Diningroom Redo

After nearly 17 years in our home we are slowly starting to redo the rooms. For years I had a hutch top with no bottom (long story). We have been looking for a bottom to either match or one that came close, but every time we thought we were close to finding one it would either be the wrong style or color. Then Christmas Eve I found out Marc had been frantically searching for one to give me for Christmas.....long story short....Christmas Eve he brought home this bottom (and yes we put it in the house Christmas Eve which made for good times) but as you can see by the photo they are not the same style or color...so now the dilemma is what color to paint the two pieces to make them more cohesive......LOL.

 I love all of the storage but I'm stumped as to how I should proceed next. Leaning toward painting the pieces white, but my family thinks a dark brown or black would be better. I found three sites (this one has great ideas for painting your furniture white and this one and this one gives you tips for getting a smooth black finish) , with some great ideas but would love your opinions.

As a reference point here is another view of the room. The two wooden arm chairs are getting new fabric, and as soon as possible I intend to replace the frilly blue curtains with panels. I'm hoping to persuade Marc to trim the wall below with panels and the top part is going to be painted a sage green! We still have not decided what to do with the flooring. Everyone says wood floors but I'm thinking Berber carpet. Only time will tell. So.......anyone have any ideas? LOL

Favorite Memories from Christmas 2011

Nicki captured Marc preaching on Christmas morning. He was soo excited to share his message and I have to say he hit it out of the ballpark. I grumbled the entire week about having to interrupt our regular Christmas morning routine for service at church but I have to admit it was a great way to start the day!

Seeing these beautiful faces on Christmas morning is always a good thing! I know that there will come a time when they will have their own families but for right now I'm savoring the moments with them!

My mom asked for a gps for Christmas. Just seeing the glee on her face when she opened up our gift was worth it! She sent Marc and I a text yesterday saying she loves her new companion...the talking lady. Wonder if we can get it changed to a talking man! LOL

I love my sissy beyond words. We don't get to spend a lot of time together, and although she has had a rough road for the last few years I'm glad to say she is doing good now and is happy (and in love)! Soo glad to see this big smile on her face.

A big part of the reason for the smile on her face is her new friend. I have to thank him for that. We are still getting to know Gerard but any man who is willing to chop up onions and garlic for me is ok in my book. It didn't hurt that he also brought fresh homemade bread with him. LOL

Seeing this smile on Alex face was the icing on the cake. And having Gerard's son feel comfortable in our home and in our company made for a near perfect day. Its been five years since we held Christmas at our home, and as hard as it was to get everything together I can't complain at all. We had a blessed Christmas and I'm looking forward to the new year. Time spent with my family is always good....seeing my love ones happy, and healthy is the best gift of all!!!!

A Few of My Favorite Things (from Christmas)!

Today I thought I would share a few of my favorite things from Christmas, tomorrow I will share my Favorite Memories from Christmas, next week I'll share my favorite high points from the year and my hopes for the coming year!

Last year Marc and I found these great robes at Sam's Club on sale for little or nothing....so we grabbed a bunch of them to give out to my daughters, my sister and one is going to my cousin (shhh don't tell, she hasn't picked it up yet). Of course I picked up one for myself!! LOL

This is a favorite memory but its also one of my favorite gifts. A few years ago we started a tradition of selecting pajamas for me and the girls to wear Christmas morning. This year with Christmas Day falling on Sunday we didn't have time that morning to open gifts, let alone put on our pjs....but we didn't want the day to pass without taking a picture in them (another find from Sam's Club)!

My oldest daughter gave me this for Christmas. I love rice and steam veggies so she thought this combination would make for a great gift. I can't wait to try this baby out!!! Have a feeling the steam part will come in handy for next months Daniel Fast!

Not sure whats up with the funny faces....but I loved some of the gifts I got from family members and friends. The candles and the bracelet were two of my favorites from church members (you can never go wrong with me on most gifts...but things for my home, or bling with my initials are sure to please. The gorgeous (and very soft) throw is from Marc's aunt....I can't wait to cuddle up with it and read a good book.

My hubby knows how to put a smile on my face. He had been searching for weeks to find me a hutch for my diningroom but apparently hadn't had any luck. So a few days before Christmas he let me pick up this comforter set and matching shower curtain for our masterbedroom redo (which is truly a work in progress). He said I had such a smile on my face if he had known this was all it took he wouldn't have spent all that time looking around. I thought he was done after that ...but Christmas Eve he showed up at home with a antique buffet! It needs some work...but who can complain after such a nice surprise. Love that man to life!!!

