Category Archives: Decor

Noah’s Advent Calendar

I’ve been battling a stomach bug for the past couple of days so this post is a far cry from what it originally was intended to be since I am typing it on my phone while laying in bed. Oh well!
With just a little over a week left until Christmas our house is fully decorated for the holidays. It’s so much fun to get all the decorations out every year and transform the house into a winter wonderland. This year we had a new advent calendar to display.

I found it last year on Amazon.

I wanted a Nativity scene that our children could play with and look forward to every day. Which meant it had to be well made and durable. I have not been disappointed so far. It lives on our kitchen counter where Noah likes to sit while I am in the kitchen. She loves coming down every morning and opening a new box. All the figures are magnetic which keeps her occupied and makes for some pretty interesting scenes. Right now I’m pretty sure all the cattle and sheep are floating high in the sky above the north star and angel! We talk about each figure that she pulls out and I know she will be excited on Christmas eve when she pulls out baby Jesus because she has gotten used to seeing him in the manger in her books and dvds.
The advent calendar has a little company on our counter.

I added a little tree that was ML’s back in college and my Christmas cookie jar and tea kettle.

I made sure to put cookies in there from day one but that’s sort of a dangerous idea for this little cookie monster!
Do you have a special advent calendar you put out every year to celebrate the “arrival”of Christ?

For more Color Transformed Family follow me on:

Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, Hometalk,
or RSS.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Fall Outdoors

2 Replies

The ~~trees~~ tree in our yard hasn’t started changing colors yet but some of our neighbor’s trees have. I love those few weeks when the trees are filled with bold and vibrant colors. It’s absolutely beautiful. So while we don’t have trees showing out in all their glory I decided to let my front door and new stone patio steal the show.

It’s nothing fancy but more like a small nod to Fall. My monogramed “S” is on it’s third trip around the sun and looking pretty good if I do say so myself. The bright yellow contrasts wonderfully with the black door and really draws your eye to the entrance of our house.

fall front door

Besides the monogramed “S” all I did was add a pumpkin. I think I’ll let God handle the rest when He adds a bunch of colorful leaves to my lawn.

The two adult chairs are temporary. They are currently on loan from the backyard while we wait for some adirondack chairs to be built. We should have them by next Spring though! With these wonderful Fall days recently we have really been enjoying our patio. All of Michael Luke’s hard work paid off and I am so proud of him. It’s nice to be able to sit and relax in our front yard some place other than the porch steps. Noah also loves the two pink chairs for Esther and her. She takes turns sitting in each one and occasionally likes to relocate them to various places in the front yard. It keeps her occupied.

So I think if there was theme uniting all my Fall posts over the past two weeks it would be “simple”. I can’t help it… it’s just the way I roll and all I have time for really. But honestly I like simple. I like something that is easy to take down and easy to put up. Something that doesn’t break the bank or take priority over other ways we could use God’s money.

What “simple” ways do you like to decorate? Maybe it’s tying a bow on the mailbox, or a wreath on you front door? Do you have a seasonal flag or sign? Or do you just consider yourself an all around decorating holiday scrooge? It’s ok if you do… just remember to enjoy the season with or without decorations.

If you missed any of my other “simple” Fall decorating posts you can find them here (Fall Mantel, Fall Craft, Fall Tablescape).

P.S. There are only two more days left in our $50 giveaway to Minted. Minted is an online photo card and invitation store and just launched their Holiday Photo Card collection. Stop by and enter!

Linking up at:

Southern Hospitality

For more Color Transformed Family follow me on:

Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, Hometalk,
or RSS.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Fall Mantel 2013

13 Replies

fall mantel 9 Fall is officially here! It’s beginning to look and feel like Fall around here. And I don’t mean just the weather. This past weekend I had a couple of minutes free while Michael Luke and Noah were out running errands. So I rant to the store to grab a few pumpkins, grabbed a few things around the house, and set to work decorating the mantel! fall mantel 10 Fall is my favorite season for mantel decorating. Maybe I have a weakness for pumpkins or maybe it’s because I haven’t done anything to the mantel all Summer long so I’m just itching to change things up. The world may never know. What I do know is that I’m ready to share this mantel scape with you and the resources that I used.

fall mantel 8 My first rule of seasonal decorating is to try and use as much around the house as I possibly can. You don’t have to go out and buy ten scarecrows, a skeleton, or a faux feathered turkey to let people know you decorated for Fall. Instead look around your house for seasonal colors or color groupings that you want to use. Create Unity.I shared a few weeks ago some of the Pinterest pins I was pulling inspiration from. Milk glass is used a lot in decorating on Pinterest. I don’t have any, but I do have my Casafina Vintage Port cream stoneware. So I grabbed a few pieces as well as the “I am a Child of God” wall hanger. Using these creme colors keeps the mantel from looking too dark and allows the pumpkins to stand out… it is their of year to shine you know.
Some people are all about white pumpkins, extensively decorated pumpkins, or handmade faux pumpkins. That’s fine. Whatever works for you is great! In my case I wanted a lit bit of color (orange) and definitely don’t have the free time to spend fifty hours customizing a pumpkin. So I chose a few simple orange pumpkins and a few white pumpkins with orange highlights. They make me happy! I grabbed all the pumpkins at Publix for around $20. I splurged and spent an extra dollar on a bundle of wheat. Big spender, right?

fall mantel 2 fall mantel 5 If you followed my blog in years past (Fall 2011, 2012) then you probably remember the “S” monogramed picture. I use it almost every season. My sister made it for us as a house warming gift, and I love how versatile it is! So don’t be surprised if you see it on my Christmas and Easter mantels.

Finally, I got a little brave and decided to use a dry erase marker to write on my Casafina stoneware serving tray.
It was a simple and free way to create a sign for the mantel. I think it’s a nice touch. What about you?

I also chose to place a pumpkin down low for Noah. I wanted her to be able to see and feel one so she can really learn what a pumpkin is. Her little kitten art project doesn’t look bad there either!
Now it really feels like Fall at our house. Bring on the football, soups, and sweaters. I’m ready. Have you done any Fall decorating yet? Do you have a special place in your house that you love to decorate? What type of pumpkins do you like to buy? The biggest you can find? Orange? White? Mixed? Fake?