Santa Baby, Hurry Down the Chimney Tonight!

Wishing everyone a fabulous Christmas!  Can't wait for Santa to squeeze down my chimney!  

More Hi-Jinx From Elf on the Shelf!

Hot Tamale, our Elf on the Shelf, has already put himself into some compromising positions and he's still up to his antics.

WHHHEEEEE!

Someone needs to tell Hot Tamale that school is cool - check out his answers to those problems!

Needs more peppermint

Rock a Bye Hot Tamale, On the Treetops

A very good year!

Belch!

Come here often?

Baby, it's cold outside!

Newsflash!  
Hot Tamale arrived today wearing a skirt.  After all these years, we finally found out he's a she (don't judge)!

I'm so pretty, oh so pretty ...

If you haven't seen all of Hot Tamale's other crazy situations (like reading the newspaper on the potty and turning the water green), click here to see more of his adventures.

Linking here:
At the Picket Fence
Shabby Creek Cottage
Funky Junk Interiors
Savvy Southern Style
Everything Under The Moon

Stylin' and Profilin' Snow People

Frosty the snowman
Was a jolly, happy soul
With a corncob pipe 
and a button nose ...
Will somebody please stop my horribly out of tune singing!    

These are some of the most stylish snow people (use the politically correct term - they're not just snow men anymore!) that I've seen.  Best part - you can make them yourself if you feel like getting your craft on.

I was watching Emily Henderson's HGTV holiday special where she made snow people out of old globes.  Let me just tell you that she had me at globes!  I have a collection of them and this idea is too cute! Check out how she did it on Emily's site.

How cute is this little twine and button family from Spidatter!

I need to live near the shore - love this sea urchin snow woman from The Space Between!

You've seen my snowy mason jar candles made with epsom salt, now check out this little cutie made with the versatile salts!  Check out how it's done at The V Spot.

Fish bowls turned snow person - what a fantastic idea!  See how Chipping with Charm did it.

Paper Lanterns make an adorable snowman

This is such a fun snow person wreath for the front door

A Frosty Fridge 

Good enough to eat!

These snow milkmen are on my list for the kids table!  

Just in case you want to get a few hundred of your closest friends together for some merry snow people making!  

Here's how I am doing snow people this year!

A bowl full of meringue cookies from Trader Joe's turned into these cute little fellas (the girls added eyes, buttons and carrot nose with a Sharpie).  These will look so cute on the kids table this year!

I love to pull out these snowmen that the girls painted years ago!

And since we won't be having a white Christmas, here's the Snow Cat my girls created during our October freak snow storm!

Linking here

No Minimalist Here
Faded Charm Cottage - White Wednesday
House of Hepworths
Junk in Their Trunk
The 36th Avenue

Feather Trees & Shiny Brites

I adore vintage feather trees which are made of dyed goose feathers and were the very first artificial Christmas trees made to resemble the white pines in the German forest. The feather tree originated in Germany in the 19th Century, and was first created in an attempt to prevent further deforestation.   

Check out the close up of the goose feathers - imagine that poor person who had to attach them!  

Forget about the workers - what about the poor geese!  Look at them - running for their lives from the crazy pluckers!

One problem with buying the vintage trees - they are prohibitively expensive - some going for upwards of $300!  

What's a vintage, feather tree loving girl to do.  Solution, buy the knock offs!  I have two such faux feather trees and I adore them (is it wrong to feel this way about an inanimate object?).  They even came in their cute little copper pots (thanks Home Goods!).  With some tiny vintage ornaments dangling on them, they look fantastic.  A few more Shiny Brites in the pots and done.  

The wide spacing between branches makes them perfect for showing off favorite ornaments!  

These ornaments came from my father-in-law who had a huge collection that he would display on his tree every year.  These were the ones he wasn't using, probably because they are so small, so he gave them to me!   My favorite is the little pink acorn. 

So if you're ever at a yard sale and you spot an old goose feather tree, grab that puppy before I do!

Linking up here
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Home Stories A to Z
Mod Vintage Life
The Shady Porch
Very Merry Vintage Style
Savvy Southern Style 
It's Overflowing
Coastal Charm 
A Stroll Thru Life
Blue Cricket Design
No Minimalist Here
House of Hepworths
Junk in Their Trunk
The 36th Avenue
Between Naps on the Porch
At the Picket Fence
The Shabby Creek Cottage
The Shabby Nest
2805
My Romantic Home
Common Ground
Funky Junk Interiors

The Coolest Christmas "Trees" Ever!

Who says Christmas trees have to be green pyramid shaped evergreens?  Not me!  Here are some fabulously unusual "trees" to get you thinking outside the Christmas tree box!  

I saw book trees the other day at J Crew but this is even better.  Check out the Book Tree at The Rooster and the Hen.

 You've seen my Marshmallow World Wreath, now check out this Marshmallow Tree made by The Creative Imperative!  

I am in love with this Starfish Tree created by Sherry at No Minimalist Here.   

If I start chugging beers right now, I might have enough by Christmas!  Beer Bottle Tree

This is fabulous!  Potted plants tree

They must be on a diet!  Fridge bottles tree

So cute!  Hanger tree

Which way did they go?  Street Sign Tree

Don't let the dog near this one!  Upside Down Tree

Just in case you have a bunch of old tires piling up in your garage!  Tire Tree

What to do with those leftover corks?  Cork Tree

Better eat this one quickly.  Sushi Tree

Then of course, there's my Ladder Tree.  

Do you have a favorite?

Elf on Shelf Gettin' Down with His Bad Self!

Hot Tamale, our Elf on the Shelf, has been making his rounds and showing up in some very unusual places.  Here's what he's been up to!

Gone Fishin'

Rub a Dub Dub, Relaxing in the Tub

Catching Some Rays

Hot Tamale even tried getting a sneak peak into the Advent Calendar!  See how I made it here.

Peeking into the Advent Calendar goodies

Creating a work of art

Watching Real Housewives

How embarrassing! Close the door!

Caught with his hand in the vintage cookie jar

How sweet - mixing up a batch of pancakes!

Where will he appear next?