"Home for the Holidays" Tour!

<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">HAPPY HOLIDAYS !!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks so much for taking a peek at our Christmas nutcracker mantel (seen <a href="http://www.adventuresindecorating1.blogspot.com/2013/12/our-christmas-mantel-and-deck-halls-tour.html"><span style="color: red;">HERE</span></a>)!  And, now, I'm excited to be part of the "Home for the Holidays" Tour where 29 other bloggers and I are "virtually" sharing parts of our holiday homes!  AND, there's even an incredible giveaway, too (details below).</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_xFCir5d-OMrzuNm9wHmSf9xMEfWY8U-i6jNvTlaBHrJENiCj_5ge1mrxIyjbro8xfBDXl9nkUoqTN9bE9H4v-78tTMtji_9B5U_dVygH76r5aShOZt6adi_Ci9OvQoJ6vfG0M1OClM/s1600/xmasfrontdoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_xFCir5d-OMrzuNm9wHmSf9xMEfWY8U-i6jNvTlaBHrJENiCj_5ge1mrxIyjbro8xfBDXl9nkUoqTN9bE9H4v-78tTMtji_9B5U_dVygH76r5aShOZt6adi_Ci9OvQoJ6vfG0M1OClM/s640/xmasfrontdoor.jpg" width="346" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What can I say?  I.LOVE.CHRISTMAS. … everything about it … the traditions, smells, anticipation and, of course, the decorating!  And, since I have just a tad more sparkle to spread around, I'm sharing sneaks and peeks today so, crank up Bing Crosby and come on in!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the first rooms you'll see when you walk through the front door is our sitting room.  This year, I traded red, white and silver for green, brown, silver and gold:</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysNZNE8Gh9FY5Gz0u8zk-2x6ioeTw-ZbfeCTr4prn2QTJW3f5dppzKEFCNHbKtj3eHxKzg7M3oy4d_hOu8Q-U_38E3ZopqNZvZxAWW9eDg9lSfHxx0BmizIzVtVKe2qlpuY7xedkSWBs/s1600/xmassittingteasertree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysNZNE8Gh9FY5Gz0u8zk-2x6ioeTw-ZbfeCTr4prn2QTJW3f5dppzKEFCNHbKtj3eHxKzg7M3oy4d_hOu8Q-U_38E3ZopqNZvZxAWW9eDg9lSfHxx0BmizIzVtVKe2qlpuY7xedkSWBs/s640/xmassittingteasertree.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pujy_J6zs9kVoPqRoeFGrkdH5ZOhuLwVVfv873rTaCovsh8XA9OE8xZXMx463C2ZgD0UND0rwemDhyLt52seRxvB0QXcCBu6O5-Ug1sG2Ye8-jJoZ1u-gpejqNKdE8YQTBg1Hp1CNq4/s1600/xmassittingteasercent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pujy_J6zs9kVoPqRoeFGrkdH5ZOhuLwVVfv873rTaCovsh8XA9OE8xZXMx463C2ZgD0UND0rwemDhyLt52seRxvB0QXcCBu6O5-Ug1sG2Ye8-jJoZ1u-gpejqNKdE8YQTBg1Hp1CNq4/s640/xmassittingteasercent.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Peeking on into the dining room, you'll spy lots of red ...</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUVEGq0NOZI_9omVcBy6d5PNpzS8ScuDrVkNtNy_TJFcPxFAPE_xgQC_UlKORNKA4DsyQf9Z5cNcJ6KPpa-URZUznkmbA4DQ046RBVePwSlT1bMpuxZbYOS4hAAafdCNYQXN1gJ3QJxk/s1600/xmassittingteaserdining.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUVEGq0NOZI_9omVcBy6d5PNpzS8ScuDrVkNtNy_TJFcPxFAPE_xgQC_UlKORNKA4DsyQf9Z5cNcJ6KPpa-URZUznkmbA4DQ046RBVePwSlT1bMpuxZbYOS4hAAafdCNYQXN1gJ3QJxk/s640/xmassittingteaserdining.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">mixed in with silver, white and black (a "new" Christmas color for me)!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMdL3lXlM0N2lXcY3VnKENmcpGw1oq1sLtoK569Low9CSyfo8fOUu7LFFSuVsoZiXfmcDvQGsfZXJ4sAb6dmg4Ag-6nQgV69SIR6WrR1CtcwkBvwM35TVtlwyR7fRtPSK1H3lfJdPT38/s1600/xmasdiningteasertopper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMdL3lXlM0N2lXcY3VnKENmcpGw1oq1sLtoK569Low9CSyfo8fOUu7LFFSuVsoZiXfmcDvQGsfZXJ4sAb6dmg4Ag-6nQgV69SIR6WrR1CtcwkBvwM35TVtlwyR7fRtPSK1H3lfJdPT38/s640/xmasdiningteasertopper.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course, it would't be complete without a little bit of mercury, now would it?</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqKVQa5vI43ts962ABqKthDa3z7_3ZyQa7eboPF9pqJdN5-oKjVt4T_wfJPRYXjjkt71fIAAF-KC5zfPRuH5nMGmZl1_uotZ-C61Suww9mVL61p9dw1LM1SgZ8xXrgLu_D6opDjiNzHg/s1600/xmasdiningteasermerc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqKVQa5vI43ts962ABqKthDa3z7_3ZyQa7eboPF9pqJdN5-oKjVt4T_wfJPRYXjjkt71fIAAF-KC5zfPRuH5nMGmZl1_uotZ-C61Suww9mVL61p9dw1LM1SgZ8xXrgLu_D6opDjiNzHg/s640/xmasdiningteasermerc.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One thing that will never change is my love for all things candy, gingerbread and whimsy in our Christmas kitchen … </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqScgU5hbytJ0-Kzmr1qZKV7WeJS3az1mnPJ5iuh-t8FV3pZghS0N-PGrcn0qkWDYk3CPZAwuLGhLp0vNPlyPDt9YbRLzcTUh9_ZAxbuR5Mo8dRwLgfG8LAOevTvUn9jz6-0G53APXJcU/s1600/xmaskitchenteaserssanta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqScgU5hbytJ0-Kzmr1qZKV7WeJS3az1mnPJ5iuh-t8FV3pZghS0N-PGrcn0qkWDYk3CPZAwuLGhLp0vNPlyPDt9YbRLzcTUh9_ZAxbuR5Mo8dRwLgfG8LAOevTvUn9jz6-0G53APXJcU/s640/xmaskitchenteaserssanta.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">… and, to ensure that I don't even *attempt* to bake (and burn) holiday cookies, I've covered our flour with a few ornaments: </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTh2CTX6gXhNbg099iVcytUxwW-8BFgKh_165reDod6ZmkfkwGa2tTt95jWFK9G0nQW7LGpiuRMzZZu2O1YDqOLaPwQrCotBnzXhNKPIn1ldwm2xl-Zuf7qKXEq0EwJxPnemPj2r8Jzs/s1600/xmasbfastteasercanister.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTh2CTX6gXhNbg099iVcytUxwW-8BFgKh_165reDod6ZmkfkwGa2tTt95jWFK9G0nQW7LGpiuRMzZZu2O1YDqOLaPwQrCotBnzXhNKPIn1ldwm2xl-Zuf7qKXEq0EwJxPnemPj2r8Jzs/s640/xmasbfastteasercanister.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our breakfast area got a little bit of a new holiday look this year, as I decided to give it its own theme with fruit,</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hLpXXk12WtsMaDhAqHOsblX99QKDFk0SO-zMU8O2z57QG9vb-w_H-MG4GDNBJBVEA-A1taH2tzN_SLwuRbScEfTI0YVCbXve3PPxjhd_BM-rxiy08amSfTIMEoLRv1zfqvasQ-zqn5g/s1600/xmasdiningbfastsanta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hLpXXk12WtsMaDhAqHOsblX99QKDFk0SO-zMU8O2z57QG9vb-w_H-MG4GDNBJBVEA-A1taH2tzN_SLwuRbScEfTI0YVCbXve3PPxjhd_BM-rxiy08amSfTIMEoLRv1zfqvasQ-zqn5g/s640/xmasdiningbfastsanta.