Tweaking Christmas

I want to wish all of you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

 I was upset because all  the snow that we got last week melted after our temps. soared into the 60's, breaking records here, and then adding insult to injury, we had rain!!

This left us without snow and I feared that we would not have the White Christmas that I dreamed of ever since I was a little girl and watched the movie White Christmas on TV.

BUT.........

During the late afternoon on Christmas Eve Day, the flurries started!!!

Covering the ground a bit.......

Joe, having a smoke and surveying the situation......

Let me tell you it was only 20 degrees out there.... A Mail Man is used to the cold I guess since he has no coat on!!!

The ground has a dusting......

I do EVERY Holiday at our home and cook every Holiday meal.

Plus I have to work either the Eve or the Day of EVERY Holiday.

The only time I had ALL of Christmas off in the last 35 years was when I gave birth to both of my sons, who were born in December and I was Maternity Leave!!

I was off last night , Christmas Eve, but will be working tonight, Christmas Day night.

We had our traditional Polish Holy Supper on Christmas Eve where we have shrimp, scallops, potatoes, pierogies, mushrooms and chicken fingers for my son , Joey, who does not eat fish.........

We exchange our gifts after Christmas Eve Dinner.

Now I have NOT bought presents for several years now so I do not get crazy over the Gift Buying Frenzy that occurs this time of year.

 Been there and done that !

Plus remember, I said both my sons were born in December so I had 2 Birthdays to worry about too.

About 10 years ago, the boys, who buy what they want for themselves, decided that they would rather money over presents for both Christmas and their Birthdays.

Sounded good to me after years of going crazy!

So the Boys get money, my in-laws also get money or gift cards and  the Boys also usually give us money or gift cards too.  Joe and I do NOT buy each other anything for Christmas.

Yep! You are reading that right.

 Joe and I do NOT exchange gifts at Christmas.  We buy what we want when we want it year round so I really think that trying to come up with something to buy just to give a gift to each other is silly.
So we stopped giving gifts to each other about 5 years ago.

So with no gifts under the Tree, Christmas becomes about the food , the fun and spending time with each other.

As the boys were leaving last Evening, the snow flurries were still falling.....

Coating the ground with just enough of snow........

  So that I had my White Christmas!!!!!

 Today, I will be cooking Turkey, Ham, Kielbasi, Potatoes, Stuffing , Gravy, Corn and Mushrooms for Christmas Day Dinner for the 5 of us.

Then I will lay down for about 2-3 hours and go to work for 11 pm.

When I leave work at 7:30 am, I will be going SHOPPING!!!!!

First,I need to thank a few wonderful people ......

I want to Thank Susan, over at Eclectic Shorebird, for featuring my posts,
2013 Christmas Home Tour: Christmas Candy Kitchen  and my post,
2013 Christmas Home Tour : A Blue Winter Wonderland in the Powder Room  as her Picks of the Week
from the different parties that she links up to.

 I also want to Thank Brenda, over at Cozy Little House, for featuring my post,
2013 Christmas Home Tour: Christmas Candy Kitchen , from last week's Tweak It Tuesday

And also Thanking Deb over at Lavender Garden Cottage, for featuring my post,
2013 Christmas Home Tour : A Blue Winter Wonderland in the Powder Room  from last week's
Cottage Style Party!!

And I also want to Thank Mary, over at Back to the Basics, for featuring my post,
 2013 Christmas Home Tour: An Evening Tour, as one of her picks from last week's
Tuesdays with a Twist Party!

Thanks so much to all these great Ladies and please visit their Blogs and Parties!!


I want to share some photos of Christmas decorations that I have been Tweaking.......

I actually forgot to show you the hall way with the little bit of Christmas decorations I have......

Looking toward the Kitchen.....

 It is very hard to get good pictures here since it is a narrow Hall Way....

 Santa used to hang in the Living Room but this year, he is in the Hall.....

 And this is the only decoration that I got to put out in the Den this year......

 She will be staying out for the Winter....

 I didn't even have the chance to decorate my Doll House this year............

Last Sunday, our good friends Anne Marie and Tony came to visit.

Anne Marie has lost 101 pounds!!!  Did I take pictures....

Nope! I forgot but we will be visiting them the weekend after New Year's so I will take pictures of her and her beautiful home decorated for Christmas to share with you.....

These were among the things that Anne Marie gifted me.....

This sweet little Angel and vintage ornaments......

 The Candy Cane sign in the basket......

  This beautiful Lenox candle.....

 This sweet Snowman........

Another cute little Snow Man......

 And my Co Chair for the Craft Fair that I was in charge of, Rose Mary, made me 2 of  custom Place Mats to use on my Powder Room Etagere that match my Snow Buddy Theme in there.....

See the cute Snow Men!!

 Now I have already been shopping ......

There has been a out of great reductions on Christmas items before Christmas this year.......

I will share more of what I bought with you in another post but here are some things that I put out already.......

J. C Penney's reduced all of their Martha Stewart Christmas decorations to 60% off before Christmas.  Plus they had fantastic coupons offering $25 off of a $50 purchase.

Here are a few things I picked up there......

