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.

Source: http://shabbystory.blogspot.com/2011/12/vintage-water-can-tree.html

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

Frequently Found at these Parties:

Sunday

http://my1929charmerblog.com/ Sunday’s Best
http://www.homemakeronadime.com/ Creative Blogger's Party

Monday

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com Metamorphosis Monday
http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/ Show and Tell Monday

http://makingtheworldcuter.com/ Making The World Cuter Monday

http://www.craftskeepmesane.blogspot.com/ Motivate Me Monday 
http://www.homemakeronadime.com/ Creative Blogger's Party

http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/ Show Off Your Cottage Monday

Tuesday

http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/ Knick of Time Tuesday

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/ Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Wednesday

http://eisymorgan.blogspot.com/ Inspired by YOU Wednesdays
http://www.fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/ White Wednesday

http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/ Primp Your Stuff Wed

http://moderncountrystyle.blogspot.com/ Fall In Love Wednesday
http://restoreinteriors.blogspot.com/ Restored It Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/ Wow Us Wednesday
http://www.thethriftyhome.com/ Penny Pinching Party

http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/ - What’s It Wednesday

Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/ Under $100 Link Party
http://savedbysuzy.blogspot.com/ Suzy's House Party
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/ Transformation Thursday
http://www.the36thavenue.com// Share Awesomeness Thursday
http://thriftydecorating-nikkiw.blogspot.com/ Thrifty Thursday
http://www.houseofhepworths.com/ Hookin' Up With HOH Thursday

http://katherinescorner.com/ - Thursday Favorite Things

Friday

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/ Feathered Nest Friday

http://www.missmustardseed.blogspot.com/ Furniture Feature Friday
http://www.remodelaholic.com/ Fridays on Remodelaholic
http://redoux.blogspot.com/ Friday Redoux Link Party
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/ Frugal Friday
http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/ Frugalicious Friday

http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/ Potpourri Party
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/ Inspiration Friday

http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/ - Flaunt it Friday

Saturday
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/ Saturday Nite Special

http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/ Show and Tell Saturday

Fall/Winter Review - Most Visited Posts

I'm a blog newbie. I began visiting blogs late last spring when my daughter sent me some links to view. She was planning for furnishing and decorating her first house. WHAT FUN! I had no idea blogs like this even existed!


Before long, I decided I wanted to do this too - and I began to decide what I wanted to blog about. I knew three points I wanted to focus on, though I've mainly focused on only two of those: furniture and home revisions, living succesfully as a single 50-something woman, and faith. Apparently, the single 50-something  aspect of my blog is not as important as the other two points, but I'm still going to try to work some things in, so keep visiting if you find yourself in a similar situation!


My first post was August 18, 2011.

I have turned my home upside-down and inside-out since then! You know how it looks worse before it gets better? I'm there.

BUT, I can see pinpoints of light in the midst of this mess I've made. And if I keep painting and rearranging, it's GOING to look better sometime, right? (Please tell me it's true!)

Peer pressure has helped me to accomplish some projects I've been putting on the back burner. I have learned a little bit about photography - the more you learn, the more you realize you don't know anything! 

What's the biggest surprise? Without a doubt, it's the sense of community and the relationships I have made!
I only wish I could meet you for a cup of something or we could visit an estate sale or thrift store together! On second thought, we'd probably want the same stuff...:)
In the past 4 months, I've made 38 posts. Here are the top 5 most visited posts:


#5 - The White Hutch - A Home for Orphans

#4 - Secrets That Amaze

#3 - White Washing

#2 - The Quest for My Own Great White Way Continues...

#1 - Lover of All White - Are You a Blancophile?

Hmmm - I think I see a theme here. We seem to be on the same page.

Great! I know I am going to love the direction this next year will take. Fellow blancophiles, are you with me?

Word for the Day:

Genesis 11:6

The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.