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and, even added a new tree full of tiny wine bottles, corks, cheese and grapes … loved throwing a bit of deep purple in there, too!</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/AVvXsEjokI7K8TF9M-duc95N_v3MXel9jIAI3MINzqUWBMeBnFxgtVoCvcbhwvfRh0Fgn4UPrV-yUTstfjemJc8FyAPBZnkj97mcW40DNaTthWNgUIxLdkOJN-LsiAfVTpabpBaDfC6iDRqC3jU/s1600/xmasbfastteasertree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokI7K8TF9M-duc95N_v3MXel9jIAI3MINzqUWBMeBnFxgtVoCvcbhwvfRh0Fgn4UPrV-yUTstfjemJc8FyAPBZnkj97mcW40DNaTthWNgUIxLdkOJN-LsiAfVTpabpBaDfC6iDRqC3jU/s640/xmasbfastteasertree.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, over in our great room, pretty much anything goes on the tree, including a crazy topper!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgFW7cmMkH5v9GjNeNiiay1bAsI0vaeJSgNIrztj4WwhhSR2fCJj4zZ_fHuRXfACFlzaVLCMZ-g-LzR-FQ13AWG_iVMbdVg21AFjAv0I-rNKWMR4n9TnapKTo4viny9ks7NVMBMxcGOs/s1600/xmasgreatteasertopper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgFW7cmMkH5v9GjNeNiiay1bAsI0vaeJSgNIrztj4WwhhSR2fCJj4zZ_fHuRXfACFlzaVLCMZ-g-LzR-FQ13AWG_iVMbdVg21AFjAv0I-rNKWMR4n9TnapKTo4viny9ks7NVMBMxcGOs/s640/xmasgreatteasertopper.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You'll also spy nutcrackers standing guard by the fireplace,</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1Jb4FELGRCSVFbEigo_zBcUFIQ6DIljAG19NEBbMhuVe3LF73DVn-kJOMYl2k__HkVs-cB8vuzqqqByzDSRtxHh_2mYotER9-IR_xiDJzOG-Pd4_O9uLfMBzcW2XPNUWToj1gLUIHyU/s1600/xmasgreatteasernutcracker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1Jb4FELGRCSVFbEigo_zBcUFIQ6DIljAG19NEBbMhuVe3LF73DVn-kJOMYl2k__HkVs-cB8vuzqqqByzDSRtxHh_2mYotER9-IR_xiDJzOG-Pd4_O9uLfMBzcW2XPNUWToj1gLUIHyU/s640/xmasgreatteasernutcracker.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">carolers serenading you with traditional holiday songs,</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XA7jNfdNyfktjSFaRT-H8SDNn-5cSh-qs8BX4fFUBiyvjtE2_UAX6cpKJOxq7FYIqaKO_0WMCVpgGcz2PtSslPQXOEQ31Cv8nZJfWySGplZRAiZDOJRGfcGEAB-zBZhGjB1guSCP2tI/s1600/xmasgreatteasercarolers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XA7jNfdNyfktjSFaRT-H8SDNn-5cSh-qs8BX4fFUBiyvjtE2_UAX6cpKJOxq7FYIqaKO_0WMCVpgGcz2PtSslPQXOEQ31Cv8nZJfWySGplZRAiZDOJRGfcGEAB-zBZhGjB1guSCP2tI/s640/xmasgreatteasercarolers.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and, most importantly, a reminder of the true reason for the season.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDgi4nts3-vxGSGiPg2h2ZbwcTVlVA9t6ep5mdUa0a41bfKRGJAxMi4tg4MlxdrInLfqOSLhv4XHd30txdzRVlymHDArWb9swAyDNJlIAGbxl4c-hkvU-rXX5NRzjgKMJ05FenafavRg/s1600/xmasgreatteasernat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDgi4nts3-vxGSGiPg2h2ZbwcTVlVA9t6ep5mdUa0a41bfKRGJAxMi4tg4MlxdrInLfqOSLhv4XHd30txdzRVlymHDArWb9swAyDNJlIAGbxl4c-hkvU-rXX5NRzjgKMJ05FenafavRg/s640/xmasgreatteasernat.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Out on our screened porch, I added a few pops of holiday color,</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhravKOu4KcXbIkcZHWJ53uJKARZJW4GD5ZNNegH7FXO5mV5gjNiRT1J7zX9YqbZ5SKNiupGPVensHaipTUBOFPgEE-wnINQ4tPgbCJLHyXNAaUaIk582imL1lb2jO7pAdRzGnl9-42RNU/s1600/xmasporchteasertable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhravKOu4KcXbIkcZHWJ53uJKARZJW4GD5ZNNegH7FXO5mV5gjNiRT1J7zX9YqbZ5SKNiupGPVensHaipTUBOFPgEE-wnINQ4tPgbCJLHyXNAaUaIk582imL1lb2jO7pAdRzGnl9-42RNU/s640/xmasporchteasertable.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">annnnd, I'm just about done with my husband's NY Yankee's tree in his "man cave."  </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCalBqG3rWQwWrB2eu7mghxqiY6uQLwbah1sRLI01ILkWO2duAO3ON0mfWL3ex0-94B6IhWEoUnotLHKdhrvU3CEZLJJktCBqFv0B1roQTuJIU0776dc3dmpI7zwGwAtel9H4xcV0ObU/s1600/fbyankeetree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCalBqG3rWQwWrB2eu7mghxqiY6uQLwbah1sRLI01ILkWO2duAO3ON0mfWL3ex0-94B6IhWEoUnotLHKdhrvU3CEZLJJktCBqFv0B1roQTuJIU0776dc3dmpI7zwGwAtel9H4xcV0ObU/s640/fbyankeetree.jpg" width="444" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks so much for stopping by … I hope you'll join me in the coming days when I share lots more of our holiday home!  </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, it's time to continue our virtual "Home for the Holidays" tour with links below:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYq3X5wbo5hAmIoWXN4pSfDnEGzCxM5ssnqrlrwgsFWK9Gc9LKahyphenhyphenVR3qIl6oFvYQI0NYacfNLjn3Qfip9_hXd_wwT0tOgzz2GkWrq7c7HXHzGx8W9W7yyB5wMvajE9mwzPH-0wIy1WA/s1600/xmastourbutton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYq3X5wbo5hAmIoWXN4pSfDnEGzCxM5ssnqrlrwgsFWK9Gc9LKahyphenhyphenVR3qIl6oFvYQI0NYacfNLjn3Qfip9_hXd_wwT0tOgzz2GkWrq7c7HXHzGx8W9W7yyB5wMvajE9mwzPH-0wIy1WA/s320/xmastourbutton.jpg" width="230" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Monday</span></strong><br /><a href="http://www.worthingcourtblog.com/2013/12/worthing-court-christmas-home-tour.html" style="color: #d64e87;" target="_blank" title="Worthing Court">Worthing Court</a><br /><a href="http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/2013/12/christmas-in-little-cottage.html" style="color: #d64e87;" target="_blank" title="French Country Cottage">French Country Cottage</a><br /><a href="http://www.attagirlsays.com/2013/12/02/2013-christmas-house-tour-holiday-decorating-ideas/" style="color: #d64e87;" target="_blank" title="Atta Girl Says">Atta Girl Says</a><br /><a href="http://www.town-n-country-living.com/christmas-home-tour-2013.html" style="color: #d64e87;" target="_blank" title="Town and Country Living">Town and Country Living</a><br /><a href="http://www.decoradventures.com/2013/12/holiday-home-tour.html" style="color: #d64e87;" target="_blank" title="Decor Adventures">Decor Adventures</a><br /><a href="http://www.lilacsandlonghorns.com/" style="color: #d64e87;" target="_blank" title="lilacs and longhorns">Lilacs and Longhorns</a></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Tuesday</span></strong><br /><a href="http://martysmusings.net/2013/12/christmas-home-tour-with-diy-and-thrifty-decor.html" target="_blank" title="Marty's