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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

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January 12, 2018

Winter Decorating Ideas

Oh friends, I was so certain that I would head into the new year with gusto! I was going to have renewed energy and passion and I was going to get.things.done.

Yeah. That’s not exactly how it’s gone down. Instead we’ve had the flu running through our household wiping out everyone in it’s path and while I finally feel like I’m on the other side of it, I still feel like I’m dragging. It ran over me like a mack truck on New Year’s Eve and I was down for the count for several days. This meant that the Christmas decor is just now finally getting put away and I only have the energy to do a little bit at a time.

But, one thing I realized as I lay around like a slug was that no one other than me really cared if it took a few days longer than usual for the house to be put back in order. My sweet family didn’t care, you guys didn’t care, no one was coming over, nothing HAD to be done. I needed to just let it go and focus on getting better.

So, slowly but surely, life has begun to return to normal (whatever that means) and I’ve had little bursts of energy that have allowed me to transition my house from Christmas to a more simple look with touches of winter here and there.

It’s always bittersweet to pack up the holiday decor but there is something so good for the soul having less stuff around the house, don’t you agree?

And, thankfully, my master plan to decorate with more of an emphasis on winter instead of overly Christmas-y paid off and made the transition much easier.

On the mantel, I simply removed all of the greenery across the top and added a large pinecone and a deer antler.

In the urn, I kept the same faux winter greens that were part of my Christmas decor.

The dining room needed no changing at all (all of the praise hands!) and I plan on leaving it just like this until Spring.

The little trees have lights set on a timer and on these dark, winter days, it does my heart good when they come on every evening.

The hot cocoa station remains as well and is still a popular spot in our house.

A bowl of green apples adds a pop of color on the living room coffee table and I couldn’t resist tucking in some little bits of fresh greenery. Just because Christmas is over doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy the smell of pine, right?

A crystal bowl filled with mercury glass ornaments keeps things sparkling on the table in my entry.

And I still have some paperwhites hanging on adding much needed life and freshness to this space.

When I began to strategize about how to make my holiday decor work for me long after the Christmas season, I had no idea that we would all be struck by the flu from hell and I can’t help but think that this is why it’s so important in the first place to plan ahead as much as possible.

Because, there is so much in life that we can’t control which means we need to control the things we can. And simplifying my seasonal decor is definitely something I can control.

Now, I must go because my sweet girl is home again today still not feeling great and we need to just snuggle up and be pitiful together.

I hope all of you are staying healthy and if not that you are getting all of the rest and care you need to get better!

7 Comments Filed Under: Decorating, Good Ideas

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Comments

  1. Nikki Gwin says

    January 12, 2018 at 7:39 AM

    Amazingly beautiful! So much to inspire. I am pinning every single picture. LOL
    🙂 gwingal

    Reply
  2. Shelly says

    January 12, 2018 at 8:33 AM

    My New Year so far has been much like yours! I have had the worst flu ever, and I am a nurse who knows! We had to put my mil in a nursing home, and I can not stop coughing! Maybe we started out with the worst of the year and the rest will be a breeze! Lol
    Blessings

    Reply
  3. Carol says

    January 12, 2018 at 10:12 AM

    And, a visit to get some Florida sunshine will make it all better! 🙂

    Reply
  4. Norma Rolader says

    January 12, 2018 at 10:29 AM

    Oh my prayers for you and your family to feel better..Beautiful winter decor

    Reply
  5. Robyn says

    January 12, 2018 at 1:58 PM

    Everything is so pretty and clean. I sure do hope you and your crowd feel all better soon.

    Reply
  6. Leslie says

    January 12, 2018 at 4:13 PM

    So glad that you have made it on the other side of the flu. I was in the middle of putting away Christmas decorations when the flu hit here…so a few things are lingering as I try and get well. I love that you simplified this year and left some great winter happy things around. A great plan for me for next year! Snuggle with that sweet girl and rest as you recuperate! Loved your sharing!

    Reply
  7. Varsha| IndividualHouse says

    January 17, 2018 at 12:06 AM

    Hope you’re feeling better now 🙂 The pictures are great as always. And I’m pinning all of it 😉 The dining needs no change, but when you do it next time, try some different color for the picture frames so that it will look out from the wall. You’re amazing as always. 🙂

    Reply

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The month of June is coming to a close and it has The month of June is coming to a close and it has been JAM packed! The highlight by far though was my son's graduation from high school. When I started blogging, he was only 6 years old and some of you have been apart of my community here for that entire time. Now, he's 19 and there is a reason parents are told not to blink because the years truly do go faster than I ever could have imagined. He has become such an incredible young man we are so excited to see how God is going to unfold the next chapter of his life. We celebrated with parties galore (SO many open houses to attend!) and made memories we'll forever cherish. My mama heart was filled to bursting with the joy of it all! Now we're taking some time to just enjoy these warm, summer days making even more memories because, when you’re at this stage of parenting, you know all too well how much you need to grasp every opportunity to spend time together.

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“It was June, and the world smelled of roses. Th “It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside.” (Maud Hart Lovelace) 

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What’s the weather like where you are?
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