Visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads

Christmas has come to my kitchen….it dances with candy canes, gumdrops, and gingerbread men…….and it just cozy to me. 

Just a few of the vignettes that I have throughout my kitchen….this isn’t a great picture, but I put my little four foot tree in a antique red wooden bucket.  My garland on this tree is a hard candy garland, and I have accented the tree with little gingerbread men, and little kitchen goodies.  Although it isn’t very visible it is sprinkled with multi colored lights and it is placed next to my sink. 

 

How cute is this next picture….my mom loved this while she was here.  It was so simple and you probably have everything you need to do it.  Note my tray, it is a yard sale find from this summer, a old cabinet door panel or something that they placed handles on.  Grabbed it for a whopping $1.  Don’t let anyone say I am NOT a big spender.  ( I digress) Anyway, added tons of color by adding a candy garland, candy canes, and glass balls into different style and types of clear jars.  Love them…and with my brown jar lamp shining on them it puts off the perfect effect.  I added my little gingerbread house that I have had for many years…would love to have a bigger one….guess I will be on the lookout during yard sale season for that.  Aren’t my little cinnamon candles the cutest thing you ever saw”?  Not to mention “Sprinkles” my bear.  Silly bear has batter on him…

This is what I look at when I clean my kitchen and do the dishes.  It makes washing up the kitchen not a bad thing.  I just tied some simple gingham/plaid fabric that I ripped to make pretty bows for my glass canisters.  So simple, but oh so country looking. 

Did you see my little prim tree with the gingerbread goodies on it with the rag bows.  It is placed in a ANTIQUE Maxwell house coffee can.   See you can use anything you already have to put together.

Next, we have my stove area,   I just have my bread board sitting on top with my dough tray filled with greens and cranberry  garland.  I have tucked some of my gingerbread men in the greens and added another antique green handled small hand sifter.  I think it looks sweet.  I decided to add my little Cookie Cutter sign that I bought from Gooseberry patch years ago.   Tied a ripped and ragged bow to my antique white pitcher.  One of my favorite pieces.  Last but not least, I added my Paula Deen candle on my little bread board.

Just a thought, I have found you can add a few springs to your shelves and  crocks, etc, and add a instant holiday touch.

 

Now for the centerpiece on my table in the kitchen.   I love old crates and have a ton of them….so I decided to fill one with greens and sprigs of snow-covered  pine,and sprigs with candy ,  accented with snowballs, and wooden candy canes.  And after everything was in the crate, I added “Ginger”, she is simply adorable with her little bow on her head.

So now you have gotten a peek into my kitchen.  What did you think?  

Is your refrigerator cleaned and organized?

Howdy girls, seems lately all I do is race around from one thing to the next and don't get much accomplished in the process.  Well that isn't entirely true.  This weekend, I did work on my house namely my kitchen, boy did it need a good overhaul after the holidays. 

http://creativeorganizing.typepad.com/creative_organizing/2006/04/so_i_tried_to_i.htmlNot sure about you but when my kitchen is clean and organized it feels like my whole house is. And then I really enjoy love it.  This weekend, I spent time cleaning out my refrigerator and organizing it.  Yuppers, that's what I did.  I just love opening my refrigerator door for a quick little thrill.  Stop laughing, you all know that you do that too.  I most likely will like it better when I go out and buy some groceries to put it in.  But then again, that will most likely MESS it all up.  (Now this fridge in the photo isn't my fridge, but you scoot over to Creative Organizing )   You can find some simple tips to help you clean out and organize your fridge and also some more space.

Seems I  always resolve  after the  holidays to get better organized, and I am always looking for ways, so if you have any great ideas or links, tips, please feel free to let me know.  You can find some wonderful organizing links in my sidebar.  Last year, I started a Home Management Binder  and my plan is to work some more on it in the near future. 

At the moment, my house is in between decorations.  I have taken down all the holiday decor and can't decide what I want to do with the bare space.  I kinda like it, so will most likely leave it that way for a few more weeks.  Plus it gives me time to get through all the nooks and crannies and DECLUTTER! 

Creative Tip of the Day. Idea Roledex , now why couldn't you use this same concept and make it a organization Roledex.  Sometimes I just need to see the visual and then I am off and going.

"This  feature is from Carrie B of the Blah Blah Blog with her creation of the Idea Rolodex:

Where to you store your great ideas? Do you tear out magazine articles and store them in a big binder? Do you jot down book recommendations and restaurants to try on Post-Its? Or do you just keep in all on file in your head?
Last week, I was perusing a fun paper arts store and admired a sample altered Rolodex file. I decided that I must make one of my own."

 I think that is enough fun for today.  Let 's see what I can get into the rest of the week. 
Hugs and Blessings,
Cindy