Do you see what I see?

Said the night wind to the little lamb....la,la,laaaa,la,laaahh.laahh!!!

This song has been playing over and over in my head like a scratched record, remember those? 

 I've got this song stuck in my head not because I am hearing it about a bazillion times a day or because I am filled with the joy's of Christmas.  Noooo, I am looking around my home and wondering...do you see what I see?

Here is my Dining Room piled high with presents yet to be wrapped.

The proof of my outlet shopping trip on one of my precious days off still sitting piled up in a corner of the dining room.  I didn't even attempt to hide the contents of a few bags either!  Why not???

Piles of bags that make it obvious where most of my time has been spent this season are cluttering up my dining room table.

The den is a wreck and has looked like this for at least a week now. I kid you not!  It's so much easier to cuddle up in your favorite blanket when it is still sitting right where you left it!

More bags and junk laying everywhere.

Speaking of junk, you think I'd at

least put up my jewelry that I wear to work at the end of the day.

More jewelry piling up high by my favorite chair.  I'm surprised there are not stacks of coffee cups here too.

I've only wrapped four boxes so far.

But I did pick up a new roll of wrapping paper, no tape of course.  It's sitting here in the kitchen foyer along with everything else that is piling up on this cabinet.

Just like all the mail.  Even some of those precious Christmas cards are still sitting unopened piled up on my kitchen desk/bar.  Speaking of the bar!

Thank goodness for allowing me to wine a little yall! Seriously! Going back to work full time in the midst of the holidays is just plain rough!  We are doing okay but I am exhausted and tired and really want MORE time off.   Don't get me wrong, I have such great support at home but I miss doing things the way I used to be able to do.  I am adjusting to the changes but it's just plain difficult at times.

My wonderful helper has taken to leaving me sticky notes all over the place where I will see them.

I mean who want's to see sticky notes all over their house?  LOL!

I cannot complain though because he has held up his end of the season quite well!  I have to admit our home has looked so wonderfully inviting when I pull in after 10pm on some evenings ever since the day after Thanksgiving.  He is amazing!  Life is rough at times and I thank the Lord for keeping me up and going and for a good man too!

Just felt like keeping it real here friends!

  It's 6:00am and I'm late getting in the shower.

Wishing you and me a good day!

Sharing Seasonal Joys!

I am feeling so blessed and fortunate this year to be filled with the Christmas spirit and able to enjoy some time celebrating with others.

  Luckily for me, I've also been getting most Sundays off.  Today my husband and I are looking forward to going to a Christmas party with our cruising fleet members from the Sailing Club.  We are going to a members house this year.  I am excited about it because even though we all love going to our club house for events, this makes it even a little more personal. 

 Tomorrow, I am off as well and have finally been able to coordinate a shopping date with my BFF.  We are driving an hour and half to an outlet mall that has a Pottery Barn outlet store.  Woohoo! 

Last weekend I was invited to my very first cookie swap and was so excited that I was able to attend.  I have always wanted to go to one of these but had never been invited to one.  I would really love to host one of these myself one year too.  It was so much fun!  I didn't take the camera to the party, but wanted to share the rewards I came home with.

Yummmm...eee!  Pretty nice stash huh?

 I had such a good time.  I was such a joy to visit with my friend and getting to meet a few new friends as well. Each person attending was to bring five dozen cookies.  One dozen to be eaten at the party and four dozen to share.  I was quite impressed that some ladies actually took the time to individually bag all their share cookies as well.

It was all I could do to find the time to bake my cookies.  My cookies were the candy cane looking sugar cookies shown on the top left corner of this photo, except that one is broken.  LOL!   I took the easy way out and just divided a batch of sugar cookies in half and added red food coloring to one half.  I rolled our a bit of dough from both the red and white batch's into snakes like you used to do as a kid with play dough.  Then I twisted them around each other and made the shape of a candy cane.  Next, I decided to flatten them out a bit on the cookie sheet with my hand so they would bake together without falling apart.  I may not flatten them out so much next time but was pretty pleased with how they turned out anyway.

I was going to put my loot in my Christmas tree cookie jar but changed my mind because I was afraid we would forget about them.  Out of sight, out of mind you know!

So I put out a few decorative paper plates and napkins instead and...

...put them on the counter for all to enjoy anytime.

Now if you think that sounded fun, just hold on because you haven't heard it all yet!

This was no ordinary cookie swap yall!  It was a Cookie AND Funky Sock Swap!

LOL!

