Still love my Christmas Tablescape! (Adjusted a bit)

I have had a wonderful, blessed Christmas and frankly, I am not in a hurry to take down the Christmas decorations, soooo, my Tablescape this week is like my last one, just adjusted a little. (Oh, and hey! I got my daughter to do a Tablescape too and she is all excited!)
Another view that glows:

I couldn't leave this nifty reindeer that I bought at Salvation Army the day after Christmas for $1.25- love it! Behind the reindeer is a very tall 3 wick candle I bought (new) at Salvation Army for $4 (yes, I am a candle freak!)
Don'tcha love the angel candlesticks? (Think Valentines' Day too!) and I took out the taper candle from my grandma's crystal candlesticks and put on a pillar and put a little wreath thingy around the bottom for a different look)

This is a huge pinecone from my sister's yard that I spraypainted and glittered. (The green dish was a gift that my daughter received a few years back that she didn't quite "appreciate".)
I played around with the flash and all, so some of these have a "glow"! The candle is actually gold, going along with my red and gold theme (that I also added a little green too) set inside a poinsettia dish.

Cute little gift box that I couldn't resist!

My place setting didn't change, but I still like it- (I have a thing for snowmen AND Christmas trees!)


I wanted to take a picture of my "endtablescape" Love my Santas and if you enlarge this picture you can see the Christmas tree my grandma made years ago is made of those large safety pins.
Couldn't leave out my Santa and Mrs. Claus Publix people. So I put them on the counter with my little Goodwill tart burner I got for $.75!
I also wanted to show my "3rd Christmas tree" on my dresserscape! I haven't been able to find a good candle for these candlesticks and so I put the bells my sister gave me on them! The cute little tree I got at Dollarama in our Mall.I hope you had a wonderful Merry Christmas and also that you have a very prosperous and Happy New Year! Be sure and check out www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com for Tablescape Thursday!

Merry Christmas!

As I write this, it is 12:37 am Christmas morning! Yay! I have been so looking forward to Christmas this year- I have been working hard to get everything ready. I did a lot of sewing and some crafting this year- some of my projects were a bust, but hey- at least I tried! My successes were stockings that I made for 4 children in the family, including my grandboys! I had the fabric for a couple of years- and then I saw this super cute trim that I had to use! So I did- I will try and get a picture tomorrow. I also made some fleece hoodies- I had made one for my grandson for his birthday last month and my daughter wanted me to make one for his cousin, so I also made one for the cousin's sister (also a cousin of course!) and my other grandson, so I made 4 of them altogether and I feel like an expert on that pattern! Oh, I also made some magazine Christmas trees ala Martha Stewart and they came out really cute! They are such a "green" gift and nearly free if you already have the magazines. The ones she showed were a little plain, I thought so, I added a mini bulb ornament and some ribbon to mine. I also made a gift box, light thingy that my sister made at a Ladies Craft night at her church. She made me one, so I made my 2 girls one too. I always like to make something for the holidays, so I was pretty happy with how everything turned out.

We spent Christmas Eve at my sister's and that worked out because both parents were there (they have been divorced for nearly 40 years) I gave the ladies some Bath and Body works soaps (can't go wrong there!) and my sister some odds and ends- candles, tarts some cool old silver spoons that I found at Salvation Army (I wish I could thrill more people with Salvation Army finds!) and I had given her a Mag tree earlier and she gave me some cool stuff too- a 5 min hairdo book, a tart burner in the shape of a teapot (I have a semi- collection of teapots, so the more the merrier!) some bells (the larger ones I put on candlesticks instead of a candle- that looks pretty cool) a gold candle, that I promptly put in a poinsettia bowl on my tablescape, some votives and I can't remember what all now. (Glad I mentioned the teapot, because I forgot to get all excited about it when I thanked her for my gifts (she had dropped them off).

Well, I need to get up for Mass in the morning and I am so tired and I have a few things yet to do for Christmas (today!)

Have a Blessed Christmas!

Dawn

It is almost CHRISTMAS!

I am really looking forward to Christmas! We historically have wonderful Christmases, but I guess with the grandboys, an element of extra fun is added! I just read an article about not feeling like you have to give an "obligatory" gift just because of what people will think of you if you don't give a gift. I happen to really like giving gifts and getting creative. This year, I do seem to have gone a little "Christmas Crazy" as my daughter would call it. On one side of our family, we don't really do a gift exchange, so my gifts there are a little less "flashy". I try to major on the kids, and give "couple/family" gifts where I can.
A gift is a sacrifice- in these times especially, and I don't feel like I can or want to give up gift giving. There is always something you can give someone and it is a great feeling!

