Pure As The Driven Snow....

I am not!  Yep! You read that right.  I am sooo not as pure as the driven snow! I am as faulty as any earthling can be, that's for sure!  Fortunately and blessedly so, I have a faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ who loves and forgives.  He forgives my rants and raving and all the disappointments in between among what I am sure is just the tip of the iceberg of failures.

With forgiveness also comes light.  He also shines brightly those things I need to see.  Those things that maybe I need to clean up so to speak.  It is with that in mind that I made a few adjustments to my original first post about closing this blog.  I needed to let go...and move on without going back. 

I thought I had moved on since I had taken the first steps in closing my blog to a private one.  But after reading and rereading what I wrote it was clear I had not really let go.  So today, I edited and deleted a few things and so begins a fresh new start.

I am still receiving a strange and beautiful blessing here with this blog.  It is no longer snowing outside though this is much of how it looked as it was coming down last night ever so beautifully.

This is the first snow we have had since we put in our pool.  What a beautiful sight to see early this morning.  I will taking lots of pics today that's for sure!

I am not sure yet if I will be going in to work today.  It looks like it may be another day for relaxing to me.  

...or chillin out as some would say!

LOL!

Free to be Me!

Yes! I finally did it! I am free! I have decided to make this blog private! I am not sure whether any of you can see this or not (or even want to at this point) but I feel the need to clarify...even if only for myself.

I have closed this blog to private in order to get out of the box.  The box was too confining.  I felt as if I had not only to "show" what was acceptable to the masses, but I had to post within a set of standards that was just too confining for me.  I do not like some of the cliques and etiquette rules that stifle me

 However, the most confining rule of etiquette that I am done with is the thought that I should be blogging for "you".  I started and continue this blog for me, to share MY life, it's my outlet, my look back on the years, the styles, the thoughts, ect.  This blog is opening up my life, sharing my life, not what I think you will approve of, or want to see, or what you might find interesting.  I am blogging about what I like, what I find interesting, what I want to do...and by golly if you find that interesting then please come along for the ride and let me know if you want to be added to view this blog.  This is the point in which if you have requested to be added to my blog and are reading this and disagree by all means you can stop following me now.  I am a big girl and can handle the fact that other bloggers have different views on blogging.

 You are here because you want to continue seeing my page...not because I expect you to comment or to be anything more then a viewing guest.  I would love for you to comment when you see something you like or can relate too, but only if you truly feel compelled too for that post.  It's okay to peek and run, I have no problems with that.    If we continue to become friends, then I am truly blessed as I hope you will be because you will have now met the real me with my boring self and all.  LOL!

  I reserve the right to accept and disapprove all guests as I see fit from here on.  Please note that I am very mindful of spam, hackers and those who may seem a threat to this blog.    So, if you are request is delayed it may be because I needed more time to feel sure you were legit.

Whew! Well, glad I got this post out there now and it's time to move on!  Can't wait to start blogging about what ever now!  Oh, how I love it....I am free to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Painting the China Cabinet

Time sure is flying by..."like sands through the hour glass, so are the days of our lives." 

I can't help but think of that every time I look at this vignette even though there is not one inkling of an hourglass in sight.  Weird!

It's hard to believe I actually made time to blog and was still tablescaping while I worked at Stein Mart. With all the responsibility of that position I am amazed that I even got one post out much less a few years worth.  Looking back now, it's easy to see that I did start to pull back though. 

What's funny is now that I have more time to blog I seem to be less inclined to do so.  It's not that I don't enjoy it, because I do and I do miss the communications with other bloggers.   I just seem to be a bit stuck in the same ole same oles.  Ever been there?    I also really miss one of my most inspirational bloggers ever, Liz at Savvy Seasons.  She always had a way of showing her decor that got me in the mood to rearrange and redecorate my own.  I hope your doing well my old blog friend!  Anyway, that's the long and short of why I haven't posted much at all...I am stuck, just like those hands on the clock above. 

 I have managed just a few changes around here lately though.  I recently purchased two new mercury glass lamps to use in the dining room.  I actually found them at Walmart of all places.  They didn't come with shades so I used some of my old shades and that's not quite what I want. So, I am keeping my eye open for just the right ones.

And....do you remember when I purchased this (new to me) cabinet several years back?   It was bought with the intention of painting it black.  Well, of course I waffled on that idea for several years.  I even let myself get to the point of starting all over and wanting a new dining table and hutch to match.  

