Christmas Mantel Mania

I want to start out by saying, that well.. I'm not gonna lie. I had my mantel garland up a week or so before Thanksgiving. I just couldn't wait. Sue me.

Everything else on the mantel, that I waited for. I couldn't get it just right. The candle holders on each end throw it off. But I don't have any extra paint to cover the gaping holes that will be there if I were to take them out. And, the argument I'd have with my husband over it just wasn't worth it at the moment. 

:) 

Okay, glad I got that off my chest. Now I knew I was going to stick with muted golds and silvers from last year. I got the bulbs at the dollar store and I absolutely love them! They aren't a yellowy gold, but a pretty soft warm gold. Mmmm feels like Christmas. I threw in some pine cones, berries, and things of that nature..(Haha).

For the top of the mantel fantel I had a little help from the thriftstore and TJ Maxx..

And, my awesome photographer Jen who was awesome and took our family photo in the nick of time. Look, no glare! I skipped the glass and put the huge picture in my 16x20 clearance frame from Hobby Lobby and used the cardboard from the packaging for the back. Done and done. 

Since the whole thing is so monochromatic I wanted to use lots of textures. Case in point the books which are just too sweet with their library stickers still on them. The rough burlap and jute wrapped around my smooth spray painted vase, gold berries and a few scattered ornaments with different sheen's. Love.

I scored these two beaded trees for pennies at TJ Maxx and I couldn't be happier with them! They're the perfect color and add some great height. It also plays nicely with the little glittered Happy Holidays sign I threw up there doesn't it?

My mantel and I had a photoshoot. This girl can work the camera, look at her pose.

I'm cheesy mc. cheeserson today by the way. Can you tell? 

Oh and since we don't have a mantel obviously and it's hanging above our retro non-flatscreen tv and book shelf I added the vase and sticks for some height on the other side. I'd love to put another bookshelf there but the door barely opens as it is. Boo. Kinda cute, kinda funky, kinda like someone just sat a random vase on a milk crate and called it a day, wait..what? :)

So there's my nature meets glitter mantel. My woodsy glamor..glitzy camping.. gold and glitter and pine cones oh my! How about a sneak at the tree too?

Linking up to Layla's party, along with the rest of blog land! :)

Cleaning spree..

Okay, I promise not to mention what holiday I've been in the mood for lately.... Ahem..

But I will mention that my mother took the girls tonight so that I could have a night of fun.. And, by fun of course I mean shampooing the carpets.. Cleaning behind the t.v stand and organizing the cords back there. Hello fire hazard! I'm also giving my couch a bleach bath and listening to some Christmas music.


So while I'm cleaning and not putting up my garland ...No of course not. I wanted to pop in and say I'm giving away a Santa key over at Kimmie's place.

Go show some love and win a pretty ornament/ childhood memory for your children. Okay? And, better yet-- The Sodderbug giveaway is still going on here. So much fun stuff.. Maybe tomorrow I'll show you what's on my mantel... Or not, if it's too soon... :)

Sodderbug Giveaway!

I have a special little giveaway for you friends! The super sweet and talented Janelle is the newest sponsor over here at Fingerprints and she wanted to kick things off with a giveaway! Awesome right?

 
Janelle's shop Sodderbug is the place to go for custom charms that are distinctive, unique accessories that let you remember an important person, quote, or even team, wherever you go. :) How sweet huh?! I have a Sodderbug charm from forever ago and I still love it! It has my blog button on one side and a picture of my girls on the other. Absolutely lovely!

Today she's offering up one custom charm to a lucky reader here! Random.org will pick the winner and you'll be able to email the two pictures (or blog button like I did) you want and your address and you're done! Simple simple! Plus, it's mighty close to Christmas, you could also go ahead and snatch some up for someone special. She's got great prices for a custom piece! I know a lot of Grandmas that would adore something like this.

How to enter

1. Leave a comment letting me know what you'd put on your custom charm. 
2. Follow Fingerprints on the Fridge
3. Blog, tweet, facebook about the contest
4. Because I'm in the spirit, your favorite Christmas movie. 

Easy peasy! Just be sure to leave them in all separate comments so it's a little easier for random.org to do it's job! ;)

Rachelle's Favorites.. :)

 I figured even if I'm late it'd be fun to join the party over at Melissa's place! Woohoo, I'm loving going through the lists of everyone's favorite things!

First things first.. I wake up and crave some of this, even if it's super horrible for me and is probably rotting my teeth. MMM.. I need it though! Need

This print! Well, anything this fantastic woman does is golden but as much as I complain about my little mitten of a state and the 8 out of 12 months that are cold..and sometimes covered in white.;) I do love it.. A little.. Shh.. I'd hang this proudly in my house. 

