All my wishes for a beautiful holiday to all of you!

Sadly, this holiday season is tainted with the tragedy that took place in Connecticut.  All of my deepest, DEEPEST condolences go out to the families, friends, and neighbors or the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.  In all of the chaos of the holidays, be sure to take at the very least a moment to bask in the warmth of family, old and young, close and not so close, human and furry.  It is our relationships with one another that are the true gifts.

I am so thankful for all of my readers, and I wish you all a healthy, safe, and beautiful holiday!
I plan on taking off next week, so I will be back with you after the New Year.

1. Sweet Paul, 2.-3., House of Fifty

My Christmas Wreath, other people's gorgeous wreaths, and Christmas mantel decorating ideas

Yup - another Christmas decorating inspiration post!  I've gathered up a bunch of wreath and mantel eye candy for you to enjoy!

Love this wreath of Noble Fir and Eucalyptus.  Love this one.
DIY here.

via Martha Stewart

A pretty glittery option - great if you're theme is white and metallics.

via Seasons of Joy

  The above is my first stab at wreath decorating.  After seeing the ones above, I can see I need a little practice, but I love the fuchsia ornaments! I also strung some fake pearls of various sizes together in little clusters, added some battery operated lights, and pinned on a few feathers I found at my parent's farm.  Yes - the greenery is fake, but it's from FMIL, so I had to make sure it was displayed...you know how that goes.

The Holiday Mantel, Demystified
from Eddie Ross for Country Living

The photo below has corresponding numbers with the tips for

1. Work what you've got. Ross started with the accessories that always sit on this ledge: the 1940s clock in the center and the matched pair of hurricanes at either end. 

2. Embrace asymmetrical symmetry. Moving inward from the hurricanes, he added objects that mimic each other, sort of.Note how the candlestick holding the textured gold ball is roughly the same height as the standing reindeer, though their shapes differ. Ditto the prone deer and the brass cup of paperwhites. 

3. Throw a major curveball. Next, Ross introduced items—the framed portrait and loving cup—that don't even pretend to parallel each other. The purpose: Infusing the whole scene with energy 

4. Fill in the blanks. The designer tucked gold garland throughout the arrangement. For a final stroke of genius, he draped glass beads from elk antlers hung on high. "The silver and gold strands help the mixed metals seem intentional," Ross says. 

 In the above photo: Ross purchased the silver-plate hurricanes at Costco, the deer figurines at Michaels, and the stockings on Etsy. The elk antlers are over 100 years old.

via Country Living

Love these canvases on the mantel , especially the one with the lights behind it!
via The Lovely Cupboard

via BHG

via HGTV