Musings"><span style="color: black;">Marty’s Musings</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.mom4real.com/2013/12/a-homemade-christmas-tour.html" target="_blank" title="Mom 4 Real"><span style="color: black;">Mom 4 Real</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.janis-allthingsbeautiful.com/2013/12/christmas-home-tour-handmade-decor-ideas.html" target="_blank" title="All Things Beautiful"><span style="color: black;">All Things Beautiful</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.makinghomebase.com/holiday-home-decor/" target="_blank" title="Making Home Base"><span style="color: black;">Making Home Base</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.thehappierhomemaker.com/2013/12/all-things-home-christmas-tour.html" target="_blank" title="The Happier Homemaker"><span style="color: black;">The Happier Homemaker</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.thelilypadcottage.com/2013/12/christmas-tour-2013.html" target="_blank" title="The Lily Pad Cottage"><span style="color: black;">The Lily Pad Cottage</span></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Wednesday</span> </strong><br /><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.everydayhomeblog.com/2013/12/christmas-home-tour-2013.html" target="_blank" title="The Everyday Home">The Everyday Home</a> </span><br /><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.craftberrybush.com/2013/12/home-for-holidays-christmas-house-tour.html" target="_blank" title="Craftberry Bush">Craftberry Bush</a> </span><br /><a href="http://celebratingeverydaylife.com/my-2013-christmas-house-tour/" target="_blank" title="Celebrating Everyday Life">Celebrating Everyday Life with Jennifer Carroll</a><br /><a href="http://akadesign.ca/farmhouse-modern-christmas-home-tour-house/" target="_blank" title="AKA Design">AKA Design</a><br /><a href="http://www.hymnsandverses.com/2013/12/2013-christmas-home-tour.html" target="_blank" title="Hymns and Verses"><span style="color: black;">Hymns and Verses</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.oursouthernhomesc.com/2013/12/christmas-home-tour-downstairs.html" target="_blank" title="Our Southern Home">Our Southern Home</a></div><div style="padding: 0px 0px 15px;"><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22px;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Thursday</span></strong></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://www.stonegableblog.com/2013/12/home-for-holidays-christmas-house-tour.html" target="_blank" title="Stone Gable"><span style="color: black;">Stone Gable</span></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://adventuresindecorating1.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="Adventures in Decorating"><span style="color: black;">Adventures in Decorating</span></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://newlywoodwards.com/" target="_blank" title="Newly Woodwards"><span style="color: black;">Newly Woodwards</span></a></div><div style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 22px;"><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.settingforfour.com/" target="_blank" title="Setting for Four">Setting for Four</a></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://backporchmusings.typepad.com/blog/2013/12/a-christmas-tour.html">Back Porch Musings</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.allthingsheartandhome.com/2013/12/05/christmas-home-tour-with-all-things-home/" style="color: #909674; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="All Things Heart and Home">All Things Heart and Home</a> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: normal; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Friday</b></span><br style="line-height: normal;" /><a href="http://www.cedarhillfarmhouse.com/" style="line-height: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Cedar Hill Farmhouse"><span style="color: black;">Cedar Hill Farmhouse</span></a><br style="line-height: normal;" /><a href="http://cottageatthecrossroads.com/" style="line-height: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Cottage at the Crossroads"><span style="color: black;">Cottage at the Crossroads</span></a><br style="line-height: normal;" /><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://topthistopthat.blogspot.com/" style="line-height: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Top This Top That"><span style="color: black;">Top This Top That</span></a><br style="line-height: normal;" /><a href="http://www.domestically-speaking.com/" style="line-height: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Domestically Speaking"><span style="color: black;">Domestically Speaking</span></a><br style="line-height: normal;" /><a href="http://www.mommyiscoocoo.com/" style="line-height: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Mommy is CooCoo"><span style="color: black;">Mommy is </span></a>Cocoa<br style="line-height: normal;" /><a href="http://shabbyartboutique.com/" style="line-height: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Shabby Art Boutique"><span style="color: black;">Shabby Art Boutique</span></a></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">AND, don't forget to enter the incredible giveaway, featuring, not only an amazing $200 gift card from <a href="https://www.onekingslane.com/" target="_blank">One Kings Lane</a>, but several other prizes, as well!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/89eb2d14/" id="rc-89eb2d14" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzSk_dVVLJMrzbr2kTrJGXhz7Rg-vMIS7GoYKCOBn8GB0-NbQ0xIS7t3R-ft2Yg9EPCGfC-C_G-RoZuEfkctV9u1mzSx5NfQ3PdG2ADBxkIgxF7y7PHL8JgutvcXPkiEdZzn1zHHlMfU/s1600/swag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzSk_dVVLJMrzbr2kTrJGXhz7Rg-vMIS7GoYKCOBn8GB0-NbQ0xIS7t3R-ft2Yg9EPCGfC-C_G-RoZuEfkctV9u1mzSx5NfQ3PdG2ADBxkIgxF7y7PHL8JgutvcXPkiEdZzn1zHHlMfU/s400/swag.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr68/jbbecca/blogsig_zps4ebbd032.png" style="width: NaN%;" /><br /><br />

"Home for the Holidays" Tour!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS !! Thanks so much for taking a peek at our Christmas nutcracker mantel (seen HERE )!  And, now, I'm excited to be part of...

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Our Christmas Mantel and "Deck the Halls" Tour

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">Greetings, friends!</span>  </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm happy to be part of a "Deck the Halls" tour where 11 other bloggers and I will be "virtually" sharing more of our Christmas homes today and tomorrow.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Admittedly, one of my most favorite things to decorate for the season is our mantel.  And, after thinking and thinking … annnnnd thinking how to dress it up this year, I decided to bring back a few of our nutcrackers from Christmas' past!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRki8tq8wC3w7dvYWjpD36SYYSt2Ok8Oq0nzXv5I8ZyLlKfnygieYJliP6uQYD9NkTBLX4gs6n8JcjHn9pObuanjOG2r8lS0XmXHepReS5W__HJfjesQd7HpUHtXh03GHg9rWzfeP4low/s1600/xmasgreatmantelfirst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRki8tq8wC3w7dvYWjpD36SYYSt2Ok8Oq0nzXv5I8ZyLlKfnygieYJliP6uQYD9NkTBLX4gs6n8JcjHn9pObuanjOG2r8lS0XmXHepReS5W__HJfjesQd7HpUHtXh03GHg9rWzfeP4low/s640/xmasgreatmantelfirst.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Glittery nutcrackers are my favorite … I especially love when the sunlight hits them in the late afternoon, casting "bling" all over the room.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnlSS02XYZMXE-2uCh_gjBjgIcxZMlJlWdlRcUdDKNjg67MDDIHi3QJsdqKSsDKHoeQNFNcawQd0LghNaOgVkiMRkYes_rfz-uwaaHKa-D3tn6LaWlVt-1maclLZknMm63ETNuP_9liQ/s1600/xmasgreatmantelnut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnlSS02XYZMXE-2uCh_gjBjgIcxZMlJlWdlRcUdDKNjg67MDDIHi3QJsdqKSsDKHoeQNFNcawQd0LghNaOgVkiMRkYes_rfz-uwaaHKa-D3tn6LaWlVt-1maclLZknMm63ETNuP_9liQ/s640/xmasgreatmantelnut.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43zmEEPRGAHpqE6TysPyK149ozEx9K3BFgJM8EE6_gFZ3LzH5ap04hFFM2wXdmuLJtftj3o19fst8QCfPKI3kpAxLKTBncLkVAQaV3UdZpQchl3fGZxG17FeFa3S2IViaaAcwS1_eEV0/s1600/xmasgreatmantelclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43zmEEPRGAHpqE6TysPyK149ozEx9K3BFgJM8EE6_gFZ3LzH5ap04hFFM2wXdmuLJtftj3o19fst8QCfPKI3kpAxLKTBncLkVAQaV3UdZpQchl3fGZxG17FeFa3S2IViaaAcwS1_eEV0/s640/xmasgreatmantelclose.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, while I started out with a simple, leafy garland, I soon realized I wasn't kidding anybody but myself and simply had to have more … sooooo, lots of mesh, glitter ribbon, snowflakes and ornaments made their way up there.</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/AVvXsEgPZyxmJ9PnRcKexY_XCeeq4g6wFgtyHdyFUxr20-FBGexLV419DRLI0k2N_XKATt5JVE2fcVfwiuFbd1g5RtJz7KNKuKI4QMLQ0wUSw24S6IyWHSEUaELqs6e7lhpj_JAddiGgcgFLEmE/s1600/xmasgreatmantelgarland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZyxmJ9PnRcKexY_XCeeq4g6wFgtyHdyFUxr20-FBGexLV419DRLI0k2N_XKATt5JVE2fcVfwiuFbd1g5RtJz7KNKuKI4QMLQ0wUSw24S6IyWHSEUaELqs6e7lhpj_JAddiGgcgFLEmE/s640/xmasgreatmantelgarland.jpg" width="522" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I layered a plain wreath from Michael's over our mirror and then dressed it up a bit by adding leftover ornaments and a strand of lights.  And, after searching for something to add to the middle of our mantel, I was pleasantly surprised when I opened a box to find our forgotten "Christmas" sign.  (Don't you just love forgotten purchases?!)  Thank you, HomeGoods!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohRGAmDUutpkuyOpRv7CrCqnaCUapNVzUhtA0AQnKg-mKKuO9C_u_WkEBM7p14Ww2eEnRuhNhQDx90EzR3hUmihomlhNdcNWVHb3ig91retpEHzaSlgQdIlTb6l34o2oVU9hy7tD7vG4/s1600/xmasgreatmantelwreath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohRGAmDUutpkuyOpRv7CrCqnaCUapNVzUhtA0AQnKg-mKKuO9C_u_WkEBM7p14Ww2eEnRuhNhQDx90EzR3hUmihomlhNdcNWVHb3ig91retpEHzaSlgQdIlTb6l34o2oVU9hy7tD7vG4/s640/xmasgreatmantelwreath.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Pencily" trees (from Michael's) also got a bit of bling with tinier ornaments:</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Qe_lgbEtBLJZddc43ZbLJM6PFJLBFY4YiwSYgdYvGWxV94ExvL9Mev9LEsq9otkaPzgX6PVYxkoJ7ghoUNuVfV3KGLXfI1vL0Wi1S51GO4AKzYj9t2JC7SF2aGhveUi7foMlscWkpWw/s1600/xmasgreatmanteltree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Qe_lgbEtBLJZddc43ZbLJM6PFJLBFY4YiwSYgdYvGWxV94ExvL9Mev9LEsq9otkaPzgX6PVYxkoJ7ghoUNuVfV3KGLXfI1vL0Wi1S51GO4AKzYj9t2JC7SF2aGhveUi7foMlscWkpWw/s640/xmasgreatmanteltree.