Christmas Tree 2011

Welcome! So glad you stopped by! I have FINALLY finished up all of the holiday decorating around here which is a huge relief! Today I am going to share our tree.

Let me tell ya this here tree has given me fits this year. We purchased it about a week ago and it took almost an hour and half for me to decide on it. There were so many trees that were already loosing a TON of needles. They looked okay on the outside but when ya looked in the middle they were bare. I thought I had found the perfect tree.
Well it is perfect but sadly enough even though they trimmed her bottom she refuses to drink!! I am highly disappointed. All of our trees have always continued drinking right up until a few days before Christmas. This one I am afraid will be a crispy critter by the time we even get to Christmas Eve!:(

After being frustrated over that I was getting irritated over the ribbon. I could not get it to look right and thus at midnight one night I took it all down. A few days later  I decided why not make it cascade down the tree instead. I guess it will do for this year but don't be surprised if it gets a make over once my Jute arrives in the mail!;) It still just does not feel quite right.

Our star is the start we have had since we were married. I hate that it will not stay straight but at the same time it has sentimental value. Maybe one day I will figure out how to get it to stay on the right way. Till then we enjoy its corkiness. I placed several different picks all around the top of the tree to frame out the star and then started the rows of ribbon from there. 

Here is our tree at night! Believe it or not she has 7 less strands of lights than usually! We use the standard white then I add in some twinkling white and then several strands of red, white, and green. I really wanted to put ALL of them on but they were getting too heavy for this tree and weighing down the branches.

So there ya have our Christmas Tree for 2011!
Hope your weekend is going well!
Don't forget about the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Giveaway happening now and my First Annual Holiday Mantel Party!

I am linking up to the following parties:
2805 
SNS
Thrifty Decor Chic

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

The boys pretty much steered the decorating outside this year. They wanted to do something fun. 

Come on down lollipop lane!

I am still growing our outdoor decor. I have visions of fuller garlands and large ornaments hanging down from the ceiling. The Nutcrackers guarding Santa's Wonderland actually come inside. We have been having issues with thieves following the UPS trucks and swiping left packages. Very disheartening. Thus I now have to keep them in for now.

I used my lil 4 ft pre lite trees in urns and placed them in our larger urns with a wreath at the base to fill in.

I just love our Nutcrackers that we purchased at CVS last year for just $20 a piece after Thanksgiving!

I purchased this cute vintage like thermometer out at the cottage last week.

Our wreath the past few years just had a burlap strip that I used to hang it up. It was worn and so I replaced it with  this pretty pre made bow and added a red ribbon to hang it from.

And if you just happen to pay us a visit at night you never know who you might find! Littliest came up with this idea all on his own after we decided that Rudolph might get swiped off the porch too. I think he may have his mama's decorating gene!;) 
Hope y'all are having a wonderful week! Don't forget about the Annie Sloan North American Tour Giveaway or Treasure Hunt Thursday all happening now!


Linking up to the following parties:

 

Treasure Hunt Thursday #34 & Highlights

Welcome to THT #34! Each and every week we just keep getting bigger and better and I owe it all to you! 

Remember to head over and enter for your chance to win an Annie Sloan Holiday Basket to help kick of her 2012 North American Tour! This giveaway is amazing!

Also don't forget to link up your holiday mantels or holiday displays! The party will stay open till the 30th I believe, so if you have not gotten your decorating done just yet no worries you still have time to party!

Now on to Highlights from last weeks THT! We had so many wonderful entries that I found it hard to choose just three so I threw in one more for good measure!;)

I fell in love with Honey's silverware tree over at 2805! In fact I loved it so much I had to make my own for our dining room! Thanx again for the inspiration Honey!

Next up from Twigg Studios is a tutorial on how to make an amazing aged mirror! Thanx Aimee for sharing your secret with us!;) 

Oh my when I saw this ladder tree from Eclectically Vintage my heart went pitter pat!

I also fell in love with these vintage paper trees from over at Keeping Up With The Times!

As always thank you ladies and be sure to grab your "I've Been Featured" button!!
Now on to this weeks party! As with all parties there are the normal rules. You must link back to From My Front Porch To Yours in your THT POST. Just common courtesy. If ya don't link back ya don't get to party. Only link up to your Treasure Hunt Thursday post and NOT your blog homepage. Please no advertising and please no more than three links from the same party goer. Also be sure to visit at least the link before you and after you to just say Hi! It makes partying all the more fun!

Home for a Manger

The Nana & The Papa gave me this beautiful nativity set about four years ago. I loved it but I always had trouble finding just the perfect spot for it. Last year it ended up here in the living room. I thought this was a great spot for it until.... 

