Christmas Buffet - 2012

This year, for the Christmas holidays,
I resolved to take my time in setting
up our Christmas decor.

Instead of trying to get it all done
in a day, I spent two days.
Hey, it's a start right?

One of my first decorating tasks was the
top of the buffet in the dining room.

One of the first things to go up
is this Santa picture I purchased
several years ago from Kirkland's.

It's no secret that I L.O.V.E. Santa!
I have been known to shout "hello"
and wave to him at the mall.

Next, is the gilded reindeer
I purchased many years ago from the thrift store.
 I may change his bow out this year.

My other favorite items are these three
small old world Santas that were
a gift from Mr. B's mother.
She knows how much I love Santa!

Each one is slightly different, making
them unique and loved by me.

This one sits next to a small 
apothecary jar filled
with a few gold ornaments.

A small gold tree purchased from Pier 1
at the after Christmas sale last year
holds some small red ornaments...

except for one. 
It is Mr. B's take on hiding a pickle on the tree.
It makes me smile when I see it peeking out.

I don't remember where the 
gold mercury glass spires came from.
I'm sure it was an after Christmas sale
and I am sure I didn't pay much for them.

If you are a regular reader (you are right?)
you'll notice that I changed out the
lampshades for the season too.
The red is just perfect for the 
colors I am using in the dining room this year.

I am so happy I kept it simple this year!
Even though I have a gazillion bins
full of Christmas decor,
I realize don't have to put 
every.single.piece 
out on display.
It allows me to change the 
decor each year so that it is
always new to us.

I am soooo excited to let you know about
a holiday blog hop I am co-hosting with some
of my very favorite blog gals!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you look!

We want to celebrate the season and share Christmas cheer and are hosting a four week Christmas link party! 

 Four blogs are joining together to share your holiday creations. 

Each week we will host a theme party to feature,

desserts & holiday food, 

ornaments & holiday decor, 

mantels & tablescapes,

and trees and wreaths. 

The host of each week will also share a fun project with you.

Nov. 28th  Life on Lakeshore Drive will host ornaments & decor.

Dec. 5th    Kathe With An E (that's me!) will host mantels & tablescapes.

Dec. 12th  House Honeys will host trees & wreaths

Dec. 19th  One More Time Events will host desserts & holiday food

**There will also be a Grand Prize giveaway from 

Cook in Stuff 

for those who share at all 4 parties!**  

This pan retails for $64.99!

So, mark your calendars!

We want to see you at each party!

 Click here to see where I may be partying this week.

AND
Don't forget to come by on Tuesday's

for my link party.

Fall Mantle

Now that Summer is over and it is

officially Fall

(or Autumn if you're fancy like that)

I decided it was time to decorate the mantle for the season.

 As you know,

our mantle isn't the traditional single 

long shelf.

It has many odd shaped cubbies to decorate.

When we first looked at this house to buy,

I HATED it.

But now, 8 years later,

I've grown to love it and the decorating possibilities

it affords me as the seasons change.

A few weeks ago I got out my stencils and craft paint

and made this burlap Autumn banner.

Some twine, small clothes pins and

fall leaves and flowers is all it took to

put it together.

I like my crafts easy!

The left side of the mantle is my biggest challenge.

We have to have our electronics somewhere,

I just wish I could hide them better.
(Suggestions happily accepted)

Everything you see was either thrifted or, 

made by me.

The right side has no electronics save for 

a small speaker that I just choose to ignore

and basically hid it behind a ceramic pumpkin.
Again, all thrifted, clearanced or, made by me.

Two of my favorite Fall items are on this side.

First, is my

simple wooden pumpkin family.

They are the very first crafty post 

I shared when I started this blog

last year.

And then,

a pretty greeting card from

The Dollar Tree, matted and framed.

I filled a lantern with some

small faux pumpkins, gourds and acorns

and set it up on some thrifted books I 

covered in burlap.

A few more pumpkins add to the vignette.

 I am very pleased with how our mantle
looks this year.
Believe me when I say I used great restraint and 
didn't try to empty all of my Fall bins

onto the shelves LOL.

The nice thing too, is that

it won't take much to change out a few 

things for Halloween and Thanksgiving!

 As my friends in the South say,
Happy Fall Y'all!!

Click here to see where I may be partying this week.

And don't forget to come by on Tuesday's
for the link party.