Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Getting There One Step At A Time

Well, life in the Living To Tell household has just been a tad busy as of late. I finally finished the last of the decorating last night punctuated with a huge sigh of relief. We always put up the tree the first weekend of December and because it came so late as a date on the December calendar this year, it really threw me for a loop. I think that's why I feel I'm so behind.

I'm really liking the front porch this year. My new planter from this summer was too big and heavy to carry off the porch, so I had to think of something to doll it up with. I love the color red especially against the white and green so here's what I came up with. What do you think?

The big planter

The little planter

A lovely surprise is the luscious smell of cinnamon as soon as you come near my stairs. All my dayhome parents thought it was the candle. But I'll let you in on the secret. It's the pinecones. Yup, the pinecones. I found them at the WallyMart. $6 a bag. And it did these planters and I put 4 into my little pine cone basket by the fireplace. My living room smells lovely too!

So, on to baking now. I was supposed to start it last week and it didn't happen but I'm determined. I'm starting today. And my shopping is not done yet. All that to say, I might be missing in action here at the ole blog here and there. I'm just finding it hard to get everything done and post and comment. So some days, I'll be going around visiting you all and other days I might post the ever exciting things that happen around here. I'm sure you can totally relate. And in that vein, my friend Laura has written an awesome post. If you're feeling overwhelmed, not good enough and intimidated by everything that needs to be done, go read her post here and recieve some refreshing.



17 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's cute, and I imagine it smells wonderful!

I'm in the same boat. The decorating is done, some of the shopping, but no baking or cards yet, so I am blogging "lite" this week.

Donnetta said...

Susanne, they look lovely!

I know what you mean about the smell of the pine cones. I can tell when we are walking near them in the stores. It's a wonderful smell!

I can imagine how inviting and festive it must be to smell that walking up to your home!

ellen b. said...

Fun porch Susanne! Enjoy your baking!

Carol said...

Oh, it's just darling! Love it!

I just cram a bunch of whompy ol' poinsettias in the planters and be done. Totally whompy.

Barbie @ Mamaology said...

I love your porch deco's:) I'll have to get some of those pine cones because I LOVE the smell of cinnamon:).

I need to finish my shopping, do All my baking, and hang one more set of lights...YIKES:). And like you all with little ones under my toes:)

Have a Happy Wednesday!

Beck said...

Your front porch looks so pretty! I like the idea of those pine cones - that's sort of cute! I feel "behind", too - we haven't even MADE our cards yet, but it's not actually any later than it ever is, I guess.

Willow said...

I like the front porch!

I know what you mean, one step at a time. I have about 100 steps still to take~ sigh.

Barb said...

I read Laura's post first thing this morning and it inspired the post I just wrote, since I'd been thinking along the same lines for a couple of weeks now.

I've seen those pinecones at Wal-Mart and passed them by. They're on my list now. Anything that makes my house smell like I'm baking, when I'm not, is a good thing. LOL

Tammy said...

I have almost finished decorating...I do need to put my Nativity up tonight with the girls and my It's a wonderful Life village...and just a couple little things left on my shopping list, but most is done!

Love your planters...I can almost smell that wonderful cinnamon from here! :)

Melanie @ This Ain't New York said...

That arrangement is gorgeous! How quick can you get to New Mexico? I have to host a party Saturday. :>)

Faith said...

Love the porch decorations!
Thanks for the tips about the pinecones...I love them but never have seen the cinnamon scented ones...
enjoy your baking days!

Michelle said...

Susanne your entranceway looks so festive.I love the scented pinecones too.Have fun with the baking.Thanks for the blog comments.

Laura said...

You know I saw those pinecones at Michaels. My mom bought them but I didn't because I just didn't have one more inch of room left in my suitcases. They are just awesome!

I won't be posting near as much either. I got my tub cleaned tonight so I'm feeling pretty good about myself :) Woohoo!

Jamie said...

Your porch planters look lovely! I love the pinecone idea...I saw them at WalMart, they smelled wonderful.

Jada said...

They look great! Very creative.

2nd Cup of Coffee said...

I always forget to do the porch. I'm focused on the inside. And the front of our house is not that cute, so I hate to even draw attention to it. I LOVE your planters. I will have to try to pine cone effect.

Shawna said...

Good job, Susanne! Those look great! I imagine they smell so good, too.