3 Things...

Ok... this post is about 3 totally unrelated things....

Today my Dad & I took the changing table out of Madalynn's room (I had wanted to keep it until she was about 5 so I don't have to chase her around the house to get her dressed but alas that was not meant to be).  It's one more baby thing that it's time to let go of.  The reasoning for doing it is really motivated in further toddler proofing her room now that she has free reign to get in & out of bed.  She has climbed on the 2 bottom drawers twice (that I know of), and they had become pretty non functional, which was a big frustration to me.  She has a lovely dresser, with drawers that work (and more of them)painted to match her room (I'll have to work on some fabulous perhaps decoupaged knobs after Christmas).  It will be nice to have all the extra drawer space, and get her clothes more organized... I was starting to go a bit crazy.

So since my last post I've become obsessed with looking at all the other beautiful homes on the tour decorated so lovely for Christmas (there are now over 1000 posts).  I've gotten lots of inspirational ideas from what I've seen, that I'm hoping I'll remember next year.  I need to make a list.  I'm also struggling (as part of my nature) not to feel bad about my home & decorations.  This is my human nature.  Thankfully the Lord reminds me of several things... the decorations aren't what it's about... to Madalynn they're magical... that's all that matters.  Additionally as I mentioned I've gotten some fabulous ideas... many of which are free (use what I already have) or VERY inexpensive.  So I've made a few updates to the decor I want to share...

I ALWAYS wanted to have a window over my sink in my kitchen, and this house I have it...so I realized this window was SCREAMING for some decoration... so garland, red beads, a couple cranberry wreaths, and I have a window dressing.  The only thing I had to buy were the wreaths (which were 1/2 off at Michael's so I think they were about $3.and are actually garland I just didn't unwrap).  The 18 feet of garland I spent half an hour wrapping lights around only to discover the lights didn't work... LESSON learned so another 1/2 hour unwrapping those lights, and putting on new ones... we have this...

The window at night...

I also found these adorable ornaments at Target today (.99 for a pair!!)... so I have these hanging on the knobs of my kitchen cabinets... I LOVE the white & red together...

 

Two more free projects...

a vase I already had filled with ornaments & ribbon I already had( I adore RIBBON).

My light fixture in my dining room with some greens I cut off the tree, and some extra ornaments hanging from it...although part of me thinks it needs some ribbon too...

Also, thanks to Ga-Ga... what would Christmas be without Snoopy & Woodstock...

I also forgot this in my first post...our advent 'wreath' my Mom gave us last Christmas... while I know Madalynn doesn't 'get' our nightly reading with the lit candles, she thinks blowing them out is the big fun, it's a tradition I've begun that I know will take root in her heart.

The third random thing is just some Madalynn love...

This picture you can really see her chipped front tooth... I think I forgot to blog how at my Grandmother's funeral she was running with her cousins, and ran full speed head on into a mirror...

 

I'm really trying to not get stressed out in the final days leading toward Christmas (my lists have lists), and just enjoy this time.