Monday, January 2, 2012

What Now? After the Holidays Thrifty Finds



I usually get a little bummed out after Christmas. If I could arrange things (like the world calendar) to my liking, I'd make Christmas a whole season - 3 months long! I find the whole process of Christmas enjoyable. 


Then, when you've decked and trimmed, baked and cooked everything in your path, for about a two day period, you celebrate with loved ones and eat too much. After that, it is pretty much over. Even though it is not officially over until January 6, everyone gets back to regular life. The tree gets dry.  I usually take it down on New Year's day or soon after as I did today.


Have you ever noticed that everyone is so excited to help get the tree up and decorate as soon as possible? Mysteriously, when it is time to take it all down and put it away, no one is around. How does that happen?


One of the things that bums me out is that things go from looking great in the fall, right into Christmas, then my poor house practically looks naked. I know this is a good time to redo, so I'm doing that. BUT, while we're on the subject, I was wondering what all you creative types in blogland do after Christmas? Do your homes look naked too? From January to April when plants begin to green up and bloom around here, it is so BORING outside. I would LOVE some good ideas for how to decorate your porches, window boxes, etc. 


After Christmas, if there is one thing to look forward to, it is CHRISTMAS CLEARANCE! I usually buy wrapping paper and gift bags then. I only bought one roll this year - neutrals and metallics. I am preparing for a white/neutral/natural Christmas next year! I like to coordinate my wrapping paper with my room. How compulsive is that?


Here are some other items I found:




I may keep it natural, or I may spray it white. It cost $1.00. It was on 50 percent off at Goodwill. It is a candle holder, but I took the candle holding apparatus off.




I think I mentioned I have a thing for trees. I just find them to be so charming! Here's the find I am so excited about incorporating next year:




It's a little crooked now, and needs to be fluffed up a bit and tweaked in the right places, but I can just imagine it in a lovely urn with small ornaments  on it! It was originally $19.99, and was 66 percent off at Hobby Lobby. If my math is correct, it was about $6.80. It's about 4 feet tall!  My new friend Lynn's blog - Shabby Story, had some lovely Christmas ideas this year! I particularly liked her small tree in a watering can.



Isn't that tree adorable? Her whole home is lovely - you should definitely go check her out!


I also like these, though they appear to be painted silver or white. I'll probably leave my tree green. 


Source: Pinterest from www.laurieannas.blogspot.com 
(original photo source unknown)

I also took advantage of 50 percent off at Walmart, and got some cute white glittered pine cones. They were about .50c each. They clip on instead of hanging from a hook. 


When I found these, I was at Walmart to purchase paint for my living room. I REALLY want to paint it. But, with all the other things I needed to do today, like take down the tree, mop the kitchen and main bathroom, finish cooking some of the things I hadn't gotten around to, and doing a little laundry, it just didn't get done. 

BUT, I have paint. I'm going to try a test swatch today at least to see how I like the color. It's a stock off white - and I bought flat instead of eggshell. Apparently EVERYONE in town wanted to paint this weekend. The shelves were very picked over, and they didn't have eggshell in the color I wanted. We had painted my daughter's bedroom in flat, and it is really a lovely finish, if you don't expect a lot of wear and tear. I think the living room can handle it. I have painted pretty much my whole house with Walmart paint, and I like it. It's WAAAY cheaper than other paints, and I have heard from more than one person it is made by Sherwin-Williams. Anyway, I'll do a test patch and tell you how it turns out later!

Word for the Day:

Deuteronomy 11:8-15
 8 Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 9and so that you may live long in the land that the LORD swore to your forefathers to give to them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10 The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. 11 But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. 12 It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.
13 So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul— 14 then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. 15 I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.

May you receive all the blessings this new year has for you!

-Revi



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10 comments:

Angie @ Knick of Time said...

I feel the same way - by the time I have time I have everything done that needs doing to prepare for Christmas, the season is over. I always wish it lasted a little longer. I'd love more time to go to more Christmas plays and musicals - only got to attend 1 this year.

By the way, I featured you tonight at Knick of Time Tuesday!

Blessings,
Angie @ Knick of Time

Jan@southernjunkin' said...

Really my Christmas season is almost 3 months!! From November until January and then I love to decorate with festive mardi gras colors that usually take me into spring! I'm lucky, in Alabama we have something green growing year round! Stop by and visit with my friend and me soon. I have a gift-away going!!

farmhouse-story said...

congrats on your feature, revi:) i didn't get one thing on clearance this year:( love your new trees! i use flat paint all the time-love it!

you are a doll for sharing my tree today-thank you:)

Anonymous said...

Your finds are amazing....but I really love that passage from Deuteronomy! I can't wait to see what color you pick for your living room!

blessings,

karianne

Anonymous said...

Hello ... it's nice to meet and follow you.
stop by sometime.


ciao bella
Creative Carmelina

Shabby chic Sandy said...

I find myself almost glad to move out of the holidays because I wear myself out so much during them! My daughter though wants to start decorating now for next year with her after Christmas finds!

Sunflowers With Smiles said...

Just came across your blog...I love your after Chrismas buys. I usually purchase things afterwards also but I did not this year. I am one of your new followers....Feel free to visit my blog.....

cathy@my1929charmer said...

I feel the same way as you do, by the time I get all the holiday decorating done it's over. Whew, I think next year I'll start in October. You found some great finds. Another problem of mine is where to store everything! Thanks so much for sharing over at Sunday's Best.

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed your post...as soon as the Christmas decorations come down, I go right into Valentine's Day...even able to re-use any pink or reddish items. I have a small, 5 ft. primitive tree that i leave out and decorate for every season: Christmas, Valentines, Easter, Summer, Independence Day, Summer, Fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, back to Christmas. If I can't find or make ornaments, I settle for graphics I find online (mostly Victorian though you could choose any decor) and print to hang on the tree. No need to have a bare room! From Bess in VA

Kathryn Ferguson Griffin said...

I'm so behind in my blog reading! Love all your finds, especially the little tree. I'm sure when Christmas rolls around again, you'll have everything all decked out. Hope you have a grand day. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse