Winter decor

I took down Christmas today - but a couple of items ( ok - quite a few items ) are staying up for just a little longer...............
All the garland is down - the tree is laying outside on its side like yesterday's garbage ( why does that bother me, it's a tree, but it does ) most of the glitter is packed away -
But here and there, I've left reminders of my favorite holiday - masked as winter decor but you and I know that it's only because I want to hang on a little longer.
I don't decorate for Valentine's day - at all - nada - zilch - a big fat zero - so I feel entitled - I don't even decorate for Easter - except maybe a tablescape - so this is my last big hurrah as far as celebrational ( is that a word ? ) decorating goes........................so for a little while my mantel will look like this

because nothing - and I mean nothing - says winter like a pair of snowy penguins - and some blue and silver berries - I buy three of everything normally - because in my OCD brain they represent my 3 kids - one of
my girlfriends fell in love with the penguins last year so I gave her one to take home - and I NEED IT BACK
IT'S MAKING ME CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh wait - the penguins can be John and I - just thought of that as I was typing actually -

hmmmm, something doesn't look right - not a true representation -

there that's better - recognize us now?

and if  Danni ( who took down Christmas on the 26th I believe )
can have this gorgeous display in her house still

gorgeous or what?  John can you get another pallet from Home Depot please?

then I - I who would love to keep it up all year round - am certainly entitled to keep these on the mantel

and I suppose a glittery star can be used at any time of the year, right?

star light
star bright
first star I see tonight
I wish I may
I wish I might
have the wish I wish tonight

I'm wishing all of you the most relaxing weekend - now that all the hooplah seems to have died down

Sharing with:

Funky Junk Interiors
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2013/01/sns-169-winter-decorating.html
Keeping it Simple
http://www.keepingitsimplecrafts.com/2013/01/motivate-me-monday-155.html
Cedar Hill Ranch
http://www.cedarhill-ranch.com/2013/01/cowgirl-up-48-with-guest-host.html

More Glitz anyone?

Hi Everyone!
Are your wallets depleted yet?  Mine is ( well mine was depleted when this business of ours became a victim of the economy - but this too shall pass - and I don't want to cry " poor me " so..........................)
I was frugal this year with decorations - and Frugal and I have never been friends - I just never knew the art of trying to save money - I was a shopaholic until this happened - but you learn as you go - and I am so proud of me I can't tell you!
I didn't buy one decoration this year - not one!  That must be a first - so far the only cost has been the tree and some potted greenery to sit on the veranda Christmas eve.
Now to be perfectly honest - and I guess I should be - the shopaholic days have left me with an over the top
abundance of Christmas stuff - so I didn't have to dig too deep really - but still - did I mention that I didn't buy one decoration this year?
I had tons of this glittery and pearl garland that I used to crown the top of the beadboard in my hallway

What to do with them this year to change things up? ( and also because I was really too lazy to attach them to the beadboard - a lot of work actually because they had to be pinned into place every few inches )
I just strung them into glass vases and a wine glass
and topped them with spray painted pine combs

they sit on top of my secretary - which is place in a little niche between the dining room and living room
( this month anyway - it goes from my bedroom to this spot quite regularly )

an antique leaded glass window I purchased many years ago rests on the other side - with silver leaves - a star and a Christmas card....................

Isn't the card beautiful?  It comes from John's son in England - that is the only sad part of Christmas with our blended family - one is always missing -

I hung a sparkly wreath over the mirror that rests on this secretary

Someone remarked last Christmas that it was like walking into an Ice Castle -
I like that - since I've always believed that I was meant to live in a castle - honestly - I did the
test once - I put a pea on my bed and I COULD FEEL IT - ( I didn't put it under the mattress - just
rested it on the bed, but still, it was very uncomfortable) So for a few weeks every year I get to live in a miniature one - and once Christmas Eve arrives and all the kids show up - I truly am a blessed princess - living in my Castle.

I wrote a poem once - which is framed and sits on  my sideboard normally - I can't find it now because everything was moved for the holidays
But I know it by heart.....................

" SET YOUR TABLE FOR KINGS AND QUEENS
  LET GOOD FOOD AND MUSIC ABOUND
  FOR WE ARE SURROUNDED BY ROYALTY
  WHEN FAMILY AND FRIENDS SIT DOWN "

And there is nothing more royal then having those we love fighting over drumsticks - really - there's nothing like it at all.................................
Life is good - even when it isn't
Life is really good.

Much love,