Christmas Happenings

Hello friends and welcome back. Can you believe it? I am actually posting again after just a week!

I'm trying to get back to it, even when there isn't much to blog about. For instance...this post. It's just a few random pictures from life over the past week or so. 

I took this photo for Instagram and thought it turned out really pretty. I am a new coffee drinker and am enjoying trying all kinds of creamers. I love this thrifted Pier One mug I've had for a few years now.

This is the view of my tree from the kitchen. I love how it can easily be seen from the living room, kitchen, and dining room. 

I also love the reflection of the tree in this mirror by my front door.

Over the weekend, my friend, Jeana, my sister, Nancy, and I went to a delightful show at a church in Gainesville. It was amazing....so much goes into this production. This was the display in the lobby. 

Here we are...me on the far left, Jeana in the middle, and Nancy on the right.

I only took a couple pictures because I was too busy enjoying the show to take pictures. This one shows snow falling from the ceiling.

And this one shows one of the live animals used in the production. During the third part of the show, the story of the birth and life of Jesus, when the three kings came in, one came on horse, one on a camel, and one with alpacas. It was awesome...I wish I had pictures to share!

I wanted to introduce you to my new grand dog....Babybel aka Bell. If you follow me on Instagram then you may have seen her already. Miranda and her boyfriend, Slade adopted her. She is absolutely precious!

I mean...look at that face! Isn't she precious in her new Christmas collar?

I wanted to share a picture that is very exciting to me! This load of lumber is the beginning of my soon to be new porch. It's going to be 10' x 32' and I can hardly wait to get started! Sadie was making a silly face in this picture...lol!

Joey and I went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast over the weekend and I had the stuffed French toast...oh my was it divine!

And while I'm on the subject of yummy stuff, I was thrilled to find a new peppermint ice cream this year. I love peppermint and look forward to the ice cream every Christmas. This one is the best I have had! I am about to have a bowl of it when I finish typing this post. I would share if I could!

Since my last post, a few things have happened around here. My mama had surgery on her rotator cuff and is doing very well. It is a slow recovery surgery as the shoulder only heals about 10% each month and the success rate is low, meaning it doesn't always help. We are praying that it will heal completely and she will not be in pain with it anymore.  My Aunt Loretta's (mama's sister) house caught on fire, but my uncle was able to get the fire out. Unfortunately, in the process, he slipped and fell and broke his hip. He had to have surgery and has two huge pins in place and is in a lot of pain. On a brighter note, I attended a fun Christmas party at my sister's house over the weekend. This week at school will be filled with lots of fun. Our Christmas program is Thursday night. The kiddos are always so cute singing  the songs we have been practicing. Sunday, the hubby, Miranda, Slade, and I are going to see Trans Siberian Orchestra in Tampa. I loved it so much last year and can hardly wait! I know Miranda is going to love it too!

I hope all is well with you. Hopefully I will be back soon!

Until next time.....

Christmas On Willie Mae Lane

Can you believe November is over and December is here? This year has flown by! 

Looks like my Sadie Lou is saying goodbye doesn't it. She is actually looking forlornly out at her pop (the hubby) and wishing she was outside with him. She is pop's girl.

And silly Rooster couldn't figure out why he couldn't get to this kitty on the TV. I was listening to music on Hallmark several days ago. They had this yule log programming on which was just music with cats and dogs wondering on and off screen. He was so confused by it and so cute trying to look behind the TV and smell it like it was real.

Last weekend I had fun decorating the house for Christmas. I kept it pretty simple again this year. I was proud of myself for going through all my Christmas stuff and getting rid of several items, including my artificial tree. I'll share what I did with you now.

In the kitchen, I used a variety of objects I had on hand. I didn't purchase anything except a real tree this year.

I think the shelves turned out super cute. 

The windowsill had a little decor added as well. 

I kept things very simple in the kitchen. I am really enjoying it. 

This is a living room vignette.

And another one. All I added was the plaid runner and the ornaments. I recently repainted my mirror from coral to copper and I love it!

The coffee table got a runner and a cute red lantern. I love the cute pillow I got for free at Target. They were $5 in the dollar spot but I had a coupon for $5 off $10 or more, so I bought a couple of things I needed and got the pillow for free!

The clipboard got a new print for the season.

This table has a few Christmas books, some fresh cedar, and a tiny lantern.

My little area is cozy with my plaid blanket scarf draped over the back. Excuse the laptop cord.

The dining room chalkboard got a new saying. Beneath it is where my little coffee cart will be housed when we finish it. We're still waiting for the pipe to come in.

The top of the china cabinet is where my snow teacher and students reside.

The table houses a copper painted tray filled with my Christmas Carol book collection and bowl. Some balls and fresh cedar finish it off. This will change throughout the season.

I love this adorable little snow family tea light holder. I've had it for years. It was a gift from a Secret Santa at school 7 or 8 years ago.

The rest of my snowman collection is scattered around the bookcase.

I placed a few deer themed items on this rustic charger and sat it on the plant stand in the hall.

My nativity collection is on the buffet. I love this area.

I especially love this little one Miranda picked up for me in Bratislava, Slovakia before I visited her in Prague last year.

I used a set of copper wire twinkle lights from my bedroom around the picture. It is so pretty at night.

On Monday evening, Joey and I went to Home Depot and purchased a real tree. I love it!

