Post Christmas Mess!

While the rest of my house looks like this.....

I just like to sit in my comfy chair and look at my tree and pretend that the rest of the mess is not there!  I wish that it would just pick itself up and put itself away where it belongs.  This is the part of Christmas that I don't like!  The MESS!  I decided to leave it all today and went to Tai Pan and bought some ornaments, 50 percent off.  I know some people like to actually see the Christams tree, but I like the tree to look like Christmas threw-up all over it!  It is now getting closer to looking like that.  Here are some of my new additions:

Grateful

As I sit and ponder on all of the things I am grateful for, a lot of things come to mind.   My family, my home, church, food, our health and well being, my husbands job, medicine, education etc.  But there is something else.  Something that as women we should be especially grateful for.  Something that I have thought about before when it has came up on the media, which it rarely does. 

I was watching Oprah the other day.  I know some of you may not be a fan.  But I do enjoy watching her show from time to time.  So as I was jogging on the tread mill, trying to pass the time.  I checked to see what was on my DVR and decided to watch The Oprah show.  It was about women in all different places of the world; Kenya,  the Congo etc. 

They said that more women have died in these places, than all of the men in all the wars combined that took place in the 20th century.  Died from things like not being vaccinated (which boys get if it is available), child birth (1 woman dies from child birth or pregnancy every minute),  brothels, malitias coming through and wiping out all the women and children.  There are more tragic and atrotious things that I will not mention on my blog.  But you can read about them on the Oprah website.  So this year since we failed to give to a needy family around us, I decided that I would give to a woman in need, thousands of miles away, on the Oprah website.  Go to www.oprah.com/forallwomen to see what you can do to help.  It was really heart breaking to watch and read about, but a reality.  We can make a difference!

My New Vitamix Mixer

I just got a VitaMix blender from Costco the other day and I am loving it!  I am trying to follow a more vegatarian type lifestyle and this is defintley making it easier!  I got it about a week ago and have used it 2-3 times each day!  This morning I grinded my own wheat and made pancakes,oil free, with agave nectar for the syrup.  My kids loved them.  Then we made a shake that consisted of carrots, apples, grapes, spinach, limes, pineapple, and ice.  Very Yummy!  Later for lunch I threw in a few things and made a simple salsa.  I have really enjoyed it so far!  I recommend it to anyone!

The Blog Frog

I just found this fun new thing called The Blog Frog.  It is a way that you can show up on someone's blog as visting, so that they and other's can see that you have been there.  It is a fun way for you to sort of advertise your blog and to get to know your readers better!  So if you are interested in signing up, for free of course, just go to the right hand side on the blog frog that I just added.  It might be fun!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

I recentley found a blog, new to me, that is just fantastic!  This great girl takes pictures of architecture.  Here is a house I found on her website
This Photographers Life (in search of a style). 
Check it out!

How would you like to drive up to this each day?  Isn't it beautiful?!  The chimney, rock and brick combined, copper & dark wood make such a lovely combination.

Is that not a stair case or what?!  Simply Beautiful!  And look at those pictures of their kids on the wall flanked by a sconce on each side.  

I really like the tile turned on a diagnol that leads to and from the arched front door.

Love this ceiling, the chandeleir, and the overall clean feel of this house.

Once again love this ceiling made of wood and beams.  And the windows are fab!  If you look outside you can see that this house is surrounded by woods.  I would love that!

WOW!  I love every inch of this kitchen!

I love this bed!  I have been looking for an inspiration picture for bedding for awhile and I think this just might be it!

Who wouldn't love to take a bath in here?  And aren't those windows great!

The back is just as beautiful as the front

10 Years and Counting!

Ten Years ago yesterday I married my best friend!He has been such a good provider, husband, & father!  He has been there when I have needed him and even when I thought I did not.  There are times when it has not been easy, but luckily for me, most of the time it has.  He has loved me everyday and for that I am thankful!

Christmas Deco

We have finally got all the Christmas stuff out and all the boxes put away!  Here are a few of our decorations on our tree!

I did red, copper brown, gold and green this year on the tree.  I thought the colors were so warm and rich together!

This is how I tied everything on.  You local craft store should sell these tree colored pipe cleaners.  It makes it nice done this way so that the kids aren't pulling them out!

This is our mantel this year.  I got the pine cone strands for like $2 last year on clearance.  I have 5 of them up there.  And then I just placed bulbs up there.  Nothing to fancy!

Here is the entry table.  It could probably use something else, but I am not so sure what!

Just some bulbs in glass jars on the dining table.

Last, but certainley not least, Santa with lizards on his face and body!  'I guess my 8 year old wanted to be a part of the fun!  Silly kid!

Festival of Trees

My friend and I visited the Festival of trees this week.  There were tons of trees decorated for someone who had passed away.  Usually there family decorated the tree.  Each tree was for sale and the money is then donated to a Prmary Children's Hospital.  They also had wreaths there and very unique Ginger Bread Houses.  So here a quite a few pictures form our adventure!

This was a fun Ginger Bread House!  Can you guess what movie it is from?

I thought that this Santa was cute sitting at the top of the tree with the "Nice List"!

I really liked this mantel!  It had such beautiful colors of brown, green, and copper.

This tree was so creative!  It is a motor track! 

Can you see the motorcycles racing up the Christmas tree?

I thought this tree was just plain pretty!

Isn't this tree so fun?! 

Pretty wrapped gift

They had a lot of flocked trees decorated in red, green and black.

  They were so modern and cute!

Enlighten the Children

I don't know if you can see what this tree is, but it was quite cute!  It is an upside down tree and it is decorated like a little fairy land.  It was very whimsical.

This was a darling little table with cupcakes and cute little cupcake aprons.

This was just a fun tree that my 5 year old daughter would have loved!  It was a Barbie tree!

Have any of you decorated some unique fun trees?