The Haven

Better Homes and Gardens Happy December and welcome to the Holiday Season! I don't know about you, but I just love this big fat Christmas tree.  I tried to put my artificial tree in my big cauldron as a "container", but the tree stand is just too big.  So, for this year at least, the stand is once again covered by a tree skirt. I've seen, and implemented a lot of great decorating ideas this year.  The tree isn't decorated yet, but should be by the end of this weekend.  I honestly haven't decided if I'm going to get new ornaments or not this year.  Do you ever get tired of your ornaments too? If all goes well I'll have some decorating photos for you next week.  But for now it's time to start getting some gifts to put under the tree! ~ Heathen

Also known as May Day, Beltane is a time for love, union, growth, abundance and fertility.  This month marks the peak of Spring and is time to prepare for the warm months ahead. Beltane is one of the in-between times of the year, it's still Spring but you can feel the lazy days of Summer in the air.  Here are a few things that symbolize this time of year for me: brightly colored wild flowers ferns and ivy embedded candles (the kind with flower petals in the wax) wind chimes cloudless blue skies freshly mowed grass sun dried laundry When changing your decorations for this turn of the wheel, put away the eggs and pastels of Ostara and bring out bursts of color and pretty garden themed decorations.  Hang baskets or cones of flowers from doorknobs, put wind chimes and sun catchers in windows.  Start that windowsill herb garden you've always wanted.  You get the idea here. found at Michaels.com As always, have fun with it and make it personal! ...

Today I succumbed to my girlie side and went thrifting at a few local consignment shops.  I found some beautiful pieces but my favorite looks something like this... image found at arhdecor.com It is all white, more shabby/vintage than this one, with less glass and the top shelf is open.  I couldn't find a photo of the actual piece.  But alas, it is out of my price range.  Such a shame, wouldn't that be perfect for displaying seasonal decorations?  I figured I didn't really have a place to put it anyway.  That is until I came home and realized I have the perfect wall for it. *sigh*  Even though I didn't come home with this wonderfully perfect piece, I had so much fun looking through all the beautiful things and getting great ideas.  Definitely not a wasted trip! And after feasting my eyes and daydreaming, I just had to re-watch the new Alice in Wonderland!  If you happen to have Netflix, they've finally added it to the instant streaming....

Those of you who know me personally know that I am not your typical girlie girl.  But for some inexplicable reason this Spring, I am head over heels in love with this... and this... and this... and this color... I don't get it and I can't explain it but I have this crazy urge to move into a cottage, plant a garden, and decorate completely Shabby Chic, claw-foot tub and all! **all photos found on Google Images keyword Shabby Chic**