Merry Christmas Tablescape!

I was really happy to bring out the Christmas dishes! They naturally lend themselves to red and gold! Didn't realize I had so much red and gold stuff! Yeah!

The tablerunner is.....wait for it..... wrapping paper!


Aren't the placemats cute? Found them at "The Tree" at the same time as my sister did, with the same idea in mind! (I had to bring her to my "Tree" as it is the most awesome one I have been to.
The place cards are Martha Stewart (love her!)

I love the St.Nick, old timey, Victorian Santa and I have a "thing" for salt and pepper shakers.

I splurged and bought a "second" tree for the dining room - I plan on using it for all the holidays- I love it! It was pre-lit and I hung some silver pinecones on it. (Just to say "I have 3 trees" this year, I bought a little 24" tree for my bedroom! I am a nut, huh?)Items of interest:
Dishes- Farberware- bought them 8 or 9 years ago at Winn Dixie after Christmas for $3 a set of four (I bought 2 sets)
Christmas glasses-thrift store- .49 each
Topiary- Michaels about 3 years ago
Salt and Pepper shakers-gift about 11 years ago
Candles- tapers- Walgreens 2/1.00, pillars- JoAnnes $2.50 each, candlerings- from my mom- ancient I am sure
Napkins- Wal-mart (I think)
Christmas balls- huge container at Salvation Army-$1
Gold Christmas trees- "The Tree"
Silverware- it is silver that my Mother in law had- probably at least 50 years old

So as you can see, I don't spend a lot on individual items- most of it I have had- I like to challenge myself! Like my sister says, the fun is in the hunt!

Be sure and check out www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com for some awe inspiring tablescapes! And if I miss you next week because of Christmas- have a very blessed and very Merry Christmas!

A new Advent Tablescape

Well, it is still Advent, so I just changed up a few things on my Tablescape.


I used a larger Advent wreath that I found at Salvation Army last week.
Used my grandma's crystal candlesticks
I switched the plates (the bottom says Chippendale) $10 from Salvation Army (the Salvation Army is WAY too close to my house!)
I put this little gift boxes in my grandma's candy dish, and put some poinsettias around the pillar candles

I found the silver candlestick on the left below- I put a pillar on it, added the glittery Christmas trees, and put a nifty bell (really a door hanger) in the gravy boat

Close up of silver candlestick
I put some Christmas balls in my fav fruit bowl
Hope you enjoy! Love reading my comments! Thanks! Check out www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com for some beautiful tablescapes!

A Wedding Tablescape!

I liked my Advent Table from last week so much, that I decided to keep it and this week I am posting pics of a wedding that I catered back in the summer. I worked with my daughter, son in law and hubby and we had a great time!

This first picture was the punch and tea table note the "chocolate covered" strawberries (hersey kisses!) I think I got more compliments on the cheese ball than anything else!

On this table we have pinwheels (my idea, son in law's creation), Shrimp cocktail, pasta salad and sweet and sour meatballs.

Here we have bread basket, bread dip, chicken salad, watermelon basket (complete with a little heart!) and a veggie tray.
The total buffet.
The bride, Mrs. L was happy, so that made us happy. She is the daughter of one of my longtime friends.Here is a close-up of some of the food (food makes the best decorations, huh?)

The first is egg salad (doesn't sound too exciting, but there were no leftovers of that!)
Here are the yummy pinwheels- we had them again for pre- Thanksgiving dinner munchies.We had some beautiful strawberries and son in law cut the pineapple- so pretty and good!Thanks for looking! Just thought I would share something a little different this week. Be sure and check out www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com for some beautiful Tablescapes! Thanks, Susan for hosting this fun event! I have been having such fun not only decorating my table, but just looking at it all week. God Bless!

A Blessed Thanksgiving!

