The Gift of Giving

When my girls were little, a teenager from our church would have them over @ Christmas time and they would make Christmas cookies together. My girls loved and admired Mackenzie and this Mom was thankful to have someone like Mackenzie as a role model to her girls.

So this year it was our turn to start the same ritual. We gathered five little anticipating angels and five amazing teens for an evening of cookie and candy wonderland!

The evening began with pizza ,salad and of course....VEGGIE TALES!!. People run out and purchase this years Christmas Veggie Tales . You will not be dissapointed. They base the whole theme around the spirit of giving. First and foremost the kids were excited to be eating in the living room and then to watch Veggie Tales with teenagers. What more could you ask for?? I think Katie and I laughed more than any of the kids though.

Then the creativity began

Katie decorated sugar cookies with Brea. Ciara and Madison whipped up some amazing mini cupcakes with amazing sprinkles.

Haley, Libby, and Emma dipped pretzels and then swapped out for some white chocolate dipped truffles.

Kyndall (sp?), Schylar and Allison made oreo truffles. Now people if you know Kyndall, you would understand why there are three teens helping Kyndall. (Just kidding Laurie:-))

As we decorated, we talked a little about giving and telling others you love them.

When the cookies were done, we packaged up our treats into little boxes.

Then each angel chose someone in their lives that they wanted to give their boxes of goodness to. It was fun to listen to who they were going to share their treats with.

And here you have it folks, the end result. They enjoyed themselves so much and relationships were bonded and mentors gained. If you're reading this blog, thanks Mackenzie for being such an amazing role model for my girls! It was wonderful to see you at Thanksgiving!

Merry Christmas to you all and let's keep the gift of giving alive!

Blessings

Roxanne

Next Up...The Mantle

Isn't it sad that we have to work for a living?

If I had my way, I would be home for the next couple of days decorating for Christmas instead of WORKING!!

I know, be happy for having a job, right? Right!! I praise the Lord for that! Here are a few glimpses of the beginning of the mantle. My silver deer are from last years after Christmas sales. I think I got them for 90% off.

Be back with more.

Blessings

Roxanne

Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree

La da di da di da da.....

Well the living room tree is complete. I added turquoise this year to the mix of reds and greens and am really happy with how it looks.
Poinsettias are adorned here and there.....

I love these little reindeer! Wish I would have bought more!

All different types of icicles adorn the tree as well.

These turquoise icicles were found in a thrift store @ the bottom of a box of ugly Christmas ornaments. Digging is worth it I tell ya!!

I found these poinsettia leaves @ our local flower shop and thought they too added a pop of color.

I am enjoying every one's Christmas decor and am inspired by them.
Blessings and thanks for stopping by!

Roxanne

1st Christmas Tour

For the longest time I thought there was something terribly wrong with me. You see I love Christmas. No, really love Christmas. I love decorating all year long actually, but I seriously have a Christmas decorating fettish.
And then I met you, my dear blogging friend, and found out I am not alone. One of those wonderful people that share the same love of artisitc expression is Tracey over @Notes From A Cottage Industry. So come along with me as I share with you a few pics of what is done so far in the Philben Christmassy Home!

I love the mercury red candle holders above and decided this year to try to add turquise to my red and green theme and I think it worked! Right in the middle of the candles you will see one of our "away in the mangers". My middle daughter loved nativity sets as a child and asked for away in the mangers for her Christmas gift. We're talking 2 1/2 years old people. Lucky for me that means that I have a little partner in crime when it comes to decorating.

We found these spools of thread @ the thrift store and once again the ladies at the register just nodded their head at me with bewilderment as to what I was going to "knit with all of the thread". It's too pretty to touch I told them. It will sit in an old basket lined with an old Christmas runner in front of the fireplace. Okay they say. :-)

Forgot to turn the lights on in the greenery. Oops. Thinking I need to add some ribbon up here to to add to the look. So little time....

I purchased these wreaths at a high end department store @ 60% off three years ago and usually line the front windows with them. This year I decided to adorn our game boards with them instead. Too crazy? My husbands coffee buddy thinks so. But what do they know? If they had their way everything would be decorated with pheasant feathers and the likes. Hmmm. Come to think of it, I'll have to try that.

I also have found a liking to Christmas trees and here are the ones I have found so far. Silver and sparkly and green and glittery and blue and .... Can't think of anything to go with blue. Please forgive me.