It's SO nice to find nice people who speak the same language! Thank you all who have visited and who have taken the time to leave nice comments. You are precious to me.
-Revi

Linking with:

Tuesday

http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/ Knick of Time Tuesday

Wednesday

http://www.fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/ White Wednesday

http://restoreinteriors.blogspot.com/ Restored It Wednesday

http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/ Wow Us Wednesday
http://www.thethriftyhome.com/ Penny Pinching Party
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/ What's It Wednesday
Thursday

http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/ Under $100 Link Party
http://savedbysuzy.blogspot.com/ Suzy's House Party
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/ Transformation Thursday
http://www.the36thavenue.com// Share Awesomeness Thursday
http://thriftydecorating-nikkiw.blogspot.com/ Thrifty Thursday
http://www.houseofhepworths.com/ Hookin' Up With HOH Thursday

Friday

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/ Feathered Nest Friday
http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/ Flaunt it Friday

http://www.missmustardseed.blogspot.com/ Furniture Feature Friday
http://redoux.blogspot.com/ Friday Redoux Link Party
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/ Frugal Friday
http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/ Frugalicious Friday

http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/ Potpourri Party
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/ Inspiration Friday
Saturday
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/ Saturday Nite Special

http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/ Show and Tell Saturday 

Decking the Hutch

Ordinarily, decking the halls is one of my favorite Christmas activities. This year, I got a very late start! I'm not decorating outside for the first time EVER in this house - 8 Christmases now.


I had done nothing inside either - I WANTED to have the energy to do it, because I like making things nice for my family. I just didn't. 


Last year, my son Mason said, "I'm coming to your house every Christmas - it is always decorated and you always have lots of good things around to eat!" I really liked hearing that, and I want to keep my good reputation!


Thankfully, this year will not completely ruin my reputation! I'm cooking, and I have my sweet daughter Hannah here to help with decorating. 


Hannah is a junior in college, living in a house with two other girls. She's been very focused on home decorating for a couple of years now, and I think she has lovely taste! I feel very comfortable giving her free reign in with my bins of  Christmas decor. 

Last night, as I was cooking the requested chicken and dumplings and pumpkin pie cake, Hannah dressed the white hutch. She removed a few things to make room for Christmas decor. 


I have a thing for trees, and have several miniature ones purchased at either thrift stores or for 80 percent off after Christmas at Hobby Lobby. The ones above are my latest acquisitions - purchased in October at my favorite thrift store for less than two bucks each! I love the wood trunks.

It was a pleasure to watch Hannah work! She'd occasionally ask my opinion about the placement of an object, and I'd offer my two cents worth. Near the end, as she added the strings of wooden beads to the mix, I said, "You know, sometimes leaving things a little simple is better..." and she quickly replied, "For YOU!" I laughed, and she continued, "It's Christmas! You can get away with being a little over the top at Christmas!" I agreed. 


Ah, I LOVE that girl, and her joie de vivre!

This was a new experience for me, and I kinda liked it! I loved watching my daughter have fun with decorating and adding her personal touch to a vignette. (Her roommates jokingly called her a  "trophy wife in training" recently when she made appetizers and decorated for a little party at her home.) 


I often ask her advice on fashion - just to stay current. I know what I like, and what is appropriate for a fifty-something woman to wear, but I still like to look stylish! If I trust her fashion sense and it works, why not home decorating? 


Tonight, we're doing the living room...


Word for the Day:


Proverbs 31:10


A wife of noble character who can find? 
She is worth far more than rubies. 


May we all be this kind of "trophy wife"!


Merry Christmas, sweet friends! 


-Revi


Linking with:

Tuesday

http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/ Knick of Time Tuesday

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/ Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Wednesday

http://www.fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/ White Wednesday

http://www.thethriftyhome.com/ Penny Pinching Party

Thursday
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/ Transformation Thursday http://www.the36thavenue.com// Share Awesomeness Thursday
http://thriftydecorating-nikkiw.blogspot.com/ Thrifty Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/ Under $100 Linky Party
Friday

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/ Feathered Nest Friday

http://www.missmustardseed.blogspot.com/ Furniture Feature Friday
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/ Frugal Friday
http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/ Frugalicious Friday

http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/ Potpourri Party
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/ Inspiration Friday
Saturday
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/ Saturday Nite Special

http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/ Show and Tell Saturday 

Buon Natale!

A while back, I showed you a nativity I found at a really good garage sale in my neighborhood! I found lots of things I loved that day, but today's post is all about the nativity. 


It's stamped on the back - "MADE IN ITALY." It's pretty big - about 10" tall and 18" wide. The figures are fine, as you might expect of an Italian nativity. And it was only $5!

On the down side, it has some pretty strangely-colored painted accents on it. They almost look like they'd glow in the dark! When I saw it, I decided I'd cover them in browns and whites, so that's what I'm doing today. Here are some before shots:

Here it is again with touch-ups in neutral colors:

Once again, PAINT to the rescue! The distracting bright orange and yellow "highlights" are gone. This allows the emphasis to be on the figures in the nativity, just as it should be. 