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our handsome nutcrackers stand guard by the fire,</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UfNJ52DklhF8b6roKUNAX-Z42_cXGoRmkPEb9WUVGTJ1Ghko4UZsZjisc5-4kI5zzokhZf_7WgYsO-GIgNmdak5Nr1ktPadU-6PJ7KsR-k9dMallqGX-PtfNuV-A1ZfsEMzJaMWNyPg/s1600/xmasgreatmantelnut1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UfNJ52DklhF8b6roKUNAX-Z42_cXGoRmkPEb9WUVGTJ1Ghko4UZsZjisc5-4kI5zzokhZf_7WgYsO-GIgNmdak5Nr1ktPadU-6PJ7KsR-k9dMallqGX-PtfNuV-A1ZfsEMzJaMWNyPg/s640/xmasgreatmantelnut1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">making sure that no one takes off with the presents!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQaf_S6ArEj5b3vnFdlyfwCwlYSIMzMQU0sm1GoadWMToE-wtOS6mcv-ml5JoJQHcv-wRQFpgKcky9MUk7OZuN6u5sblqiPcYrF85yC1P0Osxorj0LouLndRkakqEF2vCmFIHH5P0Sww/s1600/xmasgreatmantelpresents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQaf_S6ArEj5b3vnFdlyfwCwlYSIMzMQU0sm1GoadWMToE-wtOS6mcv-ml5JoJQHcv-wRQFpgKcky9MUk7OZuN6u5sblqiPcYrF85yC1P0Osxorj0LouLndRkakqEF2vCmFIHH5P0Sww/s640/xmasgreatmantelpresents.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love the ambiance of the lights … especially in the evening.  </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/AVvXsEgk3WdJQnMZxZD9eZCUDpEDRmjh9Lss0owPZYbPbeDSScnMYJNJ56e1UKLCOL8hhaG3X-2ET29DSXolHpOi9uzD039FMYEg5llMuR_jT4fjepa8XyoC0uLNLPzJ2oAdD78-kG6Fo3Rnhu0/s1600/xmasgreatmantellast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3WdJQnMZxZD9eZCUDpEDRmjh9Lss0owPZYbPbeDSScnMYJNJ56e1UKLCOL8hhaG3X-2ET29DSXolHpOi9uzD039FMYEg5llMuR_jT4fjepa8XyoC0uLNLPzJ2oAdD78-kG6Fo3Rnhu0/s640/xmasgreatmantellast.jpg" width="364" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks so much for visiting our Christmas mantel!  Be sure and visit these amazingly talented ladies who will, undoubtedly, dazzle you with their beautiful Christmas creativity! </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://creativecaincabin.com/2013/12/natural-element-christmas-vignette/" target="_blank">Creative Cain Cabin</a></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7O6jZWcQWCB-KfrpRo4msFX_-AxMi9Q1C4mRXMe9XUIy4Bi4mqqCv5v9100VtT2UUbHlW0s5OznrU86QD88YuuusnInLq2Qg4ml_KLzgzIzkl4a3zKfc8HL9k3CZbJv1K4F1t1wsBFQo/s1600/creative.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7O6jZWcQWCB-KfrpRo4msFX_-AxMi9Q1C4mRXMe9XUIy4Bi4mqqCv5v9100VtT2UUbHlW0s5OznrU86QD88YuuusnInLq2Qg4ml_KLzgzIzkl4a3zKfc8HL9k3CZbJv1K4F1t1wsBFQo/s1600/creative.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://homeiswheretheboatis.net/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Home is Where the Boat Is</span></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOs_Br44u1aYsiuaYGcw1jUzbkcZlZpUivy9LT83VJsvIk_zog0duwGlq9jeV25ctIUEZuQJ8Rd34oJRNbZ-2PGEt43fYpi2RZsn7UXTruLYwvvBim2wJt0uaVAn-MFWMGLWgE2MdgacI/s1600/home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOs_Br44u1aYsiuaYGcw1jUzbkcZlZpUivy9LT83VJsvIk_zog0duwGlq9jeV25ctIUEZuQJ8Rd34oJRNbZ-2PGEt43fYpi2RZsn7UXTruLYwvvBim2wJt0uaVAn-MFWMGLWgE2MdgacI/s1600/home.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/12/christmas-in-sunroom-2013.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Savvy Southern Style</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimR3BV8L7_ZtpfWQeL3a9en73QHu9FAXT5UI5DmJizuxhWbQA_utAWaT6jpKkXocgIWlKCjabhwx9jqIKM5xttVPP38LkmsDYu8andoy6DywQKCcwlmhpMC-7gY3OnJaQHMuan12naJ3c/s1600/savvy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimR3BV8L7_ZtpfWQeL3a9en73QHu9FAXT5UI5DmJizuxhWbQA_utAWaT6jpKkXocgIWlKCjabhwx9jqIKM5xttVPP38LkmsDYu8andoy6DywQKCcwlmhpMC-7gY3OnJaQHMuan12naJ3c/s1600/savvy.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://sophiasdecor.blogspot.com/2013/12/christmas-in-living-room.html">Sophia's</a></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSVMKWOKuq2UFrGLqnHcdsTjrKw4Sqf8cfZvUF6vkkUdZq-quKYc3qRcvFzJt8hoTBtEinQIvNsPO3xJN4Igxe2IwxrCDWRATS9BhxpRFaKLRu6KPXg_4U0WZdXM_3afXZkEnL7YVRcc/s1600/sophia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSVMKWOKuq2UFrGLqnHcdsTjrKw4Sqf8cfZvUF6vkkUdZq-quKYc3qRcvFzJt8hoTBtEinQIvNsPO3xJN4Igxe2IwxrCDWRATS9BhxpRFaKLRu6KPXg_4U0WZdXM_3afXZkEnL7YVRcc/s1600/sophia.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://topthistopthat.blogspot.com/2013/12/deck-halls-holiday-inspiration-tour.html">Top This Top That</a></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH52Ioay-w87AawObnU_-C6DuV7qGamKN6GFTe3DdbY5kFELYhdob1cqF6-LNeozEyVNU44lOojd_EEbvjlg8UMSdSit_vm4KOxw6g3OXncODxyBlAN60uZJIioR0pTA4uae-41RHNMXY/s1600/laura.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH52Ioay-w87AawObnU_-C6DuV7qGamKN6GFTe3DdbY5kFELYhdob1cqF6-LNeozEyVNU44lOojd_EEbvjlg8UMSdSit_vm4KOxw6g3OXncODxyBlAN60uZJIioR0pTA4uae-41RHNMXY/s1600/laura.