Countdown

300 Days Until Christmas!!!!

5 on Friday - Christmas Wine Stopper Edition

ONE

Nothing could be better than a wine stopper of a Griswold Moose Mug.

This is the best movie of all time and the best stopper of all time.

Available \\ HERE //

TWO

I love how this wine stopper lights up.

 Since its a Snowman, you could use him all winter :) 

Available \\ HERE //

THREE

Bottoms up to this little Elf. Literally.

Available \\ HERE //

FOUR

I just love how festive this Santa is.

Available \\ HERE //

FIVE

I love this Christmas Story Leg Lamp Wine Stopper!!!

Available \\ HERE //

TGIF Folks! 

Have a safe and fun weekend!!!

Throwback Thursday

I have an obsession for antique Christmas ornaments. I think they are so beautiful. I also have an obsession with Ebay so I try to find antique ornaments on there when I can. I don't spend too much time at antique shops but I think when Spring comes I should make some trips to a few different antique shops to try and find some treasures. 

I currently do not have enough antique ornaments to have a strictly Vintage Style Tree Theme but I am hoping that one day I will. 

(This is what I dream of my antique style tree looking like)

So I am dedicating my Throwback Thursday to Antique Ornaments!!!

Happy Rudolph Day!

Wishing Everyone a Happy Rudolph Day!!!

Countdown

305 Days Until Christmas!!!

Christmas Sale

Just wanted to let anyone that is interested know that The Christmas Place is having a 40% off sale right now online. I just got my order in. Now I just have to sit back and wait for my goodies to arrive. I hope Old Man Winter doesn't have any snow storms planned that will delay my order. Take a peak yourself to see if you find any goodies.

The Christmas Place

I hope everyone has a safe and fun weekend ahead!!! 

TGIF

5 on Friday - Garland Edition

ONE

I'm in love with this icicle garland. It would look great on my Silver and White Christmas Tree.
Garland Found [HERE]

TWO

Nothing is more traditional than popcorn & cranberry garland. Now what's better than a garland just like it but you don't have to worry about rodents!?! That's a WIN WIN.
Garland Found [HERE]

THREE

When I first saw this garland I instantly pictured an elf themed tree. How perfect right?? This garland definitely has the wheels in my head turning!

Garland Found [HERE]

FOUR

I am loving the ribbon and bead combo. Simple and elegant.

Garland Found [HERE]

FIVE

These lil guys would be perfect on a Baking Themed Tree.

Garland Found [HERE]

And there you have it... my top 5 garland picks for this week. Let me know what kind of garland you use. Did you make it yourself or buy it? Is it themed for your tree or traditional? Are you a Martha Stewart and make homemade popcorn and cranberry garland?

Sister! Sister!

I spoke with my lovely sister tonight and come to find out she still has one of her Christmas trees up! (Usually down at the very end of Jan)  I found it funny and just had to share. She is a trooper.

In her defense... we did have a death in the family. Then she and her family went on a vacation to Disney World a week ago.

Her plan is to get it down this Sunday. She is going to make it a "fun" family group thing.

So does anyone else still have their Christmas Tree up too??? Or can I give the award to my sis?

Throwback Thursday

This week we are throwing back GLOBS & GLOBS, UPON GLOBS Of Tinsel Garland!!! Whose with me?

I just love how this antique style tree is covered in tinsel. From the giant bulb light strands & the antique ornaments to the tinsel & popcorn garland... this tree is gorgeous! The tree actually looks HAPPY. I'm also loving how it's a real tree too!!! :)

I put tinsel on just one of my trees... anyone else use it??? Does anyone else do an antique style tree like this one? I just might have to try one next year. (If I can gather enough antique ornaments off Ebay that is)

Hope everyone has a great day & remember, it's not Christmas until the cat poops tinsel!

Let it Snow! Let it Snow!! Let it Snow!!!

With all these snowstorms and winter seeming to never end... It's the perfect time to get the family outside to build themselves a Frosty :)

There is even a Snowman Kit that you can purchase [HERE] to make your Frosty perfect!!!

When your done assembling him, be sure to make Snow Angels and sled down a hill. Afterwards you will be able to doctor up your red runny nose with a large cup of cocoa.

Enjoy!

Tasty Tuesday

Hello Dolly Bars

I love these bars! Super easy to make and a great filler to put on a Christmas treat tray. Very minimal kitchen mess. You can cut these bars as large or as small as you want. You should definitely add this to your holiday baking list... I promise you won't be disappointed. 

Ingredients

1 Stick Butter

1 1/2 cups Crushed Graham Crackers

1 cup Flaked Coconut

1 cup Crushed Walnuts

1 cup Chocolate Chips

1 15oz Can Sweetened Condensed Milk

Directions

Melt butter in a 9X13 pan. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs evenly over butter. Then add coconut, nuts and chocolate chips in layers. Pour sweetened milk evenly over all. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes. Cut when partially cool.

Red & White Christmas Tree

Another tree that I decorate my home with at Christmas time is a Red & White themed tree.

It has a lot of candy style ornaments but is not just limited to that style. I pretty much just added anything red/white to it. Here are some ornaments I found that resemble some of the ornaments on my tree.
ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR | FIVE | SIX | SEVEN | EIGHT | NINE | TEN | ELEVEN | TWELVE

It is an artifical prelit clear tree that I added red lights to. I believe it had 300 red lights on it this year and I plan to add 150 more next year. (Trees are NEVER bright enough for me)

On this tree I also used a Red Deco Mesh for my garland. However I did find this cute candy garland [HERE] that would also go well.