Word for the day:


Luke 2:1-7


 ¹ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to his own town to register.

 ⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

May you find many opportunities during this very busy time, as you make preparations to celebrate with loved ones, to reflect on the true reason for the season!

-Revi

Linking with:

Saturdayhttp://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/ Saturday Nite Special

http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/ Show and Tell Saturday 

Sunday

http://my1929charmerblog.com/ Sunday’s Best

Monday

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com Metamorphosis Monday
http://makingtheworldcuter.com/ Making The World Cuter Monday

http://www.craftskeepmesane.blogspot.com/ Motivate Me Monday 
http://www.homemakeronadime.com/ Creative Blogger's Party
http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/ Show Off Your Cottage Monday

Tuesday

http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/ Knick of Time Tuesday

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/ Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Wednesday

http://www.fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/ White Wednesday

http://restoreinteriors.blogspot.com/ Restored It Wednesday

http://www.thethriftyhome.com/ Penny Pinching Party

Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/ Under $100 Link Party
http://savedbysuzy.blogspot.com/ Suzy's House Party
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/ Transformation Thursday
http://thriftydecorating-nikkiw.blogspot.com/ Thrifty Thursday
Friday

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/ Feathered Nest Friday

http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/ Frugal Friday
http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/ Frugalicious Friday

http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/ Potpourri Party
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/ Inspiration Friday

It Truly IS a Wonderful Life!

I LOVE fall, Thanksgiving and CHRISTMAS! My favorite movie of all time is Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" with James Stewart and Donna Reed. On the off-chance that anyone of you has not seen this movie, it's a heartwarming story that illustrates how our perspective and our priorities can use a little adjustment sometimes. Things don't always happen the way we expect them to happen. Our plans are not realized. Then, by the grace of God, we are allowed to see our true blessings in a different light! 


First, let me apologize - this post is a long and wordy, but there is a point to it. 


I should confess, I'm not a huge movie fan. I enjoy a good movie, but I usually see them on video. I rarely see a movie more than once. 


It's a Wonderful Life is the exception for me. I never get tired of watching this movie during the Christmas Season. It's a little sentimental. It's not full of amazing special effects. It doesn't have an award winning soundtrack. My kids get a little bored when I ask them to watch it with me. They play games on their I-phones or peruse Facebook while watching it with me. Often, I watch it alone, which is fine. 


This year, I have identified with my favorite movie in new ways. The past two weeks have not been the "usual" holiday season around my home. Let me explain a few things, using the movie to help illustrate!

Identifying with Mary Bailey


Like Mary, I like old homes. I bought a fixer-upper on purpose. I enjoy the process, and I like making things nice for my family. I've done plenty of painting and projects during the past 8 years. Some of them were in need of a little freshening up! 2011 was the year to begin. Instead of doing one room at a time, I wanted to do everything! My tastes are evolving, and nothing suited me anymore. Looking back, it wasn't the best way to proceed, but they say hindsight is always 20/20. 


To begin with, my home is in the kind of disarray that comes with change, redecorating, painting, and revising. I've told you before, not ONE room in my house is finished or in a state I'd be proud to post, let alone host a holiday party for anyone but close family.  


I had worked to restore order to my construction mess, organize my "blog project" mess items, and to shop and plan for a lovely Thanksgiving dinner. 


I had cleared the construction materials out of my daughter's old room, along with the future garage sale items I've been stashing in there over the past year. My daughter arrived on Tuesday afternoon, and I made a nice dinner for her, Mason and myself. I was excited! We planned our usual recreational shopping activities and cooking for the next day. 

We went shopping on Wednesday, and I was tired when we got home. We decided to eat late, so I planned to get up early and brine my turkey instead of doing it overnight. I woke up feeling terrible with flu symptoms. 
When the kids got up, I broke the news to them, suggested some things they might cook for themselves, and uninvited the poor guest I had invited to join us for dinner. 

Identifying with ZuZu


I stayed on the sofa all day, listening to my children as they enjoyed spending time together, cooking some of their favorites: Ham, corn pudding, dressing (with turkey "borrowed" from sweet friends) sweet potato casserole. It was an edited version of the meal I had planned. They brought me a plate, and I ate it eagerly.


I didn't WANT to be sick with flu. I wanted to do the things I had planned - baking, decorating, hanging light fixtures, etc. I know, the light fixture thing is not the usual holiday activity, but it seemed like a good thing to get my kids help with!