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://kimberlyhites.blogspot.com/2013/12/baby-its-cold-outsidehot-cocoa-bar-for.html" target="_blank">The Beautiful Home</a></span></div><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/AVvXsEgTNaLYqVNUATkf1D20HG4oqk89bB7jaO5B3W6EqyVtfk4TRM-YNQmFQo9gr2lVLbvfh_thBoP9MRSqd_tYUTggCHdwZt10NFfcMteKPOJZO2tYo59hluX72dTTCBH3N3bgCoqWBsxQRlA/s1600/kim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNaLYqVNUATkf1D20HG4oqk89bB7jaO5B3W6EqyVtfk4TRM-YNQmFQo9gr2lVLbvfh_thBoP9MRSqd_tYUTggCHdwZt10NFfcMteKPOJZO2tYo59hluX72dTTCBH3N3bgCoqWBsxQRlA/s1600/kim.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://eclecticallyvintage.com/2013/12/christmas-kitchen-decorating-ideas/" target="_blank">Eclectically Vintage</a></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/AVvXsEhEaAf5Lmwox4dlnawrtV4IToPJdxoB79P2aXiuy5fvKj0rt0zJ5XScHeYu0K7L9XItwZvRoJ_HI_s6BNpGUYndXTRFqY7XwSDlTOnYqiM26jfDwig4BumERaWJzE9ZTkFtVO3BfLbv9Rw/s1600/kelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaAf5Lmwox4dlnawrtV4IToPJdxoB79P2aXiuy5fvKj0rt0zJ5XScHeYu0K7L9XItwZvRoJ_HI_s6BNpGUYndXTRFqY7XwSDlTOnYqiM26jfDwig4BumERaWJzE9ZTkFtVO3BfLbv9Rw/s1600/kelly.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/2013/12/o-christmas-tree.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">French Country Cottage</span></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/AVvXsEhFQTV0-xRsHmvSJeWMkYpa7CSF5q8FfDf36vMEINJmfXrgatG9uUAldoo4vxPMImjz7fLna3anY2aj7XfO7qhxs9XMBGQhID62AAfWiv9c5e4JzwBYGpb82414R3qu_Lj4WX8rVGTkA5U/s1600/courtney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQTV0-xRsHmvSJeWMkYpa7CSF5q8FfDf36vMEINJmfXrgatG9uUAldoo4vxPMImjz7fLna3anY2aj7XfO7qhxs9XMBGQhID62AAfWiv9c5e4JzwBYGpb82414R3qu_Lj4WX8rVGTkA5U/s1600/courtney.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.housepitalitydesigns.com/2013/12/06/christmas-decor-in-the-great-room/" target="_blank">Housepitality Designs</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQ41kTx20XHZtJjT6TGg4lj7aauUFmn7_k8UxZqteV4wtemZd3sQqfQ2ogrBrs8dRw3mIVzcQvdUN-OWe2pUrxreAA92kSnxmuu_LWVRe_YsbC52IHlmZCtGRDymNbUlJLnfKl_KY2IM/s1600/shirley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQ41kTx20XHZtJjT6TGg4lj7aauUFmn7_k8UxZqteV4wtemZd3sQqfQ2ogrBrs8dRw3mIVzcQvdUN-OWe2pUrxreAA92kSnxmuu_LWVRe_YsbC52IHlmZCtGRDymNbUlJLnfKl_KY2IM/s1600/shirley.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.onsuttonplace.com/2013/12/deck-the-halls-christmas-entry" target="_blank">On Sutton Place</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Zsm6aQExZihSZA3JjaRcGeVX4mh0n0UNjC4o3o2Yke6Bt__d6pLR-EEdClUf30Jsez9oKkZWpsoQnQ63Aj2OmM5nASMCv6KmWoGhXfS9LXHkuURfUGA5nt2mdy7DBucdBVtk5vXsThw/s1600/ann.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Zsm6aQExZihSZA3JjaRcGeVX4mh0n0UNjC4o3o2Yke6Bt__d6pLR-EEdClUf30Jsez9oKkZWpsoQnQ63Aj2OmM5nASMCv6KmWoGhXfS9LXHkuURfUGA5nt2mdy7DBucdBVtk5vXsThw/s1600/ann.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.stonegableblog.com/2013/12/deck-halls-house-tour.html" target="_blank">Stone Gable</a></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghr-bQrq-OohX6cThsuqgtXaSrWy2Bpl1P7SznIX6mCHwleKT-fAne7LUbLiKRRnVLfHDeNMmv2xbjqkahQlnwueeSlvIUAlFYV05yTMI_ktxyIQDuF650wvLQ9zxdSoaTbGBPYMNezls/s1600/yvonne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghr-bQrq-OohX6cThsuqgtXaSrWy2Bpl1P7SznIX6mCHwleKT-fAne7LUbLiKRRnVLfHDeNMmv2xbjqkahQlnwueeSlvIUAlFYV05yTMI_ktxyIQDuF650wvLQ9zxdSoaTbGBPYMNezls/s1600/yvonne.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMhxRBsMTxxbd6VhrRLu_XJPbAitpoAJogBIamsKQ-0DKzh9SFg8JF0hUBhW6aN-wt_PKOylcYM4JkOF3ZkbPPRq-j1BSLDLwgI0qG6CDz2Ev1DLNNXjZIezdwDr-wm3P2nomwtxTkaU/s1600/deck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMhxRBsMTxxbd6VhrRLu_XJPbAitpoAJogBIamsKQ-0DKzh9SFg8JF0hUBhW6aN-wt_PKOylcYM4JkOF3ZkbPPRq-j1BSLDLwgI0qG6CDz2Ev1DLNNXjZIezdwDr-wm3P2nomwtxTkaU/s320/deck.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Linking up with:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.homegoods.com/blog/2013/12/05/design-happy-presents-the-holiday-home-link-party/" target="_blank">HomeGoods/Holiday Home Linky Party</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Savvy Southern Style/<a href="http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/12/wow-us-wednesdays-148.html" target="_blank">WUW</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thrifty Decor Chick/<a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/12/christmas-party-2013.html">Christmas Party</a></span><br /><br /><img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr68/jbbecca/blogsig_zps4ebbd032.png" />

