My Heart Skips a Beat

I've always loved Valentine's Day since I was a kid.  I adored making a Valentine box each year in elementary school.  I would use foil, red lacy paper doilies, and heart cut outs in pink, red, and white.  I loved making Valentines for my classmates, and looked forward to receiving them, as well.

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!

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...

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!

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!

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,

Happy Halloween!

I love decorating for Halloween.  I have always loved Halloween since I was a kid.