Christmas Mantel

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Hope your Christmas preparations are going smoothly! 

We've been having some dreary, cold days this week, and those days are not the best for taking photos. Plus, I can't seem to get a clear photo, either on my cell phone camera or my iPad and it's been so long since I used my good camera I can't remember how to use it. First world problems... 

Well, so hear goes. 

With only a few more days before Christmas, there's still a few things to do. Back to wrapping.

Thanks for stopping by. 

Pam

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Christmas Foyer Vignette

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 I'm sure you're busy this last week before Christmas, so I'll make it quick with just a few photos of our Christmas foyer vignette.  I didn't go crazy with Christmas decor as in years past, but the foyer is one place that's easy to decorated every year. 

Some things old, a few things new...Burgundy velvet ribbon, bright shiny gold candlesticks , jingle bells all found on Amazon... I love angels and found this one at Marshalls (online). 

Quick, as promised... Now back to Christmas preparations...

Have a wonderful week.

Thanks for stopping by,

Pam

*this post contains affiliate links which means I'll make a small commission should you click on the link and purchase something. 

Christmas Foyer Vignette

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Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays!

Christmas is getting closer and I am falling behind this year on everything...

...decorating, some shopping and making our handmade gifts that Mr. DIY and I give out each Christmas. I'm sure we'll get everything that needs to get done finished, so I'm not stressing.

Last time I share the Black Friday shopping trip our daughter and I went on to the historic districts in Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro. I picked up a few cute items at Vintage Home Studio and used them to make a Christmas Vignette in the foyer this year. I mixed the cute finds in with  some of my favorite Christmas decorations from years pas,t along with every items and even a simple pom-pom garland I made.

The glittery snowflake ornaments are a Vintage Studio find. They can be hung on a tree, as well. 

The metal JOY banner is my favorite find from Vintage Home Studio. I knew it would be perfect for the Christmas Foyer Vignette the moment I saw it displayed at the shop. The frosted wreath was the 3rd item I found and brought home with me. You can find The Vintage Home Studio HERE. I ordered a couple of items I wanted after seeing my photos, and they arrived in just a couple of days. 

After putting together the foyer vignette, the mantle (not finished yet) , Christmas pillows and the nativity scene, a few other decorations, plus the fact that we'll be spending Christmas day at our daughter's place, Mr. DIY and I decided that we won't be putting up a large tree this year. 

As my mom used to say, as long as the Nativity is displayed, it's Christmas. I think I will still be flocking one of the 2 foot trees we have and setting it on a side table in the living room....and I might decorate the Breakfast Room chandelier and set a festive table...

How are your Christmas plans coming along?

You can find out how to make a pom pom garland HERE.

You can find out more about the Framed Chalkboard HERE.

Pam

*this post contains affiliate links...which means, I'll make a small commission should you purchase something from one of these links, (but it you'll still pay the same price)

An Easy Christmas Wreath

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Would you like a new Christmas wreath because the one you have isn't quite cutting it?

It's super easy to change things up a bit and give your old wreath a new look. 
That's what I did this year.

I loved the 3 wreaths that hung in our breakfast room windows at Christmas. They have some glittery sparkle to them and I just changed them up with a different bow every year and maybe some berries. 

This year, all the Christmas decorations coordinated with our granddaughter's birthday party, so the first thing I did to the wreaths was flock them. 
It was super easy.

After drying 24 hours, I started decorating with the same elements as the birthday party decorations: faux pink roses, pink and gold ribbon and I added some glittery gold branches and tulle, like I added to the Christmas tree.  Nothing was glued on and can easily be changed out next year. 

I scrunched up 36" long pieces of pale pink tulle and set them on one side of the wreath.  No need to glue it on because the needles hold them in.

I added a glittery branch...

A faux rose on a stem...

I cut 23" of pink wired ribbon and looped it 3 times and stapled it.

The faux pine needles also held the ribbon securely.

3 faux rose buds were added...

19" of gold ribbon, looped twice and stapled...

Finished product!

