Happy New Year, Friends!

Here at our house, we've put out the welcome mat for 2012...

Happy New Year!

May 2012 be your best year yet!

"...forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before..." Philippians 3:13

Find the clock printables at The Graphics Fairy by clicking here and here. New Years printables are my design. One of my resolutions is to have more printables for you here on the blog in the new year! Y'all hold me to it!

Project Highlights of 2011

Wow! I've had a very busy year, as I know many of you have. And one of the things I love most about blogging is being able to chronicle progress & share it with you all. If you don't know my "story" regarding this blog & how it relates to our home, it's simply this: I've used it as public journal to record how it really is possible to furnish an empty house on a very small decorating budget. I still have a long way to go, but I love the process. It's very true that patience is the first requirement, but as many of you have also learned, nothing compares with the satisfaction of doing it yourself. Thanks for joining me on this journey! Wonder what we'll come up with in 2012?

Here are a few favorites from this year...

January

Fun TV Console

February

Magnetic Chalkboard

March

Slipcovered Chair

April

Dining Room Buffet

May

Silhouette Jewelry

June

Awning Dormer Window Treatment

July

Coffee Table to Window Seat

August

Funky Ladder Bookshelf

September

Parisian Grain Sack Faux Roman Shade

October

Diamond Tufted Ottoman

November

Teen Boy's Room

December

Advent Calendar Pillow

How to Motivate Yourself to Un-Decorate for Christmas

I was hoping if I wrote that title something would magically come to me, but so far, it's not looking good. Today is the big day around here. What went up must come down. And in my usual soon-after-Christmas style, I'm ready for it to go. Now I'm just waiting for that burst of enthusiasm to hit me so I can get it done quickly and painlessly.

My plan of action is to break the news to the kids when they wake up, & then assign them their specific jobs. Then, I'll turn on some motivational music that will keep us hopping...something akin to the tune from the Wizard of Oz when the witch is riding her bike.

And then I'll make a goal of being done by lunch or soon after, reminding the kids that, this way, we'll have all afternoon to play with our new toys.

I'm telling you all this because you are my official Accountability Team for the day. Feel free to check up on me & remind me to stay focused. I'll post an update to my Facebook page to let you know when we're done.

What's your plan of action for un-decking the halls? As for those of you who are finished...I'm officially jealous. Gotta get busy!

Merry Christmas

A very Merry Christmas to each of you...

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May you know the Christ of Christmas every day of the year.

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John 1:14

The Perfect Gift to Give Yourself

Don't bother asking me what I had for lunch last Tuesday, because heaven knows I can't remember. But ask me what we did for Christmas in 2002 or even 1997 & I can tell you all about it. Not because of my crazy-good memory, but because of my Christmas Journal.

I pack it away with the Christmas decorations each year, then get it out again & look through it each year, remembering Christmases past.

I started writing it the year our son was born and have kept it going every year since. In it, I write a few pages each year, highlighting all the major events that happened from Thanksgiving to New Year's. Everything from parties and plays to who came to visit, where we went, what we gave, & what we got.

It's a gift from me to myself & my family that becomes more valuable with each passing year.

It's just a simple spiral-bound journal, and on the inside cover, I added this little Mary Engelbreit print with a quote from Charles Dickens...

It's a Christmas tradition I'm glad I started so many years ago. If you don't do this already, this would be a great year to start! It's the perfect gift to give yourself. And it's a great gift idea to give to a young couple as well.

What's your favorite yearly Christmas tradition?

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas & a Colorful Spring

This post brought to you by Bulbs. Dig, Drop, Done.. All opinions are 100% mine.

I know right now you're up to your neck in Christmas cheer, but I'm interrupting the wintery holiday hustle and bustle to bring you a little bit of spring. With a little bit of planning now, you can have a gorgeous yard full of flowers, come spring.

You may be an avid gardener with flower beds that are the envy of the whole neighborhood, but I have to admit I've never planted a bulb in my life. I guess I've just been a little intimidated and a little too lazy to research when and how to plant them. But, I was recently introduced to a couple of sites that have changed my point of view and I think you'll like them, too.

The first site is called Dig, Drop, Done, where you'll find all kinds of info on bulbs and how to plant them. You'll also meet three funny ladies with different lifestyles who will tell you all about their planting experiences. You may even find out one of them is a lot like you. I guess I'm most like Marcy the Super-Mom since she's the only one with small kids. She explains that bulbs are so easy to plant, even moms with a busy lifestyle can make it work.

After checking out their videos, I'm sure you'll come to realize if they can do this, so can you! Be sure to visit www.digdropdone.com to learn more about how easy it is to have gorgeous color in your yard when spring rolls around.

Another site you won't want to miss is called Curbside Chaos. There you'll find a Garden Guru tool that will help you figure out which bulbs are right for you, depending on where you live! In a few short steps, you can choose your location in the world, the time of year you want your blooms, and the type of bulb you want to grow, and a customized Planting Guide will be generated just for you! Here's an example of a Planting Guide for my area:

And right now, CurbsideChaos.com is hosting a contest called "Bulbs. Dig, Drop, Done.", designed to educate women about the surprisingly simple beauty of flower bulbs. One lucky winner will win a $5,000 yard makeover and a visit from HGTV personality Taniya Nayak! If you're the big winner, Taniya will give you tips on the best way to update your yard and creative ideas for incorporating flower bulbs into your landscape!

Be sure to visit CurbsideChaos.com to upload your pic and enter to win!

There are so many creative ways to use flower bulbs and these sites are a great way to learn more about them. Still looking for a unique Christmas gift idea for someone? Get them some bulbs from your local garden center. Planting bulbs now will mean a beautiful spring later!