Happy New Years 2012

Wishing everyone in blogland a very Happy New Year.

I went shopping yesterday at my favorite store, "Home Goods" and found a few great things, this clock being one of them. I have to decide if it's going in the Dining room or Family room.

We stayed home this year, just watching New year's Rockin' Eve.
 I made the candles from images downloaded at "The Graphics Fairy" I just mod podged them onto plain candles and tied on a bit of twine.

Relaxing, reflecting. Thinking how quickly time flies.

While we're burning the days.

Hunkering down for winter. Hopefully not as bad as last year, 

but it was so pretty

Last New Years eve we went to see Sarah McGlaughlin at Ceasars's Atlantic City casino..I adore her voice. That was a great night. We had super seats and they dropped a bunch of balloons at midnight.

Sarah was very gracious and came close to greet us in the front.

But I am enjoying my night at home, this year, just as much!

Onward we go, never knowing what's around the next corner.

May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, May the rain fall softly on your feilds. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

Saturday Night Special
Brag Monday @ The Graphics Fairy
Motivate me Monday @ Keeping it Simple
Table Top Tuesday

My Christmas Mantel 2011

Today I finally got my Christmas mantel together. Yippee Skippee I am so excited!

I was inspired by a picture in Southern Living magazine. 

Southern Living Mag

I had fun gathering stuff I had already to create my version. I made these stockings from dropcloth and vintage lace, I picked up in Cape May, NJ

Some fluffy white snow

A bit of white tulle fabric with silver stars.

Filled the top with greens picked from the yard and white decorations I normally stick in the tree, silver balls and pine cones.

 Love the fluffy white and silver.

 And although I don't have access to paper whites, like the magazine shot, I love how mine turned out.
The Southern Living shot, top left.

My Mantel, top left..

These little pails are the only thing I didn't already have in the house, and I found them at target for 1 dollar each. So I spent 4 bucks.
I have a deep dark desire to paint my entire mantel white, but no time this year, so when I found a picture I loved of a wood mantel I made a note of it, and planned on doing something as similar as possible.

The bottom area on the left in Southern Living Mag..

and my version..

I was going to wrap a real gift with some brown paper but I couldn't resist these cute bags at Target, I know I will use for $ 1.00

My final version after a few tweeks. I like the addition of the large jingle bells.

 I moved some of the bottom items to something a bit more agreeable for us.

I will probably change the center to a manger scene in a few days. 

I have a great old pure white manger scene from avon that my mom bought me many years ago and I traditionally always use that.  Unless I decide to go elsewhere with it.

This one will do until I get to more boxes in the basement though.

So this is my christmas mantel for 2011

And this is the Inspiration Photo

Well, I don't have those wonderful built ins next to my fireplace, but I used what I had.

I am participating in the Holiday Copy Cat challenge 

there's a party all week long 

Lot's of great parties I will be joining:Met MondayShow off your cottageThrifty Tuesday @ Coastal CharmMantel Link Party White Wendesday