This Is a Little Late

I know Christmas is over, but I spent time decorating our rental and taking pictures with the plan of posting them here.  Time got away from me and I didn’t get to participate in the Christmas Tour of Homes 2010.

So, who cares if Christmas was here and gone?  It’s my blog and I’ll post what I want to.  Who knows?  Maybe I’ll inspire someone. Maybe not.

 

 

My sweet girl, who loves to decorate at Christmas, put this little village on our mantel.  I wasn’t too thrilled about the Marsh store, but she and Michael thought it was a must.  We found some wax snow I bought from a store called Illuminations before it went out of business last year.  She used that and cotton balls to put snow on everything.  She and her brother also made mini gingerbread houses the day after Thanksgiving while Michael and I shopped.

She made little foam and glitter figurines I got from Jo-Ann’s at 40% off right before Thanksgiving.  There was a polar bear, penguin and snowman in the kit for $1.79!  Fun, easy and quick project for your kids.

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We found this Texas ornament at Macy’s and purchased several for family and friends.

My sweet girl also decorated the tree in our family room because none of really were in the mood that night.  She was anxious to get it done a few days after Thanksgiving.  While I cleaned up after dinner, she and Michael put the lights on and she did most everything else.  Her big brother helped a little.  A very little.

However, he did paint some ornaments (like this snowman) we found for a dollar each at Jo-Ann’s.  I had a coupon for 25% off everything I purchased.

My sweet girl painted this dog bone for her cute Shih Tzu, Harley.

This Christmas I was focused on having a touch of Christmas in almost every room.  I wanted to keep it simple.  And, of course, my daughter wanted to help.  We both love to use ornaments to fill baskets and bowls and anything else we choose.  She made this for the bathroom she and her brother share.  Simple yet pretty.

I threw a tablecloth over this decorator’s table, then shopped my home to see how I could adorn it.  The angel just wasn’t sitting right on top of the tree in our living room, so I set it aside.  I was excited to find a place for it.  Going with the blue theme, I used the candle from my mantel.  Then I added this artificial white poinsettia that I got for $2 at Michael’s.  It was on sale and yes, I had a coupon.

Here are a couple of simple over-the-door decorations I put together, mostly because the loops on the bow were floppy and wouldn’t hang right.  But it looked nice once I added the metal Joy decoration.  The snowman door hanger was a cute addition to our pantry door.  Plus, I always knew who was sneaking a treat.

While we had several Christmas trees throughout our home, I did not remember to take pictures of them.  The tree at the beginning of this post is my real Noble fir.  I have wanted one of those for years and my sweet hubby got me one.  It was between 8 and 9 feet tall!!  That was my tree and it was decorated my way, meaning there were no colored lights.

The kids had mini trees in their rooms.  I also put a 3 foot tree in our guest room.  I let the kids decorate these so, of course, they used multicolored lights.  They’re just not my favorite lights to use.  I got all those trees for,  you guessed it, 50% off.

I also had a small white tree for my kitchen; I got it at Borders for 50% off.  I planned to put more ornaments on it and add some ribbon, but was too tired to finish decorating,.  The next morning I loved the simplicity of it and left the tree as is.

This is one of my new angels.  Isn’t she beautiful?

I hope you’ve enjoyed my home.  I promise to have this year’s Christmas decor posted before Christmas.

Blessings,

Mel

2011 Goals for Our Home

“Do you have goals for your home?”

I was recently challenged and inspired by this question from Nester, one of my favorite bloggers.  I have goals for myself every January, but I’d never really thought of having goals for my home.  Until I realized I have, but never called it that.  I just made it part of my personal goals.

So, here are my goals for our home this year.  Some are practical; some are relational.

1.  Decide where to make our home.

We have 24 days to decide whether or not we are moving again.  We are renting our home and need to let the owners know our intentions by the end of the month. While we’re not moving across the state, we’re contemplating moving across the metroplex so my sweet hubby doesn’t have an hour and a half commute anymore.

Plus, we want to reduce our expenses by $400.  When we moved into this house last February, we had to increase what we were willing to pay because we were finding nothing.  We got this house two weeks before my husband was to start his new job.  Way too close for comfort!  But we trusted the Lord to provide the right place at the right time.  And He did.  Now, we’re  praying for the right place at the right time for the right price.  We desire to be good stewards of the money He provides.

2.  No matter where we are it will be home.

All this moving around and with a little help from the Nester (okay, a lot) has made me realize I cannot, and should not, wait around for the perfect house to make it a home.

Sure, I want it to be beautiful and well decorated.  But I want more.  I want our home to always be a place of love, togetherness and peace.  Sometimes in our busyness we forget to slow down and rest in each other’s company or have fun.  When we have disagreements we forget to be loving and respectful, and peace is absent.

As a wife and mother, I know I set the tone of our home.  And I want my family and all who enter to feel love and peace and to know it is a house of the Lord.

3.  Make healthy and inexpensive meals.

In our quest to pay off debt and save for a house, we need to be mindful of our expenses.  I can’t believe how much money we spend on food especially when we decide to eat out.  And often that decision is made because we’re tired and feel like we don’t have time.

So we stop at a fast food place or sit-down restaurant and consume more calories than we need.  I’m convinced eating out too often will make you fat.

I plan to utilize my crock pot much more in making one dish meals and soups.  I also plan to do more freezer cooking.  I will stick to my weekly shopping trips and get back to our $50 per week budget.

4.  Grow my own garden.

Doing this will, hopefully,  reduce our grocery budget and waste.  I hate when I buy produce then forget about it and find a nasty, green, moldy mess.  Eating at home for most of our meals and growing my own vegetables that I can pick when I need them should eliminate that problem.

5.  Make window “mistreatments”.

Because I don’t have any and I’m tired of naked windows and mini blinds.  I love Nester’s window mistreatments and I am inspired at how easy they are to make.

6.  Organize, organize, organize!

This goal is always on my list and probably always will be.  I think I can always find ways to improve my organizational skills.  I’ve “come a long way, baby” in my clutter issues.  Really, ask my husband.

Fifteen years ago our dining room table was constantly covered in piles.  I’m sure he was worried about the woman he married.  I’m sure he’s thankful I got better rather than worse.  Now it’s only occasionally covered in piles.  I also have my own office/craft room so that helps.

My goal in being more organized this year though revolves around my family and that goal of having a peaceful home.  I have taught my family to rely on me too much and then I resent it.  That is not fair to them or me.  I’m using Mabel’s Labels to help me in this area so my family can find what they need without hollering for my help.

Well, there you have it, my home goals that also appear to be personal.  I have many more of those which I plan to write about later.

What are your goals for your home this year? Head over to The Nester’s place to see hers and many others.

Blessings,

Mel

Christmas Tour of Homes

Nester is one of my favorite mommy bloggers.  Her decorating is inspiring to me especially since she and her family are renters also.  She makes her house her home no matter how long she’s there.

I love her philosophy and motto:  “It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.” She has helped me get past my issues of things having to be perfect before I decorate.  I’m always worrying about finding something better:  the perfect ribbon, vase, paint color, etc.  You know, the never-ending “what-if” questions.  She has shown me how to use what you have for Christmas and so much more!

This December she hosted a Christmas Tour of Homes for all us mommy bloggers who wanted to share our decorations.  Enjoy all the wonderfully and beautifully, but not perfectly decorated homes this season.