Mantels - A Year Full Circle

Okay readers, (dear friends of mine)...

do any of you have those "trouble-spots" in decorating???

Maybe dining room tablescapes,

a particular odd shaped bedroom,

kitchen counter,

a porch,

etc...,

etc...

Personally, mantels are my Achilles' heel of decorating

...a real booger for me!

I could go on,

with a long list why decorating my mantel stumps me so,

but I won't bore you with the details! 

But would you like to know what the really ironic thing is?

...of course,  you're just dying to know, right! ha!

Mantels have been close to my top viewed posts for the last several years.

Maybe folks are pinning them as "what not to do!"  ha!

The mantel above, is January 2013's edition.

But just for fun, I thought I'd share some of my mantels from 2012...

After Christmas 2011,

I was in a decluttering, simplifying stage.

I thought I'd really accomplished something with my "Mixing Metals" Mantel.

...what was I thinking???

Simple, yea,

...and boring, a big ol' yea!

The next mantel I posted was way over in the Fall...

Christmas came,

and my mantel got a more festive makeover...

Full circle,

we have the mantel as it appears now,

in January 2013, below...

Still simple,

but I'm hoping the different textures and pops of color make it interesting,

...enough!  :)

The dog figurine was found at a flea market while on our Anniversary Trip in December.

The ball in the urn was found at Home Goods after Christmas, half off.

I'm just a little crazy about this piece.

The living room holds many of my resolutions (i.e. projects), for the coming year,

starting with more neutral window treatments and rug.

Is it any wonder the mantel is a source of decorating confusion for me?

Noone even really knows the correct spelling...mantel or mantle. 

ha!

Join me back at Ramblings of a Southern Girl in a few days,

I'll have a post up on Tickle's last week at our home,

and then it's on with the New Year, ...and new projects! :)

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Linking Post To:
Be Inspired @ Common Ground
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Mop It Up Monday @ I should be mopping the floor
Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House
Creatively Tuesday @ The Rustic Pig
Be Inspired @ Elizabeth and Co
Cowgirl Up @ Cedarhill Ranch
Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Decking the Mantel 2012

Welcome...

 to my home, decorated for Christmas!

Today, I'll be sharing the mantel and a few shots from around the living room.

No need for a lot of words!  :)

browse on...

"...Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?"

The song, "Little Drummer Boy,"

 runs through my mind every time I lay eyes on this cute little fellow, below!

The pillow below, represents what Kevin wishes he was getting for Christmas.

...Not this year! 

{Pillow was a $1 flea market find, from our Anniversary Trip}

Thanks for taking the tour...

More to come, stay tuned! :)

______________________________


Linking Post To:

Be Inspired @ Elizabeth and Co

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style

Better Late Than Never Christmas Inspiration @ Worthing Court, Everyday Home,
Top This Top That, Housepitality Designs, Atta Girl Says

Saturday Show and Tell @ Cheerios and Lattes

When Less is Not Enough ~ Fall Mantel 2012

 “Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.”

- Plato 

Last Fall, I was all about keeping things simple...

uncluttered...

the less is more adage...

I think it was a stage of life I was in,

my daughter had moved off to college for her first year,

and I felt a little empty ...a little lost....

and so I decorated as such...

Does anyone else go through these stages and decorate accordingly?

{Below, my Fall Decorated Mantel 2011}

I enjoyed the simplicity of last year's mantel,

it served it's purpose...

But the "good rhythm," as Plato quoted,

just had to be jazzed up a notch this year. 

Yes, I'm fickle that way,

...guess I'm in another stage in my life! ha!

So, I brought out the arrangement below...

an oldieeeeeeeeeeeeee!

If recollection serves me right,

I think it came over on the Mayflower! ha!

Added an Autumn dried wreath, 

{another that's been around awhile}

over the mirror.

Also regrouped the candles, and added burlap ribbon for texture.

It's still not too busy,

just a little more interesting!

Many wonder why I go through the trouble to decorate with each passing season,
not you other bloggers of course, you know..., you get it...

For one I enjoy it,
but secondly,
it's makes my family feel special.

My daughter relayed to me just after she started school again this year,
that the one weekend she felt the most welcomed and glad to be home,
was last fall when she walked into the house
 decorated in warm, cozy colors and decorations of autumn,
and pumpkin spice scented candles were burning!

As a mom, that's all the incentive I need! :)

Welcome ...October  ~~  Enjoy Your Weekend! 

"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on,

 and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October." 

-  Nathaniel Hawthorne

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Linking Post To:

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage
Met Monday @ Between Naps On the Porch
Make it Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House
Mop It Up Monday @ I should be mopping the Floor
Favorites On the First @ The Polohouse
Cowgirl Up Party @ Cedarhill Ranch
Gettin' Krafty With It @ Krafty Kat
Wow Us Wednesday @ Southern Savvy Style
Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters
Share Your Creations @ Kristen's Creations
Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here
October'fest of Fun - Fall and Halloween Mantel Party @ Foxhollow Cottage


My Entry to Make It Pretty Monday's Link Party
and Open House Linky Party is sponsored by