What would you spend?

Would you spend $305.28 (including tax)on all of this?...........No?

Me either! After shopping (scouring shelves high and low) at some favorite places,

I only spent.....

........$93.09 TOTAL!!!

and I had so much fun doing it!
At Anthropologie, I bought this little plate and I must confess that I paid full price for the measuring spoons, but that is the only thing I spent full price on and I love them.

I also found the red and white placemats there and they will become pillows very soon.

The snowflake garland is from Black Lion Store that was highly recomended from the Nester

(you can find her blog on by sidebar). The Nester has her tassles for sale there and it is indeed a cool place to Shop in the Charlotte area.




Next, I found Christmas crackers at Homegoods on clearance, which I may end up using for a Valentine's dinner (Laurie, pretend you didn't see those.) All of the Christmas balls are from Target along with the polka dot boxes, red vintage-y star and the White Nativity Background. The little B & W Shade is from Pottery barn. The Noel banner is from Black Lion.

I had been looking at these pillows from Target all season and am happy to report they now are mine at 75% off. The basket is from Homegoods and I see it full of red tulips for Valentine's day, don't you? The polka dot towels where on Christmas clearance at HG's also. Back to Anthropologie for the cupcake cuteness and the teal bowl for my rings on my nightstand.

My goal was to find some red and white Christmas decor and some other

things that can be used beyond the Christmas season.

I believe I was succesful!

I think these items will be out for Valentine's Day...
Minus the Star.

Hope you enjoyed looking at my bargains!

Have a great day.

Blessings,

Leigh Ann

North Carolina..........

We are here and loving every minute of it. Seth and Mel have the cutest little cottage to live in. They have made this little house their home. It is full of love and they are the best host and hostest. It is such a blessing to have all of the other kids here as well.

A perfect ending to the year and an awesome way to start the New Year.

I'll be posting about all of our adventures when I get home next weekend!

I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas and that

you all have a very safe and happy New Year!

If you fill it, they will come...

Good morning from my country home...

...the house is quiet...

....my devotions are finished....

....the coffee is brewing....

....the bird feeder is full.....

....and now I wait....

Yep, the gang is all here,

what a beautiful start to my day! :)

Blessings,

Leigh Ann

Welcome to a Pretty Little Christmas, Holiday tour of Homes, a Christmas Tour of homes and a Christmas Tree Par-tay.......

Thank you for stopping by to view my Pretty Little Christmas hosted by Heather at Pretty Petals. http://prettypetals.typepad.com/prettypetals/2008/12/a-pretty-little-christmas-blog-party.html

I have also joined other home tours at BooMama's

1. http://boomama.net/category/christmas-tour-of-homes/ and

2.http://hookedonhouses.net/2008/12/14/hooked-on-holiday-house-tours-let-the-party-begin/ over at Hooked on Houses and

3. A Chistmas Tree Par-tay over at Thrifty Decor Chic

http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2008/12/its-christmas-tree-par-tay.html

We finally got our tree up today and I have been tweaking my decor. I hope you enjoy your visit. You can click on photos to enlarge. If you would like to see more of my home scroll down to my Dec. 9th post for a look at my home in the Holiday Home tour hosted by Tracey over at A Cottage Industry. Tracey is a very talented lady!

Thanks again for stopping by,

Christmas Blessings to you all!

Leigh Ann

Last but not least, my nativity,

never forget The Babe of Bethlehem!

Merry Christmas!

Leigh Ann

Join us for a P.L. Christmas on Dec.15th...

Click on the link below to join Heather at Pretty Petals as she hosts

a Pretty Little Christmas...Blog Party
http://prettypetals.typepad.com/prettypetals/

I'll probably post mine later tonight as I have to work early in the morning!

Hope you can join us. ;)

Blessings,

Leigh Ann

the meaning of NOEL ....

Noel (or noël, sometimes spelled nowell for the English pronunciation) refers either to the Christmas celebration or a Christmas carol. The word comes from the French word Noël meaning "Christmas" which derives from the Old French word noël, a variant of nael. The Latin origin is the word natalis ("birth").


I had a student ask me what the meaning of Noel was as I stapled the word to my December bulletin board. A couple other students chimed in before I could respond and said "It' a girls name" and "yea, my Dad said it was the name of Santa's daughter." I love when things like this happen at school. Why? Because it is a great way for me to share my faith with the girls. When I answered that "it meant a Christmas birth" that led to a small discussion about the real reason we celebrate Christmas is because of Jesus. Please pray for those around you that don't know why they are even celebrating Christmas, and pray for those of us that do know to be bold enough to share. We may be the only person the Lord brings across a persons path to share the Gospel message, don't waste it!

Blessings,
Leigh Ann