But yesterday, as I was feeling restless on a cold Saturday afternoon inside, I decided to start repainting my hutch.  Of course I waited until almost 4:30 in the afternoon before I started.  Yes, really! I guess you know what I'll be working on today now don't you?

I can't wait to see this finished.  I think it will hold me off of any new purchases for a bit.  I still really, really, really want a new table and chairs and have several ideas on that.  

The fact is, I have been feeling very very restless lately as far as my decor goes.  I really want to update the whole house again with a different look.  I am kinda getting tired of older furniture and am wanting new, more modern, but frenchy and classic with a twist of modern.  Does that make sense to anyone other then me?  Unfortunately, the budget doesn't allow for such drastic measures as what are in my head.  So, I guess I will just have to continue to chip away at it a little at a time.  

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

I hope you have a beautiful and blessed Sunday!

Last Christmas stop in the Dining Room

Hi Everyone! We are still celebrating here at the Decorative Dreamer house while most of you are taking down the Christmas decor and getting ready for the new year.  It's quite nice to be able to extend out the celebrations with family this year because it sure has flown by!

I wanted to finally share the dining room with you all before I move on to everyday life again.

This room had the least amount of new Christmas decor this year.  

It shows a little differently this year since I rearranged furniture earlier this fall.

I still have the white, gold and silver theme in here and still adore it!  Here are a few more images of silver and gold that I also adore.

But here is what I promised to share with you on my last post.  It's my manger scene.  If you have followed me in the past you may know that I've had this manger scene for awhile now.  It was given to me by one of my closest friends and I have loved it ever since.  However it did not come with the little wooden stable you see here.

I cannot believe my luck in coming across this at a thrift store this summer.  They were actually having a  Christmas stuff a bag sale too.  So I got it along with several other Christmas items that I have used this year, including the willow star on my tree in the den.  I was so thrilled to see this was in great condition and knew it would be perfect for my nativity pieces.

I  really feel so blessed to have found this stable.  It's so special to me!

I received this tall wine glass from one of my sons for Christmas this year. It's going to be fun finding ways to style it as a centerpiece on my table.  I am already googling and thinking of ways to create a January/Winter centerpiece.  Feel free to send me any ideas you may have as well!

I am sure I will be taking everything down January 1st.  It's been my tradition to take it all down on New Years day for years.   Usually I start taking a little bit at a time down and finish up with the tree's on New Years day.   Last year I jumped the gun and took it all down before New Years and well, let's just say, I like my old ways better!

LOL!

Thanks so much for stopping by again and for the sweet visits before Christmas!

Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year!

Christmas Around The Kitchen

Hi Friends! I am so thankful that this year as Christmas draws near I am able to slow it down a bit more and enjoy getting things set up for all of our family celebrations.  It's hard to believe that it was only a few years ago that I started decorating the kitchen with a Candy Land theme.    I have to say this theme is one of my favorite and holds near and dear to my heart.  I guess we never really outgrow "visions of sugarplums dancing in our heads", do we?

Rather then moving the bakers rack out of this space I decided to keep it here and just place the tree right in front of it.  

I also decided to keep the top a little simpler this year with the addition of a few new ribbons.

We are all about chevron here and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the color combinations on this ribbon.  I knew immediately it would be perfect for my kitchen tree.

Then I decided it would look even better if I added a little twine ribbon as well.  

On the bakers rack, I decided to keep out a good bit of my regular decor sprinkled with Christmas.

My elves sure look up to mischief this year, don't they?

And speaking of sprinkling....how do you like the sprinkling of snow?  I love it!!!

  I have to tell you all I am just absolutely beside myself with joy about these picture effects.  I promise you I have not purposely added one effect myself. The only thing I have done was edit my pictures in Picasa then upload them to blogger.  When creating this post and adding a picture I am seeing two images to choose from.  One that is what I uploaded and one with special effects.  It's like either Blogger, Google, or Picasa is giving me a Christmas present.  It's crazy, y'all!

Well, before I go I've got to share my newly created coffee bar in the kitchen.  You may remember this as the wine bar last year.  I moved that over to another space in my kitchen after getting a new Keurig last month.  I'm still tweaking this area and playing with the decor here.

For the holidays, I think I've settled on this.

 Thanks so much for stopping by and enjoying the magic in my kitchen this year!

I am still hoping to get in at least a few more posts of my holiday decorating before Christmas arrives, if time permits.  If you enjoy holiday decorating please stop back by again sometime.  My next post will feature my dining room.  Come on back to see my nativity and hear about an amazing find I came across to complete my set.

Thanks so much for visiting today! Have a blessed Sunday Everyone!

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!