Thrifty Christmas Breakfast Table

There's something special about coming downstairs on a Sunday morning and seeing the table set and ready for breakfast.

This week my table was put together using old favorites and good finds.

I started with a simple white tablecloth with gold trim.  Then I added a runner which I boought at a craft show many years ago.  I love the gold sparkles between the red poinsettas and the dark green background.

Next I added a simple candle centerpiece which I found in a clearance bin.

I have white candles in right now but can also add red or green if I wanted to change the look.

I then added some plates which I found at a Thrift Store.

Along with the rest of the table setting.

The napkin rings were in a box of things I bought at a garage sale.

And these glasses were also a garage sale find.

These small trees were also a garage sale find.

Now these little acorns I did pay full price for last year as a treat for myself. 

The box of them was still under $5.00

And here we are, ready for Sunday breakfast.

Fresh baked chocolate chip muffins and fruit salad.

The muffins are also in a Thrift Store find while the fruit salad is in a bowl given to us as a wedding present many years ago.

Hope you enjoyed my Thrifty Christmas Breakfast table.

I am joining Marty at "A Stroll Through Life" for Tabletop Tuesday

 

And Susan at "Between Naps on the Porch" for Tablescape Thursday

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For today... Sunday, December 11, 2011

Outside my window... It is still dark but a touch of pink is starting to brighten the sky to the east.

I am thinking...About my family and also what I would like to do this afternoon.

I am thankful for... My family and my home.

From the kitchen... Chocolate Chip Muffins are baking in the oven for breakfast, along with a fruit salad and yogurt.  For lunch will be ham, scalloped potatoes, corn, green beans, tossed salad and for dessert, vanilla slices.

I am wearing...  Dark brown dress pants, red tank top with dark brown cardigan, and my favorite three toned brown/tan high heels.

I am creating... A x-stitch picture of a cardinal.

I am going... To church this morning and possibly a potluck this evening, depending on the weather.

I am reading... A Woman's High Calling by Elizabeth George

I am praying for... A friend of my daughters who is struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts.

Pondering these words... Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredient of a truly merry Christmas (Peg Bracken)

I am STILL hoping... To go to the mountains.

I am hearing... The furnace running, otherwise it is quiet as the rest of the house is still sleeping.

Around the house... Will hopefully finish moving over the office desk onto the smaller one and then move the larger desk to the downstairs "hobby room" we are creating.

One of my favorite things... French Vanilla coffee with Vanilla Caramel creamer.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Christmas baking, helping serve lunch at church for the college students, finish Christmas shopping and maybe wrapping?, teach a girl how to input new books into the church library system, and study for exam on Saturday.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

My "just because" roses.

Thank you Peggy for the The Simple Woman's Daybook {follow links to read more}.

Just Because

My dearest husband gave me some beautiful roses today.

No birthday or anniversary or special reason.

These are "just because" roses.

And that's what makes them all that much more sweeter.

A relationship is like a rose,
How long it lasts, no one knows.
Love can erase an awful past,
love can be yours, you'll see at last.
To feel that love, it makes you sigh,
To have it leave, you'd rather die.
You hope you've found that special rose,
'cause you love and care for the one you chose.
~Rob Cella~

Christmas Shoeboxes in Trinidad

I am sure that most people have heard of Operation Christmas Child through Samaritans Purse.  If you haven't packed a shoebox this year you may have done so in years past.

My daughter had the amazing opportunity to go to Trinidad with the BGEA and one of the things they were able to do while there was hand out the shoeboxes.

So I thought I would share a few of her pictures as we remember the true reason of the season.

My daughter (on the right) and some of her teammates.

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

~Leo F. Buscaglia~

I am joining Cindy at "My Romantic Home" for Show and Tell Friday

 

Christmas Cookies & Traditions

When my kids were younger, a lot younger, my mom and I would get together at Christmas time and decorate Christmas cookies.  When you have little kids around its always easier to do things with two adults around over one.

However, as the kids got older and our lives got busier our getting together to decorate cookies fell by the wayside.

This year though, I thought it would be fun to get together with my mom and decorate cookies once again.  A reviving of an old tradition.

It was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon, chatting away while decorating, the warm fire from the wood burning stove crackling away and the smell of fresh baked bread filling the air.

And of course, sampling the cookies with a delightful cup of tea afterwards and having a chance to also chat with my dad. 

Traditions are good.  Sometimes certain things fall by the wayside as lives change and we go through different stages but its nice to be able to revisit those traditions at a later time.  Although not exactly the same as when the kids were young the time together was just as sweet as before :)

I am joining Cindy at "My Romantic Home" for Show and Tell Friday

And Lorie at "be different, act normal" for Show & Tell Saturday

Reflections

I woke up this morning feeling reflective. Not sure what put me in this mood but it may have something to do with all the sorting and cleaning up in the room that used to be our school room. As this room adjoins our daughters bedroom we thought it would be nice to make it into a sitting room/guest room for when she brings friends home from college. It has been a great motivator to get busy on the room but I have to admit I found it a little more emotionally draining than I thought it would be.

This used to be my son's desk. When he graduated my hubby took it over to work on his computer projects. We have moved him to a room in the basement (well his projects anyways lol) to a bigger, better space. I can't even remember the last time I saw the top of this desk and now it is a little sad to see it empty. However, this is going to become my little corner office in our "girl cave".

 

My dad made this little dresser/change table for my daughter when she was born.  It has served many purposes but for the past many years it has held school books, art and craft supplies, paper, pens, etc.  The storage area for all those little things you need when you homeschool.  Now, the items sitting on top have been sorted through and are waiting to be moved downstairs.  The drawers have been emptied and I hope that some other children will get much joy out of the supplies that have been donated.  This dresser will also stay in this room to hold linens and provide space for future guests to put their things.

Now this was my daughter's corner of the room.  As you can see, her desk really hasn't changed much from the last few months of flurry as we finished up school, helped take care of my dad following his surgery and got ready for her to go to Europe.  This desk will be moved out of the room completely.  When she comes home for Christmas (in two weeks, I'm so excited) she will be able to sort through what is there before we move it out.  But until then it sits as a reminder of what was.

And finally, this was my section of the room.  I can't remember the last time my desk was so paper free and my bulletin board actually has space on it.  I used to spend about 2-3 hours a day at this desk and now I don't even spend 2-3 hours a week here.  This is going to be moved downstairs to become my crafting area.  It will be in the same room as hubby's computer projects so I can work on my crafting projects while he works on his projects. 

This little room has been the hub of our life for the past 10 years and now it sits empty and forlorn.  I am looking forward to finishing up the change over of the room as it symbolizes the closing of a very good chapter and moving on to the next chapter which I am sure will be even more exciting than the last.

Christmas Tea Anyone?

It has been quite awhile since I have posted and a lot has happened since then.  My daughter is off at college, I started taking some courses, and have been working on doing some repurposing of rooms in the house.  The past few months have been difficult (adjusting to my daughter being gone, we are very close), challenging (the course has definately kept my brain active) and full of change.  I am finally beginning to feel like I am getting my feet back under me, and a good thing to as Christmas is just around the corner.

Today I did some Christmas baking and would like to share it with you.  First up is my daughters favorite, Butterscotchy Almond Bars.  A few will be going in her parcel this week :)

Of course, I couldn't bake her favorites without also baking some of my sons favorites, Brownie Minatures.

It also gave me a chance to pull out some of my Grandmothers china, and of course, my favorite Christmas teapot.  I'm a huge fan of Cardinals and found this teapot on clearance at Winners last year after Christmas.  I just can't enough of it :)