%28Dittle+Dattle%29">Amaze Me Monday</a></span></div><div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyUncommonSliceOfSuburbia/~3/B9W840NdE5w/tuesdays-treasures.html">Tuesday's Treasures</a></span></div><div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Coastal Charm/<a href="http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/2011/11/nifty-thrifty-tuesday-no87.html">Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays</a></span></div><div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">As always, thanks for stopping by!</span></div><div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/248/3B01215062574D4D6FFA221C1E7FF50B.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div><div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>

Fall Dry Bar

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is only a few short weeks away ?!  I can't ... where has this year gone ?!I thought I'd share part of our breakfast area today.  Some of you may remember that I painted our dry bar this past summer ... it went from this:To THIS (I painted one coat of Annie Sloane's …

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