The Blessing of Greetings!

A merry little greeting

In a merry little way,

For a merry little Christmas

And a merry

New Year's day!

T.J. Mills

I absolutely LOVE receiving Christmas Cards each year! I look forward to the mail each day to see whose card will be in my mailbox! It's a great way to keep in touch with those friends we don't get to see much! It's so much fun to see the new additions, the accomplishments and the way the kids have grown over the past year!

I always display my cards so I can see them everyday! It makes me realize how blessed I am!

Here are some other fun ways to display your Christmas Greetings...@Centsational Girl, @Southern Fried Gal,@apartmenttherapy, and @Better Homes and Garden!

I am going to end with our Christmas Greeting this year! Merry Christmas to ALL!!

A scrapbook by Smilebox

Dishing It....All About Christmas!

One of our favorite family traditions is looking at Christmas lights with The Jones! We started this tradition before we had children and have continued as our families have grown...It's been a challenge each year to get everyone in the same vehicle including car seats for the little ones! Well, this year we both increased our families by one more...so I think the dad's are going to take the oldest 4 kiddos and us mom's are going to chill with the babies back at home! Next year we may just have to rent a limo (ha)!
Is my tree real or fake? Most definitely fake...I'm afraid I couldn't take care of a real one and wouldn't get to enjoy it as long! However, we purchased a pre-lit one a few years back and it has been a pain the past two years as more and more lights go out! We managed to get the whole tree lit again by adding more lights!
Favorite ornaments??? They are ALL favorites. Anytime we go on vacation or travel somewhere we pick up a Christmas ornament! Each ornament tells a story, whether it was a trip we took or ornaments for our children. This year, my favorite ornament is one that my good friend Carmella@Southern Fried Gal made me!
This may sound a bit odd, but my favorite Christmas treat is Biscuits with Chocolate Gravy...Don't knock it until you've had it! It is YUMMY!!! My mom has always made a BIG BREAKFAST on Christmas morning including her infamous Chocolate Gravy and homemade biscuits! If you want to the recipe just email me!
Well, I love to be crafty, however this year I haven't had as much free time...a 3 month old in addition to a 5 and 3 year old can do that to you...I did manage to make this ribbon wreath. It didn't turn out exactly how I imagined and took a lot longer than I anticipated but my little girl LOVED it and it's hanging on her door...So glad it doesn't take much to impress her.
My favorite Holiday movie is ELF! This and Christmas Vacation get funnier each time you watch them.
If Santa brought me an iPad for Christmas I'd be one happy chick! I don't know if I have been "nice" enough for one but I sure hope so!
Amanda, Thanks for hosting this Dishing it party! It was fun!!

The Blessing of Giving

"A Season of joy for those who believe that it's more fun to give than it is to receive" T.J. Mills

I was pleasantly surprised when my precious friend Carmella @Southern Fried Gal gave me this ornament last night! What is even more special is that she made it with her own two hands...Those are the best kinds of gifts!

Don't you just love to watch the look on people's faces when they open a gift from you? You become the bearer of a happy moment for the folks you care about, and it just couldn't feel better! When their happiness brings you great joy and satisfaction you are experiencing The Blessing of GIVING.

Give Freely of yourself and the gift will you yours!

"When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh."

Matthew 2:10-11

Deals, Deals and MORE Deals with Willow House

WILLOW HOUSE GIVEAWAY at Finding Fabulous through December 14! Go over and enter to win!

There are just TOO many great deals this month at Willow House but I just want to show you a few of my favorites!!! Roxy Reindeer! ONLY $10.96 with $2 going to JDRF!! Great gift that also gives to a good cause!
I love this Ruffled Glass Bowl...It is SO versatile...You can use it to serve food, hold fruit, candles, the list goes on...ONLY $17.96
One of My favorite Holiday Items..These 3 for just $26.96! Split them up and you have 3 gifts!
The Petite Bud Vase ONLY $7.96. Great Teacher gift....
Cookbooks for only $3.96???What??? Yes you heard me correct!
This Chocolate Cookbook is $5.96! Another Great gift and you can write a note on the inside cover to make it extra special
The School Memories Book is AWESOME to keep on hand for Birthday Parties! Only $4.96

Along with these great deals there are tons more HERE!

TO top it off there is a phenomenal DEAL on these 2 magazines! Message me if you are interested in purchasing these for a gift or yourself!

The Blessing of Memories

Just like Christmas decorations stored away in the attic, there are Christmas keepsakes stored away inside our hearts. They hold a great treasure--The Blessing of MEMORIES.

--T.J. Mills

What are some of the Christmas memories you are currently making??? Last year was our first year to decorate a Gingerbread House! Of course, I went the easy route and just bought a kit from Wal-Mart...but the Memories were still made!!

Another Memory we made last year was that we went to Garvan Gardens and walked through the Christmas Trail! It was a perfect night! Cold and Clear! At the end of the trail they had a fire and hot chocolate waiting for us! It was so much fun looking at the beautiful lights as a family!

Nana and Poppy went with us! So much fun


I am so excited to do it again this weekend!

All About Wreaths!!

A Wreath is what we put on Windows and Doors to WELCOME those we Love & Adore.......

Wreaths...I just love them! They add a beautiful touch to your holiday decor and they are pretty easy to make! This one is above my mantle. I just used mesh, ribbon, lights and ornaments!

This is a ribbon wreath that I made! I saw the idea here. Mine of course didn't turn out as cute but my little girl LOVED it! She has it hanging on her bedroom door...I just wrapped a straw wreath with ribbon and used different Christmas ribbons to decorate the rest

This is the wreath on my front door. I've had it for a while but I had to add new mesh this year...This is all I had on hand but it works! I also added the Holiday Door Bucket in the center of the wreath!
These next two wreaths are just ones I purchased at Target many years ago but I still love them!
I would love to see the wreaths in your home...If you have any you would like to share just link up! Happy Monday!

I have shared this post at the following parties:

Sumo's Sweet Stuff: Market Yourself Mondays

Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative

Keeping it Simple: Motivate Me Monday

Making the World Cuter Monday

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The Blessing of Beauty

Well, I am excited to be posting some pictures of past and present Christmas Vignette's! I must say though that this is MY most favorite of them all.......

In all seriousness, I LOVE CHRISTMAS! However, it is taking me a little longer to get my house fully decorated with 3 kiddos...so I am going to share from past & present! I have had so much fun looking at the beautiful mantles and vignettes...Don't you just LOVE all the creative ideas?

The beautiful pieces and homes? Something about making your home beautiful makes the guests you have in your home and yourself feel special! The picture below is from a Willow House (formerly Southern Living at HOME) party....Just one perk to being a design consultant! You get to enjoy the beautiful products AND share them with others!
This is just a simple lantern with artificial berries around the candle and mesh tied at the top...just a little touch of Christmas to one of my end tables.
Here I added another touch of Christmas to my Fireplace Screen...Last year I used these metal ornaments hanging from my kitchen chandelier. I have another friend who ties these on the back of her dining room chairs...the possibilities are endless! I know where you can purchase your own set of this Holiday Hanging Trio...On Sale this month for $26.96

Isn't this feather wreath fun? I've had it for many years and LOVE seeing it every Christmas!

These are the Wirework Treasure Trio (3 wire ornaments...a square present, star and ball) that you can fill or leave empty. These are also on sale this month for $14.96
These last 2 pictures are from 2008...Thanks to Southern Fried Gal...Love ya girl!