Whew! I have been off work for a week for Thanksgiving Break! It has been wonderful. I always manage to stay busier than planned, but I had a blast! Most importantly I am grateful for the quality time I had with my husband, daughter, sister, mom, dad, mother-in-law, grandfather, aunt, brothers-in-law, and sister-in-law:) Ava gets to be more fun everyday! Well, after Thanksgiving Dinner (which I hosted for the first time) my sister, mom, & I got out the sales papers & planned out our Black Friday. I had a notebook with every person I needed to buy for and ideas for each person. Then I wrote down all the items I was interested in from the stores...basically, I was more organized than I've ever been in my life! It certainly paid off because in one day I bought 99% of the gifts! I also wrapped all my presents this weekend before putting up my new PRE-LIT tree (on sale at Target:). Today after church I finished decorating. It's fun to look at ornaments and decor and think about when I bought it or who gave it to me...Memories:) I went wild with the camera tonight:
I collect snowmen accessories.
My mom gave me this rug a few years ago.
I collect snowmen accessories.
My mom gave me this rug a few years ago.
I though these handtowels from Walmart
were pretty cute for my kitchen.
It was a tradition growing up that my sister & I decorate the tree while my mom was Christmas shopping on Black Friday. We'd always watch Christmas movies while decorating. Home Alone & While You Were Sleeping- two of our favs. I had to watch the latter tonight.
Ron enjoyed it too:)
I bought this old red door and beat-up sled at a yard sale for $6.
I thought they'd work as Christmas decor.
Ava enjoyed playing with her Christmas stuffed animals.
Here's her Christmas dress:
I love it!
I haven't found a place for this yet...another $0.50 yard sale find.
My mom brought this precious apron to Ava this week!
Yum!
I collect snowmen ornaments too. I started this collection when we married seven years ago.
My new tree--a slim cashmere pine. I took my friend Meg's advice & put it on some blocks for more height and more gift space.
Last year I bought really cheap wrapping paper that tore every time I wrapped something- it was awful! This year I found some great thick paper at Target. I love that they have coordinating ribbons that still look custom. I can wrap much quicker with quality paper!
I love these stocking hangers (wow, kinda dusty).
I bought these stockings six or seven years ago on clearance at Target.
Can you tell I love Target?!
I put all of Ava's Christmas storybooks in this basket.
We've already read three of them tonight.
She'd been eating chocolate:)
Ava's toys...She made the moose in the rocker at a Build-a-Bear birthday party last weekend; it was such a cute party.
Cinnamon pinecones from Walmart:
The pastor's wife at my parents' church gave me this pretty Christmas card holder.
I bought these snowmen plates at a yard sale.
This Southern Living Christmas book is from 2002 which is our wedding anniversary. Since we had a Christmas wedding, I looked at this a zillion times for ideas.
On top of my 'fridge (I remember buying this for my "Hope Chest"):
I LOVE the "M" ornament my mom gave me for my birthday!
chalkboard:
Ava's bathroom:
I found the snowman soap pump at a yard sale.
This snowman was another gift from my mom:
My incredible friends, Anna & Meg, gave us this gorgeous wreath last year!
I LOVE IT!
An old neighbor gave me this quilt forever ago.
I love this little penguin caroler from Target.
This is my $40 coffee table from Salvation Army:
I just put these lime green ornaments from Walmart in this huge jar.
Entry way table:
The plate was a wedding gift.
Ron gave me the Thomas Kincaid snow globe the Christmas before we were married.
I don't think I'm finished with this...
Garden flag from Kirklands:
This little sign is on my front door:
Our chihuahua Lucy hates cold weather! I had to pull out her winter clothes:)
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