My First Christmas Mantel

 I have never had a mantel before. Until this summer. Want to hear the story?

As we were driving home from church one sunny, hot day I spied something over a fence in someone's back yard. (I had also seen the "garage sale" sign, so this wasn't just a random house!) I quickly told (okay, yelled) my husband to stop and I ran to see if my eyes were playing tricks on me or not. But no, I was awarded promptly by the sight of this mantel sitting all lonely in the back yard with no one near it. Now people, I have been longing for a mantel in my home since we moved in 3 years ago... but you know how expensive these suckers can be and my husband is handy... but not quite that handy. This was too good to be true.

I asked the man how much he wanted for it and he said $20. I was shocked, and he saw my disbelief which he took to mean he had priced too high. So then he said, "OK, how about $15?" Need I say more? And- I didn't do a thing to it. It came all glazed and pretty like that! That sweet mantel was in my house as quick as we could get it there.

I did debate about using it as a headboard in our bedroom but no. I wanted to see it every day and and enjoy it all the time. So, here it sits in my living room all pretty but alas, we have to have the TV on top of it. Mind you, this is not my cup of tea to have the TV on the mantel but we don't have many options. And you know what, most people have a TV in their main living room, so I figured, why not embrace it until we can figure something else out?

So, here it is, in all it's glory with the TV smack dab in the middle.

And here we are... Decorated-For-Christmas-Mantel.  My first.  What do you think? By the way, can you tell I am a minimalist when it comes to decorating for holidays?

Our Jesse Tree

I mentioned in the previous post that this year we are beginning a new tradition with a Jesse Tree. I said that I would show pictures so here they are! I don't think it is too late in the Advent season to start yours.

After downloading Ann Voskamp's Jesse Tree readings and daily devotionals, I decided to make my own version of ornaments. She provides printable ornaments, but I want to be able to use these year after year with my children and I want them to last.

I went to Hobby Lobbby (my favorite craft store) and purchased 2 bags of round wooden circular things (sorry for the lack of pictures) and some red ribbon. I drew each days picture onto the wooden circle things with an Ultra Fine Sharpie and then lightly colored them in with colored pencils for a subtle look. You could easily do this with multi-colored sharpies or maybe even markers? though I don't know if it would bleed or not.

After finishing all 25 picture ornaments, I hot-glued the pretty red ribbon onto the backs, let them dry and then put them in a glass jar. That's it. You could even have your children (if they are aspiring artists) draw the images on.

I printed off her devotionals so that they look like a little book in hopes that it will last for many years of Advent readings. And I must say, that the readings are thought provoking for adults too but not too far over the heads of your children.

Happy Advent, friends! Jesus is coming!