My Favorite Project from Last Year...

This past year (make that the last 6 years) has been full of projects.  We bought a "fixer-upper" and at times I think we bit off more than we could chew.  However, over time and through lots of money, we have literally remodelled EVERY room to make our house our home. 

Now we are finally getting to spend time on the details.  This is the hardest part for me.  I have no problem picking out tile for the kitchen or wood flooring for the house.  But this project was so much fun for me.  I found 8 dining rooms chairs on Craigslist for $3/each.  They were so gross.  But I painted them black and reupholstered the cushions with burlap.

Then my incredibly, talented husband created these stencils for me. 

I absolutely love the way they turned out.   He also made me some stencils to look like the European house numbers.  I have plans to use those this year on all sorts of things.  Can't wait!

Red Gingham & Milk Glasses

So my husband and I did something a little unorthodox this year for Christmas.  We didn't spend more than $20 on presents for each other.  On Christmas morning I gave him a bottle of cologne and he gave me some accessories from H&M.  Things we knew the other person would want.  But we also gave each other the gift of cold, hard cash.  You see, there were plenty of things that we both wanted for Christmas, but we also enjoy the hunt for the perfect after Christmas sale.  Not to mention finding all of the things we didn't know we wanted, but then seeing it at the store, falling in love with it, and taking it home with us.  Add to that, not having to suffer the guilt of  "I just spent a 'crap-load' (technical term...look it up) of money on Christmas and I really shouldn't buy this." 

Since Christmas we have enjoyed finding our sales and making our purchases.  And I absolutely LOVE coming across something that I didn't know I was looking for, and then WHAM!  its there & its on sale!!  For instance, I found these milk glasses at Home Goods today clearanced to $1 each!  My mother-in-law has very similar glasses at her house and my kids love to drink milk out of them.  This is not something that I would have put on my Christmas list, but I'm so glad I found them.  And my red gingham shirt??  LOVE IT!!!  I realize its a little bit country, just like my milk glasses, but its just what I wanted.  And once again, its not something that I would have put on my list. 

So how about you?  Have you ever waited for your Christmas presents until after Christmas?  Do you enjoy opening presents on Christmas or do you like getting cash?