Post-Christmas Blues Gotcha Down?

I don't know about you, but I get kind of down after Christmas.  I plan and plan for months...shopping for just the right presents, wrapping them all up, put up decorations, planning my Christmas menu...etc...etc..  Then in a blink of the eye, the presents are opened and the food is all eaten.  The Christmas tree looks sad without the presents underneath.  Then comes the dreaded task of taking down the lights, trees, and decorations and boxing them all up for next year.  It is surely enough to get most of us down!

So how do you beat the post-Christmas blues?

Well, I've got a few suggestions....

A Gift NOT Under My Tree

Every year, there are lots of presents under the Christmas tree...wrapped up in pretty paper... tied with ribbons and bows.  As Christmas approaches, I miss my Mom and Dad even more.  I'm reminded of two precious gifts that you can't place under the tree.  One is the gift of the Baby Jesus and what He offers to each of us...if we will just reach out and take the gift. 

Another gift was one that I received just days before my sweet Mother passed. 

Love Came Down at Christmastime

Love did, indeed, come down at Christmastime.  The CHRISTmas story brings tears to my eyes every time!  I think of Mary in her "predicament" and how hard it was for her...engaged to be married , still a virgin but "with child"  and I think of her trust in God through it all!  Then I think of Joseph and his "predicament" and truly see him  as a Hero with very little credit.  He could have bowed out but he didn't!  Thank goodness for his faithfulness.  Then comes baby Jesus...King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace...Emmanuel...

Glory to God in the Highest!

Tom and Jerry

I adore Tom and Jerry!

No...I'm not talking about the cartoon characters, Tom and Jerry...although I have to admit they are pretty cute too!

I mean the 19th century Tom and Jerry Christmas drink.

Christmas Dessert Table

source

Traditions have always been important to me...we had many traditions when I was a young child, especially at Christmas, that I hold dear to my heart today!  When I had a family, I started Christmas traditions of my own.  However, when your children grow up and have families of their own, those traditions can change.  And now at this season in my life, I am starting new traditions once again...and that's ok.

This year, my kids will arrive Christmas night.  We will have our "Christmas" on the 26th.  We will all gather at my oldest son's home for an early dinner and gift exchange.  That evening we will gather at my new home for dessert, light hors d'oeuvres and drinks.  So, my quest for inspiration began.  In my previous post, I shared Christmas goodies that are a must for my dessert/hors d'oeuvre table.  I wanted to share some new ideas that I have found that have inspired me.  I hope something will jump out and grab you for a little Christmas inspiration!

So let's get started...

Visions of Sugar Plums...

I don't think I have ever eaten a sugar plum before.  I've always liked the vision that I've conjured up of "visions of sugar plums" in my head though.  However, for these following Christmas goodies, I don't have to conjure anything up....I already know how yummy these treats are...and I look forward to them each Christmas...

Cherry Date Nut Balls...

oh these are my very favorite!!!

My Christmas Home Tour

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  Oh how I have waited and anticipated decorating my cottage for Christmas.  I can't even begin to put into words the feeling I have for the first Christmas in my cottage!  I am beyond giddy.  It's been a long two years after the divorce, but I am stronger and happier than I have ever been!  I've hung in there when times got tough, relied on God, and here I am...in my very own home that I got all by myself...with God's hand in it all the way.  Boy, it feels GOOD!

This was the first thing I put up this year....the vintage ornament wreath that I made a couple of years ago.  It makes me *HAPPY*

And I even have one on the inside of the same door.  :)

So without further delay, let's get to the tour of my cottage all decked out for Christmas!

Any Day Can Be Christmas

....Even if it's Valentine's Day!

I found some of the greatest treasures this week for a little of nothing.  Every day can be Christmas when you find little goodies like this!  It doesn't take much to make me happy!

Look at this box!  Plain and simple, right???

OMG!!!  You can't even imagine what lies within!

Something so fragile...beautiful....delicately sweet...

Take a look and see why I squealed with delight when finding these!

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The Most Magical Time of The Year

December was chockful of the most wonderful time with my kids!  For my grangirl's October birthday, I gave her a ticket to ride The Polar Express along with Gramma, her momma and daddy.

Wine A Bit...

I love the sign in the window at the Lynchburg Winery... "Wine a bit...you'll feel better."  LOL  So, Lynchburg, TN isn't just for Jack Daniels anymore!  The wine from this new place is wonderful!  When they announced their new Blackberry wine, I knew I wanted some!  But soon after, they posted, "SOLD OUT!"  I was SO bummed!

Counting Down

Christmas Break....I love it!  Just like most everyone else, I'm counting down the days until Christmas!  For me thought, it's probably one more day than your count...I will celebrate Christmas Day with my sweet Emmy but "my" Christmas will be when my children and grangirl arrive on the 26th.  Spending time with them is all I need...all I want!  So as I count down these last 4 days...3 for you...I am enjoying the slow pace around the cottage, as presents are already bought...just need to do some wrapping...most of the food is bought...just need to make some goodies.

