Easy as ABC

After the tree has come down, all I can think about is organizing. I have bought all kinds of cute glass bottle thingys to organize all my junk. However, I am also in need of organizing my blog.

For those of you who have just met me, I am an elementary teacher. Knowing this, most everything I do has to be organized in a way that is easy and not overwhelming for me to follow thru. Blogging is one of those things that I get overwhelmed with. You should see my garage...holy cow, there are projects everywhere. I even have some new projects in the back of my car as I type. Sometimes I get so many ideas I don't know where to start...Decorating ADHD. Can I get a witness??

Anyway, last night I was thinking about which project to post about and which blog was hosting which party that I needed to find something to do for and I decided I can't keep chasing my tail like this.

Thus my idea was born (musical fanfare...)

Decorating A-Z.

Every week I am going to post projects as they match up with the current letter. For example, the first week of January the letter is "A." So all my projects will have something to do with the letter A (start with A, involve using the letter A, etc.) My first post to kick this all off will probably be my "Ode to A's"

I am very excited about this concept and I hope it is something you can get excited about too. I am trying to create a button and link so I can get other people to join in on the fun. If any of you have some tips on creating buttons and adding "mclinky's" as well as any suggestions for hosting a party, I would love to hear it!

P.S. Don't try clicking that button yet, it is a work in progress. But, hey! Let me know if you are interested in joining in! Who knows maybe I'll get "techy" enough to start giveaways and everything!

"Toile" a Good Night!

If you all are like me, you still have a few presents to get, many presents to wrap and house that is less than "company ready." The kids are home from school and you are constantly either running interference or playing cruise director to keep them entertained. In all the busy-ness (I have no idea how to spell that!) of this wonderful season, my prayer is that I can keep in mind the meaning behind it all.

May we all be able to take some time and sit in awe of the manger. Thank you, Jesus, for the choice you made to walk among us and to die for us. May you and your family have a blessed CHRIST-mas season.

Meet Me At the Poll

Okay people, I was looking over my last blog post and I have been staring at the entertainment center that I have downstairs. I REALLY want to paint it. I bought that piece of furniture for Christmas in 1998 or '99. I searched high and low for an entertainment center I liked. I ended up ordering this one because it had simple lines and I could display stuff on top. I HATED the color from the minute that the guys brought it in the front door. But I have never admitted that to anyone (until now).

Anyway, I am 10 years older and have 10 years more copy-cat experience. I think I want it a different color, however my dilemma is what color? My walls are a light green--I think a shade or two lighter than Sherwin Williams' Rye Grass. I have those toile curtains down there and a white craft table sitting close to the entertainment center.

So what would you do? Keep in mind, I DO NOT want to have to brush paint this thing. I am thinking spray paint all the way. Any suggestions? I know some popular colors are Heirloom White and Canyon Black. What do you think will look better? Any other options I should consider? Please, fellow bloggers and loyal followers (all 5 of you) cast your votes! I promise I will post a before and after blog about it! You will just have to wait until after the new year...and perhaps into February...

"O Frif-ma-ree"

That is how my youngest daughter used to sing "O Christmas Tree" when she was 2. Precious I'll tell you. For those of you who have kept up with my blogs, two blogs in one week is a major deal. I'll chalk it up to being done with my master's classes for the semester (thank goodness).

I have two big trees in my house and each kid has a tree in his or her room. I have a few favorite ornaments on each tree that I want to share with you.

Here is the "family tree" that is downstairs in the den. On this tree I keep all the cute ornaments that I remind me of the kids and the things they make each year. We have a tradition that I buy an ornament every year that reminds me of something they participated in, did, or said during the past year. Each year when we decorate the tree I tell them the "stories" behind their ornaments.




This ornament is for my youngest daughter. She used to call Winnie the Pooh, "Winnie the Poot." It cracks me up every year!


My step-son is obsessed with Star Wars. This ornament represents him. He also used to call these two characters "Dark Vadar and Soda."


This is probably the ugliest ornament on the tree, but it has the sweetest memories. One year, my oldest daughter spent a day or so at Vanderbilt Childrens' Hospital. She turned out to be fine, but it was a little scary for a few days. At any rate, while she was on the mend, she and I made these bead ornaments. These ornaments remind me of those days with her, but they also remind me of my youngest daughter who managed to shove 8 of these beads up her nose!!


This ornament means a lot to me because it used to hang on my grandmother's tree. My sister-in-law passed it down to me a few years ago (thanks Elise!) and I am so proud to hang it on my tree every year.