Our Christmas Mantel and "Deck the Halls" Tour

Greetings, friends!   I'm happy to be part of a "Deck the Halls" tour where 11 other bloggers and I will be "virtually...

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In the Bloglight at Hometalk!

<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Greetings, friends!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm honored to have been chosen to be featured as part of Hometalk's "In the Bloglight" series!  </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJyFJXoSutimcuDxXrA31u0RC-0HTHN7qHDZBrBiVM4EkYfJ5Q317aU9W5p7DeN4lm7oKgr2Pey37vt6_bTcGYoTriaNpJf1ttLz5HoReieUJpqSXjAaTStE_2TlO6UWkUuM7jSALMGU/s1600/bloglight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJyFJXoSutimcuDxXrA31u0RC-0HTHN7qHDZBrBiVM4EkYfJ5Q317aU9W5p7DeN4lm7oKgr2Pey37vt6_bTcGYoTriaNpJf1ttLz5HoReieUJpqSXjAaTStE_2TlO6UWkUuM7jSALMGU/s640/bloglight.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you aren't familiar with </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.hometalk.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Hometalk</span></a>,</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> you simply must check it out, as it's an amazing online community, where folks from all over the world *gather* to ask for and share ideas about all things home and garden.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As part of the "Bloglight" series, Miriam (Hometalk's Director of Community Development  extraordinaire) asked me a few questions:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How did you first get into blogging?</span></i></b><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I joined the world of blogging back in December of 2009 when our home was part of our local Women's Club "Christmas Tour of Homes."  I started my blog as a way for me to share pics of our holiday home with our out-of-state family and friends who weren't able to visit for the event.  Little did I know that folks other than my family and friends would actually take the time to read, comment and follow my blog!  That's when I decided to write a second, third and fourth post … and, well, as they say, the rest is blogging history!  </span></div><br /><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How did you decide on the name of my blog?</span></i></b><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As much as I love to decorate and redecorate our home (along with others), it's never boring or quick … always an adventure … thus, "Adventures in Decorating" was born!</span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is blogging something you do on the side, or is it a full-time job for you?</span></i></b><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For now, blogging is something that I do on the side … for fun.  That might change in the new year, but, for now, it remains a great outlet for me to share my addiction to decorating!</span></div><br /><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What was the first project you ever shared?</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first post I ever shared was of our Christmas home where reds, golds and greens, along with chocolate metallic walls, dominated our humble abode.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.5in;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1d0NJDD-RN9pzZE0QpGOGTgm12EPiaQtCby6nBMv69lB0qNBQUhMYw0lOgXq2RcCzvUmWZDcEPpfJAd4AatX7ZI8Nhr15EC9IW6fJ2isfv4Npf2tGXREEV-rF3OUSk8TZwhHqvEt7ldw/s1600/oldsitting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1d0NJDD-RN9pzZE0QpGOGTgm12EPiaQtCby6nBMv69lB0qNBQUhMYw0lOgXq2RcCzvUmWZDcEPpfJAd4AatX7ZI8Nhr15EC9IW6fJ2isfv4Npf2tGXREEV-rF3OUSk8TZwhHqvEt7ldw/s640/oldsitting.jpg" width="480" /></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, if you follow my blog, you've been there along the way when those dark walls disappeared; walnut furniture was introduced to chalk paint; and camel covered wingback chairs were then dressed in white slipcovers … hard to believe t<span style="text-indent: -0.5in;">his is the same room!</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.5in;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr74-Y6Cn7VbP5tmCZJIOzesZc8F5KifuBtI40uAYRR-BtRrXkliO0VV7FirIhBvNR-AY9v0cFpgSChiZC1KR0Ovb0ZJXdIs7d9mpCC51Zk2SplSUMHjG53l1TxreRz8Bbx1ixZs5-lwk/s1600/fallsittingoverall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr74-Y6Cn7VbP5tmCZJIOzesZc8F5KifuBtI40uAYRR-BtRrXkliO0VV7FirIhBvNR-AY9v0cFpgSChiZC1KR0Ovb0ZJXdIs7d9mpCC51Zk2SplSUMHjG53l1TxreRz8Bbx1ixZs5-lwk/s640/fallsittingoverall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What is your most popular project on Hometalk to date?</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hmmmm … that would be our Fall mantel from 2012.  I'm still in shock that, since posting it to <span style="color: #0000ee;"><u>Hometalk</u></span>, it has since been *pinned* over 40,000 times … crazy!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4umwLaNN6BmnCm6LSv0gAq6YVsN3y4NxpqDSvBlga8F38-EDzu6EY8BsPpCn2yPtN6TMKSgwIRG9wyJ-p-JSGIS3Bdzjm6olxkVnbHFtUu_Dv14hiC8zpd2oS90BzHIWkbhYMEkVs_8/s1600/htfallmantel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4umwLaNN6BmnCm6LSv0gAq6YVsN3y4NxpqDSvBlga8F38-EDzu6EY8BsPpCn2yPtN6TMKSgwIRG9wyJ-p-JSGIS3Bdzjm6olxkVnbHFtUu_Dv14hiC8zpd2oS90BzHIWkbhYMEkVs_8/s640/htfallmantel.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;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you stick to a strict posting schedule?</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Admittedly, I don't.  And, I truly admire those who post multiple times a week, especially since I *usually* only post only once a week!  I always say that I'm going to start posting more, but, try not to put too much pressure on myself to do so … maybe that's part of the problem!  :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How has blogging changed you?</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blogging has changed me in that it has given me a bit more confidence when it comes to my mad decorating skills … like taking a paint brush, covered in Chateaux Grey chalk paint, to our then-maple stained cabinets:</span></div><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/AVvXsEgFpRgZvUBme1jgDsYkoFjdl-0YPMkfyTIB-C1kw2UQUa_Q4RqjhgBsQ8IFJs1wDQsl82CeByCttmJEpmBIjX25tebMCbX2ApX9Ghbb6YEikoE4uvt0ewQsJ__gQl_ARS34gbDRgb7OreA/s1600/easterbreakfastoverall1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpRgZvUBme1jgDsYkoFjdl-0YPMkfyTIB-C1kw2UQUa_Q4RqjhgBsQ8IFJs1wDQsl82CeByCttmJEpmBIjX25tebMCbX2ApX9Ghbb6YEikoE4uvt0ewQsJ__gQl_ARS34gbDRgb7OreA/s640/easterbreakfastoverall1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has encouraged me to take decorating "risks" and to step out of my OCD-box.  And, best of all, blogging has also brought many amazing people into my life whom I'm happy to call "great friends!"  If you are considering starting a blog, I hope that you go for it … you won't regret it!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*   *   *</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks again, Miriam, and the great folks at <a href="http://www.hometalk.com/">Hometalk</a>, for featuring little ol' me as part of your "In the Bloglight" series.  And, thank YOU for taking the time to visit!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr68/jbbecca/blogsig_zps4ebbd032.png" />

In the Bloglight at Hometalk!

Greetings, friends! I'm honored to have been chosen to be featured as part of Hometalk's "In the Bloglight" series!   If y...

