It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

Recently I have gotten hooked on popular blogs featuring brilliant women who make their houses look like showpieces yet still manage to keep perspective and allow their families to live comfortably in those houses. Jim laughs at me and tells me I'm "obsessed" with the blogs, which may be true, but sometimes obsessions can lead to good things. Recently I've cleaned up a huge mess upstairs with some inspiration from one of those blogs, I'm beginning some sewing projects that I have needed to do for some time (also a result of some online motivation), and I have even started rising early to have some quiet time with God after finding a link to 5:16 AM Club that gave me food for thought.

This week several ladies are hosting virtual Open Houses on their blogs, and this has inspired me to invite everyone to come to a cyber Christmas party at our house! So, help yourself to some Starbucks (you have to provide it, unfortunately), and come on in!!

Here is a view of our lovely living room, all decked out for Christmas:

One of the items I have started making for my business is ribbon wreaths. Here is one hanging from our breakfront in the dining room. I just love the finished product, even though making one takes forever!!

Gotta love that garland that I learned to make from The Nester:

So, these carolers are a funny thing. Jim used to have two of them in his house growing up, and he told me that he had bought one (or more?) for his grandmother when he was little. I really thought they were kind of frightening, but they were so sentimental to him that I couldn't ban them. Well, now I have bought him two more, and they're sort of growing on me. Maybe they become less intimidating in crowds?

And speaking of Jim's grandmother and sentimental attachments, she made this stocking for him when he was little. She was a whiz at needlepoint. I am quite crafty myself, but needlepoint takes such patience!!

So, there you have it: A small tour of our rental here in Nashville. If you're ever in the area, we'd love to share some Starbucks (or Folgers) in person! If you haven't had enough Christmas cheer, head over to Kimba's Holiday Open House and see hundreds of other women, showing off their abodes as well!

Merry Christmas!