Christmas in July/Aug (Day#4) Family Room

Well we are finally back from vacation (after
almost 3 weeks) & ready to continue our
home tour..Christmas in July/Aug
(Day #4) Family Room...

We start off at the focal point (the
fireplace/w handmade stockings,
wooden handmade Girl & Boy Angels,
handmade wreath/garland w/mini
lights, & homemade cat w/oval
patchwork quilt

Next is our 2nd full-size tree..This is our
down-home handmade-ornaments..mostly tree..
This is one of the Best Frugal buys..I've ever
made.. Reg. Price $200. I think its about 7 1/2'
tall (w/lights included) I got it after
Christmas for $20 @ Target..

It's only 3 pieces & pretty easy to put together...
Love it..as I do with what is under it..our sweet
cat "Ellie"

BELOW: Are blocks that I love to make & sell. Believe, Noel, Joy....

BELOW: This is one of my favorite things

to make/sell...Wise Men Still Seek Him..

on a charger..Self explanatory!!

BELOW: This is a wooden vinyl sign

w/overlay..I love 2 for 1 stuff!!

"Home..Where our story begins"

Isn't that the truth!!!

BELOW: A great little accent for

any room..Vinyl Stackers..w/a bow

to boot! "Happy Holidays" I have

these all over the house with great

different sayings....

BELOW: This is on top of our TV..

a series of Trees I painted white &

put gold glitter/bows on...Then I

had different colored glittered

reindeer's..I love the look..

And Last..BELOW: I love this that

I make/sell...And the stockings were

hung...includes 2 stockings!! For info

on any of the items I make/Sell..email me

@ santasgiftshoppe1@hotmail,com

Hope you had as much fun as I did
showing you around my home & ideas
I shared with you...Let me know what
you think!! We will continue in a few days...
stay tuned...

Christmas in July (Tour day #2/Kitchen/Fast/Easy Tips)

Continuing on with our Christmas in July
Tour Day 2..we are entering the Kitchen
where I smell Gingerbread baking in the
oven...Can you smell it??? In the above
photo we are looking back into the Living
room..Notice the applique "Noel" wall
hanging on the entryway into the kitchen.
I have had that for many yrs. & love the
memories every time I put it up.

Upon entering the kitchen the china hutch has

my Christmas Village collection of dinnerware

that is so festive. Tip: An easy thing to dress

up your hutch is get a garland & wrap tiny

lights around it..Gives great atmosphere...

(especially when the lights are off)

Here is one of my favorite kitchen

wood pieces. It had counted cross-stitch

hearts in the four doors..However to

update my kitchen this yr. I replaced

them with black/white polka dots (but

always have the option of putting my

cross-stitch back. Easy to remove &

change fabric.

(Above photo) Favorite Tea kettle of all time..

I found @ a craft fair..if I ever find red tea kettles

I will make these to sell. Great decor item in the

kitchen!

I also love Christmas plaid & Carolers of any kind.

She's my kitchen Caroler. (Above)

Did I tell you I have a Gingerbread Wall? I

love anything Gingerbread..especially these cute

little dolls..and the one with the chef's hat holds

plastic bags! I also love quilts, wall hangings, &

hearts!

The Gingerbread people have even invaded the

top of my Refrigerator & Microwave!! Oh..By the

way....I did mention that THIS HOME BELIEVES..

Didn't I?

(Above) is the Stackables (Misletoe/Candycanes/

Sugarplums that I sell at my Santa's Gift Shoppe

Boutique..in Dec. 2010

(Below) is a picture of the Christmas

Countdown Calender I made and sold

a few yrs. back.

FAST/EASY TIP for the Kitchen: Just

replace your cutains with Red ones..What

a difference it makes..I change them for

my "Santa's Gift Shoppe Boutique

(I have in my home every 1st Fri/Sat

in December) & leave them up til after

New Year's..

ANOTHER FAST/EASY Kitchen TIP:

Just change your stool seat covers to

something Christmasy! And garland

around the breakfast bar/with red

bows doesn't hurt either!!

Remember my POST a few months back..where I

reupholstered 4 kitchen chairs for $1.25 each? Well

for these kitchen bar stools it was probably even

cheaper!!

I hope you have enjoyed the 2nd day tour & have

picked up some inspiration or Quick Tips for your

Family/Home. Next...The Family Room/Fireplace...

Hope you'll join us...Ya'll come back now..hear?

"CHRISTMAS IN JULY"/GIVEAWAY

WELCOME to "CHRISTMAS in JULY" @ my home.
We are going to start the month off with a "Home Tour"
of sorts.

But before we get started if anyone is here for
the ITALIAN STONE GIVEAWAY Click HERE
& it will take you to enter the Giveaway....

