A Year in Mantels

It's almost January 1st 2012!  Can you believe that?  This year went fast.  So I was taking a tour in blog land and I got some new ideas for a year-end wrap up post.  I'm going to show you a year's worth of mantels.  I often get comments when I post these ideas.  :) I will link the original posts so you can visit or reread older posts for specifics on how I created the look. Welcome to some of my new followers!  Please stay with me as I will be trying to update my blog a little at a time to make it easier for you to read and find things.

Let's start with last Winter.  I 'll be posting another new Winter one soon.

Winter 2011

February Mantel

Spring Mantel

Summer Mantel

Pottery Barn Knock-Off 

Late Summer

Fall

Christmas 2011


I hope you have enjoyed a tour of my mantels.  I also wish you Peace, Joy and Happy New Year!

Carey

Yummy Christmas Cookies

Hello! I thought I would share what I've been making this time of year.  This first recipe is a modified Farm Chicks recipe.  It comes from the Farm Chicks Christmas book.  I just love this book.  It has tons of decorating ideas and I enjoy reading about her traditions.  I got it last year. 

Dark Chocolate Mint Cookies

2 1/4 cups of flour
2/3 cup of Dutch processed cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks at room temp)
2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 cup mint flavored chips (I used the Hershey's Chocolate Mint, whole bag :)

Sift your dry ingredients first.  Then cream your butters and sugars.  Add one egg at a time and then the vanilla.  Gradually add in your dry mixture then stir in the chips.

Bake at 350 degrees in the lower third of the oven for 9-11 minutes.  The middle will appear slightly undercooked in the center but will firm up once they've cooled.  Cool on the baking sheet for two minutes and transfer to a wire rack.

Here's another cookie to try:

Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies

This recipe comes from Martha and it's on the cover of the Cookie book.   Read more about cookies here

 

Look at this ooey goey golden brown batter!

 

 

My Christmas centerpiece 

I was inspired by this post at Finding Home.  I love her home.  

 I used the gingham ribbon and some jute twine on my Ball jars.  I was a little disappointed I couldn't use taller jars.  I have all kinds of sizes ranging from half-gallon on down to pint.  My little dividers were just too small.  Can you tell I'm using my new camera this time? :)   

at night

my beautiful daughter

My wish for you is that you cherish Christmas with your loved ones.  Take the Peace of the season and keep it all year long.  Then most importantly accept the gift of Jesus into your Heart.  He is the Reason for the Season. 

Merry Christmas,

Carey

Christmas Home Tour, part 3

Hello, So what are you up to on the busy days leading up to Christmas?  I was mistaken about trying to get this post done earlier in the week.  Without working this week I've been in a mad dash to get things done.  Here's the last of my home all decked out.  I'm warning you now, there's a lot of pictures here.  I got a new camera so I will be practicing with my new toy and taking some more shots :)  soon. My husband surprised me early yesterday morning. 

My Dining Room

my antique pie safe

A close-up of the top of my pie safe

My hubby made me the shelf several years ago to display my redware.  I got quite a few new plates the last few years for Christmas.  I bet you can spot them.

My baker's cabinet

I love my lil' gingerbread men.

more of my Santa collection close-up as requested :)

My guest room

My basement media room mantle.  This year I went for a white snowy theme. 

I bought the pom pom garland at Hobby Lobby.  Everything else I had already.  I bought the little trees at a Christmas shop the day after Christmas last year. 

my little trees in the corner with snowflakes, white/silver ribbon and white lights

Blessings to you and your family this time of year!

Carey


Check out more Christmas tours here

Christmas Kitchen

Good afternoon, it's almost here.  Just a week to wait....I wanted my kitchen to be MeRRy and BrIGhT this year!

Yes, I have our family tree in the kitchen.  It is the best view from the outside and leaves us lots of room for opening presents and gathering around the tree without moving furniture around.  I decorated it with red, white snowflakes, candy canes and family ornaments this year.

This is my little white rooster dressed up with a plaid bow and tiny kitchen tree set inside red graniteware pan.

My little sink corner gets dressed up too.  I found the gingerbread ornaments on clearance one year.

