It's a Very Berry Christmas!

Hi Friends! Are you ready for Christmas yet? Hard to believe it's only in a few more weeks, isn't it?  We are nearly ready as far as the decorating goes this year, with the exception of a few final touches.  

This year I created a very berry look with using much of what I already had on hand, only using it in different ways.  Speaking of using things differently, once again I've created a whole new look on the mantle simply by swapping out a few things from the fall vignette and adding in a few new elements for Christmas.  To see the fall mantle, you may jump back by click HERE.    

And...Wallah!  Here's my Christmas mantle!  

What?  You want to see color?  Sorry!  I just couldn't resist playing around with Picasa's photo editing.  I just absolutely love seeing black and white photos this time of year.

For those of you who want to see a little color I've included a those as well.

Don't ask me how I did this, that's the first time I've seen this happen, but I love, love, love it!

Much of what I used here is a combination of what I already had on the mantle, like the wreath and the willow votive candle holders. I simply added berries to the wreath, changed out the garland and added the reindeer and additional candlesticks.

Also rather then having a large bow here in the center, I decided to bring back this clock to balance it all out.  I love that it is the perfect color too!

Before I show you the tree, I wanted to show you how I carried the berry theme a little more throughout the house.  In the guest half bath, I hung a berry candle ring on the small iron gate.  

The coffee table has a simple votive candle surrounded by berries on a tray.  I love all the layers here that keep it from looking puny on the table.

Okay, now on to the tree.  This year I am all about layers!

Although this is old school to many of you, I finally added a burlap ribbon to my tree this year.  I actually purchased the burlap last year but never got around to using it.  I brought back the willow garland that I used last year.  It looks great with the burlap and was the perfect addition with all the other garlands I used.

You heard me right friends, I said ALL the other garlands.  This year I added several strands of garland that I have never used on my tree before.  I had three long strands of berry garland shown here above that I have used on my stairway and mantle in years past.  I don't know why I have never thought of putting on the tree before, but I am so glad I thought of it this year.  I cannot tell you how much depth it gave the tree.  I guess this is just one of those tricks you learn over time, huh?  LOL!

The top of my tree got a new addition too.  I found this willow star at a thrift store this year and new it would be perfect on my tree.

I still wasn't ready to part with my copper star trio though, so I simply added them to the top as well.  Love the combination here!

More twigs and berries add to the overall effect for a very dramatic topper.

And that is how it all came together for a very berry Christmas!

I'll be back again to share my other trees with you soon.  I've made a few slight changes to the tree in the kitchen this year so you may want to pop back by again later, okay?

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

From our house to yours, 

Wishing all of you,

 a VERY BERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Fall Mantle Decor - 2013

Hey All! Yesterday, I added a few fall decorations around the house and this morning we woke up to cooler temps.  Wow!  I should have decorated sooner.  LOL!  

I thought you might like to see my fall mantle and few other simple arrangements.  I haven't gone all out this year.  I am still searching for a missing a box of my fall decor.  I am sure I will find it eventually.  Despite the missing decor, I knew I didn't have many fall leaves around to decorate with so I made a trip to Michael's last week on my lunch break and pick up a garland and a few bushes of colorful fall leaves and a bush of berries.  It's always amazing to me how just a few simple leaves make such a difference in creating a cozier and more fallish look.  I took lot's of pics to share so you can see all the different elements I used to get this look.

So what do you think?  I just love how the mantle turned out this year!

I  already had some greenery tucked in this vase, so I simply added a few cattails and leaves from last years fall decorating to get this look.

This arrangement was from last year too.  I only added two fall arrangements in the kitchen.  This one and the one on the breakfast table below.

Let's take a closer look...

Such warm colors will be so nice this fall when the temps stay cooler.

I can't wait until it's cool enough to have a cozy fire in the fireplace too.

What about you?  Are you decorating for fall yet, or at all?

Let me know if you are, I'd love to pop by and see your decor as well.

Have a beautiful blessed Sunday everyone!

And....

Happy Fall Y'all!!!!

Tried and True and Little Something New

Is there anyone else out there like me who tends to stick with a certain look anymore?  I don't know about you but sometimes I feel like I am just an old stick in the mud kind of gal.  I  especially feel this way after being overloaded with images from blog land, pinterest, facebook, etc. Geez! But....all in all I have to say I really don't care!  Fact is, I like being an old fuddy duddy.  Not really, but I do know what I like and what look I want to live with on a daily basis.  That is why when it works for me it tends to stick around awhile with just a few tweaks.

That's right friends, I'm showing the den again, mainly to share the mantle and  a few other things that have endured the test of a few seasons.

You know I love a nautical look and it tends to take center stage when the summer time rolls around.

I've used this set up a few times now but I'd like to think I've improved on it a bit.

For one thing my willow candle baskets are shown tiered here and are in perfect symmetry.  I don't know why I haven't thought of doing this before.

I had them sitting on a few other mismatch pieces to get the height until I recently found these pewter candlesticks at a thrift store just last week.

They were cheap, cheap, cheap and a matching pair to boot!  I didn't know at the time where I'd use them but just had to have them.  I am so glad I brought them home.

I got home and saw my shell plate which I already had out and bingo it hit me.  They replaced the other stands I was using and were a perfect fit!  Love when that happens!

I found this pretty pompass looking grass at Ole Time Pottery when we were at the beach.

A few beachy looking balls from Merino's home furnishings.

This is the reality of my coffee table.  Now matter how cutesy I make it.  I end up feeling like it's too cluttered.  So I back it all off and this is what works.  One decorative thing in the middle, magazines, and my laptop.  Yes, that's a kindle sitting there on top of the mags. Hey, it's still reading material okay?  

My most favorite repeat look has been this hurricane candle that I have sitting in this basket.  I did this a few years ago and have kept it ever since.  I see now the stores have hurricane vases with built in wicker stands...hmm?? Wonder where they got that idea?  LOL!

Funny story about the shells.  There are a few shells less here then there used to be.  My grandpup was up a few weeks back and was chomping away on something on the carpet and I looked down and he had a half chewed up a sandollar in his mouth.  Puppys!

Back on the other side of the room.  I've still kept the large lantern on our antique card table.   

It still has the sailboats and bottles but I added an electric candle and few more sailboats I forgot I had.

The other big tweak was to eliminate the bright throw pillows.  I loved them in the store but in my den they tended to just pop out waaayyyy too much for me.  I guess I am just a creature of habit after all.

Okay well, I believe that about wraps it up.  One more tour of the den again for you showing just a few tweaks.   One more update for me!   I am also posting this to replace the link picture of my den on my side bar because I like to keep my most updated looks on there.

Thanks so much for joining me if you did!  It's always a pleasure!

Have a great day everyone!