Home for the HoLiDaYs!!!

That's right....HOME for the holidays and then some! This will be the first time since July that we will all be under the same roof for longer than a week together. It sounds terrible, but it has actually worked out extremely well for us. We have had a very blessed year. But after spending months traveling back and forth to California, it feels good to "nest" a little bit.
Don gets home tomorrow after spending his last 2 weeks in CA and I want the house to look warm and cozy and ready for him to join all the Christmas spirit we have had around here. Here is the hutch that he bought me this year decked out for Christmas.
I want to share this "good thing." This table runner and reversible quilted placemats are from the new Country Living line of linens. I bought them at KMart of all places. They were unbelievably cheap and so pretty.
They are a deep red and taupe floral toille and the other side is a small leaf and berry print. Perfect for the Holidays as well as for everyday. Go check it out. I paid only $4.99 a piece for the place mats and $12.00 for the table runner. Bargain!
Speaking of Country Living, one of my recent posts from the CL Fair was of these memory trees I saw. I finally sat down and made one.
It doesn't have the pictures on it yet, but here is my tree. I used a vintage table cloth for the fabric and a green glass candle holder as the base.
Mom and Judy and Carla have made several of these trees for themselves and for gifts. They are all unique and really cute with the old photos on them.
I added the bell bow and some old Christmas pins to decorate it a bit. Tomorrow I will choose some photos from Christmas past and add then with buttons and pins. I will share with you when I get it finished. We cut 2 triangle pieces of fabric, sewed then together and added batting around a tree shaped cone. Then slipped the fabric over the cone and hot glued the tree tothe glass base. Definitely try this. It is a great project and a place to hold old memories.
My good friend stopped by this afternoon and gave me this amazing ribbon wreath. These are all the rage around here this year. I wanted one, but decided not to spend the money on it. But she surprised me today with a beautiful Thank You card and this chubby and fun wreath. Thanks, MM! You're the Best.
Well, I am off to bed. It is midnight and I have to get up with Toots for school in the morning. Have a good weekend.