A Nutcracker that is a Bear!!!!!!

 Loved these candle ornaments that i added to the garland on my stair rail...............

I bought all that they had out...........

 Also this sweet angel ornament which was the last one left.......

 And this white glass cone Tree.......

 I decided to display the great box that these vintage child skates came in.......

 Then on Thanksgiving Day, Big Lot's had a set of 2 potted Trees and a 9 foot lighted Garland on sale for $18!!!!!

Yes, I shopped on Thanksgiving Day on my way home from work since I too worked Thanksgiving Eve!
Big Lots and Kmart here have always been open on Thanksgiving Day.........

 I put one tree here for a little light.........

 And in Wegman's, they had Battery operated LED candles with a Timer on Clearance for 75% off.

I bought 6 at $1.96 each and put 2 on each shelf in the Hutch in the Living Room.......

 Adds a bit more glow, don't you think???

I have bought a lot more and will be going shopping on my way home after working Christmas Day night.

Remember now is the time to not only buy for next year but to buy for other Holidays.

  Use your imagination and think what you can do with and use for other seasons and Holidays......

Christmas Decor Reductions after Christmas:

J.C. Penney's has marked theirs down to 75 % off!

Bon Ton will be at 70 % off..........They have some great St. Patrick's ornaments

Target will be at 50% off- they have LOTS of lights!

Dollar Tree will also be at 50% off!!

Lowes will be at 50% off  too!!

Boscov's will be 60 - 75% off!  Plus coupons!

Walmart will be 50% off!

Wegman's will have all their Christmas decor marked down to at least 50% off!

Christmas Tree Shop will also be at 50% off

Big Lots has been at 50 % off for the last week.........

And watch for further reductions as time goes by......

Remember NOW is the time to think ahead to next year's decorations and save money!!

Wishing you get to spend Christmas with the ones that you love!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

 I will be linking up to these great parties this week:

FRIDAY

Home Sweet Home Friday
Be Inspired Fridays
Thrifty Things Friday
Simple and Sweet Fridays
 Show and Tell Friday
Tickled Pink Party
 Flaunt It Fridays
 Fabulously Creative Friday Linky Party at Jennifer Rizzo's
 What To Do Weekends
 Eat. Create. Party
Inspire Me Please Weekend Blog Hop
 Inspire Me Fridays 
 Anything Goes Linky Party 
Ladies Only Blog Share Linky Party
Anything Blue and Pink Fridays
 Weekend Blog Linky Party
The Party Bunch
Friday's Five Features Party
Friday Favorites
 Let's Get Real Friday Party

SATURDAY
From the Farm Blog Hop
Pink Saturday
Party Junk
 Strut Your Stuff Saturdays
One Great Idea Saturday Party
 Finding the Pretty and Delicious Party
Saturday Show and Tell 
  Serenity  Saturday
 Saturday SHO W-licious Craft Showcase
 Check Me Out Saturdays

SUNDAY
Seasonal Sunday

Bouquet of Talent Linky Party

That DIY Party
Inspired Sunday( Formerly Vintage View Sunday)
Submarine Sunday
Share It One More Time Sundays
DIY SHowcase 
 Clever Chicks Blog Hop 
Sunday Showcase 

MONDAY
Inspiration Mondays

  Amaze Me Mondays 

Blue Monday

Mod Vintage Mix Monday

Metamorphosis Monday

Make It Pretty Monday

What'd You Do This Weekend? 
The DIY'ers 
Monday Link Party 
Making Monday Link Party

TUESDAY

 Show Me What You Got Tuesdays

 Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Inspire Me Tuesdays

Tweak It Tuesdays

Tuesday's Treasures

The Scoop

Knick of Time Tuesday

You're Gonna Love It Tuesdays 
 The Gathering Spot

Brag About It Tuesday Linky Party here at VMG206 and also HERE at Be Betsy!

 Twirl and Take a Bow Party

 A-Zebra Linky party Tuesdays 

Cottage Style Linky Party

Tuesdays with a Twist

Tuesdays At Our Home 
History and Home Party 
Do Tell Tuesdays

WEDNESDAY 

Wednesdays Make, Bake and Create party
 Fluster's Creative Muster Wednesday's
Wow Us Wednesday
Sizzle into Summer Party
 Lovely Ladies Linky Party
What's It Wednesday
Wonderful Wednesdays
 HOME Party on Wednesdays
Creative Wednesdays 
Rednesday 
 Wednesdays Adorned From Above Linky Party
Ducks in a Row Wonderful Wednesdays Blog Hop

THURSDAY
Treasure Hunt Thursdays

Home and Garden Party Thursday
  Homemaking Weekend Link Up Party
Time Travel Thursday
 Open House Party
Share Your Cup Thursday
Vintage Thingie Thursday
Inspired Creations Linky Party
Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop 
  Grace at Home Party
All Things Pretty Thursdays
 Create it Thursday 
 Catch a Glimpse Thursday 

Please take some time to visit these terrific hosts and all those joining in on the fun!

Thanks so much for stopping by today and every day that you take the time to visit with me!

Hugs,
Debbie