Holiday Favorites

I think I may be on to something ...


less stress
and
more enjoyment
and
relaxation

that's what my holiday decor was all about this year.

Guess what ...

it worked!

By this time {every other year} I'm climbing the walls with anxiety to get it all down and put away so I can have a fresh squeaky clean slate. I don't like going back to school with my house messy and in disarray.

Yes, I realize I should seek therapy for this "issue" but I don't want to waste the money when there are great end of the year sales to be had! :)

Well, this year the scenario is different.

Very different.

I am actually still {very much} enjoying my simple decorations and plan to leave them up the rest of this week.

I rather enjoy all the gold, silver and candle light.

So much so, that I plan to leave my mercury glass and extra candles out for the entire month of January.









This is what we've been snuggled up to every evening for the past few weeks. Comfy and cozy ~ I love this time of year!

 





When I spied these angels I knew I had to have them! They are moss covered and will probably lose their soft green color but no worries, I can re-cover the wire frame them next year with ease.


Not only to they add height to my table but a special beauty. Oh, and my husband just L O V E S them. In fact, he wishes I had been able to bring a few more home. Well, that's how I remember his response when they arrived. :)

 The paper whites are just now blooming ~ so pretty.





A small sampling of my nutcrackers. To along with my theme of the season, I didn't bring them all out this year. Only a few of our favorites. The baker is my all time favorite ~ a  gift from my husband.






Just a few more little goodies that brighten my home.

I grew up ice skating ~ lessons at MSU, skating on our lake in Michigan, and the ice rink my father made for me and brother each winter in our backyard. We have a new outdoor rink near us but it's been so warm that the ice is a bit gummy. If it ever gets cold enough, I'm grabbing my skates and heading over.

I made a few ivy topiaries which I plan to share with you as well.






On my last trip to Trader Joe's, a very sweet sales person struck up a conversation as I was getting ready to check out. I don't really remember how it began or all that we talked about but it was fun and a gentle reminder that there are some really nice people left in the world. Anyway, as I was about to leave the store, she came up to me and gave me this sweet little evergreen and wished me a very Merry Christmas. It's been sitting proudly on my island all season. Each time I pass my special gift I'm reminded of my encounter with kindness and the need to pass it on daily.

That's one of my goals for 2012
~ Pass on a bit of kindness each day ~

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