I got to changing things up! I have always had trouble doing Christmas in the dining room. I never seemed to have enough decor for in here. I decided to place the Eagle Mirror in here that I purchased off the local yard sale site back in the summer. I had yet to find it a home as well. I also moved the shutters back in here. If you remember they use to be black and I painted them with Old White and Duck Egg. I was not quite sure about their new redo and was actually debating on getting ready to revamp them again but I am glad I did not! They go perfectly in here.

I added some fresh greenery and some white lights.

My version of the Star of Bethlehem.

Yep, I think this spot will be it's new home! 

The dining table is a work in progress. I wanted to keep it simple since we will have to take everything off of it for Christmas dinner. If I have time I want to try and make a burlap ruffled runner to go under the red runner instead of the piece that is under there now. 

I purchased this round tray at Goodwill last month. I decided it was a good piece to place under the tree. The tree I already had back from my days in retail. I saw a fellow blogger use silver wear on her tree and for the life of me I can not remember who it was. I visited several blogs of who I thought it was to no avail. I wanted to thank whomever it was for the inspiration! It gave me something to do with the antique silver wear I purchased this past summer.
Edited Note: Thanx goes out to Honey over at 2805 for the inspiration! Be sure to pay her visit! She is a sweetie and a fellow Texan!

Simply stated is what this space is all about!

Don't forget the reason for the season!

Also you have till Dec 30 to link up to my  Holiday Mantel party! There are lots of entries so far that I am still going thru! So much talent and inspiration out there in the bloggy world! Be sure to link up your mantel or holiday display!

Speaking of parties I am linking up to the following ones:
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Table Top Tuesday

The Lettered Cottage
Wow Us Wednesdays
French Country Cottage

FMFPTY's First Annual Holiday Mantel Party

Welcome to From My Front Porch To Yours First Annual Holiday Mantel Party! I am so excited to have y'all over that I decided to start the party early!! 

I have been busy getting ready for y'all. I had changed out our mantel display last year so I pretty much just kept it the same since I liked it so much.

Our stockings are from Pottery Barn Kids. I got them on clearance for just $7 each about 5 years ago. There is even an extra put away just in case there is ever an addition to the family!;) I have yet to bring myself to have our names embroidered on them so last year I found these gold glitter initials at WM for just $1! 

I started collecting Mark Roberts Fairies quiet a few years back. 

My mom gives me one every year for Christmas and I can not wait to see which one she gave me this year. The berry trees in pots I purchased  in the after Christmas clearance isle at Target abt 6 years ago for only $12 each!

My topiary Nutcrackers are from Cracker Barrel two years ago. They were only $12 a piece which I think was a good price.

Our hearth is what changed the most this year! The black granite surround is gone. We replaced it with porcelain tile this past spring that looks like rock. I LOVE it! We also tore out our carpet and replaced it with Antique Oak Engineered wood flooring. 

Saint Nick rests on his chair by the fireplace. He is a Cracker Barrel find from  several years back as well. 

When I was looking at pics from last year I noticed there was an empty spot here under the stockings. How I missed that I do not know. This year I filled it in with some empty frames and an architectural finial all of which I already owned.

Our fireplace display has evolved thru the years...my photo skills as well!;).... as pieces have been purchased but all at incredible deals. This is our mantel back in 2009.
   

This was our mantel last year in 2010.

Our Christmas Mantel 2011!
You really can achieve beautiful Christmas displays on a tight budget but you just have to be patient and know it may take a few years before you achieve the look you have longed for. I think I have finally reached the look I have always wanted!

Thanx for coming by to my party! I know there are so many parties out there and we are all so busy. I am truly thankful and honored you stopped by! If you get a chance grab my button off the sidebar and invite all your friends! The more the merrier!

Now on to the party! I can not wait to see y'alls mantels and holiday displays!

As with all parties there are the normal rules. You must link back to From My Front Porch To Yours in your post and not just on your side bar. Just common courtesy. If ya don't link back ya don't get to party. Only link up to your Holiday Mantel Party post and NOT your blog homepage. Please no advertising and please no more than three links from the same party goer. Also be sure to visit at least the link before you and after you to just say Hi! It makes partying all the more fun!

P.s. Stay on the look out for an upcoming giveaway and another exciting announcement!

Linking up to the following link parties:

Metamorphosis Monday

Amaze Me Monday

Show Off Your Cottage Monday

Mantel Party-My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia

Southern Hospitality

Funky Junk Interiors