Winter White Mantel

Another holiday season has come and gone.  Seriously?  I swear it just goes faster and faster each year.  That being said, I kind of couldn't wait to take down the Christmas decorations.  It wasn't that I didn't like them, it was more of the fact that the house was starting to feel cluttered, especially in the living room with the tree.  

I waited until New Year's day to start the demolition, but once I started, I was on a mission.  I started by pulling everything that was purely Christmas and boxing it up.  I was already feeling a little better.  The trouble with Christmas is that there's a fine line with what is Christmas and what is just "winter".  For example, a snowman holding a sign that says Happy Holidays is Christmas.  But just a plain old snowman - winter.  

I knew I wanted to do a simple winter white mantel.  I already had some pieces I wanted to use, but felt something was missing.  I really wanted a bell jar and was lucky enough to find exactly what I was looking for at the Christmas Tree Shop.  I filled it with two decorative wicker balls I already had and then added some silver and white candles, a snow globe, and vase to the mantel.  

Once I had this, I needed a centerpiece.  I of course kept the shutter and mirror I use every season, but I needed something else to tie it all together.  I had found a driftwood wreath at the consignment shop in town a few months ago for only $12, but it was a little too summery.  I ended up taking a gray ribbon I had saved from a Christmas gift, wrapped it around the wreath, and tied a bow on top.  It immediately took the wreath from summer to winter.  The final touch was  candle on top of a Bath and Body Works stand Dan got me for Christmas.

I really like the crisp, white look of this mantel, and I think the transition to spring will be simple.  As for the blanket ladder in the corner, I switched out the red plaid tablecloth I was using as a throw for a white one.  

In the kitchen, I just updated the shelf in between the windows and door.  I kept the mugs I had out at Christmas and added a few odds and ends to winterize it.  I've started to utilize the top of the shelf which is something I've never really done before.  I like how it gives me a little more space to add some of my favorite things, but doesn't overwhelm the shelves. 
  

And finally, in the mudroom, I just added some fake snow to the top of the chimney with our welcome sign, a snowman, and mini tree.  Simple and cute.

The rest of the house is back to typical decor which I'm ok with.  I'm already starting to think of spring and especially warmer weather!

Be well,

Little House Love

Laura: And I've decided something.

Pa: What's that Half Pint?

Laura: Home is the nicest word there is.

When I was growing up, my mom would beg me to watch one of her favorite television shows, Little House on the Prairie, with her.  Every time it was on, she'd tell me how much I would love it and just to give it a chance.  Being the stubborn child I was, I refused at first.  Why would I want to watch a show about the 1800's?  I had zero interest.  Then one day, tired of her nagging (I guess that's where I get it from!), I finally gave in and sat down to watch an episode with her.  And I was hooked.

I quickly fell in love with everything Little House.  I was enamored with the life of horse-drawn wagons, one-room schoolhouses, bonnets, and Sunday dresses.  It was fascinating to me that the townsfolk had only one store to shop at and that a simple trip into the city could take up to a week. 

For Mom and I, Little House became our thing.  The show was on at 9:00 and 10:00 every morning, so whenever I didn't have school, I'd head into Mom's bedroom, claim my spot on the floor in front of the tv, and we'd watch.  At one point, it was even on two different channels at the same time, so we'd pick which episode we liked better.  We watched every single episode of every season, multiple times.  In fact, we loved it so much that we bought the VHS tapes, the books (although I can't remember if we ever actually read them), and anything else we could find.  I even had a Little House cookbook and Mom would make beef stew just like Ma did.  And we became obsessed with anything lemon verbena scented. 

Not only did Mom and I share a love for the Ingalls family and a disdain for mean old Nellie Oleson, but it was a way for us to spend time together.  I didn't realize it at the time, but for my mom to share a show she loved when she was younger with her daughter must have been really special for her.  

When Mom first became sick, she would stay home and watch Little House whenever it was on.  Now that she's in a nursing home, we'll put it on if we catch it, and I can tell she's watching.  I've even started reading the books out loud to her when it's just her and I alone in her room.  And this summer, I found a lemon verbena scented candle at Bath and Body Works, so I knew I had to get it.

This past weekend, I popped in the first season I had picked up on DVD awhile ago.  My husband starting watching it with me.  After the first episode, he asked if we could watch another.  He liked it too.  When I asked him a few days later why he liked it so much, his anwer was simple, "Because you and your mom love it."

Be well,