Wishing All a Happy New Year!

It's that time of again. To say goodbye to last year and bring on the new year! I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Full of good health,happiness and may your new year be prosperous!Don't forget to eat your black eyed peas on New Year's day for goodluck!

Tracy

Little gingerbread house

My daughter took pride making this year's gingerbread house! She spent a long time putting all the cobblestone(jellybean) siding on the house and the details all around. Her siblings enjoyed watching her and eating all of her supplies! Lol! Every year we make these houses and display them for everyone to see!They are so much fun and bring visions of sugar plums dancing through the holiday! It's definately a great family project! Even if it's just watching one making it, while the others are eating all the goods! Wishing you all a sweet day!

Tracy

Gathering nuts

I captured this cute photo of a squirrel just a moment ago! I was watching him gathering nuts and things out of my gutter and then he hopped in the tree. I tried to get a close up of him or her with it's chubby mouth full but I couldn't get one. It did pose for me on the branch though. Lol! It's really nippy out today. It's about 33 degrees out. Brrrrr!Wishing you all a great Saturday and keep warm! Maybe crack some nuts by the fire! Lol!

Tracy

Sunday Pot Roast

Nothing like a pot roast on a winter Sunday! I got my slow cooker out this morning and added my broth to it,browned my roast and it's slowly simmering in the pot now! It's such cozy,comfort meal that the whole family loves. I make my famous mashed potatoes to go with it too! Yum! The house smells wonderful already and it will last through out the day! Wishing you all a lovely Sunday and maybe I have inspired you to get yourself a roast. It's still early to get it started! I love this photo. It came from Mary Engelbreit's Queen of the kitchen cookbook! The recipe is also in the book! My dinner table will look just like the photo! Lol! Similar at least.

Tracy

My latest purchase on Etsy

I just love them! They are vintage cut out tin stars from my friend at http://www.cottageinthesun.etsy.com/ They are so cute each have a loop on the back for hanging wherever you choose! A wreath , your tree, dangle from a window with fishing wire or displayed like I did! They are fun! There are so many unique cut outs and garlands in her shop!

All these are perfect for the cottage/shabby chic home! They make wonderful gifts too If your looking for something unique you need to check out her shop. Happy Friday!

Tracy

Our Christmas tree

Every year after Thanksgiving we get all our Christmas decorations out and start putting them up on that weekend. I thought I would take a picture of before and after this year. Our tree is an artificial tree that I love. Many years I've had a real one and spent oodles of money on them. Then one year I found this tree at Ballards. It was clearanced and had the lights on it with pinecones tucked in it too! It looked real to me. Anyways ,I bought it and this is our tree. I also add colored lights because the kids love them and I do too. I think it adds more charm with all the colors. Our tree is made up of everything! There are many vintage glass bulbs and new bulbs,the kids baby ornaments and others they have made or have gotten through the years. I add gold wired mesh as the garland,glittered branches poke out and tinsel is the final touch.We all love the final outcome. It's like looking at a candy shop with all the colors!

Here's the finished product!

A peek into our tree!Wishing you all a great day full of fa la la!

Tracy