Just wanted to write a little about the blessings of my 2009 Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful day! Don't get me wrong, it is a lot of work, but wouldn't be Thanksgiving without that. Over the last few years, our Thanksgivings have rather gone through some transformations. Once the birdies fly the nest, things get interesting, don't they? Two years ago, our youngest daughter was married 4 days before Thanksgiving, so she was away on her honeymoon, so we traveled to our oldest daughter's house for Thanksgiving after having a early Thanksgiving with my husbands side of the family the day before so we could have dinner with his sister, who came from Houston to attend the wedding. Last year, we had some sickness go through the family, so the holidays were yet again a little different. We went to my nephew's house for Thanksgiving Day, and we ended up having Thanksgiving over a week late with our immediate family!
This year,we had such a wonderful day, all my kids, their spouse/spouse to be and my little JR (where he is, is where I am going for the holidays!). What I love, is how we all get along so well- the kids, the inlaws, all JR's grandparents! We had a blast. The families have gotten so big, that we will not ever get to be with everyone, but we have all split off to enjoy our own Thanksgivings! We occasionally do early celebrations to "get everyone in"! Why limit the holdiday to just a day, right?
There is always so much to be thankful for faith, family, friends, a home, food, our jobs, our health. Hope everyone had a wonderful day!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below, Praise Him Above Ye Heavenly Host, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen

An Advent Tablescape!

I decided to celebrate Advent with my new tablescape. I put some Christmas wreath around my advent candles.



I like to celebrate the anticipation of the Lord's coming! Candles are one of the best ways!
I played around with the lighting and the settings on my camera- happy with how the pictures turned out.
The little angel reminds me of my grandson!! The face is a deadringer!
I bunched up the tablerunner- liked the effect. The little egg shape in the advent wreath is a miniature manger scene.

I had taken all the pics, when I thought- I am going to add a little more color- added the flowered china salad plates The cool napkin rings were given to me by my sister!This is the last pic of the tablescape! I think it is my fav so far (aren't they all?)
Check out www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com for more great tablescapes!

Food, food and more food!!

Let me tell ya- it is nice having a full, and I do mean FULL freezer. How many people live in this house? Well, now I have enough for a small army. Why do I have so much food even though there are only 3 of us here now? About 3 or 4 years ago, I began a slow journey of trying to eat better. (Always had an interest in natural, organic food but-- I am really a junk food junkie at heart). Anyways, I got involved in several co-ops and it just so happens that chicken, beef and turkey co-ops were in the last few days. (Who would have thought that making your own bread would lead to all this?) We never know when an order is going in, so I buy as much as I can. ((Just one turkey for Thanksgiving). So, I bought 30 lbs of natural chicken breast, 5 whole chickens and at the last minute we got a deal on whole roasters $1.05 a lb!! I got 8 more). The beef order (grass fed fairly local) I had originally passed up, but someone backed out of the order and I took their part 1/4 of a small cow- about $4.00 a lb. So, I am stocked! It is nice to know I don't have to worry about food for awhile- just electricity!! Now, I am going to concentrate on stocking up on other things- I just think it is a good idea to get the best price on things that you use constantly. Another challenge- I have to really, really get better at menu planning and not being lazy about cooking!! I sometimes just get so tired of cooking and cleaning up (no dishwasher) but hubby has been helping me a little more- love the no dishes in the sink action, and let's face it- nothing is better than waking up to a clean kitchen- so that keeps me going and really- it doesn't take that long when you think about it. After picking up my turkey at my friend, Chris' house (she is the super duper co-op queen! Thanks, for all the hard work, Chris!) I stopped at Publix for my husband and decided to go ahead and get my Thanksgiving stuff. I really don't feel like spending any more money on food for a looonnngg time!

It's Turkey Time- Tablescape Thursday!

Hi All!

Another fun time doing my tablescape for Thanksgiving. I kept some stuff from last week and added my beloved Turkeys! I still have artwork that my son made in kindergarten (he is 21 now!).Anyway, it was a lot of fun since I won't be home for Thanksgiving. I don't know about you- but keeping a tablescape up, just makes my whole house seem decorated and even hubby likes it and best of all, like I have said before- NO JUNK stashed on the table. Hope you have fun looking! Be sure and check out Between Naps on the Porch for more great tablescapes.
(Also, if you watch Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee on the Food Network, she does a Tablescape every show- so much fun- and her recipes are good too!)
Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!! We do have so much to be thankful for. Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow...

Dawn
My signature "fake" table runner (I may never buy another table runner!)

This little guy is an hors deouvres holder with little holes for the toothpicks on his feathers
Don't you love candles? I bought some new ones at JoAnn's 1/2 price- I am also a freak for salt and pepper shakers- I have at least 4 sets on this table! I love my little turkey candleholders too!
I got these cute little pear plates at "the Tree" - you know where. The green plates were my grandma's. I have never used them!
I couldn't give up the pumpkins totally yet
If you enlarge the pictures a bit you can see the center piece is a turkey flower basket.Got the gravy boat ready too!

After taking all the other pictures, I decided to move the tapers- to spread out the candles a bit