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Fall in the Breakfast Area

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks so much to my sweet friend, Laura, from </span><a href="http://topthistopthat.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Top This Top That</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for including me in a fun "Better Late than Never" Fall gathering!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOIIVliBwT1L9S12AMNsu8bZlUABxlC0U6ign47zkiB1rv6jG_Ln1oFExur2NFKu18E5P2zHJOZPoTsDubSjqp6nNuBhXxdI06A2-4uapi3YtVMhQXWPLDn8669ndXA4W2TmxXpYsIQc0/s1600/Betterlatethannever.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOIIVliBwT1L9S12AMNsu8bZlUABxlC0U6ign47zkiB1rv6jG_Ln1oFExur2NFKu18E5P2zHJOZPoTsDubSjqp6nNuBhXxdI06A2-4uapi3YtVMhQXWPLDn8669ndXA4W2TmxXpYsIQc0/s640/Betterlatethannever.jpg" width="433" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Will you be hosting Thanksgiving this year?  While I'll be cooking a few staple holiday goodies for the upcoming day of thanks, we won't be dining in our breakfast area.</span></div><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/AVvXsEix5Id1DaKIwgBYUDFo7G3r2GmtSjmB3cScoPY-POzdP5PVdDrmlDT-EVv3Z1Z20wnDxdIDRprJzB1VgOlZxtKl03GfWve3sWY0QtHYAT2p4uaNTSdwVlHUTYciJ7qCMxO7fBDNdTWGF7U/s1600/Fallbfastoverall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5Id1DaKIwgBYUDFo7G3r2GmtSjmB3cScoPY-POzdP5PVdDrmlDT-EVv3Z1Z20wnDxdIDRprJzB1VgOlZxtKl03GfWve3sWY0QtHYAT2p4uaNTSdwVlHUTYciJ7qCMxO7fBDNdTWGF7U/s640/Fallbfastoverall.jpg" width="490" /></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;">BUT, if we had, I hope that our guests would've felt welcomed by my simple vignette using my favorite chicken wire basket (from Pottery Barn) in the middle of our table, filled with colors and elements of the season,</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/AVvXsEjPByiitPbie5rcb3LQHylARhPUIlwWejo_aemKVqW0zpHK_vEPbm7WtANBThcwUOEBct7EW9_szIRj6txsuG2MKri5qiA8ticZHuB2kmvTFaHtRQ1dBBaaH1SH2fp3cQ-_cResJbepciI/s1600/Fallbfasttableclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPByiitPbie5rcb3LQHylARhPUIlwWejo_aemKVqW0zpHK_vEPbm7WtANBThcwUOEBct7EW9_szIRj6txsuG2MKri5qiA8ticZHuB2kmvTFaHtRQ1dBBaaH1SH2fp3cQ-_cResJbepciI/s640/Fallbfasttableclose.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">along with a book of thanks reminding us what Fall is all about.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87e7IHIEdIrWJVFw4NAyi-F8IB_9qvE2jnN72TEguomCBuCsywPwq4gcaCvH_3H0df-8efFWl18NvNdKelL6lKZGkVfHqptlMW98Kdw2b6r9CONcLDfWsb77K5ZK3Gu9XhAM-9q0J2B4/s1600/Fallbfastbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87e7IHIEdIrWJVFw4NAyi-F8IB_9qvE2jnN72TEguomCBuCsywPwq4gcaCvH_3H0df-8efFWl18NvNdKelL6lKZGkVfHqptlMW98Kdw2b6r9CONcLDfWsb77K5ZK3Gu9XhAM-9q0J2B4/s640/Fallbfastbook.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Over on our dry bar (which, by the way, I STILL love in its shade of Annie Sloane's "Chateaux Grey"), I would've gladly moved our Fall pieces out of the way to make room for all things carbs! </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGSglPCoWEkPNq1-GwX8mZVecqbtkwcYBiMU9tF7i-3lUEp9ytaQz7R2_l3OmfAO-c82cZVbmBBUa6UirCLgUYW1hlqIyxUGfoL4KZQmES6OtJIR4CHywdmXhetst_K7N6TB63DCANdg/s1600/fallbfastdrybar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGSglPCoWEkPNq1-GwX8mZVecqbtkwcYBiMU9tF7i-3lUEp9ytaQz7R2_l3OmfAO-c82cZVbmBBUa6UirCLgUYW1hlqIyxUGfoL4KZQmES6OtJIR4CHywdmXhetst_K7N6TB63DCANdg/s640/fallbfastdrybar.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, this glass cloche filled with tiny pumpkins nestled in between corks and pinecones, could easily have been "scooched" on over to make room for the loaded mashed potatoes! </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NojCrJe80NLO8VCx0JzWMILNqq-bBWciRbJ0mMgU0kRlDHynsTlogv4dJuXe6RRUrxBneMKHcE-hFXX21658NXmjAnEhnBpHoiLnKZYY7qPO589FVWzsGX6TZQQpeykrmZ88DwVxz3Q/s1600/fallbfastcloche.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NojCrJe80NLO8VCx0JzWMILNqq-bBWciRbJ0mMgU0kRlDHynsTlogv4dJuXe6RRUrxBneMKHcE-hFXX21658NXmjAnEhnBpHoiLnKZYY7qPO589FVWzsGX6TZQQpeykrmZ88DwVxz3Q/s640/fallbfastcloche.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mr. Roo (and his surrounding Fall picks and oversized acorns) would gladly have made room for the turkey!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoT0xKmvcSJmRleIcDLICev_6wPWWjEEbxCRRGWnJqg8OKkR1A-ji8O4Hq116yYHTH0jBLI-lhxgqTfKWEhYjOzUqxDpTxWggTREGSHUBZ_n8aU5Yb_Xt8DD_H3WlP_gglFkrJ3ek0ekY/s1600/fallbfastroo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoT0xKmvcSJmRleIcDLICev_6wPWWjEEbxCRRGWnJqg8OKkR1A-ji8O4Hq116yYHTH0jBLI-lhxgqTfKWEhYjOzUqxDpTxWggTREGSHUBZ_n8aU5Yb_Xt8DD_H3WlP_gglFkrJ3ek0ekY/s640/fallbfastroo.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, um, WHO wants to even *see* a scale on Thanksgiving, right?  Pumpkin and apple pies would be much easier on the eyes!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoBTFxKygVIGlHfpq_lXIE_4gYxdPLihVmmS2fvKiM8iFofT839TKomNtKPB-pKy_naYZBtOyyVcbx4gD49wg1p8l22HT6zD1uoi0ma55fGQeJhFLxchy5TeJPWx-rP9X0w-Wo4cYUyo/s1600/Fallbfastscale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoBTFxKygVIGlHfpq_lXIE_4gYxdPLihVmmS2fvKiM8iFofT839TKomNtKPB-pKy_naYZBtOyyVcbx4gD49wg1p8l22HT6zD1uoi0ma55fGQeJhFLxchy5TeJPWx-rP9X0w-Wo4cYUyo/s640/Fallbfastscale.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Another reason why it's probably a good thing that we're not eating our Thanksgiving meal at this table is because, well, it doesn't quite look like this anymore.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXK9J-LJ3ptWQMUwTeQntwQ_80bSBQ3fQdDWrUse66YiUEPWpe41T-0z2r2yw6MGwVVZxlWUZW_zdzWpLzRuLmt7_242cgyx-la6yfmA9kN8NrCZZne2zP-f7sxjKW1F1F0gtZCn5J-Kk/s1600/fallbfastfrombed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXK9J-LJ3ptWQMUwTeQntwQ_80bSBQ3fQdDWrUse66YiUEPWpe41T-0z2r2yw6MGwVVZxlWUZW_zdzWpLzRuLmt7_242cgyx-la6yfmA9kN8NrCZZne2zP-f7sxjKW1F1F0gtZCn5J-Kk/s640/fallbfastfrombed.jpg" width="438" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's right, it's now filled with all things Christmas!  Stay tuned ...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, and before I go … IF, by chance, you have a double pedestal antique table that you'll be seating guests at in a few weeks, make sure you check your legs (to the table, that is) to make sure that one of them isn't loose or cracked.  I'd hate for you to be greeted by this lovely scene that I experienced in our dining room last week … oops!  Thank goodness, I somehow managed to laugh and not cry!  LOL!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKCuUjV8aG-jv04jn2-cv8VlB02cbNPe07E8oNhTe9YPW0kXx-nLezr8P7CSg5x4GSoX2dX7QJTSAZtXR0AKww_0aVH7LXVnSqG-_TYjWBn9qWlZN5zjAs0DsgWObS6wle5panUmUHiM/s1600/diningtablefall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKCuUjV8aG-jv04jn2-cv8VlB02cbNPe07E8oNhTe9YPW0kXx-nLezr8P7CSg5x4GSoX2dX7QJTSAZtXR0AKww_0aVH7LXVnSqG-_TYjWBn9qWlZN5zjAs0DsgWObS6wle5panUmUHiM/s640/diningtablefall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks so much for visiting our Fall breakfast area!  Be sure and pop on over and visit these incredibly talented ladies who are sharing their Fall spaces, too!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://wp.me/p3VtDL-9Pg">Between Naps on The Porch</a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/2013/11/better-late-than-never-autumn-front.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From My Front Porch to Yours</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://wp.me/p3maKc-SD">Our Southern Home</a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/:%20http://www.stonegableblog.com/2013/10/last-minute-thanksgiving-idea.html">Stone Gable</a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://topthistopthat.blogspot.com/2013/11/last-minute-centerpiece-for-your.html">Top This Top That</a></span></div><br /><br /><img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr68/jbbecca/blogsig_zps4ebbd032.png" style="width: NaN%;" />

Fall in the Breakfast Area

Thanks so much to my sweet friend, Laura, from Top This Top That for including me in a fun "Better Late than Never" Fall gatherin...

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