I finally got it decorated Thursday. I had a busy week and was gone both Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, but Thursday I came home from school early because I wasn't feeling well and later that evening, I decided to decorate the tree. It turned out really pretty. I love all the memories hanging on the tree....things the kids made when they were little, ornaments I bought for them when they were growing up, ornaments from vacations and special events, some from the ornament exchanges I hosted, a few from my childhood, and so on. So many wonderful memories.

While we're on the subject of Christmas, check out the adorable Rudolph drawings my kinders completed with me earlier this week. SO stinkin' cute. Directed drawings are one of my favorite things to do with them. They are all similar but each one is unique. LOVE! They were so excited about the red glitter noses too!

And one last thing for today. Have you ever heard of Pentatonix? I discovered them a couple years ago and they are an amazing A cappella group. If you like A cappella and Christmas music, order their CD! Little Drummer Boy is my absolute favorite! I have listened to it several times already this year!

Here's the YouTube video...you have to listen. I promise it's worth the few minutes it takes. 

And speaking of music...guess who we are going to see again this year? Yep...Trans Siberian Orchestra. Miranda and Slade are going with us this year. I am so excited! This is hopefully going to be an annual tradition for Joey and I. And I know Miranda and Slade are going to love it as well! I can hardly wait! 

I am so happy you stopped by to visit. I am really trying to get back to posting and visiting more often. I am always so thrilled to hear for all of you and think about you often. If you have an Instagram, come follow me. Just click on the link on the right in the side bar. I would love to follow you and keep up with you there! 

Until next time.....

 

 

Life In Pictures

Hello! How are you? I don't know why I can't seem to blog more than once a month these days, but I really want to try and change that. I have been busy but I would like to find time to post at least once a week. I promise to try! I really haven't had much to share recently so I decided to just share a few things from the past month. 

First up is this adorable little plant stand I thrifted for $2.50. It got a new paint job and now lives in my tiny hall area. 

I have enjoyed spending more time with my beautiful Miranda. It is so nice to have her close again!

We have had some spectacular sunrises over the past couple weeks. I love the drive to work every morning. This one was taken at school on my way inside. So pretty!

I've been trying to walk more in addition to my workouts with my trainer. I am still loving working out and look forward to it. The pooches are loving walking too! I can barely keep up with them and when they see an armadillo....oh my! They almost pull my shoulder out of socket. LOL!

I dressed up as French Toast for our costume parade at school. 

And then that evening, I did a photo booth for our annual fall festival. 

I've done a little thrifting. I am much more selective than I used to be. I try to only buy things I am looking for or know I will use. I have a future project for the hoops. The grey and white background is an ironing board cover. I found the perfect little ironing board to hang in the laundry room.

See...I love it. And, it partially covers the breaker box.

I was thrilled to find another Scrabble game, and the Around the World game seemed like a fun and educational game for kids.

I found a couple like new clipboards...one for home to display prints on in my craft room and one for school. 

I bought this awesome organizer for my classroom. I had been on the lookout for something to keep all my printer papers in and this fit the bill! Super sturdy and cheap...can't beat that!

I gave it a coat of black spray paint and it looks great. The top tray usually holds white printer paper but I used it all up and need to pick up some more. I love that each slot holds an entire ream of paper. 

I've been organizing and rearranging a bit in my craft room and will be sharing an update soon! This was one of my projects.

The hubby and I, along with Sadie and Rooster went for a ride and gazed at the super moon last week. It was so beautiful!

I had a wonderful parent volunteer come in and make Stone Soup (vegetable soup) with my class for Thanksgiving. They absolutely loved it...and so did I! 

I am excited to say at the age of 47, I have finally developed a taste for coffee. I am enjoying trying new creamers. This one is so yummy! The hubby is going to build me a coffee cart like this one Cecilia and her hubby built. I have been wanting to build an industrial style bookshelf for the longest time, so when I saw this, I knew it would be perfect. We have some of the items needed and will pick up the rest soon. 

I have also been enjoying this cup. I am thrilled to have finally found a cup that will keep ice all day. It is amazing! I bought the handle separately and it has been great for transporting it along with my other things back and forth to school every day.

We have had several chilly evenings/nights recently. The pups love laying in front of this little heater.

My most recent thing to share is my niece, Taylor's wedding shower. We did a boho theme and it turned out so cute!

Yummy punch and cake. We did brunch but I forgot to take a picture of the food.

The fruit display turned out beautifully.

As did the cake. My friend Jeana is so talented with food. 

We used mismatched china plates that we collected at thrift stores. We are saving them to use for future events.

Jeana had lots of teacups packed away. She used to collect and display them. Thankfully she kept them. My friend, Heather set up the coffee and hot cocoa station. 

I decorated using a variety of my own decor.

It was such fun and Taylor loved it. I was happy to have the chance to help.

And that is it for now. These were just a few highlights from the past few weeks. I am looking forward to the next several days. Today was day 1 of 9 days off work. I have several things I hope to accomplish during my time off. Decorating for Christmas is definitely on my list. Speaking of Christmas, I opted not to have my ornament exchange this year. I just didn't feel that I had time to dedicate to it. I enjoyed it so very much and am a little sad to not be hosting this year. If anyone wants to host one, I would be happy to participate!

Until next time.....