Inspiration Friday Party No. 14

A Tale of Two Mantels...

You know how when you first start decorating for the Holiday's, you feel kind of all warm and fuzzy inside? Your energy is at it's highest, Perry Como is sounding his very best, you hum along as you unpack the boxes of decorations and memories come flooding back. That was how I felt when I tackled my First Mantel in our family room. The one I showed you earlier in the week.

I had a vision in my head (which partly came from my mantel stalking problem!) and was so pleased when it came out almost exactly as I had imagined!
But then, I had to tackle my bannister and the other assorted decorations and by the time I got to my Living Room mantel my house looked like a bomb exploded inside it!

And, my vision for it did not seem to be becoming a reality all that easily. It didn't help when the entire garland fell off it's hooks 4 times. 4 TIMES!!! I actually went to bed that night so frustrated that I just left it on the floor right where it landed when it fell.

Not even baby Jesus, looking down on me so serenely from his perch on top, could make me feel better in that moment!

But, refreshed after a good night's sleep, I started again the next day and this is how it all turned out.

What do you think?

This was my first time putting our Nativity on the mantel and I really love it having this place of prominence. The candles do double duty as we celebrate Advent each Sunday this month.

I kept my exisiting topiaries and just simply added berries to spruce them up for the season.

I found these dangling beauties on Clearance at Michael's and just couldn't resist fitting them in somewhere.

I used ribbon I already had but added these butterflies to carry over the theme from the Family Room Mantel.

Large silk Hydrangeas are a great filler and add the perfect pop that I was looking for.

Last but not least, this is the fireplace where the Stockings are hung by our children with care. And this one, in particular, is extra special to me.

You see, a few years ago, I picked up 3 stockings from TJ Maxx for my hubby, our son and myself. They coordinated perfectly and I loved the tapestry style. Then, during the Christmas season of 2006, I stumbled across this one, also from TJ Maxx, that matched the set perfectly.

And it had a brown haired little girl on the front.

So, I bought it!

But, there was no little girl in our house that year.



We were in the middle of a very long stretch of our Second Adoption process. Lots of silence, not knowing whether or not we would ever have another baby in our lives. Somehow, buying this stocking gave me some hope. My hubby was worried that those hopes were too high, especially since it was so gender specific!

It got packed away after Christmas along with all of my hopes and dreams for another baby.

And then, 7 months later, little Miss Lauren joined our family.

A brown haired, brown eyed beauty.
And I knew that the next Christmas would find this stocking hanging in it's rightful place on our mantel!
Here is one last look of it all glowing at night.

Now, on to the Inspiration Friday Party!

I have seen so many of your gorgeous mantels and other Holiday Decor this week. I think creativity is at it's peak right now in Blogland and I am so enjoying getting fabulous new ideas and inspirations. So, let's get to sharing!

Come on and Link up to this party where everything is welcome!

Decorating, Crafts, Recipes, Family activities and experiences.

Whatever you are up to these days!

I can't wait to see and I so appreciate you joining in the fun!

Have a fabulous weekend from this

Southern Girl at Heart,

Vanessa

P.S. I know it says this in the linky instructions below, but PLEASE be sure to make some reference to the Inspiration Friday Party in your post or just grab my button over in the sidebar. Thanks!

Here is how to link up...
1. Add your Permalink to your entry but not your General Blog Address. To get your Permalink, click on the title of the blog post you are wanting to submit and copy and paste the address into the URL box. You will also have to add your address but it will not be visible to anyone else.
2. Do not try and Link up until you have actually published that particular post on your blog.
3. Please link back to the host blog, Southern In My Heart, so that those who visit your blog will be able to find some wonderful Inspiration from everyone else!