Welcome Christmas Time!

Hello Friends! Welcome to my first Christmas post of the 2010 season! I don't plan to blog everyday this year like I did last December (only because it nearly killed me) but I do plan to post something festive 2 to 3 times a week - hopefully ;) My house is fully decorated already, I knocked it out last Friday afternoon - fastest I have EVER decorated in my life! I guess I finally have it down to a formula. I may decide to add a few other little touches around the house, but only if it sounds like fun. I am trying to relax and enjoy a more simple Christmas with my girls and husband this year. Our budget is also a little tighter than usual this year, and that certainly inspires one to simplify!Speaking of budgeting and Christmas - how do you like my "new" wreath? I really wanted a new look for my front door this year because I'd been using the same woodland-y wreath for about four years, and while it was still in great shape, I was in the mood to do something bold and sort of preppy. So I ended up re purposing my summer wreath (you can sort of see it here) with some paint, ribbon, and a vintage bottle brush wreath that was in my attic. The ribbon was on my tree last year, and then I painted the star red with white polka dots to match. The bottle brush wreath had faded and warped a little in the attic so I painted it with some funky green spray paint I had left from one of Bridgett's projects. When I was finished painting everything, I just wired it all to my fall grapevine wreath with some floral wire. I really like the way it has layers and fun colors, I keep saying that it looks a little Minnie Mouse, but it sure is making me smile! Tonight I worked on choosing, formatting, and ordering our Christmas cards. I chose this design after I realized I had picked damask 3 years in a row and was about to do it again. Are you seeing a pattern here - it seems as though I am trying to break away from my Christmas "norm". This card is less serious than what I usually pick, but I'm excited about it, I think it's going to look great with our Christmas pictures. Speaking of our Christmas pictures, my sister-in-law did them for us a few weekends ago and they came out great, I will share my favorite ones here soon. While I was going through them tonight to put together the card though, I kept getting the biggest kick out of this one... I call this pose ,that Evie and Annie cooked up on their own, "Creepy Little Southern Aristocrats" - ha! And yes, I edited it to enhance the spooky factor. And as if that wasn't bad enough, I also did this...

Oh yes I did!

"I declare, that appears to be Rhett Butler holdin' hands with Miss Anabelle May."

But seriously, the REAL Christmas photographs (the ones where the girls aren't being pretentious and that have not been tampered with by myself) turned out great!

Anyway I think that's enough holiday fun for starters! We have so much great stuff going on this sesaon in the way of events, ballets, trips, preschool programs (that I will not be late for!) etc., so come back soon for more!

One more thing... for you "mommy blog" junkies, I recently began stalking The Little Princess Diaries and I super heart it!