Happy New Year Everyone!
I've been easing into this new winter season and this new year slowly,... I think we can all use a little slower pace of life, after the Christmas Season, don't you think? I've been getting things done a little at a time, and trying to take it easy as much as I can. I'm one to be able to do a lot at one time, and I can usually rise to whatever occasion that comes my way, and usually get it all done, but then it all catches up with me, it seems, and then I need a time to rest, recover and recoup, so I've been doing some of that lately, along with taking down Christmas decorations.
The day after Christmas, much of the Christmas decor, (like Santas ect), came down in the living room, kitchen and dining areas, but we left the Christmas trees up for a little while longer to enjoy some Christmas Afterglow. I love the Christmas Afterglow. I first heard that term in my Thomas Kinkade Christmas Devotional Book years ago, and the idea stuck. I love that time of the year between the day after Christmas through New Year's Day and I love to continue enjoying our Christmas tree through New Year's Day.
On January 2nd, the Christmas trees came down, along with the sitting room Christmas decor. It always feels a little sad at first to take down the trees, and put the things away, but then after they are down, it feels like a breath of fresh air....a fresh new start in a brand new year. I've slowly added some things around our home here and there this first week of January to cozy things up, I've wanted to keep things simple. That's usually what I need in January. Warm earthy colors and not a lot going on... just some cozy nature inspired touches, for this winter season...
Here's how everything's looking right now....
My winter bunny plates were found this past weekend on clearance at Cracker Barrel Country Store regular $6.99, but were on sale for 75% off which made them around $2, I was so happy to find them, I got three different designs, one with these bunnies, one with an owl and one with a deer....
There's sweet Emma hanging out on her cat condo...
George agrees...Winter is a time for Rest...
Now into our tiny sitting room...
At the beginning of January, I was keeping things simple and just filling up the empty space after the Christmas decorations were taken down and put away, but I've tweaked the shelf and a few other things in this room, since my post was published on Jan. 8th...
I edited this post Jan. 20th, to show the tweaks, and the changes that I made on the shelves, and above the electric fireplace, and the side table...I enjoyed the simplicity of the shelves in the before photo, but I knew I'd be layering more things in as time went on, (and I located where my other winter things were in our storage building, lol! I think this year I'm going to have a "winter" storage bin tote when I pack things away).
So, the layering began, as I was feeling a little more inspired, creative and rested and found more of my stuff....Here's the changes below....
Can you see the differences?
After Tweaking....
Here's one of the other plates from Cracker Barrel....
I also tweaked the above the fireplace by adding the art print where the mirror was, and adding a Winter Currier & Ives Tray to the side table and more pine cones and dried flowers ...
I like to start my mornings out with my coffee or tea in the sitting room and Bible Scriptures to start my day and this book is beautiful....I've enjoyed it year after year...
Do you see George standing up at the window to the right of the photo?! I only just noticed him. Too cute... I wish I would have noticed that he was standing there when I took this photo, I would have slid the frame over a tad, so I could have gotten him in the photo better....he must have jumped up there as I snapped the picture....
For winter in the bedroom, I added this clearance sale Pioneer Woman Fluffy Comforter and Pillow Sham Set that I got at the end of summertime at Walmart. Can you believe it was only $16.75 for the king size comforter and $5 for the set of 2 pillow shams?! I didn't really need it, but I couldn't pass it by. Of course, I still love our white cotton quilt and will be using it in the warmer months...but this comforter is so warm, cozy and comfortable for wintertime....I'm happy to be using it right now, plus it's so fun and colorful, it makes me smile...and just look at the little gathered ball details on it....so cute!
I hope you enjoyed seeing how I've got things decorated in our home for this new season...and I hope your new year is off to a great start, and that you are feeling rested, and hopeful for all that this new year will bring.
"Winter is a time for rest". I love that quote....and there's nothing like nature to remind us of that. Resting to me can be some quiet time to myself to read something that inspires me, it can be a nap on a rainy cold day, it can be a cup of warm tea in the afternoon and a time to pause and look out the window at the trees against a clear winter sky, it can be crafting embroidery by hand, or it can be a walk in nature out in the beauty of God's creation. I think the word rest can be done in a number of ways and can mean different things to different people.
This past weekend we went for a nature walk at a nearby State Forest that had a creek and it was a place of rest for us, even though we were walking. It was so peaceful, quiet and wonderful and just what my husband and I needed to revitalize mind, body and spirit. Being out in nature is one of our favorite places to be. It was cool and crisp outside on our walk, and I took notice that all around, nature tells us that winter is a time of rest....I sort of like the idea that it is a season of resting...For me, it is also a time of reflection and planning too, but I'm gonna be taking nature's advice, and will be taking this season to rest a little more than usual. How about you?
Thanks for stopping by for a visit today!
Until next time...
Stay Creative and have a beautiful day!
God Bless you with a Happy New year filled with all things that are good!
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