Isn't that the funniest thing you've ever heard of?  I thought so too!  Basically it's a party where in addition to the cookie swap you bring a pair of "Funky Socks"  all wrapped up to share in a Chinese gift exchange.  First, we all drew numbers and each got to pick a gift off the table and unwrap it.  Then we all drew numbers again and got to choose whether we wanted to keep our socks or change them out with another s.  It was so fun!

There were so many cute and interesting looking socks from Holiday socks to ornamental to even thigh high socks.  Those were a hoot!  The gift I brought was a two pack of fuzzy zebra socks I bought from work and they were traded off a few times.  I guess I'm not the only one wild about Zebra.    I got really lucky and ended up with the next to the highest number for the trade off and was able to be the last to choose at the end.  I choose a pair from another lady that I had my eye on because they are fuzzy silk.  I've got a few pair of silk socks already and can tell you they feel devine!

Here's the socks I came home with from the party!

Cute, cute,cute!!!  

I am linking up to Seasonal Sunday today to share a few pleasures of the season.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.  I hope you are enjoying the holidays so far as well!

Take the time to enjoy the season when you can. 

 It is a blessing!

Preparing For The Big Guy

We have been very busy this week at work preparing for one of our biggest 14 hour sales of the year and preparing for the Big Guy. When the head CEO of the company, Mr. Stein himself decides to drop in for a visit there is always a flurry of activity.  Kinda like Christmas huh?  Which leads me to my next question, are you ready for the big guy?

Wait!  This Big Guy is definitely fun to get ready for and one of my favorites but this isn't whom I am referring too.

Here's the one I'm talking about!  The biggest "Big Guy" of them all.  Lord of Lords!  Emmanuel!

I can't believe in my efforts to keep my decorating simple this year I almost considered not pulling out my manger scene this year.  Can you believe that?  Tell me about it!  

There is a bright star that shines directly into my bedroom window this time of year at night.  Every so often I will awaken from being unable to sleep and see that star.  It is a very comforting light that reminds me of what it is that I believe in.

I purchased this star globe from a Christmas around the World party many years ago.  It is sitting on my Fitz and Floyd candle holder.  I just love how the light reflects stars on the wall.  Pretty cool, huh?

Last year was the first year I decided to add the gauze cloth and small green trees wrapped in burlap.  I realize it's not even close to a manger, but for some reason just feels very right to me.

I really enjoy looking at the expressions of "awe" on my figures.  Can you imagine what deep thoughts of wonder these earliest followers of Christ must have experienced? 

Thank you Jesus!

Thank you Jesus for being the true "Reason for the Season"! 

Thank you Lord for all those people and all those gentle reminders in our lives that there is so much more to prepare for then what we see here on earth. 

Sharing God's blessing of hope for each of you this season!

2011 Christmas Mantle

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

In hopes that all family and friends soon would be there!

My Christmas mantle has taken on a rustic and wintry mix this year.

It all started with the purchase of these beautiful reindeer that I bought from work at Stein Mart.

 I kept my eye on these for several weeks before finally talking myself into buying them.  I love how they have a subtle sparkle to them!

Then after laying out layers of garlands I added my pine cone candles.  I've had these for quite some time but rarely ever pull them out.

Then the search was on for just the right ribbon.

I was quite pleased when I finally found what I was looking for.

The final addition was to hang my winter wreath purchased from Walmart, during last years after Christmas sales.  Thanks to a great tip from Liz at Savvy Seasons to use those adhesive hooks with easy removable tabs, I was able to center it right on the middle of the mirror.

 I'm really enjoying the deeper richer colors I used on the mantle this season instead of so much bright red and green.  It's much more soothing to me!

 I thought I'd also share a few pictures of the finished living room with you as well.  I didn't put out all of my Christmas decor this year.  I am purposely trying to keep it more simple in this room.

  I have collected Santa's for years but only put out a few of my Santa's scattered over the house this year.  I also put out only a few of all my other Christmas accessories too.  Even with keeping it simple there is still quite a bit out, especially with Christmas trees in most of my rooms.  It's been a simple decorating year for me here at The Decorative Dreamer, but one I am enjoying quite a bit.  I may be a "decorative dreamer" but I guess I will always be "sailing simply" at heart.

Thank you so much for taking a look and I hope you enjoyed your visit too!

I am thrilled to be able to link this post to the following parties;

Holiday Mantle Party at From My Front Porch To Yours

Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on The Porch

Be sure and visit any of the above links to see so many more wonderful posts from some incredibly talented bloggers.