I Finally Bought a Scarf I Really Like!

I am totally happy with my latest scarf purchase! It is very lightweight and there are no tying skills involved. You just toss each end over your shoulder and let it hang the way it falls.

I am getting ready to go to my sister-in-law's for Christmas dinner.  She asked me to make a fresh cranberry salad, which turned out pretty good (if I do say so myself).  I know because last night I had my Mom & Dad and sister over for Christmas eve dinner and I made a smaller bowl for us so I could make sure it was edible. :)  I have never made this one before, so I googled to find a recipe using fresh oranges (the entire orange all ground up), fresh apples, cranberries and canned pineapple.  I found a couple of recipes, combined and changed items to suit the family likes/dislikes until I had something I felt would work for everyone. I whipped it up at 5:00 a.m. yesterday.  It's super easy to make. I think everyone but me has made a similar recipe before.  Jim and I both loved it, so  this will now be on my holiday recipe list.

I am not a very good girl all year, so Santa does not bring me much. :) 

But this year he did bring me these shoes that have strands of yarn sewn throughout:

 I just love them and can't wait to wear them.  I have a few orange jackets (yes, I am one of those people who like orange) that should go nicely with these.

I hope you are all enjoying your holiday festivities as much we are!



I Just Finished Christmas Shopping -- for Myself!

Here is what I ordered:

I received a gift of money this week and decided to spend it (plus more).  I think this order will arrive just in time for Christmas.  Can't wait to see if I like everything as much as I hope I will.

A Relaxing Weekend at Home

It is a very cold, snowy weekend in northern Michigan. 

DH and I are enjoying staying inside.  Together this afternoon we cooked six future meals of pizza stuffed pasta shells, which we froze for meals later this winter.  Tonight we were in the mood for a big spinach salad topped with a warm chicken breast, fresh avocado, mandarin oranges and poppyseed dressing. It was sooooooooooo good!

I took a few pictures to show you the (minimal) Christmas decorating I did this year.

 Last month I bought this rusty 3- candle centerpiece that I really love:

If I have the time (and energy) I will add fresh greens for my Christmas Eve dinner.  If not, it will be just fine the way it is.

 

Here is a full view of the Christmas tree in the family room.

 

Same tree as seen from the dining room:

I hung the "Joy" banner I made two years ago across the china cabinet on the left. It is difficult to see in the pic above.  I left everything on the top of the cabinet as it was (much easier to take down just the JOY banner!):

 

 December is zooming by.  We have been so busy for the past 30 days that we have had little time to enjoy the season.  This is the first weekend for a month that we have been able to stay home and we are really enjoying it!

I plan to plop down soon in the chaise lounge and watch a Christmas movie tonight.

 I hope you are all having a good weekend, too!

It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas at My House

This  year I did my main tree in these traditional colors:

Many of you may remember that I have done turquoise or brownish colors for the past few years.    I really love all different holiday colors....I just get bored with the same every year, so since I bought new green furniture last spring, this year I am enjoying cranberry reds and green again.  Luckily I have a basement full of Christmas ornies in many colors, so I did not have to buy a single thing.

I will show you more of that tree later.  It's been up for two weeks, but I have not taken any full pictures.

This past weekend in the dining room, I put up a small skinny tree and decorated it with only red cardinals, pinecones and white snowflakes.  It was the easiest tree I have ever decorated!

It goes nicely with the  new dining room chair covers in cranberry red and green that I made last month.

At the top of tree I put the antlers from a buck my son got many years ago.   DH found the antlers in the basement --I did not even know they were there. Antlers are such a big item in the decorating world right now....what a great find!

Are you decorated for Christmas yet?