A DEBBIE-DABBLE CHRISTMAS

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

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 Sa turday
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

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

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

Friday, December 20, 2013

A Christmas Tablescape & a Bit of Snow!!

Welcome to what will most likely be my last Christmas post this season before Christmas........

Except to show you all the things that I have been buying in the way of Christmas decorations!!

There are great sales out there NOW with 60% off Christmas decor in BonTon, J. C. Penney's, and Kohl's!!

Mostly everything in Big Lots is 50% off now too. Also think of buying decorations that can be used for other Holidays and Seasons.....

But for today, I want to show you a little Christmas tablescape I did when I took pictures of the Dining Room decorated as part of our Christmas Home Tour for this year.....

I don't often do tablescaping because Joe likes to spread out the newspaper and read it on our Dining Room table .

This is just a simple table set for two......... Joe and I!!

I used vintage dishes that I paid 25 cents a piece for at our church Flea Market!!

The tea pot I later found at a yard sale for $2.00!!

I love the design on these dishes because at Christmas Time, they remind me of Charles Dickens's
" A Christmas Carol" which is one of my all time favorite stories any time of the year!!

I used gold placemats..... Sorry that they are reflecting!!

The stemware is part of a set of Crystal that I have.....

Now let's have a look at the designs on these dishes, shall we????

Now doesn't that remind you of Charles Dickens??????

Napkins trimmed with a bit of Battenburg lace and a beaded napkin ring bought on Clearance after Christmas one year in Penney's.

For the centerpiece, I used cone ornaments, doubling as trees , from Dollar Tree and a Hurricane Candle that I made using things also from Dollar Tree.

The house was bought at Big Lot's several years ago on Clearance for $6.00 and it lights up as it is battery operated!

The angel box is a gift box that I happen to have 2 cases of!!!!

Since I did not have a sugar bowl and creamer to match the green dishes, I used a set that I bought at T.J. Maxx.

On the plate is a Bayberry candle that was gifted to me by my friend, Anne Marie , to be burned on Christmas Eve.

The Saying Reads.......

" This Bayberry Candle is a Gift from a Friend. On Christmas Eve , burn it down to the end. A Bayberry Candle burned down to the Socket, brings Luck to the Home and Wealth to the Pocket. Happy Holidays from Your Friend."

Don't you just love that?????

Just a simple Christmas Tablescape for two......

Now of course, I would have to share with you how it looks in Candlelight!!!

And for those of you who do not get Snow for Christmas or have not had any Snow yet, I thought I would share some of mine with you!

Our first snow fall this past week was 5-6 inches......

Looked pretty at night while it was snowing....

Then we got another 2-3 inches a few days later......

Looking down into our Parking Lot.......

Temps. were also in the Teens in the morning and barely getting into the 30's in the afternoon.....

My back yard.....

Well, this weather is crazy because our temps. have been on the rise and by Sunday, it is supposed to hit a record high here of 60!!!

Now I am a northern girl and ever since I first saw White Christmas as a young child, I do dream of a White Christmas and wish for one every single year.

If all this snow melts by Christmas and we end up with a "green" Christmas, I am going to spit nickels!!!!

I do like Winter and I do Love the snow and the colder temps. but I am just very tired of having to drive in to work in all kinds of weather because nurses who work in hospitals do NOT get snow days or time off for snow!!

Looking forward to when I can retire...........

And enjoy the Winter and the Snow.......

I am off Sat., Sun, Mon, and Tues. nights for Christmas but I will be working Christmas Day night. I always cook for every Holiday so it will be the 5 of us for traditional Polish Holy Supper on Christmas Eve and then again for Christmas Day Dinner.

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and hoping you get to spend it with the ones you love!!