Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

My Favorite Christmas Song

One of my all time very favorite Christmas songs is 'Do You Hear What I Hear'. Like since I was 12 or 13. I don't know if it's the music, the poetry, or the story. Or if it's a combination. But I do love this song.

I also love Christmas lights. And the synchronized lights are really amazing. I'd love to do that some day. Not that I could do it myself, lol. My kids could could set it up. They are technology geeks (Yay!) and I'm sure they could do it. I was looking at the circuit boards at Radio Shack ;)

Anyway, when I was looking for 'Do You Hear What I Hear' on Youtube, I came across a version with synchronized lights.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!



If I could remove the add on this video I would....but I am not a tech geek ;P

Ho Ho Ho

Our weather has been lovely, with temps in the high 70's and into the 80's (except for tomorrow!)


Who would even know or guess....
that you can find a spider this BIG this time of the year?! But with spring like weather, nothing has really gone into hibernation.

*WARNING* if you have a spider phobia click away now!


Really.

I mean I am giving you a chance to not see the biggest spider you ever saw that wasn't a tarantula or a banana spider.

Click away.

Seriously.

He doesn't look so big and scary here, does he?

You would not believe how difficult it was to put my hand that close to that huge spider. If I could have gotten just a little closer.....he probably would have jumped on me EEEEEEK! And you could see even better just how HUGE it is!

I know this isn't very Christmasy, but this was YESTERDAY right outside the garage back door. I knew I had to share this with you, and grabbed my camera. Oh yeah, and it's a wolf spider.

Hopefully I will be back soon with something pleasant to share with you!

Happy Ho Ho Holidays!

Sandy Hook Prayer Chain

Pray for those affected by this tragedy.

A Simple Wreath

I have had some grapevine wreaths hanging around for years, and finally used one for a wreath.

I spray painted the wreath white, painted my rope gray, and glued a couple of my painted starfish on it.

I applied a coat of glitter dust, but it doesn't show well in pictures.

Everything I used was already something I had....nothing new here.

I can add to it....

or leave it as is. I can enjoy it all year, not just for the holidays!

A Coastal Christmas

Oh shelling Del, oh shelling Del,
how does your decorating go?

With silver bells, and cockle shells

And pretty angles in a row.

I thought of the 'Mary Mary' rhyme when I put the bells and cockles together, lol! With a few changes it totally fit! heheheee :)

I also made a few changes in my decor....like adding the silver bells.

And replacing my white branches in this with some silver flower picks, and some sparkly aqua balls and accents.

I used some of my aqua accents and silver flowers from last year, just in a different place. I'm keeping my East Coast Meets West Coast theme. I love the pinecones mixed in with the shells!

These scallop shell salt and pepper shakers were a vintage find on Etsy :)

I picked up the white conch shell shakers at Bealls Outlet on clearance!

I like this much better than the branches. The icicles kept weighing the branches down until it spread over nearly the entire table. I wouldn't have had anywhere to put the FOOD. Although, this will probably be moved Christmas Eve anyway....to the double dolphin table with the mer-couple on it.



Since I have an abundance of buttercups from Clearwater, and Caladesi Island, I dressed up an old garland.

THIS is the TRUE color of my walls!!!!

More seashells and pinecones....

and seashells....

and pinecones....

BIG pinecones!

I spent under $10 adding little things to my decor, and used what I had on hand. I did another wreath project spending no money at all.

But that is another post!

Blogger friends, blogger friends,
How does your decorating go?

Priceless! or Refurbishing Old Decorations

Happy Monday morning!

I'm really hoping to get back into the swing of things this week! I've been a little under the weather, and such a shame because our weather has actually been quite spectacular. How could someone get sick as beautiful as it has been??? Well, I managed to do it just fine, lol. Being forced to stay home and 'rest' has been a good thing, though. I've gotten some things accomplished :D

I've been taking apart some shabby old decorations and refurbishing them. This wreath is ancient. I couldn't tell you how long I've had it. The same with the flowers, which were in an arrangement. I tore the wreath apart, tore the flowers apart, and started putting them together.

Of course I had to add in my sea elements. Some pretty shells and sponge finished this off perfectly.
Well, perfectly for me!

I spent absolutely nothing making this wreath! Nada, Zip, Zilch.... and I love it! Sometimes the best things don't have to cost a fortune. It's the love and care that go into them that make them special. Taking something old and making it new again.....Priceless......literally!

I'll see you soon with more 'priceless' decorations!

Do you like to renew your old decorations?

A Rainbow of Color and Shells

Let's pretend that these are really good pictures, ok. I know they are terrible. I have much to learn about my new camera. UGH.

These are some cute little tiny shell filled bottles on colored leather that I made for a 'cheap' item for my show booth. When I get better photos I'll put them in my Etsy.

These are some of the worst product photos I've ever taken...and I used to be a really bad photographer. I can't even pretend these are good lol!

These suck so bad I ordered a refurbished Nikon point & shoot for $50. They were display cameras and some that were ordered new and never picked up, or returned. So, practically brand new. It should be here tomorrow :)

The necklaces are really cute in person. The shells are very very small.

This camera refuses to let me shoot in macro. Boy I need to read that book again, and make my cheat sheet! And read more of my bookmarked pages on photography settings. This camera better rock the parade on Saturday, and the scrimmage on Sunday!

I'll be back when I have some crisp clear pics to share with you....no matter what they are of!

Sneak Peek

I'm so sorry to have to subject you to me learning a new camera :(
But it is what it is.

I'm actually thinking of making a little cheat sheet with the settings on it :P
At least until I learn them all. I have already deleted the blurs, or most of them anyway.

Sooooo until I figure this lil Fuji out, bear with me....

my walls are much more of a coral or pink grapefruit tone, not this pumpkin orange!

 Hubby put the mini Santa hat on the mermaid lol. He thought I would take it down, but I'm leaving it.
It came from a little stuffed Kermit the Frog the kids got at McDonald's MANY years ago. During the summer when our granddaughter was here (she's 13) she asked me why none of my mermaids wear tops. I told her that REAL mermaids DON'T wear tops LOL!!!!! I'm pretty sure she rolled her eyes at me :D

Remember my tablescape last year? I'm still working on it, and I added the blue glitter icicles to my branches.

I'm still working on this...my stockings keep falling off no matter what tape or adhesive strips I use.
Last year the stockings hung behind the tree.

A good friend gave me some garlands, and I added some of my Giant Atlantic Cockles to it to make it fit my theme.

I love this!

I have some more garlands to adorn with shells, too.

This is a little different from last year, also.

 

I did take some close ups of my tree, but they were horrible. I will get better pics! Kyle had the blinds closed because he was playing a video game. It makes a world of difference having them open, let me tell ya! Next time...!

I will be working on getting this wrapped up TODAY! I want it done, and I want my craft room back. I have crap everywhere! So much that I have no space to work :(

Are you decking the halls and walls? Are you finished? I sure wish I was!