We will be going through the house as if we
were a guest..Consider yourself as my
Honored guest!

So the first thing we see is the PORCH...I really
want people to feel a Warm Welcome as they
approach my home. (Usually there is something
baking in the oven & the smells hopefully will make
your mouth water)...

This Santa I made @ a Beverly's Christmas

Workshop with a wonderful friend teaching us

how to paint them.

A few yrs. ago I was in Target & found this darling

"Welcome to the Warming House" sign & thought

"I know right where that will go!" The Snowmen

caught my eye in Walmart about 10 yrs. ago. & they

are a darling pair on the window sill each year!

The standing Santa alot of us women

made for Super Saturday at church

(when it was August or Sept. yrs. ago) The

lantern I just love because of the English

"Dickens" feel it gives to the porch.

I love cute signs..This one says "Home baked

Cookies", Hugs and Kisses, & "Lots of Giggles"...

And then there's Santa's mailbox which of course

says "Ho Ho Ho"...

Upon entering the house you probably smell

Cinnamon Rolls coming out of the oven..That happens

alot in this home. Then to your right are collections..

Does anybody else have alot of collections that they

have started over the years??? This started out as

my mother's little ski village 40 yrs ago. & now it

takes up 3 long Living room tables.

Do you see the Chalet in the back? My daughters

lovingly got that for me because I really liked the one in

"Christmas Vacation" & everybody should have a

wonderful "Advent" calender to countdown for Christmas!

I love all the village people & the square..

Sorry the next two are so blurry!!!

This is part of my Angel Collection.

I love my Nativity Collections of all

styles & sizes.

I got this Nativity in Australia 35 yrs.ago

And the beautiful velvet angel @ Costco a

number of yrs. back.

Costco was a great place to find the Caroler's I had

always wanted.

Another Caroler only she is holding a light..Would you

believe another find @ Costco about 25 yrs ago?

All my fellow buddy Teddy Bears &

Santa from "Polar Express" Don't you

just LOVE that movie??? Do you have a

"BELIEVE BELL?" I do..I make them to

sell @ my Christmas Boutique & "I hear the

BELL..Do YOU?

I really Love Christmas Trees.
All styles & shapes.

Below is my "Atonment Tree" sharing

the Best Reasons for the Season!
Inspired by a lovely gracious friend who

had one in her house & I thought that was

an inspirational idea!!! The PRESENTS

& GIFTS which are freely given to each

of us are THE ATONMENT, HOPE, JOY,

& LOVE..

This is one of my Favorite & Best Christmas Sellers

I make each year for the Santa's Gift Shoppe

Boutique I have in my home. Little tip: Just place

mini lights behind the glass & you have a beautiful effect.

One of my favorite things to make/sell & have in

my Home all year long...."Christ is the center of the

HOME, a guest at every meal, and a quiet listener

to every conversation." There is Peace & Harmony
more..just having this saying in our home.

I hope you have enjoyed our Christmas Tour

of the first room (our living room) & have gotten

some inspiration for your own "Christmas Home"

(If there is anything that I make/sell & you

would like to order..just let me know by email)

Christmas Morning Casserole

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!! Hope you are
having a wonderful time with family & friends.

Christmas morning is always special & so I
thought I'd give you a Christmas Breakfast
casserole you can make the night before.

Recipe

1 (12oz.) pkg. sausage
3 cartons fat-free egg product or 6 eggs
1/2 sour cream
1 1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1 tsp. minced onion
3 cups cubed french bread
4 oz. (1 cup) shredded sharp cheddar or mixed cheese
paprika (optional) just sprinkle on top

Directions
1) Spray 13"x 9" pan with Pam. Cook sausage til pink is
gone & drain well..set aside.

2) In large bowl combine egg product, sour cream, dry
mustard & onion; blend well. Stir in bread cubes, cheese,
& sausage. Pour into sprayed dish; sprinkle w/ paprika.
Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 4 hrs. or
overnight.

3) Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Uncover dish; bake 40-50
minutes or until center is slightly puffed & knife inserted
comes out clean.

The above photo shows it after it has come out
of the oven & cut....It needed something...so you
can keep it as is with the recipe above or you
can do what I tried...

The photo below shows what I added...hash browns
on top with some shredded mixed (4 Mexican) cheeses

I think it tasted better....Your choice...Have a great
Christmas Breakfast & rest of the day!!!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all
of you.... Thank You for your continuing support

of this blog & Santa's Gift Shoppe & Ideas.....
I hope we have helped you with some recipes/or
ideas with your celebrations during this past year!!!
We hope to bring you many more in 2010!!!

Plus more GIVEAWAYS!!!!!