And, a few things on T.V right now.. Not going to lie, when it's bedtime and I can catch up on my DVR.. it's these. No cartoons, no rhyming, no counting, no songs.

 Um, did you see the season finale for Weeds Monday? Oh.my.gosh.

 

 These are on my Christmas list, oh how I love them so. I like comfort, and being comfortable to me isn't wearing heels and toting around a two year old and a five year old...in the snow. These are awesome. If you want to buy them for me, go right ahead. I'll send you my address! ;)

Oh, and these blogs I just found a while ago.. It's not quite stalker status.. But close.

Kidding..

Kind of.

Definitely on my favorites list.

Jones design company 

House*Tweaking

Life in the fun lane

 
 Christmas music! I just bought this CD at the store the other day and I love it. It has two seperate cd's one with oldies but goodies and the other is classic songs with singers from now.

(Except, if you happen to get this and plan on rocking out to it with your kids, you might want to pass by number 14 on it. Because, well.. Miss Gaga, I don't want my kids telling people that taking off their stockings is the way to spread Christmas cheer. Ahem. Please stick to the original lyrics, I can enjoy my Christmas better without edits, thank you. )

But the rest of the songs are classics! I promise.

Love it.

And, speaking of Christmas.. which makes me smile.. Smiling's my favorite. 

 Source

Feature yourself Friday!

Hello again! Welcome to the best part of the week. Feature Yourself Friday! It's a chance for you to shine in the spotlight and feature your favorite post/project/picture....whatever floats your boat of the week! Everyone needs their time to shine and this is it! We had a freakin' awesome week last week.. So many awesome turnouts.

LOVE the color on this desk, and the knobs, and everything. *Swwooon*

This reminds me so much of our wedding cake. I love fun cakes. 

If I had room for a ladder in my house, I'd totally do this.

What an adorable nursery. The colors are fab, don't you think?

Everyone knows Karla's blog is amazing, but have you seen her door!? Whew.

Your turn! Ready..set..go!

Christmas tablescapes

Yes, this is a semi-old post but it's Christmas themed and pretty awesome..  Rhoda is having a vignette party and well, I can't miss a party. So this is whatchya gettin'. :) 

So during my "I didn't win the contest pity-party" the other night, I decided to knock it off, chin up and keep myself busy instead of being miss gloomy pants who isn't getting a new basement. Boo..

But, Thank YOU! ladies who voted and sent me such nice emails and comments. You, my friends rock.

Right, table scapes.. So I started on these centerpieces and if you were with me on facebook that night, I just started posting them with my phone. :) I figured I could take some blog-quality photos and go ahead and show ya'll (Oh yes, yes I did just go there.)

Everything that I used was something I already had. There was no buying of anything new since it was a spur of the moment anger project. ;) Kidding. Kind of. Oh! And, I'm well aware that the chargers are coming off the table. If I were really going to set the stage I'd add the leaf to the table but can I tell you a secret? I'm super lazy and it was about three feet to far away from me to go grab it and snap it on. :)

The runners? My scarves. Yup, and why not? They're pretty and the brown one is way too long to wear.

The blue and white stripped one I was actually wearing before I put it together. :) I needed something to go with the theme, and stripes do it for me.

Can you guess what this one was? 

12 Days of Christmas! It's actually my favorite even though it doesn't make much sense to anyone unless I explain it.

Pear tree? 

Bird? 

Maids a'Milking? Ball Jars scream milk to me, no? 

Well kind of. 

Five Gold rings? Well I don't have that but I do have 5 gold ornaments. :) 

Anyways, it's kind of crazy, kind of cute and I like it.  

This one didn't exactly fit the bill, too many of the same colors going on. I don't know what I was doing here, but you can see it anyway. I really wanted to use the vintage milk carrier but wouldn't you know nothing fits in it. Of course.

So these are just a little bit o' fun, and I figured they might inspire someone to decorate for Christmas even if it is a week before Thanksgiving. You have my stamp of approval. ;)

Bedroom built-ins

We have these awesome built-ins in the girls bedroom that have been a blessing for adding a little more floor space in the room. Which is a must in a tiny room with two twin beds! They're pretty plain jane but I wanted to snazz them up a bit. Enter-- Vinyl lady Dawn. She seriously rocks my socks. I emailed her and told her what I wanted and in a few days it was on my doorstep and ready to go. 

Shhhwweet! 

I'm hoping that the words help with the girls reading, not to mention where things go! Everything else like shirts and dresses go in their closet, which is actually a good size considering the year the house was built. :)

I also plan to change out the pulls on them and put some pretty knobs on the two top drawers. I'm thinking these from Target. But, at 10.99 for two.. Eight drawers.. Whew. :) It may be a minute. But it'll sure be pretty!