Countdown

312 Days Until Christmas!

5 on Friday - Valentine Edition

Happy Valentine's Day

One

Miss Carsyn Grace got the envelope chair backer from

 Pottery Barn Kids this year. Available HERE

TWO

I'm in LoVe with these pillowcases. Found HERE

THREE

Nicholas Sparks can do no wrong in my book. What a great

 movie. Perfect for V-Day Date night. Available HERE

FOUR

This digital print on etsy.com is just too cute for words.

 Would look great printed on canvas!!! XxOo   Found HERE  

FIVE

This light would be too cute as a Valentine's Day Tree Topper! I usually put an I Love Lucy Tree up for Valentine's Day but this year I was too busy and opted out. I had  lot of friends disappointed but I promised to do it next year. This light is available HERE

Throwback Thursday

Bubble lights on a Christmas Tree!!! Whatever happened to people putting them on their trees?!?! Growing up we had a strand of them that went on our tree. LOVED THEM... STILL LOVE THEM.

Unfortunately, I do not own a strand. But mark my words.. I WILL HAVE A STRAND ON ONE OF MY TREES NEXT YEAR!!!!  :) Available (Here)

Do any of you own bubble light strands??? Do you love them or find them tacky? Is there a reason I don't see them anymore?!?! Should they be lost in the past along with shoulder pads or worthy of a throwback Thursday??

Countdown

316 Days Until Christmas!

Silver & White Christmas Tree

Our Master Bedroom Tree is my favorite Christmas Tree. It is decorated in only silver, white and clear ornaments. Instead of using a garland we loaded it in glass icicles. A majority of the ornaments are silver mercury.

I actually put this tree together 3 years ago, so I was unable to find most of the ornaments online to purchase. I did however find similar items for you all.

ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR | FIVE | SIX | SEVEN | EIGHT | NINE | TEN | ELEVEN | TWELVE | THIRTEEN

At Last!!!

I would like to announce that my Christmas decor is finally down. Although it is sad to see it all gone, I do feel fresh now. This week I plan to go into deep cleaning mode before I put out all our everyday decor. Scrub scrub scrub. Carsyn is 6 months now and will be crawling soon so it's the best time to do it.

I did not decorate for Valentine's Day this year... I looked at the totes in storage but just skipped over them. This week we do have some special plans to celebrate with our baby girl VALENTINE. Our plans include: Dinner Out, Dinner In, Old Movies and a V-Day gift for Carsyn.  Next year I will definitely be sure to decorate for Valentine's Day, for Carsyn Grace. Complete with homemade Valentine Cards. (Competing for Mama of the month - February 2015) :)

CARSYN'S DINNER RESERVATIONS ARE MADE FOR FRIDAY

HUBBY & I HAVE OUR FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIE PICKED OUT

Pillow Talk

SATURDAY NIGHT IS DINNER IN :) 

(Planning on making a lot of things that are

red or pink... including dying our milk pink, pink 

champagne and chocolate covered strawberries)

SATURDAY NIGHT MOVIE

That Touch of Mink

What are your plans for Valentine's day???

Does anyone still have Christmas Decorations up? Or was I 

the last one??? 

Bronner's Christmas Wonderland

You have probably noticed that I reference Bronner's Christmas Wonderland a lot in this blog. This is without a doubt - hands down - my favorite store. It is the world's largest Christmas store & I live just over 30 minutes from it. It's located in Frankenmuth, Michigan but also has a great website for out of state/country shoppers.

The store has the best ornaments that are personalized by hand painters. Their website has a link to request a free catalog or to do some online shopping. If you plan on ordering look out for the "hand PENNED" vs "hand PAINTED."  Don't get me wrong the penned one's look nice but the painted one's are very nice.

Ornaments are not the only things they sell. They have outdoor lawn ornaments, indoor/outdoor lights, christmas trees, stockings, garland, tree skirts, nightlights, santa suits, village pieces, possible dream clothtique santas, jim shore, precious moments, advent calendars, nutcrackers, nativity sets, kitchen decor, tree toppers, ribbon, cards, etc etc etc. :)

Their website is : www.bronners.com    

Let me know what you think and if you find any goodies!

Griswold Village Collection

Last January, Department 56 brought out a few National Lampoons Christmas Vacation village pieces for their Snow Village Collection. Needless to say, I snatched mine right up in the Spring.

I don't collect the snow village, I have the North Pole Series. However, these pieces looked great set up alone in my spare bedroom.

I wanted to hurry and do this post because it seems to be that the village is disappearing. Although not "officially" retired... if your trying to find pieces it is hard.

The Department 56 website has the Griswold Home and Car still for sale. Here

Amazon had some pieces on their website. Home | RV | Clark | Car | Cousin Eddie | Flaming Sleigh | Electric Clark

Bronner's Christmas Wonderland was all Sold Out.

If interested folks... I suggest you hurry :) My favorites have to be the RV and Eddie

Happy Hump Day!

Top 25 Christmas Movies

My Favorite part of Christmas is the Christmas trees. My Second Favorite part is snuggling on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and a really good Christmas movie. I have a pretty mean Christmas DVD collection (I believe I'm up to 70+). But here is a list of my top 25 favorites.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Christmas with the Kranks

The Grinch

The Santa Clause
Holiday in Handcuffs
Snowglobe
Home Alone
12 Men of Christmas
Four Christmases
Surviving Christmas
Deck the Halls
Fred Claus
A Christmas Story
The Christmas Card
Trading Christmas
Holiday Engagement
Elf
Holiday Switch
Christmas Cupid
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Borrowed Hearts
Hitched for the Holidays
Dear Santa
A Boyfriend for Christmas
Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade

Now just grab a bowl of popcorn and plop on the couch to enjoy a Christmas movie :)