The magic of Christmas has arrived ~

I'll never forget the magic I used to feel as a little girl the night we put up our Christmas tree. It was the most wonderful thing to me ~ the lights, the decorations and of course the beautiful music. Our parents always played Bing Crosby, Johnny Mathis and of course Ray Conniff and his singers....each of them singing wonderful Christmas classics. Even ol' Glen Campbell had an album that we loved ~ just hearing him sing "Pretty Paper" melted my heart. I always knew that the Christmas season had officially arrived in our home when the tree was up, decorated and the music was softly playing in the background.

Thanks to my sweet son Brad getting all the decorations down from the attic, we have our tree up and decorated!! He even ran to Michael's for me and bought the spool of ivory tulle that I've been wanting....and it looks just like I thought it would!! A dreamy vanilla Christmas ~

I'm still going to play with the mantle a bit more, I can see by the photo that my candles aren't even and Mary and Joseph look a little like they may jump down to the hearth ~

Have you ever made these easy icicle ornaments? They are graduated sizes of clear beads and clear star shaped beads strung on a silver pipe cleaner. Just make a little ball at the bottom of your pipe cleaner, string on the beads smallest to largest so it tapers up and clip the pipe cleaner with wire cutters and fold over to make a loop for your ornament hook! Easy peasy ~

I still need to play with these arrangements a little more. The middle snowman looks like he might fall off!

Sorry about the scary shadow on the ceiling but I wanted you to see how Brad decorated the tobacco rack ~

We are also working hard to get rooms switched to prepare for Brent and Emily's arrival next week.....I've not been in my art room much and I sure do miss it!!! A wonderful recipe my mom always makes at the holidays:

Pineapple Marshmallow Salad

• 1 bag of mini marshmallows
• 1 large can of crushed pineapple (not drained)
• 1 cup of flaked coconut
• 1 8 ounce carton of sour cream

Mix together and refrigerate for at least eight hours.

Stir before serving.

Charlene of My Heart's Ease has given me a wonderful award ~ and as I usually don't tend to pass them along as I have SO many favorite blogs now this one seems a little different to me.

It's a Marie Antoinette Award of Inspiration....thank you so very much sweet Charlene for this ~ what an honor!

And who do I think is deserving of this award?? I must pass it on to YOU. You, who stop by my blog, who take the time to comment, who care what I'm up to, You inspire me....you are the one so deserving of this award of inspiration ~ Thank you so very much!

Wishing you a great Thursday sweet friends!

xxoo, Dawn