This is from my sissy!!! I love bags and boxes and anything that will help you with traveling or organization. She also gave me a charm bracelet that she made, and cute purple socks to keep the toes warm. The girls got travel bags with jewelry inside made by their auntie. They each got a pair of warm socks also...Quisha got blue so we may exchange them (with my sisters permission of course).

The son gave me money to shop with (also got a few gift cards from family and friends) and Nicki is taking me shopping at my favorite fashion store. So yesterday I picked up these two lovely items at the after Christmas sales. The fur vest was originally $60.00 at JCPenneys. By waiting until after Christmas for it to go on sale (and with the help of an additional 20 % coupon) I picked it up for $20.00! The bag came from New York and Company (I never shop there because of the prices) but my daughter informed me most items were on sale for 60% off with and additional 20% off at the register....so this $45.00 purse cost $16.00!!!! Not bad huh? Like I have said before I try never to pay full price for an item so sales and coupon discounts are my best shopping friend!

 I really can't complain about Christmas because my family and friends really blessed me.....but through it all I kept thinking about the biggest blessing I have ever received and that was the gift of Jesus Christ. The real reason we celebrate Christmas Day!!



Monday Morning Ramblings!

Marc and I hosted a Christmas Brunch at WABC on Sunday afternoon.

It included games and prizes. The plate game I got via a friend from this website. They were such great sports for playing along! I'm sure some of our senior members never would thought they would be sitting in church with a plate on their head. We also played musical gifts (rather then musical chairs...lol).

The menu included hot apples, cheesy potato casserole, breadless quiche, bacon, sausage and cornbread. We also had hot coffee, orange juice, hot chocolate and lemonade available. Nicki and I spent almost the entire day on Saturday chopping, and shredding and cooking. Honestly if I never see another onion this year I will be a happy girl.

I got a lot of my party ideas from off of the internet. Including this free printable. Several recipes came about from stalking Pinterest, and my decorations came from discount stores and thrift shops (we stumbled into a Christmas sale at a local thrift store last week where I picked up several candle holders for 59 cents each. I would have had a few more if another lady had not beat me to them...lol). All in all I think everyone had a great time and thankfully I didn't have to do everything by myself. Several of my women's ministry team ladies pitched in Sunday morning...and frankly without them I don't think I would have been able to pull it off as smoothly.

Christmas Home Tour 2011

The Kitchen

Master Bath

Diningroom

Familyroom

The Tree

Merry Christmas! Hope you enjoyed my photos. If you would like to see some other great Christmas Home Tours click over to Hooked On Holidays House Tour! We are basically done with our Christmas decorating (Marc is outside as we speak putting up the last of the outdoor Christmas lights) minus a few little extras here and there! I'm looking forward to a stress free Christmas and New Year!

Update: I also linked up with The Inspired Room ! And Kelly's Christmas Tour of Homes! And I can't forget Nesters (which I think was the first ever tour I saw on the web of peoples homes at Christmas)!

Update from the update! LOL I finished the tree at WABC today.

My final link up of the season. Go check out Kristen Creations "Share Your Creations" blogging party.

Monday Morning Mind Dump

I feel like I have been on a whirlwind tour somewhere. It started last Wednesday with a luncheon with our noonday bible study and our home church noonday bible study (which is taught by my Uncle John) at the Founders Inn.

Wait...I forgot that the Friday before we attended our monthly Minister Wives and Widows meeting. Our meetings seem to have become just as popular for the husbands as they are for the women since they took up two tables at our dinner that night.

Then yesterday WABC treated our senior members to lunch after our morning service. Yet somehow most of the members that were there on Sunday showed up to attend also. There ended up being too many people to fit in the space they had reserved for us. I'm thinking thats a good problem to have. Looking forward to the day we will have that same problem at WABC!

Of course in between that I have been decorating for Christmas at home (photos coming up in my next post), and at WABC! This is the earliest our decorations have been up. In part because I had access to them a lot sooner this year (long story) and for the first time in five years my mom and sister will be coming here for the holidays!

Sadly we have also been attending funerals in the midst of the holiday season. Starting with the passing of a member at WABC, and tomorrow we will be burying my cousin. I love spending time with my family just wish it was under different circumstances.