In our main bath you will find chocolate draped with turquise. Man, now I'm hungry. Chocolate is such a wonderful food.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I promise much more to come.

Make sure to head over to Tracey's blog @ http://acottageindustry.typepad.com/a_cottage_industry/ to see so much more Christmassy goodness.

Blessings

Roxanne

Tis the season

I love Christmas!!

It is my favorite time of the year. As we celebrate the birth of our savior, I trully go crazy decorating the home and embracing family and friends during this time. I always begin decorating on Veterans day. All of our christmas decor is in the attic and the family makes a line and down come the containers, boxes and trees. This year is no exception. Lance begins to ask @ the beginning of November when it's gonna start smelling like Christmas? I love that they love it as much as i do. So here is the family Christmas photo for our Christmas cards. We took it out @ the ranch I grew up on on top of a hill out in the pasture. I love how it turned out. Hope you all are enjoying the season as much as we are! And make sure and take time to do something unexpected for someone who has touched your life this Christmas season as this is what the season is all about!

Blessings

Roxanne

Tweedle Deedle Dee!!

Diane over @ http://diane1876.blogspot.com/ is having her 2nd time around party today and i thought I would share my treasures.

Thrifting was good to me this past week. When I was out of town I found this amazing plate that was begging to come home with me. The colors are amazing. It would work in my newly painted dining room, my newly painted bathroom, or my newly painted bedroom. There is a good size chip on the back but I could care less.
It's from Germany and that's about all I know besides I am in love!!
I also found this precious vintage clock. Good day I tell ya!!

Blessings

Roxanne

Where's the 8 ball?

Another junk jaunt goodie. The old tool box and pool balls.

They're sittin in front of my mantle looking all adorable.

Blessings

Roxanne

Auction Treasures

My dear Mom in Law invited me to an auction in her town this past Saturday. Between fulfilling our job as booster vp/concession stand on Friday night and getting laundry (well just life in general) caught up, I didn't make it over until about 1:00. She had already purchased a box of antique Christmas ornaments for me! Yay Mom in Law!! Truly sometimes I think there's someting wrong with me with my love of Christmas and making my home Christmassy. But then I heard my hubby on Saturday comment how he couldn't wait to see the house oozing Christmas so I guess if I am blessed to have a hubby that loves it, I will continue to put up my numerous trees and cover the mantle, the window seals, the table, the... well you get it and I will love every minute of it.
Okay, back to the real purpose for this post. (yes I was blond until I had three kids and poof- it was brown:-)) I had to leave by 2:30 to drive on another hour and a half to volleyball games. I didn't even get to bid on one thing. My pretty bid card #152 went to waste and my arm was so sad not have have been exercised @ all! Yeah yeah, play me the little violin. BUT I had a message on my cell ph one when I once again had cell service from my Mom-in-law telling me to stop by on my way through. And here are the beauts that I now own!

I have a fetish with vintage flower pictures and am about to start covering my hallway walls with all of them. Each piece of art that I have acquired has a story and I will have to do a post on my lovelies.

Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings

Roxanne

More 2009 Nebraska Junk Jaunt

Most of these pics are from the town of Cairo Nebraska. This town was loaded with vendors, visitors and a feeling in the air of pure enjoyment. Love this robins egg blue food mart sign. I would love to have taken it home for my backyard fence.

This is just a look at a corner of the main street of Cairo. Fun benches, more robins egg blue furniture.

A "cowboy coffee pot" as my husband calls them. Lance has one of these in his garage and makes coffee in an old sock in his enamelware. My son and his friends go crazy when the pot goes on the wood stove and starts to percolate.

Just a few watering cans;-)

Another cowboy coffee pot.

linens galore

See the amazing needle point? I have one @ home that I am deciding how and what to do with it.

Old trunk with beautiful aged stenciling.

The greenery on this antique building is amazing!

Last year this is the piece that Mom and i searched for for Moms garden. We found one in Ord for the perfect price. It's now "planted" in her garden and looks amazing. I'll post a pic soon.

Fun old stools.

My Mom-in-law loves antique yard sticks... so took a pic for her.

Then when you were ready to check out, this antique cash register checked you out. Yes it was for sale as well.

These vendors lined both sides of the railroad tracks in Cairo.

Hope I haven't bored you with more pics of junkin. It is absolutely a trip I am already planning for next year. Precious memories.

Blessings

Roxanne