Countdown to Christmas: Our Entryway/Living Room

 

Wow I am so SO glad that this snow storm.....deemed "snowmageddon" by the media.......is past us now. It had snowed about sixteen inches total all day yesterday AND then we had very VERY strong winds last night to boot.  Scott's company made the decision Wednesday to close and cancel all of their shifts for Thursday.  They've NEVER closed for snow.  I too had a snow day from work.  I was too nervous to drive.  When the weatherman says "life threatening" weather conditions......my patootie is staying home I don't care what anybody says. 

The drifts are no joke today.  There are patches in our back yard that are bare where you can see the grass peeking through and then there are areas where the snow is litteraly up to my knees.  I took Jade out for a walk this morning and in one jump her whole body was in the snow.  Her eyes got real big and she thought it was the BEST thing ever.  I wish I had the camera.....it really was the cutest thing.

Also the cutest thing ever.......my little Eskimo who does things that I am so thankful for. 

#gladforhusbandswhosnowblow

 

 

Where was I?!?!  Oh ya.  Let me show ya'll how I decorated the entryway/living area in our home. 

 

The first thing you see when you walk through the front door of my house, is all of our friends and families Christmas cards we had received this year so far.  I think this is the ONLY time of year that I actually look forward to checking the mail. 

 

I used the book page wreath I made a little while ago to display all of the picture cards.  I just used clothespins that I spraypainted gold to hold them in place.  The same clothespins I used last year to dispay my holiday cards. Click HERE if you would like to see last years card display!

 

A sneek peak of this years Christmas card:



 

Do you remember what use to be on that skinny wall?!?! 

This wine rack I bought at Sears a long time ago. 

 

 

I actually bought it to use as a makeup station in my closet when I lived at my parents house.  Then when we moved into our home now, I just shoved it up against the wall and used it to display my holiday things. 

NOW, we actually use it for its intended purpose......a mini bar!

I moved it around the corner just to the left of that skinny wall and it works out just great when we entertain.  Before we would keep all of the liquor downstairs, but now we can bring up what we need for whatever occasion we are entertaining for and there is no fussing and most importantly NO running up and down stairs.  Stairs are not your friend when you've had more than two cocktails........just sayin!



I cut out the word "CHEERS" by just free handing the letters on a piece of cardboard, cutting them out, and then dusting them with lots and LOTS of gold glitter.  I now wish the garland was a different color.  Oh well, I try to work with what I already have!



Isn't this ugly Christmas sweater the cutest?!?!  Oh and no bar setup is complete without something to munch on......pretzels anyone?!?!

 

And according to my husband, his Christmas Story bobblehead collection must be displayed on his bar.  I wish he would just leave all the decorating up to me.  #livingwithaboy

 

Here's a little sneak peek of our Christmas tree (post coming up next!). 

Next to the front door we put up a shelf with cubbies.  I bought it at HomeGoods a while ago to hang up in a different spot.  I'm glad we decided to put it up here instead.......now I have a place to hang my jacket and Jades leash whereas before we draped em' over the banister or a chair......and how annoying ist that?!?!



 

Oh it also is the perfect place to hang our homemade stockings.  My mom sewed them together using thrift store shirts and sweaters.  Except for the middle one (the one with the fur), that one is Jades.  THAT one was made out of one of Scott's favorite sweaters that she chewed a BIG whole through.  I'm glad we could reuse it though.  Nothing goes to waste in our house!

 



 

I need a bench to put under the shelf ASAP.  It would be nice to sit while putting on boots instead of wobbling around like a fool.



 

We keep Jades treats up there to reward her whenever she's a good girl and goes potty outside!  Looking at this picture reminds me that I need to replenish her treat jar. 
I think the driftwood reindeer will find a permanent home up there for awhile even well after the holidays.  He's too cute to put away.  Great Marshalls find!

 

I added a few rustic touches to coordinate with the Country Christmas theme I was going for this year.  I love my little Polish santa collection.  I buy them at Door County, WI. from a little Christmas boutique called Pipkas.  Which reminds me, I have another one that I have to add in with the other two from our trip this summer.  

Next to my Santas, I added a deer rack that 2hotty found on my parents land a few years ago.  The last one stores a dapper white deer (a thrift store find), a candle and a glittered "D", our last name initial.   

 



 What's a stocking without some goodies to fill it with?!?!  

And how cool are those colored pencils?!?!  

I am gifting em' to some special little boys in my life. 