I also hang pictures (in frames) and tuck unframed pictures inside the tree.



Like many of you saw yesterday, upstairs in the living room I have my Christopher Radko tree. To see more information about that tree and the rest of my house click here. I kind of become the "Tree Nazi" over this tree. I don't let the kids help hang the ornaments and (depending on the day) they are lucky if they can even look at it (just kidding, sort of :) ).


This is the first Radko I ever got, it was given to me by a dear friend.


Here are some other favorites. I typically like the ornaments that are funky shapes, not necessarily the "themed" ornaments.



Please note the toile ribbon and toile tree skirt. Have I mentioned I love toile, well, red toile??

I love flowers and sticks sprouting from the tops of my trees. I do; however, need to come up with a way to get more light in the top of the tree so my topper is not a big black spot.


Here are more pictures of the trees in the kids' rooms:

Oldest daughter, green and blue tree.




Youngest daughter, pink extravaganza tree. She decorated by herself. Ornament placement makes me laugh.




Little man's room, lego tree. We have some "official" Lego ornaments, but I love the ones hubby made even better.


Official ornament:


Hubby and little man creations:



I just have to share one last picture. You all should appreciate that anything that sits still long enough runs the risk of getting decorated...case in point

Millie and Toto:


Merry Christmas all. Visit these great sites for some wonderful inspiration!

href="http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/2009/12/myyyy-christmas-treee-link-yours-up-too.html" target="_blank">

I'm Dreaming of a Toile Christmas

Well hello there, welcome to my house. I have always wanted a red front door and I love this color (it is Crabby Apple by Sherwin Williams). Please notice my side lights that I just frosted, you can catch the tutorial here. My green wreaths are a year round staple, I just change up the bucket according to the seasons. Sometimes it is a bucket with flowers, sometimes it is a cute sign. Depends on my mood.



As you come through the front door you are met by a favorite black bench I found at a local antique mall. It is simply dressed with small trees, a santa tassel on a lamp, a paper star and garland and lights draped over the mirror.



Next you come into the living room and I have my Christopher Radko tree. If you aren't familiar with Christopher Radko, not only are the ornaments beautiful and highly detailed, but there is a precious story about their beginning. Click here to read it. I LOVE Christopher Radko ornaments and have been collecting them for 15 years. I usually limit myself to one new one per year. Here are a few of my favorites:






Next is my mantle, which I love!! In our old house we had a fireplace, but it was "fake"--no chimney, so I love that I can have a fire!! You can also see more of my love of toile via transferware.



Here are some closer shots of some of the elements on the mantle:

I just get cheap garland and add in stuff. I love the light colored eucalyptis. I love the dimension it gives the garland. Sometimes I think that all that greenery can get a little dark. The light color helps break it up a little. I buy a "bush" from Hobby Lobby and cut it all apart. I have some glass bead garland I bought 1/2 price a few years ago that I throw in, add some lights and call it a day. I also love pepperberries, but OMG that stuff is expensive. Last year I bought a garland of it from H.L. when it was half price and just cut it all to pieces and spread it all over the house, in garlands, silver cups, anywhere I needed some color.


This is the wreath above the mantle (if it is square, is it still a wreath?) I found the "Fa La La" at Big Lots for $6. (Then I saw someone trying to resell it at an antique store for $17--can you believe that??)



This is one vignette on the built ins around the fireplace.

In the kitchen I have several small arrangements and some ornaments on the french doors.






This is the inside of my glass front cabinets. I have photos from my wedding, my parent's and my in-law's weddings. The glasses are the ones we used to toast at the wedding (our initials are etched on them).

From the kitchen you circle around in the dining room. It is pretty simple in here with most of my nativity sets and more garland and greenery.







Here are some trees in the kids' rooms.

Oldest daughter's room (blue and green theme)


Step-son's room (lego theme tree) and random decoration






Moving downstairs, here is the fireplace and mantle in the den:



I love these plates. If my house caught on fire I would want to save these. I had my girls' done when they were about 2 years old. My step-son joined us last year (when he was 4) so he and I went and did one for him too. LOVE THEM!!




That's about it, if you want to see some other places in my house that have been Noel-ed, check here.
Thanks so much for stopping by, come see me again!!

I am linking up to several tour of homes blogs, be sure to stop by there and see all the great ideas and inspiration!!




http://hookedonhouses.net/2009/12/10/hooked-on-holiday-house-tours-party-time/

I am so excited!! Heather at The Gift Closet featured me today! I'm becoming a real blogger! Whoda thunk it?