Easy DIY Advent Calender

Hi Everyone

Happy Thursday

It's December 1

and time to start the countdown to

Christmas

♥

 This morning after my weekly run to Trader Joe's
I was inspired to make

 a quick and easy DIY advent calender
(instead of the chocolate one I almost bought} 

I used brown bags from Trader Joe's for the tags

glitter sprayed clothes pins

a black sharpie

small candies
{I used chocolate kisses and lifesavers}
our sons favorite candies
  a stapler

ribbon and glitter sprayed bells

This was so easy I decided to try making little

♥
heart shaped ornaments made with

old paper back books

All you need is a old paperback book
wire or a paperclip,double sided tape and scissors

Tear off the cover of the book

separate the book into 3 sections

cut the heart shape out on the binded center section

 tape the sides together

insert the paper clip in the middle

 ♥

 Simple and fun to make
Excited that there are
only 24 days until
Christmas

romantic saying for today
"Love brings bewitching grace into the heart"
Euripides

♥
Pam

White Christmas

Hi Everyone

Happy Wednesday

Christmas Decorating 

 at

White Ironstone Cottage

♥

 has officially begun
its looking very clean, simple and 
 white

See the detail on this  little step stool

I found it  at the thrift store

it was painted brown

{wish I would have taken a before pick}

 almost wasn't going to buy it because it looked dirty

With a coat of white paint it now is crisp, clean and fabulous

♥

 {Love}

the design and the little handle

Today is the last day of November
 I have a feeling December is going to fly by even faster than November did
tomorrow we start the Christmas countdown
Have you started decorating too?
I have to admit decorating is going rather slowly
I keep looking at everything and remembering all the
Joy and Blessings
from our past Christmases
This could take awhile!!!
linking for
White Wednesday
Holiday Vignette party 
Power of paint party

romantic saying for today
"Where we Love is home, home where our feet may leave but not our hearts"
Oliver Wendell Holmes

♥
Pam

Decorating tips for Christmas

 Hi Everyone

Happy Monday
here are the rest of the

*Top 10 Decorating tips for Christmas*
{6-10}

Tip # 6

*Decorate in Unexpected places* 

  The main focal points to decorate  in your home are
  your Tree, the Mantle and your Front door 

 the fun begins when you start decorating in the
unexpected places

We always have a small tree in each of the children's bedrooms

They have their own ornaments and get to decorate their tree 

Love to have a real wreath on the inside of the kitchen door
a wreath over mirrors in the dining room and wreaths on the french doors too
It smells amazing and looks pretty too

♥

Tip # 7
*Look to the kitchen*

Gingerbread cookies and  gingerbread houses,
sugar cookies ,candy canes things found in the kitchen all can help to decorate your home
last year we used white granulated sugar
  for our homemade  snow men
the sugar looked just like real snow

 Cookies are great as decorations on the tree too
Don't think just because it comes from the kitchen
it can't be used as a decoration other places in your home
I love to put apples on wreathes and cranberries in jars with candles
I  have even been known to use a pineapple as a centerpiece for Christmas 
♥

Tip #8
*Make it Homemade*

Each year we try to make at least one Christmas ornament together
one year it was snow men, another gingerbread houses to hang on the tree,
Christmas would not be complete without a new family made ornament
The ornaments we make together 
are the treasures that I cherish most
♥

Tip #9

*Show off your Collections*

If you collect vintage treasures now is the time to show them off

This beautiful white ironstone serving bowl was used for our 

advent calender last year

What ever you collect try using it when you decorate 

  ♥
Tip #10
*Have Fun*

The top ten  decorating tips would not be complete with out this last tip
remember the most important thing is
 to have fun decorating your home
 remember its not about the things you have or how perfect it all can look
its about making memories and sharing the
{Love}
in your home
♥
linking with
Show off your Cottage Monday

romantic saying for today
"Is not a kiss the very autograph of Love"
  Henry Finck 

♥

Pam

Top 10 Decorating Tips for Christmas

 Hi Everyone

Happy Saturday

I am  so excited to share with you my

*Top 10 Christmas decorating tips*

♥

Tip #1

*Look before you buy*

Look at what you have before you go shopping for anything new

Its been a year do you remember what you already have to work with?
If you are like me you probably have more than you remember so
before you buy anything new look at what you have
get your Christmas treasures down from the rafters
throw away or repair anything that is broken
check your lights to see if they work

Tip # 2

*Choose your colors*

Look at Magazines, catalogs and blogs and decide on a color theme
this will save you time and money
If you decide for instance to decorate with pink and silver then you can concentrate on those colors
and eliminate buying the turquoise ornaments that are so adorable
but will probably  not work with your decor
♥

Tip #3

*Bring the outside in*

Bring the outside inside by looking to your garden for inspiration 

 greenery from the garden , flowers, fruit such as green apples and pomegranates,

cut branches and red berries are all  fabulous decorating tools

Tip # 4

*Adding Charm*

Welcome everyone to your home with a beautiful wreath on the front door
and don't forget the front gate too

Drive up and see what friends see before they even walk to the door 
adding a bow or ice skates or even a wreath to a gate or fence will add instant charm 