 

I'm so excited, Christmas is only four short days away.  Today is my last day of work before a four day weekend, I am almost finished with shopping and wrapping gifts, we have one more holiday partay to attend this Saturday with some great GREAT friends, and family will be here visiting before I know it!!  What a fun filled weekend I have ahead.  That is if the world doesn't end today!! What time is that suppose to happen anyway?!?!  HA! :-)  See you lovelies tomorrow with my tree and Christmas village post.........well maybe.  :-)

xoxo JoAnna

 

Countdown to Christmas: Outdoor Holiday Lights

 



 

This year we decided to step up our "outdoor decorating" game.  Last year we were in our house only one month before Christmas rolled around, therefore we really didn't do much with the outside.  BUT (and that's a big ol' Santas BUT) this year we were prepared and strung those lights loud and bright for everyone to ooh and ahh as they drove by.  Who am I kiddin?!?!  I'm probably the ONLY person doing the oohing and ahhing each night. :-)  Next year WE WILL HAVE MORE!! (enter maniacal laugh here and a big jolly HO HO HO!) 

 

 

 

I am in LOVE with this tree all strung in lights.  Would it be wrong for me to keep them on all year long?!?!  We would be those neighbors.....you know the "Bumpuses"! 

It really does make me smile though......and smiling is my favorite thing (name that movie!).  :-)

 

 

Two festive wreaths hang on either side of the garage doors for the daytime viewers.



 I believe the only thing that we did last year to decorate the outdoors for the holidays was the doorway and front window.  We decided to do the samething this year.

 

 

And instead of a wreath on the front door, I raided my own mothers Christmas bin and found this broom looking "thing" that she wasn't using.  I like it because it has a couple bells strung to it and whenever someone comes over they jingle!  Fun, right?!?!

 

 

It looks especially pretty at night.

 

 

So that is all we did decorate the outdoors.  Just a few wreaths, bows, and white lights.  Nothing too crazy but just enough to give our home some Christmas cheer.  However, I do want to add more lights for next year..... who knows what we'll come up with! 

What did you do to decorate the outdoors?!?!

 

How about Jade in the picture above.  :0)

How much is that puppy in the window?!?!

 

 

For a few years now I have always wanted a puppy for Christmas.  Well lucky me!  For the first time this year I don't have to put a puppy on my wish list.  This year I get to spend Christmas with my most favorite puppy in the world and I wouldn't have it any other way!!

BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!

 

I hope everyone is enjoying these last few days before the big day.  I know these are the most stressful but it doesn't have to be.  Please take the time to "stop and smell the roses".  Enjoy the prep work, get messy with the kids while decorating cookies, don't fuss over a messy house, stay up singing carols and watch as many Christmas movies as you can (love those classics).  These days are the most precious of them all!  Christmas will be here and gone before we know it and no moment should be wasted over a dirty floor or an unfinished guest bedroom!  You feelin me?!?! 

 

Have a wonderful day :-)

 

xoxo JoAnna

Countdown to Christmas: Hot Cocoa Station

So the countdown to Christmas continues. You better believe (in Santa) that it is only nine short days away.  NINE!! I am officially PANICKING!! HYPERVENTILATING!! ABOUT TO FAINT....a-n-y second!! Where did the time go?!?!  Feels just like yesterday that I was decorating for Fall! 

But don't YOU panick, I still plan on showing you how I decorated for the holidays.  This years theme: Classic Country Charm!!  Lots of natural elements (think: reindeer, pinecones, & twine) mixed with classic Christmas colors such as silver and red.

 

 A few days ago I worked on my little kitchen shelf display.  It is pretty much one of the first things I do when I decorate for any holiday.  I think it's because the shelves are small enough where they aren't too overwhelming but yet still captures my theme for the season! The shelves are from IKEA and well weren't every penny (in my opinion!).

 

 I read somewhere (I think in one of my many magazines) that December 12th is designated National Hot Cocoa day this year, so I decided to make a little hot cocoa station.  How fun?!?!  Buddy the elf would be SO proud:



I picked up the festive Santa mugs at Wal-Mart for $1.99/each this year.   They are stacked and displayed on a cake stand along with a tree shaped glass container (also from Wal-Mart) that contains yummy Ghirardelli cocoa powder.  Some fancy cocoa for the average Jo :-)

 

 Whats hot cocoa without some mini marshmallows......

 

 

..........and yummy peppermint sticks?!?!

 

 The festive bottles (from IKEA last year) could be filled with milk. 

Maybe now I'll have to invite a few friends over for some freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and a yummy cup of hot cocoa.  Whose coming over?!?!

 

 The top shelf was really simple to decorate.

