Our Christmas Mantle

I can’t wait to show you all the decorating I’ve been doing for Christmas, but first I have to share with you the crazy, but fun week I’ve had!  Wednesday night at  church it was my turn to take part of the snack, but apparently we had more bringing snack than we realized…we had SO much food that we ended up sharing with the men’s class in the other room! lol  Then Thursday was our bi-weekly homeschool co-op group at church…we always have fun when we all get together. :0)  Friday night was our annual ladies ornament exchange…we play dirty santa and steal each other’s gifts, and the third time it’s stolen the gift is dead and belongs to that person…what a hoot seeing a bunch of ladies from church “stealing” from each other.  It was all in fun and we had a ball…and ate WAY too much!  Saturday night was the Christmas party at our house for the choir/band/media groups at church! I was a bad blogger and didn’t take a single picture, but it’s because we were having SO much fun it was ridiculous!  We had platters and crockpots of food covering every surface in the kitchen…our church people can cook!  I believe at last count we had 31 people, but we had some others drop in and out all throughout the night, so I’m still not sure of the accurate count.  I handed out door prizes all throughout the night and we just had a wonderful time fellowshipping!  You’d think by now we were done partying wouldn’t you?! Nope…we had our 45th Anniversary at our church on Sunday….what a day! We had most of the pastors represented from all 45 years and had multiple speakers all through the day.  We had an amazing spread for lunch and stayed until about 4:00 in the afternoon, but didn’t have church that night, so we stayed home and watched movies, snacked and played games.  What a crazy fun week! (that’s why I’ve been missing in action on this blog…I didn’t have a spare second!)

Ok…now on to Christmas décor!….hopefully you stayed with me through that whole novel I just wrote! lol
Today I want to show you my Christmas mantle….I love it!

I decided to use my vintage skates, crystal garland, and the cutest little fluffy owls you’ve ever seen! (oh and that window is one of the ones I told you about my mom asking the guy in the drive thru of the bank for! lol)

Here’s a little broader shot so you can see everything.  That chair usually goes where my Christmas tree is sitting now, so I just scooted it over in front of the fireplace because we needed that extra seat for the party and I won’t be using the fireplace for a while anyway.

I got the NOEL letters last year, after Christmas, from Walmart for .25 each…I LOVE them!  You should have seen me after decorating with them though….I had glitter all over my face. :0)

Here are those adorable little owls I was telling you about.  I have to tell you that I got them from last years ornament exchange….and yes, I did have to steal them for the 3rd time to make sure they went home with me. (don’t judge me!)  LOL See their sweet little nest with the golden glitter eggs….so stinkin’ cute!
(they came from Pier 1)

See the little trees on the ends of the mantle?  I got those from the Dollar Tree….I bought silver and gold and stacked them, because I knew I wanted to have both colors on the mantle and I thought it would be a good way to tie them both together…I think it worked out just fine.

I nestled some gold balls, poinsettias and berries into some greenery that I lit up with white lights.  I made sure to arrange things at different heights and levels so your eye would have  a smooth transition from one item to the next.

OH, I have to tell you what Carson said when he came in the room after I had finished the mantle.  Here’s the conversation:

Carson- “mom”?
Me- “yes, Carson”
Carson- “I just have to tell you….”
Me- “tell me what honey”?
Carson- “I just have to tell you, I think that mantle is your best work ever”.
Me-

That made my day!

One final look…..

I wanted to get all my decorating finished early this year so I could take time and enjoy the holidays with my family.  I want to make sure my kids remember the true reason for this beautiful season……..
Jesus came to this earth as an infant babe to offer himself as a sacrifice that we might have eternal life….HE was the first Christmas gift.   Let’s all take the time to stop and remember the first Christmas gift, the one true gift,  as we give to the ones we love this year.

Merry CHRISTmas everyone!

Missy

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