It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

It's December and officially Christmas time (well, if you asked the stores, they would probably say that September was officially the start of Christmas)!

Is it just me, or is December also officially the busiest (and most stressful) month of the year? I'm feeling my stress level rising as I think of all of the things I have to (want to?) do.

I think part of my stress is the pressure I put on myself for everything to be, well, perfect. For instance, a "perfect" family picture for our Christmas cards (not going to happen), or the "perfect" gift for everyone that no one will return (probably not going to happen either?). :) I need to keep my sights on the reason for the season.

We already received our first Christmas gift last weekend! Aren't these stockings amazing? Grandma knitted them for us. Well, there's more of a story to it.

Kyle's grandmother knitted one for all of her grandchildren, and her sisters also knitted them for their grandchildren. So essentially, all of the cousins have a stocking with their name on it (I hope I have my facts right).

So, since Kyle's grandmother has passed away, Kyle's mom decided to carry on the tradition, and taught herself to knit so Callie and I could also have a stocking that matches Kyle's! However, I reminded her that we want to have a big family, and she may have to knit quite a few more. :)

I wonder if this means that some day I will need to learn to knit (a scary thought).

Aren't they cute? I'm really excited to discover on Christmas morning what Santa will fill our stockings with this year! Don't read the following statement if you read this blog and still believe in Santa... I have never been the "stocking-filler" before, if you know what I mean. I must be getting old.

The other night, I was drooling over this chair from Restoration Hardware. Isn't it gorgeous? And looks so comfortable, I think I would want to curl up and stay on it for the rest of the month.

Of course with a price tag of $2995, I shouldn't even be looking! So I was shopping at a thrift store the other day (my new pastime in which I've been finding amazing deals for house stuff), and just happened to find this:

Not quite the same level of comfort, but a similar look anyway! I love the classic look of wingback chairs; you may remember my attempt at reupholstering one! And I like the tufted buttons look too.

Speaking of attemps, we have been attempting many house projects. One of them was our fireplace/mantle.

Here is the before:

And the after:

We painted white the oak mantel, which I think made a huge difference. We also removed and spray painted black the (90's looking) brass plate with this. And last, Kyle and his dad took out that (also 90's looking) can light and put in one of these. Oh, and we also painted the wall and wood trim (wall is Benjamin Moore's Hot Spring Stones and the white is Behr's Swan Wing).

Our next project (we're halfway through): the kitchen.

Merry Christmas!