Come on in house

I guess it's time to start showing y'all the house.  Come the end of October, we will be here a year and I haven't been a good hostess and showed y'all around:)  We'll start with the entry.

The door was stained but of course with me and all my door troubles, I had to have it painted.

Bit Bit is right there to welcome you.

I used the same table that I had up in Cincy but now it is our foyer table.

I added to my collection of little treasures and put some pretty white shells from the Turks & Caico in with the rocks from Lake Tahoe.

The painting came from HomeGoods in Myrtle Beach.  I can say that this is the only thing that I have found at that HomeGoods.  I really miss the one in Cincinnati.

My Happy Wall.

I know that y'all are laughing at that title but it really does make me happy.  I am talking about this.

The wall of art that Caden made in first and second grade.  It makes me smile every time I walk by it.

It is hard to photograph this area but it is a small hallway that is between Caden's room and the guest bedroom.  I have had this same grouping in the Florida house, the Cincy house, and now this house.  Each piece is adorable.

This was something that he made in kindergarden.  We were building our first house and he made this out of cereal and glitter.  I am so happy that it has made all the moves in tact.

His little hands that my mom photocopied when he was 2 yrs. old.  I went into the ugly cry when she gave this to me for Christmas:)

A picture that he drew of himself.  He even added his glasses that he use to wear.  That was drawn in second grade.

And finally a little poem that he wrote when we lived in Georgia.  I found it in his drawer.

So there is my wall of happiness.  I will forever treasure it.  It reminded me of a recent post from Edie.  She talked about how it was just 'stuff' but how she loved it and missed it.  So moving.  Please stop by her blog and read it.

I have a few things to show y'all in the next few weeks.  I have been getting the house together but I have to take pictures of everything.  Right now I am trying to figure out my Photoshop Elements 8 and IPhoto.  If anyone has any advice, send it my way.  It's frustrating.

Happy Monday,

Mel

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Little Brown Pen.

I love Little Brown Pen! I found her on Etsy and just fell in love with her photography. She loves all things Paris (she lives there part time) and she takes pictures of things that she loves.

I decided I was going to buy 4 prints for the kitchen. This is what came in the mail.

The outside of the envelope has a picture of what I bought.

Look how cute the packaging is. See that little envelope that says Little Brown Pen? Look what was inside.

A pack of miniature calendar cards and two gift cards for $10.00 off the next purchase.

Cuteness I say! Cuteness!

Here is a shot of the 4 prints that I bought.

This calendar has 5x5 pictures on each month that can be framed after it is used.

I can't wait to get the pictures hung in the kitchen and I will be doing that next week! Gary was on vacation this past week and we were busy working around the house. I didn't get to hang these pictures though.

Since I received two gift cards in my goodie package, I would like to offer one to my readers. Just go to Little Brown Pen and come back and tell me what you would use your $10.00 credit towards. It expires in January so be sure if you enter that you would be able to use it before it expires.

Happy shopping,

Mel

Our Traditional Christmas Tree.

I am a traditionalist when it comes to a Christmas tree. I have ornaments that I have collected for the past 20 years of marriage. I have things that Caden has made over the years, ornaments from the places we have been, and just ones that I love.

We have had the same Christmas tree of about 15 years. I got it for $25.00 from Michaels and it was big, round, and gorgeous. When we moved in last month, I decided that it was time for a new one. I wanted one that already had lights on it since that is the thing that I hate to do most each year. Caden and I went to Sam's Club and bought a 9 ft. skinny tree. I don't know if the hubby is loving the skinny one but he will get use to it:)

Caden promised me that he would help me put it up and so this is where we started out this past Saturday.

Then we had to take a moment to watch the football game;-)

All the while, crazy was watching me.

The nice mess that decorating creates. (like I needed another mess)

So here is our traditional Christmas tree. Warning: heavy photo post:)

Now for some of my favorite ornaments and what they mean to me.

My favorite place to visit.

Our favorite college football team.

My cutie patootie snowman.

Our family.

A reminder of our trip to Crater Lake.

Our 2007 trip to The Rockies.

My favorite jingle bell snowman.

Our yearly ornament that we collected when Caden was born.

The lighthouse that we visited on the Oregon Coast. Ironically it says Florence Oregon. So funny that we have lived in Florence Kentucky and now Florence South Carolina:) I guess Florence has some kind of meaning in our lives.

Letters to Santa.

Now for the nighttime shots.

My sweet boy at the age of 4:)

A reindeer that Caden made and a train;-)

Looking up:)

After not having a Christmas tree last year, I think I did a good job by just getting one up this year. Moving twice in the last year, during the holidays, is just not recommended! I was thinking that I need a topper and some ribbon on the tree but after standing back and looking at it, I am happy just the way it is. Now I just to get some presents under it.

Merry Christmas!

Melanie

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