Christmas Decorating (Part 3)

I finally finished the majority of my inside Christmas decorations. I may have a few things to add, but not many!!! This is the first year that I think my house feels like Christmas. I love decorating, but I have to purchase decorations gradually (when they are on sale). I think I am finally accumulating nice decorations that I love, and that makes my house feel like the holidays. : )

I must say, I am finding myself having a recent obsession with pretty ornaments. When I see ones that I think would look awesome on my tree and they are on sale, I have to buy them. Hopefully, I will be able to have two trees eventually; one with family ornaments and one with beautiful themed ornaments.

Take a look at my last inside pictures.

The table in my entryway.

Beside my entryway table.

The plate rack beside my table in the kitchen.

A closeup (sorry about the glare).

My entertainment center with my two new reindeer.

Purchased from Cracker Barrel (25% off).

A closeup.

And, one more closeup.

Happy Christmas Decorating,



Elf Mischief: November 29th

Happy Snow Day to everyone that got to sleep in this morning due to the crazy November snow. I can't remember the last time we had snow in November. 

Having a snow day meant that we got to sleep in and Miss. Holly got to explore a little longer.

Take a look at what Kate woke up to this morning. Holly thought she was helping Kate with her tree decorations. Miss. Kate got a big kick out of it too. For a second, I think she actually thought that panties and socks go on a Christmas tree. LOL!!!

Happy Elfcapades,





Elf Mischief: November 28th

Last night was Holly's first night at our house, so we were anxious to see what kind of trouble she was going to get into while we were sleeping. And, let me tell you, TROUBLE was exactly what she got into... Take a look at the mess we woke up to this morning...

Kate was not happy with her elf at all. She messed up her new bathroom (I will post pictures of the full bathroom makeover soon)! She was so upset that she talked about it all the way to daycare this morning. She even asked me if I would clean it up for her. : (

But, Holly did leave her an "I'm sorry" treat to apologize!

I don't think she looks very happy about her bathroom!!!

In shock!!!

Can't wait to see what trouble Holly gets into tomorrow.

Happy Elfcapades,



Christmas Decorating (Part 2)... Plus a Surprise!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I sure did. I spent time with my family, cooked, shopped, and finished most of my Christmas decorating. I usually do all of the inside decorating, and my husband takes care of the outside. I am hoping the weather isn't too bad this week (even though the forecast says otherwise), so he can put them up. I will post pictures of the outside once it is complete.

But for now, I will continue to show you the inside of our little home decorated. This post is all about our Christmas tree. I informed you in my first Christmas decorating post that we had to get a new tree this year because our lights went out on our pre-lit tree last year. I finally made that purchase Saturday and got it up and decorated today. Now, it officially feels like Christmas around the Morgan household!

In addition to the decorating, I have a little surprise to share...

Today was my step-dad's birthday. So, our family went out to eat and ate cake & ice cream. When we got home this evening, Miss. Kate had a surprise waiting on her... Holly (her magical elf that Santa sent) had arrived!!! I think she was waiting on the Christmas tree to be put up.

Take a look at our tree & Holly's arrival!!!

Our tree with the room lights on.

Our tree with the room lights off (a little blurry from the lights).

The bow tree topper that I made. I purchased the ribbon from Hobby Lobby.

YouTube can teach you how to do anything!

One of my favorite ornaments that I purchased this year.

Glory Haus that I purchased from Hilltop House

HERE'S HOLLY!!! Do you see her in the tree???

 A closeup of her.

The goodies she brought with her.

The car magnet that Holly brought.

Mommy reading Holly's book and letter to Miss. Kate.

I think she likes Holly!

This Santa Claus is as old as me (made in 1982).

It was my memaw's Christmas decoration that I loved!

And, now Kate loves it too.

This Winne the Pooh was one of the first gifts my sister

ever bought me with her own money. And, the Santa is from my

mother-in-law. He is actually attached to the tree and can turn it on and off. ; )



Happy Holidays,

A Christmas Decorating Tip

I am still in the process of decorating my house. It is a gradual process this year. I am trying not to throw it all together because I am sorting through some of my decorations and getting rid of some. If you are anything like me, every year you buy new decorations to add to your collection. After a while, you have so much stuff and nowhere to store it. Plus, half of it you never use. So, it is time to go through and purge.

In the process of decorating & organizing, I decided to use the two trifle bowls that I have in my pantry for ornaments and cute Christmas accents. Well, while I was putting the small shatterproof (the only thing we use around the house with a 2-year-old) balls in the bowl, I realized that I didn't have enough to fill the whole thing. I didn't want to purchase any more, so I had to get creative. After looking through my entire kitchen for items I could stick in the bowl that would not be seen, I ran across a set of small clear glasses that I do not use on a daily basis. And, BINGO!!! That was exactly what I needed.

Take a look...

My trifle bowl & small glass

Before the small ornaments

A look from the inside

The bowl half full

The completed look... And, you can't see the glass. YAY!!!

Happy Decorating,



Christmas Decorating (Part 1)

This weekend, I officially started putting up my Christmas decorations. I think I have most of it done. Just a few odds and ends to finish up (I will post pics), and I have to purchase a Christmas tree. My husband and I had an artificial pre-lit tree that we bought in 2007. Well, last year, it was on its last leg! The base was starting to wobble, so we had to pile towels underneath it to make it level. Then, half of the lights stopped working. By the time Christmas rolled around, our tree was layered down with lights. We kept layering lights over lights when the original ones would stop working.

In an attempt to save money, after Christmas, we tried to clip the lights off, but that didn't work. Let me tell you, those companies that make pre-lit trees do a great job at making those lights stay on the branches. After an hour, we gave up! So, out to the street the tree went.

That means I will be tackling the crowds on Friday (or, Thursday evening) to get a Christmas tree at a "Kristin approved" price. Wish me luck!

Here are the pictures of the decorations I have done so far... Enjoy!

Our entertainment center...

* reindeer & polar bear - Bath & Body Works (2009)

*glass apothecary jars - Trees N Trends (2010)

*glittered presents & tree - Hobby Lobby (this year)

*ornaments in apothecary jar - Garden Ridge (2009)

Our kitchen...

*stained glass Santa - Aldi (gift in 2008)

*Silvestri Glass Fusion elf plate - The Shop Around the Corner (this year)

*Glass Fusion reindeer plate - Hilltop House (2008)

*snowman cookie jar & salt/pepper shakers - Target (2008)

(haven't switched the turkey attachment out yet since

Thanksgiving hasn't arrived)

*glittered tree & presents - Hobby Lobby (this year)

Happy Christmas Decorating,



Organization: Kate's Playroom (Part 1)

Yesterday, I showed you the first part of Kate's bedroom makeover. Today, I am going to show you how the first part of the guest bedroom/Kate's playroom transition looks. And, let me just say, I think the guest bedroom is where all of our junk goes. If we don't want to see something, we put it in there. Then, I will tell myself, "I will go through it later!" Yeah, right! That is how I accummulated so much mess in there. So, it is going to be a gradual process! I have several things to sort through and find a place for and possibly some things to get rid of.

The before...



Junk Room? I think so... YIKES!!!

The after...

I plan on finding something to hide the office items.

Those pictures are being removed, and I a plan on purchasing some

child oriented ones. Or, maybe I will frame some of Kate's art!

The dining room table leaf will be removed.

And, I plan on repainting the mirror.

Happy Sunday Everyone,