ChristmasTime~

I honestly can't believe it is already time for Christmas. I was sitting on my couch on Sunday night and looked out my front windows to see the familiar red christmas lights our neighbors adorn their house with every year, and I said to the pool man, doesn't it feel like it was just Christmas? And he nodded his head as he usually does, as he is not one for many words.

And as I sat there watching my 4.5 year old zoom cars across my completely dung up coffee table, and watched my 8 month old with his newly sprouted two front teeth pull himself up on the edge of the table to see what his favorite big brother was doing...I felt like life was passing by way too quick, and I reminded myself to slow down...to take in the moments of each day, and stop for just one second and look at my surroundings and thank God as my blessing abound...especially for the blessings we have accumulated in the last year!

I was asked by my friend Jennifer Rizzo to be a part of a "Housewalk" she is doing during the month of December, and let me tell you, she has a wonderful, actually amazing line up of homes to share.  I actually don't know why she asked little ole me...but for some reason, I said "yes"...darn it... why did I say yes?

I don't go all out for the holidays, I never really have. I don't like to spend a lot of money on Christmas decorations. I have one, yes one measly little ole box of Decor...and each year I vow to only buy a couple new things...& donate things that i have grown tired of.

Therefore in hopes to have a decorated house on a budget, I have scoured websites & my favorite blogs to see what I can do with natural elements such as flowers, herbs and branches. I have tried to find inspiration in the simplicity of christmas decor such as burlap bows, old trucks, vintage bottle brush trees, old string lights we have had for years that make our tree sparkle...decorations that still make a statement but don't break the bank so to speak.

I guess you could say I have been trying to pull it all together on a measly little budget...hoping I can fake it to make it!

Yeehaw!

We have a dinner party at our house on Saturday, which has given me the much needed motivation to get things decorated and wrapped. Although this post just reminded me that we need to get a Chrismas tree asap!

 I will snap a bunch of photos and be back to join in on Jen's amazing "Housewalk"!  Ekkk, just saying that makes me a little anxious...ok, a whole lot anxious, but I am up for the challenge!

Did I also mention I have to cook a turkey on Saturday!

What?

Let me repeat that, I have to cook a turkey on Saturday...

{eek, just saying that makes me anxious....jittery to be exact!}

Me cook a turkey....?

I really need to stop saying "yes" to things....seriously!

{is anyone else thinking that those wood stocking are too close to the fire??}

Here is hoping you take a moment to look and around and thank God for your blessings this Christmas season!

Be back soon...unless I have burned the house down cooking a turkey...ahhh, I kid, I kid....

{she says with her fingers crossed!}

Muwahhh~

{photos 1-2, photos 4-8}

 p.s. The day after Thanksgiving, we found out that we get to keep our house!!!  After a few months of being on pins and needles and doing a whole lot of work, we can finally inhale deeply and rest assured that our house will be ours for a little while longer...a HUGE blessing...and it couldn't have come at a better time for our little family! {she sighs}

p.s.s. Our littlest slept through the night last night for the first time in a loooonnnggg time!

A HUGE blessing~

I feel like a new woman! Amazing what a full nights sleep can do~

Comments

[Kerri]

Hi Tara,
I was JUST thinking of you yesterday! I was going through some things and I found a sweet little vintage handkerchief stitched with the word FRIEND that you sent me two Christmases ago. I believe it was when I bought those sweet little white bird napkin rings.
You have a gorgeous home and I can't wait to see it in the house tour!

XO,
Kerri

[Andrea Villarreal]

Wonderful news about the house Tara:) My neighbors of the last 14 years had to put up a For Sale sign in the yard on Friday and it crushed us all. So incredibly sad. All they want is an interest rate reduction. They have been working on this for months. Frustrating takes on a whole new meaning.

[Becky @ Farmgirl Paints]

oh so glad for you girl. i can't imagine the relief.

[Lolo]

So happy for you guys! What a huge relief to know you can breathe easy, especially during the holidays :) Looking forward to "walkin" your house !!
I will be putting up my decorations this weekend - cant wait :) We didnt get to decorate last year on account of remodeling...needless to say I am giddy (even if we just had an 80 degree weekend!)

XOX

ps - a little tip on the turkey - I found a recipe in House Beautiful magazine for halving the turkey and cooking it. It worked amazingly!! You halve the turkey right down the backbone so that you have 2 halves (sorta like a halved chicken). It only took 1 hr 45 min to cook a 16 lb turkey! Came out awesome ;)

[Lolo]

Here is the link....

http://www.housebeautiful.com/kitchens/recipes/tyler-florence-turkey-recipe?click=main_sr

I test kitchened it and approve :) I cooked my with fresh rosemary, sage, thyme and bay leaves with apple cider and white wine as the stock!

[Kacey]

Love, love, love that version of "River"!

That is WONDERFUL news about your house! It is so scary what is happening out there these days. So glad you can sit back and relax for the holidays.

I can't wait to see your house - I know it will be gorgeous!

Good luck with that turkey!

♥ Kacey

[Traci]

that is such wonderful news. so happy for you. i think we are on the same day for jen's housewalk. i am excited but feel the pressure for it to look nice.

[Michelle]

Whatever. You totally have this Housewalk. Totally. You will blow me (and everyone else!) away by your simple genius decor. I love that last one, btw.
I have never cooked a turkey. The thought makes me sweat a little.

yay for blessings! And table dings!

[susan]

hello sweet girl! i'm so glad sleeping through the night is huge! you'll be fine with the turkey i stress every year when i cook for thanksgiving and it turns out fine! can't wait to see your lovely home!! xo susan

[tara]

praise GOD for getting to keep your house and praise GOD for that little one sleeping through the night....
sleep deprivation and hunger do very scary things to me. :(