 

 

I gave the bland and boring candles a little makeover.  Super easy I swear.  Just added some birchwood looking wrapping paper and then wrapped the candle with leftover twine.  See I told ya it was easy!  I found the wrapping paper at Marshalls for a steal this year.  Totally fits in with my country/rustic theme, dontchya think?!?!  Then just a few left over ornaments, pinecones, and some pine branches sprinkled around the candle holder gave the shelf some added color and extra detail.  No fussing necessary!

 

 

I found this little guy at the thrift store and I think it adds the most perfect rustic touch!

Attention to detail is my mantra!

 So that is it.   

This is what I did to add some "Classic Country Christmas Cheer" to my otherwise bland and boring IKEA shelves:

 

 And just for the record...........we DO use the hot cocoa station!!

It's not only for display.........because how silly would that be!

 

 A peppermint hot chocolate for the MR. and a salted caramel for the MRS! 

Oh and a chocolate truffle to split! 

A perfect way to spend a relaxing Sunday night if I do say so myself. 

 

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!!  I have more posts to come such as our outdoor lights, kitchen table, and decorated entryway and tree just to name a few!  See you lovelies soon!

 

xoxo JoAnna



 

Countdown to Christmas: Christmas Tree Decorating 2012

We had fun decorating our Christmas tree this year!  Special thanks to our friends Chris and Charlie for coming over and joining in all the fun.  They even sacrificed watching bits and pieces of the Badger football game just to help us out.  You guys are the best! 

I promise I won't make you do anything when it comes time to watching the Rose Bowl this year.  Lets go BADGERS!! Woot Woot!

Hope you enjoy my little movie and pictures of the Christmas tree to come soon.  (I've changed some things around so stay tuned.) 

xoxo Joanna D.

Countdown to Christmas: 3D Holiday Frames

I am so excited for Christmas this year I can hardly wait (yet it's right around the corner and will be here before we know it!).  I am in full blown holiday decorating mode and am definitely feeling just a tad bit inspired to create new and pretty things for my home this year!  Last time I shared with all of you lovelies a trip Scott and I made to the local tree farm to pick out "the one", a.k.a. our Christmas tree.  Ah!! There is nothing like the smell of a real Christmas tree I tell ya......brings back so many great childhood memories. NOTHING! :-)  Well our tree is up and decorated and I cannot wait to show you what it looks like, but in the mean time let me share with you a little frame update.

 LET THE COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS BEGIN:

 

When I decorate for a holiday I normally start with the kitchen.  I think I've mentioned this before. It's partly due to the fact that we do most of our entertaining in the kitchen and partly because I have more surface area to work with in there.  The wall behind the kitchen table has an awkward off center built-in cabinet.  I have a love-hate relationship with it.  Maybe when I paint the trim white I'll like it more, but for now it sticks out like a sore thumb.  To the right of the cabinet I added a couple IKEA shelves to display my tschochkies and knickknacks.  I love the shelves but than I was left with the smaller space to the left of the cabinet, which was left blank for a long long time.  I finally decided to add four white frames that I had laying around the house and called it a day:

 

   I know it doesn't look balanced and perhaps they are too small for the space, but hey for now they work and well to me it looks a heckofalot better than empty, wasted space.   

 

A few weeks ago the frames looked a little something like this:

 

 

Now for my Christmas decor I decided instead of putting something in the frame, I would give them a 3D effect and make this rustic ornament arrangement:

 

The theme this year is Rustic/Country Christmas.  I wanted to incorporate classic colors like red and silver with natural elements such as twine and pine cones.  It was super easy to make and best of all it was all FREE to me!! Yup I had everything on hand, all I had to spare was a half hour of my time! 

 

This is what I used to "Christmasfy" my frames (made up word alert!):

 

 

You can do this so many different ways and make this work for any theme that you have going on.  Use what you already have on hand, it's the best way to be creative.....I promise.

 

All you have to do is tie individual pieces of twine to your ornaments, pine cone, and branch. 

 

For the pine cone I just added a dab of hot glue to the center, coiled a piece of twine around a few times and then pressed down to secure in place.  Just like so:

 

 

Then I just brought everything together and tied em' in place with another piece of twine just like so:

 

Now I just used my hot glue gun and dabbed a bit of glue to the back of the knot and applied the arrangement directly onto the glass frame (Don't worry, the glue just pops right off when you want to take it down).

Easy Peasy No?!?!

 

So what do you think?!?!  A for effort?!?! I don't know I kinda like it (maybe because it was all free)!  I just love working with nature......it gives the space a cozy feeling.  Now what are you all doing to spruce (punny?!) up your home for the holidays?!?! 

 

xoxo Joanna D.