 Tip # 5

*Add sparkle and fragrance with candles*

Candles are a beautiful way to add that special  romantic sparkle and warmth to a room
I collect candle holders all year long
Everything looks more beautiful and romantic by candlelight

scented candles will add a beautiful fragrance too

♥

linking for
Feathered Nest Friday

Pink Saturday
I will share five more design tips tomorrow

romantic saying for today
"One moment with the one you Love can be a lifetime"

unknown

♥

Pam

Thanksgiving Centerpiece

Hi Everyone

Happy Wednesday

This morning we will set the table for our

Thanksgiving dinner

Because the weatherman says it is going to rain here tomorrow we will eat here in the dining room

as you can see it is sunny out today but we don't want to take any chances

The centerpiece for the table is always fun to put together

This year I found a vintage cornucopia basket 

  seriously tempted to paint  it white

which will end up with 

 an array of white roses and greenery from the garden

 
 

I have found the best way to design a centerpiece 

is to look to your garden for inspiration

This outdoor ivy plant in its rusty wire basket 

goes from outside to inside too adding a touch of rusty vintage charm

♥

Some of the paper white bulbs are blooming

 they have such an amazing smell they will be wonderful in the cornucopia centerpiece

♥

♥

 Wishing you all a Blessed and Beautiful Thanksgiving

filled with

{Love}
linking for White Wednesday

romantic saying for today 
"Love is the only Gold"
Alfred Lord Tennyson


♥
Pam

Blessed

Hi Everyone

Happy Tuesday

Today I heard on the radio that a local family is
 camping out tonight until Thursday night at midnight in front of a store with their children
so they are the first people in the door for
Black Friday
the Parents said they will have Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday
after they  have done all their shopping
Oh My!!!!!
 this is NOT what
*Christmas*
is about
?
I really thought it was a joke
 What?
Seriously?
Don't get me wrong I like a bargain but to miss Thanksgiving and camp out with your children
in front of a store

Wow
Maybe I am overreacting 
 What are you thoughts.....
Does this shock  you too?
For some reason this made me so sad

My sweet  handsome Husband brought home these white roses
I Love this man
He reminds me everyday how truly Blessed we are
Love is the best cure for sad

 ♥

So Grateful that we are Blessed by God with Family, friends and

{Love}

to share around the table this Thanksgiving

romantic saying for today
"I will always see you through the eyes of Love"
Robert Browning

♥
Pam

Grateful

Hi Everyone
Happy Monday

We will be blessed to have a full house this

~Thanksgiving~

with guests even staying in our tiny guest cottage

So grateful to have family and friends over
to celebrate all of God's  Blessings this year
♥

Our guest cottage is a renovated tough shed 

 with a few well placed pieces of  furniture it is a fun overnight
  private spot

thank goodness for the space heater too

The comfy denim pull out couch

A special spot for all the essentials 

this metal cabinet fit perfect and adds extra storage space too

We are all getting excited to have everyone together

to watch football, eat fabulous food and have fun

  there will be lots of laughter and hugs

our daughter will be home from college 

that is the best blessing of all

and she is bringing home a few of her friends too

 the more the merrier

♥

Having the whole family together

is pure bliss for this Mom

romantic saying for today
"Your Love taught me to understand that loving can be simple and secure"
Susan Landon

♥
Pam

Prairie Style Wedding

Hi Everyone

Happy Saturday

Being the romantic that I am
I could not wait to see Lauren Bush's  amazing
Prairie Style wedding dress it is in the

December issue of 

Vogue magazine

♥ 
{Love}

 the simple elegance and all of the amazing lace
the vintage feel

 
{Love}
 Her dress reminds me of my favorite vintage white lace pillow 
 such beautiful intricate detail

and my favorite vintage white lace tablecloth

 Just started playing with the lace tape that I bought on Etsy
So much fun to add a little lace detail to these tin cups
 back to the wedding ....

Lauren arrived in a vintage horse drawn buggy
{notice there are no bows or ribbons on the buggy} 
so simple 

  to marry David Lauren who is the youngest son of Ralph Lauren

They were married in Colorado at Ralph Lauren 's home

Her dress was designed by Ralph Lauren too

Don't you just

{Love}

her new name Lauren Lauren

~ sigh~

These white  lacy roses have just a hint of pink they are from our garden
  They would be perfect for a prairie style wedding

So fun to take a peek at a new beginning , such beauty and
to see two people who look so in
{Love}
♥
linking for
Pink Saturday

romantic saying for today
"After I do, toasts, tears, songs and kisses after this comes loves long reward"
Dorothy Wall

♥
Pam

Holiday Time

 Hi Everyone

Happy Friday

  Life starts to get really busy now

 during the holiday season

I always try to remember to carve out a little time for myself

to rejuvenate to reflect and to recharge
to slow down and enjoy the journey

 A few minutes to sip a cup of tea or

visit with a friend, take a walk

to laugh, to watch a movie with family

As Moms we often are so selfless 

~superwomen~

  We think about taking care of everyone else our Husbands, children, animals

Grandparents extended family, friends, Teachers and the list can go on and on

as well as  taking care of every thing else 

decorating the house, the food, the Christmas cards the presents !!

before we even think of our own needs

but I remember what

I learned as a flight attendant

"It is important to put your mask on first than assist your child and others with an additional mask"

♥

Great reminder to be good to ourselves too

Take a Mom time out ,with no guilt, be good to you this holiday season too
so you can be a refreshed, revived and renewed
~superwomen~


Are you ready for Thanksgiving
I call this time the calm before the storm!

especially in our kitchen

♥

linking with

Feathered Nest Friday

Vintage Inspiration Friday 
At The Picket Fence
Kellys Korner

romantic saying for today

"With one look at you , you became my eternity"

unknown

♥

Pam