Christmas Goodies

I have so many favorite Christmas goodies...I could never decide which I like best...I love them all! 

These peanut butter balls {above}are awesome!  They have oats, peanut butter, raisins, pecans, and coconut in them then dipped in chocolate.  When I was in elementary school, we use to have the most wonderful homemade desserts.  These were one of them!  I got the recipe from my MIL who use to make these every year.  After she passed, then I started making them each Christmas.  Yum!

We All Need a Smile on Mondays!

Mondays are hard enough...but coming off of Thanksgiving Break is the hardest!  I hope you all had plenty of family time, good food, and rest!  I'm thankful that I did!  I also had some time to decorate more for Christmas!

Feeling Nostalgic

I've collected vintage ornaments for many years.  They just bring back so many memories and make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  I have seen so many beautiful wreaths created by vintage ornaments, and have wanted to create my own for a long time.  However, every time I thought about putting glue on my beautiful treasures, I cringed and dismissed the thought.

Rummaging Around

I love autumn rummage/yard/garage sales!  And I sure lucked up at one this morning!  A friend, Amy from Farmhouse Dreams,  posted about it on FB, so my bestie and I decided to make a day of it...breakfast at Cracker Barrel and a little vintage and some Christmas shopping.  

It's no secret that I adore vintage ornaments....and look at these cuties!!!  The little bells are just precious...the gold ones have silver glitter with cute little flowers on top.  I adore the little white one that has silver glitter around the rim.  I fell in love with the little angel.  Her sweet little dress is made of pipe cleaners.  And all for only 50 cents each!  Sweet!

I have a thing for stockings...and I couldn't pass up these burlap trimmed with lace ones!  Especially when each was only $3!!!  

The lace on this one is a little more....well, lacier than the others...just sewn with more gathers so it's more flouncy...I'm really not sure that's the right word.  LOL

The lace on this one is a little more "tailored"...and a little more slimmer than the others.

And then this one is a "combo" of the other two....it is tailored with a more wider lace.  I have plans for each one of these but I can't reveal that just yet...But all in good time...lol

I got some more great deals but I'm going to save those for another post...just...because...lol

So after the vintage rummage sale, we were off for some great breakfast at Cracker Barrel....YUM...

Then, it was off to High Cotton...a wonderful shop about 15 min. from our town.  Actually, the friend that had the rummage sale also helps out at this shop.  :)  My bestie and I frequent this shop, however, this was the first time we had visited their new location.  They initially were on the square in this small town, but they moved a month ago into this wonderful old house just down the street!  

We parked across the street, and we walked down a bit so we could walk the full length of the old sidewalk...Sweet!

Look at this sweet bicycle!

Adorable!

It was totally gorgeous inside!  I just wish I had gotten a pic of the porch and the staircase inside!  The following are some shots of their Christmas room...

How amazing is this sleigh??!!

This shop has a lot of jewelry and adorable clothing.  I basically just focused on the Christmas goodies, but I'll get more shots when I visit again!

So after a quick trip to Dollar Tree and Russell Stovers, we headed home...only to remember the holiday craft fair in our town...which we thought we should just check it out so as not to miss anything.  LOL  

It was a great day!!!  The weather was great...except for some crazy wind at times...Breakfast was yummy...And the shopping was FUN!  So, what did you do today?  

Cottage Blessings,

Pink Christmas...Santa, Angel, and More!

Who says Santa has to be dressed in red?  I think Santa looks positively perfect in PINK!  Don't ya think?  I'm sure Mrs. Claus would agree too....because after all, REAL men wear PINK!  And why can't trees be pink too...like this little cutie!

PINK angels are precious...I adore this little one that I found at Belk a few years ago.  I wish I could find more similar to her.  Speaking of PINK trees...This cute tinsel tree came as a set of 3 (pink, aqua, gold).  I found them on Etsy a few hears back.  

This little Christmas book isn't pink but it sure is cute!  I bought 4 of these from The Curly Willow, a nearby sweet little vintage shop.  ADORABLE!

 Bottle brush trees are so darling!  This little aqua one has been decorated in the sweetest pink mini ornies and topped with a PINK bird that has an incredible PINK tail!!!  And on the strand of Mercury beads, there are a few PINK ones hear and there.

These were the kind of ornaments we had on our tree when I was young.  There is nothing like these colorful ball ornaments.  I adore these even today...placed in a bowl, in an apothecary jars, and even on the tree.  So delicate, so fragile, so beautiful!

Happy Pink Saturday, everyone!  Head over to Beverly's for your Saturday PINK fix!  You'll be glad you did!

Cottage Blessings,