Happy New Year!!

Tomorrow starts a new year! It is always a little sad to leave behind one more year. But it is also exciting to have a new year not filled with anything... just a clean slate before us. I have started forming some new year resolutions in my head but I haven't written anything down yet.  I won't bore you with the details... I think we all have something we wish to improve and a new year seems the right time to let go of old vices and grab hold of something new and better!  What about you? Do you make new year resolutions?
I hope everyone has a great evening and wakes up to a Happy New Year!!

"Be at war with your vices; at peace with your neighbors,and let every new year find you a better man."
--Benjamin Franklin

xoxo,

Amy Jo



After Christmas Hangover?

Well we had a joyful Christmas! But, does anyone else feel like they have been run over by a truck? That is how I feel.... I have never had a hangover but I imagine this is what one would feel like.... I have been working unendingly to put away every Christmas decoration and guess what? I am done... there is nothing left out except a few stray cookies...( those won't last long) and a Christmas cactus my mother-in-law bought me. (beautiful and blooming like crazy) So I am back to blog world, but without any pics I realized my SD card was full and  I bought a new one and it will not format so I have to take it back... I hope all of you had a merry day!

xoxo,

Amy Jo



A Few Finds...

First of all I wanted to say how happy I am to have all of my new followers! I enjoy  blogging so much. I am so thankful for each person who stops by and your sweet comments. I love reading about all of your lives, and your thoughts and ideas on various things. xoxo! 
So,  I had to run out on a little errand and I was going right by my favorite antique mall.... I decided to "run" in... of course you always find something you can't live without.  Like these pillow cases. I love anything embroidered. It is a weakness. So when I saw these in perfect condition, with a little tatted edge they were destined to come home.

I got this whole set of dishes on a 50% off sale.

The set has four dinner plates, fours salad plates, four bowls, and four berry bowls.

And two vintage ornaments for $ 1.00 each. I already have several sets of the rose ornaments, it only made since to buy that one.;)

The ticket said this set is from the 1930's. I haven't done the research yet, but I plan on it.

I moved my Merry Christmas pillow to the chair in my bedroom.... I know I told you, I love this pillow... by Rebeca @ A Gathering Place.

I want to wish each one of you a very Merry Christmas!! I pray God sends His blessings and love to each one of you.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

xoxo,

Amy Jo

Six Days ......

"I heard the bells on Christmas day; their old familiar carols play, and wild and sweet the word repeat of peace on earth, goodwill to men!" ---Henry Wadsworth Longfellow



"When Christmas bells are swinging above the fields of snow, we hear sweet voices ringing from lands of long ago, and etched on vacant places are half forgotten faces of friends we used to cherish, and loves we used to know." --Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Well, my lovelies we have only 6 days until Christmas.... I am packing every day with preparations and sneaking in some fun time as well.... I spent the whole day at the Florida Mall Yesterday... (not the fun part) It was very crowded, but the store my daughter needed to go to was there, so we went.  The clock is ticking so I am off......

 xoxo,

Amy Jo

Fa La La La La......

I have been baking and baking......

and no baking..... These are my husbands favorites. Oatmeal no bakes.  I was in the kitchen for five hours on Friday. Just getting the baking and cleaning up done. My daughter helped. Yesterday afternoon we did  a little more baking. I love to bake but it can wear a girl out.... Tonight we are going to Kobe steakhouse with friends and I am so glad.:)

We have also been shopping and shopping trying to find the perfect gifts...

Now it is on to dusting and cleaning.... Christmas is only 8 days away!

That is one shelf cleaned. Now on to the rest.... Happy Monday my friends...

"The woman who makes a sweet, beautiful home, filling it with love and prayer and purity, is doing something better than anything else her hands could find to do beneath the skies. ---J.R. Miller, Secrets of a Happy Home Life

xoxo,

Amy Jo



Santa Baby

I thought I would pop in and show you my latest ornament.... my little Santa baby (s). I got two of these vintage cuties on eBay.

I keep looking at them because they are so darling...

It has cooled off here in Florida, we are in the 60's two days in a row! I am glad, it makes it feel more like Christmas... My daughter and I are in the kitchen today baking up a ton of cookies for friends and business associates. 12 days and counting..... are you ready?

xoxo,

Amy Jo



Cute Vintage Commercials

I thought y'all might enjoy a few old toy commercials....

I think they are adorable....13 days left....

Blessings,

Amy Jo

Make Good Cheer

At Christmas play and make good cheer, for Christmas comes but once a year.
--Thomas Tusser



Thrifty Christmas Finds

Hi there! Are you all ready for Christmas? I keep adding every day. Something here, something there..... Tinkering around the house finding things to move. I found this beautiful door wreath at Goodwill for $ 3.99 the other day. It looks like it was never hung. So I put my bells on the back door. And this one on the front. That way everybody gets a Christmas greeting.

This pretty JOY set was .99 cents each. The original price tag was still on them and it read $19.99. So I got a good discount. There was a chip though. Right on one of the angels nose.

I just painted them with some Annie Sloan Old White and you can never tell the difference.

I like to buy scripture pieces and put them around the house. It is a way of writing God's Word on the door posts as the scripture tells us to do.

I found this heavy and beautiful pitcher for $3.99. I think it will be lovely with flowers in it or pink lemonade.

Lastly I found this beautiful angel at a thrift store that benefits troubled people. She was the perfect color and the price was right. So now...

She is in her rightful spot.... Happy Monday! Until next time.

linking with:
A Delightsome Life

xoxo,

Amy Jo

A Christmas Cottage Tour

Today I would like to take you on a Christmas cottage tour.... this is my cousin-in-law's house. Valerie. She literally lives in Christmas, Florida.  She has an adorable little cottage home.

So please, come on into the entry.

She has a nativity like mine and this is what you see upon entering.

This picture does not do her tree justice. It is absolutely beautiful in person.

It is loaded with ornaments all perfectly arranged. She spent four hours putting the ornaments on the tree.

As you can tell one of her favorite colors is blue.

I love the angels and churches all over the tree.

The ornament she bought last year.

Her living room is adorable. I love the blue, green and pink together.

Come on in and have a seat. So cottagey and cute!

This is the dining area. The dining set was her grandmothers. This is the only dining set Valerie has ever had. She has been married over 25 years.

This is the kitchen. She wants to remodel it soon.... but I think it is cute the way it is.

Her grandmothers dishes. They  are so pretty.

The scale of this furniture is perfect for her house.

This is a beautiful chalkware lamp from the 50's.  

I hope you liked the little tour of Valerie's Christmas cottage.... I know I always enjoy visiting her there...until next time.

joining with:
Sunny Simple Life

xoxo,

Amy Jo

Once Lost Now Found

My husband found the missing ornaments in the attic!!!  I was so glad as some of my favorites were missing.

I got this at an antique mall last year. I just love this one.

This little bird is now safely nested upon the tree.

My Granny gave me this a few years before she passed away. It is so sparkly and pretty.

This was not lost..... Levi just made this in Bible class. I thought it was the sweetest little nativity ornament ever! So now it has a honored spot on our tree. That is what I love about Christmas, new memories made and old memories remembered.... I hope your having fun getting all ready for Christmas...

xoxo,

Amy Jo