We materialize Christmas, including me.

 



It's finally here, the begining of Christmas. If you're  like me, I can't stop thinking about it.   Every day I think of something else to make my Christmas decorations more special.  The possibilities are endless.  Too bad the budget isn't!

 

This year I'm keeping the outside lighting decor simple.  Not using lights on the outside of the house.  I think the candles in the windows along with the wreaths with red bows have such a classic look.  Plus it's so much work to take the lights down at the end of the season.  I put so much effort into planning that by the end of December the last thing I want to do is take dozens of feet of lights down.

 

 

Front Stoop with Topiaries, Wreath and Nutcrackers

 

These are the same urns I used for Halloween.  For Christmas I'm using pre-lit boxwood topiary balls with red bows. On the door, a pre-lit battery operated wreath on a timer.

 

 

 

 

Army of nutcrackers

 

 

A tall mirror at the top of the steps, flanked by two 3' nutcrackers.  A half moon console table up against the mirror, with more nutcrackers on top.  Their reflection gives the illusion of an army of nutcrackers. 

 

 

 

 

Ho Ho HO

5' Santa greeting us in the foyer.  I got him at Walmart when my kids were little.  He's got a porcelain face, and his suit is made of a rich velvet damask, trimmed with fur.  He's adorable!

 

 

 

Santa on an end table

 

Tree in the Living Room.  Check out Toby on the recliner.

 

For the Christmas tree I used brown, green, gold and red. Using garland made of  red berries with  twigs throughout.  I love how the tree looks classic and traditional but the twigs give it a rustic, unexpected look. 

Nativity set in Dining Room

 

 

An antique Bible on a book stand, a nativity set and a plate with an embossed cross.  This year I bought a crystal cross and started a collection of religious crosses.   Hopefully, next year I'll have a few more to display.  

Christmas Village

 

I've been collecting pieces for my Christmas village for 18 years.  Have to admit they're not expensive pieces. Each is between $5 and $10.  Affordable and sweet.

 

 

 

Casual in the Den

 

  

It's where I keep the second tree.  My girlly tree.  The same room where I keep the Christmas village.  I carried the pink theme with a pink wreath above the sofa.  Last night my husband and I watched football here.  It looks sweet and not too overdone in pink.  Just fantabulous; between the fireplace, the Christmas village, the pink tree and my favorite winter treat...a hot chocolate.  Yum!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Keeping it simple outside. Wreaths with red bows and candles on the windows.  Pre-lit wreath on the door, Boxwood topiary balls with red bows  and the nativity set.



It reminds me of what this Holiday is all about.

We materialize Christmas, including me...big time!

 

I ordered the nativity set online 5 years ago and it was worth every penny.  It's my favorite thing.  It's about 3' tall, made of resin, with great detail.  During the Month of December, I display the set with out Jesus.  On Christmas eve, I'll wrap baby Jesus in a blanket and place him in his manger bed.

 

I love it!  Reminds me of what this Holiday is all about.

 

 

 

Teresa xo


 

 

 

 

 

 

Murals and Strawberry Cake

Ever have those days where your mind is all over the place and you can't focus.  Today I'm going to write about Fail Harder and Strawberry Cake.  Just couldn't decide which topic to blog about. 

A couple of weeks ago I read about the Portland ad agency Wieden+Kennedy who created an amazing mural with push pins spelling "Fail Harder".  The message displayed the importance of learning from your mistakes.  Showing failure as part of living, learning and optimism.  I thought it was so cool and was so impressed by it, that it inspired me to create a mural in my home, using the concept behind Fail Harder.

push pins



Over 100,000 thumbtacks were used over 351 hours to create a wall mural that spells out Fail Harder

Click Here to view Fail Harder Video

 

 

 

 

 

I'm planning on buying vinyl lettering from Michaels or Target. Applying the vinyl sticker on the wall and putting copper push pins over the lettering.  I'm thinking of placing the mural where we can see it everyday.  I want it to be motivational but also have a personal message.  

 

Here’s a couple of quotes I’ve been thinking about…

 

 

Quote # 1

 

 

Quote #2

 

 



 

 

I’m leaning towards the quote #1 from scripture, and placing it in the foyer, above the door so we can see it everyday on the way out.  

I love quote # 2 because of the meaning behind it.  Says so much about my husband and I, our years together, our home, the children and our lives.  

I'll start the project within the next couple of weeks and will post pictures on my next blog.

 

And then there's the strawberry cake...

 

Today I baked an easy and yummy Strawberry Cake with Strawberry frosting. Both cake and frosting were from the box.  Instead of using 3 eggs, water and oil, I used a can of Diet Coke.

I want to share with you a really cool frosting trick I saw on pintrest a couple of weeks ago.  There's a link to the frosting video below.  

The trick is to use a plastic wrap tube in the icing bag for easier clean up.  Cut a piece of saran wrap, place the icing on it, and spin it with both hands forming a tube.  Click here to view icing video.  Then just place the tube into the bag and pull it through the tip.  After using it pull the tube out and throw it away.  Just like that, such easy clean up.

Hope you enjoyed this week's blog about cake and everything related...including wall murals?


Teresa XO    



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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