This is on the opposite end of my kitchen.  It's a little desk area and honestly it gives me fits.  It gets cluttered very easily because it's right by the garage door. :(   It does show off my Gooseberry Patch cookbook collection though.

This shot is from the other side of my kitchen.  I like to put greens and little white lights on top of my cabinets.  You may not be able to tell but my ceilings are quite high.

I love the red and white gingham bows I did this last year too.

Tommorrow I will show the dining room and a few other small areas. 

I linked up with

Inspired Room

and

Thrifty Decor Chick

May your Days Be MeRRy and BrIGht!!!

Carey

Christmas Mantels...Open House

Hello, it's the season for joy, hope and love.  I love Christmas for many reasons, first and foremost to celebrate our Savior's birth.  I think it's important to prepare for his arrival and one way to do this is by getting our homes ready.  If you're visiting me, welcome and I hope you come back and become a new follower.  Decorating is a passion of mine.  I also enjoy baking. 

my family room

For this red/white look I used my red graniteware coffee pot and small pail then added the round crochetd table cloth.  The snowflakes I got at Lowe's on clearance.  The little ornaments were from hobby lobby last year.  I also used my old garage window frame and a Bethany Lowe wreath I bought at a shop in Southern, IN. The glittery pinecone was a find at Warm Glow candles.

My husband has bought me a Santa every year and I have quite a collection.  But I also have a few nativities.  This one is from my childhood.  All the pieces fit inside like a puzzle. 

my entryway

I'll be sharing more soon of my home.

Blessings to your family,

Carey

Silver and White Ornament Tray

Hello, Happy December! My house is pretty much decked out for Christmas.  I just love this time of year.  There is excitement in the air that you only feel during this time....

I thought I would share a quick decorating idea that I'm not sure where I saw it first.  Maybe you can relate to this I saw it on a blog, magazine or pinterest, just not sure which one. LOL! Then when I attended a craft show I saw this display in the middle of the table.  I am lovin' the silver, white frosty look this year.  If you have antique ornaments this would look great. Also, the mercury glass you see in many big name stores might be nice. I think this makes a great sofa table, coffee table grouping.  If you're don't feel like going all out you could add a small tree and you'd be done with your decorating :)

The best part is I spent almost 0 dollars for this!  I have a black serving tray lined with muslin material.  Mine was a little long so I doubled in then I tied the end with some twine. I placed some silver ornaments of different sizes, snowflakes, and beaded ivory sprigs tucked in.  I did buy the sprig from Michael's. (2.99) Then the original versions contain a tall cylinder glass candle holder.  It had a round floating candle inside.  I used a Ball jar and some faux snow with Bath and Body Works mini candle.

close-up

Silver and White Centerpiece = $3

Yeah!!!

Be Merry :)

Happy Decorating!

Stay turned for my Christmas Open House Part I.

Carey

Thankful for Many Blessings

Happy Thankgiving!  I hope you understand and can forgive my absence from my blog.  I will hopefully be able to blog more after the holidays.  I am teaching fewer classes next semester so that will help a little bit :) I have been into sort of a blogging funk, plus my camera is literally done :( argh  However, the good news is I hope to have a new one soon. :)  I got up most of the Christmas decorations this year so I will bring you sneak peek and the rest very soon.

I have so many things to be thankful for this year...

First, my husband got a new job after a year and a half of looking Yeah!!!!!!!

my health and my families health,

my family, I am so thankful to have them in my life.

my home, and food to eat. 

Here's some delicious pie and desserts we shared over our Thanksgiving.  It was just the four of us this year.  We did have a good time though.

Hooray for the PumPkin PiE!

Gooey Pecan Brownies

These are a snap to make :)

Two Brownie mixes

3 eggs

1 cup butter melted

1 pecan pie (frozen)

Mix together the first three ingredients and then fold in your pie.  Cut your frozen pie into about 1 inch pieces.  I leave the outer crust off too. Then fold it into your batter.  Bake for about 1 hour @ 350 degrees. 

Hope you had a great Thankgiving,

Many Blessings to you and your family,

I'm still reading and following your blogs!

Carey