Happy New Year!

As an avid blog reader...I have been seeing a huge amount of "TOP 10 of 2013" posts in the last few days.

I have to say I am NOT a fan of these and quite honestly I don't click over for posts like that. 

I want to look FORWARD not back - is that weird?  I hope not!!

So I'm not going to bore you with another look at my most popular posts...

I'm just going to send you my heartfelt wishes for a wonderful 2014...

May the New Year find you happy and healthy...

And may the memories you make this year, LIVE on in your hearts!

My hope is that you find strength when you need it most, and overcome whatever obstacles

you are facing in your life...

and 

May you have LOVE and GIVE LOVE wherever you go!

My sincere THANKS for following here...May 2014 be your best year yet!!

Cheryl

Merry Christmas!!

We just wanted to take a few moments to say Merry Christmas to all of you that follow here!

We are down to our last day in the countdown - only one more sleep as my kids would say.

May this Christmas find you amongst family and friends - and may the New Year ahead bring you

all that you wish for!

Many thanks to you for following here and making some of our dreams come true!!

See you in 2014!

Cheryl

Decking Halls...In the Family Room!

WELCOME BACK!  This is the final installment in our Christmas Tour - Christmas in the Family Room!

This post is pretty photo heavy, so I will keep the commentary to a minimum!

Before I show you the family room - let's take a quick look at the penguins on the ledge going down the stairs.  My daughter won these penguins about 15 years ago in a Christmas draw when she was in elementary school - she is almost 24 years old now and still insists that they are put out to greet guests!

Now on to the family room!

Just like last year, I put the tree up in our antique trunk.  I used most of the same decorations - traditional red, green and silver.

Our fireplace decked out for the holidays...

One of our most precious Christmas decorations is a small bubble lamp that McG bought for his mother when he was 12 years old...almost 40 years ago - he saved his paper route money!  It just wouldn't be Christmas in our house without it!

I want to wish all who follow here a wonderful Christmas filled with magical moments that will live on in your hearts for many years to come!  I so enjoy your visits here and your comments...Here's hoping 2014 is an even better year for everyone!

Merry Christmas!

Cheryl

Linking Up @
Averie Lane
The Nesting Place
A Stroll Thru Life
Cozy Little House
Stone Gable
Kathe with an E
A Few Minor Adjustments
The Happy Housie
Thrifty Decor Chick
My Repurposed Life
Evolution of Style
Boogieboard Cottage
The Tablescaper

Decking the Halls...Part II - Kitchen and Dining Room

It's been a busy week here...I've completed a little more Christmas decorating - this time in the kitchen and dining room.

Nothing extravagant or over the top...subtle touches - quick and simple is the theme for me this year.

Taxidermy is a real trend lately, and its something that McG is excited about!  Finally, I have agreed to let him have some antlers in the house!  They usually reside outside in the garage!

These are young bull moose antlers.  I added a small sign I found on clearance at Hobby Lobby and a star ornament from The Dollar Tree.

Next is the sideboard.  I kept everything as I had it originally, just added a branch of red flowers I found on clearance at Target for $2.39 and some green, blue and silver ornaments, a silver tree and a Christmas candle from Bath and Body Works.

A simple garland with lights on the ledge between the kitchen and dining room.  It is decorated with blue ornaments and green and red glitter birds.

On the island, I added a large vase with ornaments and a battery powered candle.

This year I am finding simple ornaments and subtle touches like branches and pinecones are all I need to get the holiday spirit in my home.  I am really liking the simpleness of it - it looks lovely without being overdone.

Are you decorating more simply this year as I am - or are you enjoying lots of decorations?  I'd love to hear from you!

Up later this week - our basement family room.

Cheryl

Linking up @
The DIY Show Off
Redhead Can Decorate
Three Mango Seeds
Averie Lane
Jennifer Rizzo
A Few Minor Adjustments
Cozy Little House

Christmas Details...

I wanted to share with you today some of the Christmas decorating I completed this past weekend.

For those of you who may be just joining, I decided to take an nontraditional approach to my colour scheme on our living room tree this year.  I shared last week that I was going with Teal and Orange as my main colours on this tree.  I did add some additional blue, green, copper and gold ornaments, as well as, some mercury glass birds to the tree.

I also added some other decorations around the room.

For the top of the china cabinet, I changed out the fall platter for a gold rimmed plate with cardinals.

I took the sticks out of the urn and added some pine branches instead.  I changed out the printable in the frame to a great Christmas subway art printable I found over at Eye Candy.

Next I added some ornaments to my blue Ball jar.

And finally a small wooden sign - Believe!

For the dining room table, I used an old wooden tool trug that McG found at a yard sale this summer.  I filled it with Christmas greens and a few pinecones and some red and blue ornaments.

One of the endtables got a metal sign on clearance from Hobby Lobby and a few ornaments.

I also have a small Norfolk pine that I dressed up with some tiny ornaments.

Nothing too extravagant...just little bits of lights and shiny bulbs.

I have yet to finish the sideboard and the ledge between the kitchen and dining room.  I will be back later this week to show you those and our main tree in the basement family room!

Cheryl

Linking up @

City Farmhouse

Jennifer Rizzo