My daughter ended up returning home early. I stayed on the sofa watching sappy Christmas movies on TV - the kind that focus on relationships and "saving Christmas" with Santa and all that stuff. Where was Jesus? Still, I watched, searching for whatever Christmas spirit I might find.


By Monday, I felt strong enough to return to work, though I still had a nasty cough. I felt pretty well on Wednesday, but Thursday found me on the sofa again after work. Friday morning, I forced myself into the shower and headed to work. I almost fainted while checking in. As the day progressed, I felt worse. I called Mason to bring me some Gatorade and meds. By the time he arrived, I asked him to drive me home. I almost fainted again checking out. My coworkers asked a nurse to check me out. She was there preparing for an Angel Tree party the next morning. She insisted I go to the Urgent Care clinic. Mason drove me there, and they discovered I had pneumonia. I received a heavy-duty antibiotic shot and a steroid shot, and went home to rest.


By Monday, my cough had gotten better, but I still felt weak. I stayed home from work. I was hungry so I went to the kitchen to get a bottle of water and put a potato in the microwave. Before I could get the potato, I fainted. 


Mason was getting ready for work. He came in and picked me up off the floor. I leaned against the counter and fainted again. He called the ambulance, and they came to take me to the hospital. It was snowing, and the high temperature was 10 degrees. 


When we arrived at the ER, they ran tests and found my hemoglobin was 4.4 - alarmingly low. Normal is 12-15. The lowest it has been before is about 7. 


The reason I was fainting was so blood could flow to my brain while I was horizontal! I was transfused, receiving 3 units of blood, and tested to determine the cause of the blood loss. Most often, the cause for long term, slow blood loss that results in low hemoglobin is something in the gastrointestinal tract - an ulcer, a polyp in the colon or something else. Mine was due to a hiatal hernia, which causes my stomach to bleed. I've had trouble before, but this one caught me by surprise. I'm usually a very healthy person and the anemia is the only thing I have to deal with on an ongoing basis. 

Appreciating the Clarence-types in My Life


The Bible tells us God sends his angels to watch over us. I had many - both heavenly and earthly ones!

• Many prayers had been going up on my behalf. Thank all of you who prayed for me!
• My family had been praying for me and checking on me. 
• My co-workers had been lifting me up in prayer. (It's good to work at a church!)
• God placed a nurse just outside the room where I almost fainted. She insisted I go to Urgent Care. Even though they didn't find out the main problem, the meds helped.
• Mason was still at home when I fainted. Five more minutes, and he would've been at work. He called the ambulance in spite of my rejections. (Sometimes it's good to disobey your mother!)

Identifying with George Bailey


Clarence gave George Bailey an opportunity to see what life would be like if he had never been born. By the end of the experience, George wanted nothing more than he already had - his wonderful life. His priorities had been re-ordered. His attitude had changed. 


Like George Bailey, I have been given a gift! I have felt surrounded by so much love and support; my parents, my children, my co-workers, my friends. Some of you I know only through blogging, but you are dear to me. Others I have known since infancy. Some of you I relate with through electronic media. Others I see on a daily basis. Some of you are neighbors. Others live far away. But, I have felt your love and known the uplifting peace provided to me through your prayers.

• My parents came to take me home from the hospital. 
• Mason spent time cleaning while I was not able to do it.
• My daughter Hannah is with me now, cooking, cleaning and spoiling me rotten!
• My co-workers have brought delicious meals and have called to check on me. 
• Family, friends and neighbors have called, texted made me aware of their love and concern for me.

This Christmas season will not be the most "blog-worthy" in some ways. This Christmas is about the most real thing I know - LOVE. It is about the love of our Father in Heaven for us, and His plans for us. It is about the love of family. It is about the love of friends and neighbors, and the community we all share when we care for each other. 

I have been the blessed recipient of all that love, and it is humbling and heart-warming. Like George Bailey, I feel like the RICHEST WOMAN IN TOWN!


Word for the Day:


Psalm 91:11
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;


May you be aware of all the angels around you today and during this Christmas Season!


-Revi

Yuckiness

Hello friends,


I've been down with the flu since Wednesday night. 


This is not how I imagined spending Thanksgiving! 


I have yet to brine my turkey and cook it. On the bright side, I probably don't have to worry about what the scales say tomorrow morning. 


Please forgive my absence, and bear with me as I regain my strength more every day. I have missed you!


I look forward to reading your blogs and catching up!


Word for the Day:


Matthew 8:17

This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”


May you enjoy excellent health today and this Christmas season!


-Revi