 I made 4 wreaths total the same way...

The faux pink roses and pink ribbon will be easily taken out and changed up with next year's colors...or maybe I'll take everything off and add some pine cones to make a Winter wreath.

The countdown is on! One week left until Christmas!

Are you ready?

Pam

*This post contains affiliate links, which means I'll make a small commission should you purchase something from one of these links.

A Floral First Birthday Party

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My how time flies!

It seems like it was just last week our first grandbaby was born and we were flying out to Southern California to meet her.

This year, we were going to fly out to California for Thanksgiving and for her first birthday, but our daughter, her fiance and our granddaughter ended up flying here Thanksgiving day and the party was the Saturday after. Our youngest daughter stayed at our house from Wed to Sunday and it was nice having the house full. 

Onto the party preps...
First off, let me say that most of these photos were taken by our daughter Jess. A few were taken by our youngest daughter Jenny and I took the rest. 

It was a busy November!
I started by gathering inspiration on Pinterest and then making a happy birthday banner. Our youngest daughter helped.
The tulle backdrop are the Lill curtains from Ikea. I ordered online to save time. $5 for shipping is worth it to not have to walk through that GIANT maze of a store for ONE thing. 

I purchased a ready made high chair tutu on Amazon to save time.

You can find the tulle skirt on Amazon

CLICK HERE

Throwing a pale pink floral first birthday party two days after Thanksgiving puts one in a conundrum.
Should the house be decorated for Thanksgiving or Christmas or decorated for anything other than a birthday?
Our daughter voted for Christmas, which then put me in another dilemma.
How to decorate for Christmas without making the house look like Christmas? So, I decided to decorate the Christmas tree and wreaths and mantel garland like the floral first birthday party decorations.
It was no easy feat!
Other than having the flocked Christmas tree, some gold and some white ornaments, lots of decorations had to be purchased. The pink roses were cut off a garland and floral taped to wire stems.

Find the pink ribbon HEREFind the white ribbon HEREFind the gold ribbon HERE

Find the pink roses  HERE

I flocked and decorated 4 wreaths  in pink, white and gold. (glitter is everywhere from those gold glitter picks!)

Mr. DIY drizzled pink tinted white chocolate over white fudge covered oreos for the party favors. 

The mantel garland and wreath...

find the Pink rose garland HERE

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Finding pale pink roses this time of year proved a challenge. 
I called our local Trader Joe's and while they were able to set aside ivory roses and eucalyptus, they couldn't guarantee pale pink roses because Christmas flowers were being delivered the day after Thanksgiving. 
After calling several florists, Sweet Ts in our town could provide them and even came down to their shop on Friday when they were closed, so I could pick them up. 
Sweet Ts was a lifesaver. The pale pink roses were so gorgeous and coordinated perfectly with the faux pink roses. 

Of course, Mr. DIY made a delicious and beautiful naked cake and naked smash cake, and pudding cups. We bought donuts from Sugar Donuts and they were supposed to have a white glaze on top, but the glaze was clear. 
Mr. DIY to the rescue! He whipped up some fondant and drizzled them on the top. 
Mishap averted. 

I ordered some delicious sandwiches from Provisions. Mr. DIY cooks a wonderful and bountiful Thanksgiving dinner every year and  he was making the cakes and some desserts, and making the food for the party would be too much to ask. The sandwiches also came with potato salad and we put together a colorful fruit tray. 

Here's the little princess assessing the smash cake.

....and with mom and dad...(Lance and Jess)

... and with grandpa and grandma...

...and of course, her aunt Jenny.

I think this is the most sugar Mia has eaten in her entire life. She didn't really eat much, but she definitely got her hands in it!

Opening gifts...

Here she is opening the Cuddle & Kind Charlotte doll that Mr. DIY and I gave her. 
She is a happy baby and was happy all day long, despite the excitement and commotion. 

Thanks for stopping by and sharing our granddaughter's first birthday!

Pam

*this post contains affiliate links, which means I'll make a small commission should you purchases something from one of the links.