10th Day of Christmas Giveaway with Nicki Koziarz
Christmas Sale: If you’d like info on getting any of my books (tax-free & with no shipping costs!) for you or as a personalized gift for someone, click here.
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Welcome to the 10th Day of Christmas Giveaway!!
Each day, December 1-12th, I am featuring a fellow Proverbs 31 sister and an aspect of Christmas. You’ll get to know her and she, in turn, will offer a fabulous giveaway! Simply leave a comment on her post to be entered in the drawing.
And, one soon-to-be-very-giddy gal who comments on all 12 posts will win the GRAND PRIZE! You may comment on all posts until Monday, December 13th at 5:00 pm EST when the winners will be announced. (to see the grand prize and get caught up on the posts click here)
Now, for our P31 sister of the day, the simple, yet eclectic, Nicki Kozairz!
Nicki serves P31 on the She Seeks team as a writer and devotional coordinator [www.sheseeks.org]. She is a wife of ten years and a momma to three girly girls. Taylor, Hope and Kennedy keep her on her toes all day long. But, in her down time she enjoys a cup of coffee with an authentic friend, a movie that will make her laugh and cry or an intense game of tennis with her husband. Most any day of the week Nicki has a decorating project happening at her home, this keeps her husband on HIS toes [smile].
Nicki is passionate about building up the kingdom of God and serves the Lord through speaking, writing, community building and teaching God’s word. She blogs at: www.nickikoziarz.com and would love to connect with you through the blog, facebook or twitter!
Nicki’s Decorating Know-How
Today I am really excited to share with you a little glimpse of my home at Christmas. I am [unfortunately] one those that does not have tons of extra money to spend during the holidays.
I have always wanted to buy all new decorations ,but that is just not going to happen. So this year, I came up with a theme for my house: Use what you have, have what you love.
I think a lot of people get into a rut during the Christmas season because we just can’t “do” everything we want to do. But I’ve come up with 3 simple and inexpensive ways for you to change things up a bit in your home and create a warm gathering place for all the people in your life.
1. Be creative with your placement of decorations
I think a common rut we can get into with our decorations is placing them in the same place each year, or at least I do. So this year I moved our tree to in front of the window. It’s not the most logical spot in our living room for it to go, but that’s ok –it makes me happy there. [Use what you have.]
I was soooo tired of our tree skirt that had been around since at least 1979. So I took an old tablecloth and gathered it around the tree. I’m convinced it looks like snow [wink]. My plan is after Christmas to look for a tree skirt for next year on clearance…and I will make sure it is something I L-O-V-E. [Have what you love]
Think about the places where you could hang stockings? Place the manger scene? Hang lights? Hang garland? Their are NO rules for decorating for Christmas. Have fun and think inside of your box of where you could place things differently.
2. K.I.S.S [Keep it sweet n simple]
In keeping with my theme, I took these two trees that last year I had on my fireplace and placed them on the bench in my kitchen. I took all of my girls special ornaments that they have made over the years and put them on these trees. [Use what you have] We spend a lot of time in the kitchen and I love looking at their little fingerprints on glass balls, chubby face pictures, tooth-pick ornaments and all those other yummy sweetness of the toddler days. [Have what you love]
3. Lose the tradition
I know. Christmas is filled with traditions! I love tradition but I won’t let it confine me…especially with decorating. So, I did it. I tossed the same stockings we have had for the past five years. [gasp!]
I found these really cute and fun stockings at a local craft store for $1.99 each and have plans on getting everyone’s name monogrammed on them soon. [Have what you love] Normally every year I do a big garland across the fireplace but this year, I wanted to K.I.S.S and tied some ribbon around my topiary trees and called it a day. [Use what you have]
Even decorating for Christmas can become an idol in our lives if we are not careful. By keeping things focused on using what we already have and making them things that we love, we can have more time for celebrating what this season is really about…Jesus. Have fun and don’t be stressed out about what you don’t have.
From my home to yours…Merry Christmas!
Nicki’s Giveaway:
One of you will win a year’s subscription to Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, given by Nicki, so you can continue to be inspired to buy things you love and use things you have creatively!
Today, to be entered in Nicki’s giveaway, leave a comment telling how you’ve ever attempted to “keep it sweet & simple” when it comes to decorating, food or any other aspect of Christmas.
One thing I always do is to place out an old glass punch bowl filled with antique glass bulbs from the 1950’s (purchased from a yard sale the year I got married. No, I did not get married in the 1950’s!!!).
Now, what is your idea? Or, just say “I’m in” and you’ll be entered. :-)
Simple Christmas Blessings,
I loved all of the ideas and think I’ll get out the beautiful punch bowl my mom gave me last year and fill it with the ornaments I got on clearance last year (they are so cute). Also, since my husband has requested a minimalistic decorating theme this year (actually, he said….”let’s just not decorate this year.”), I think I will honor him by keeping it simple and hopefully elegant. It is always my view that I/we only do as little or as much as I/we are inspired with joy to do. I.e., We do NOT decorate “just because” we decorate with a purpose: that we do it to enhance our joy NOT to take away from our family’s joy. Personally, I love getting out in the crisp air on the tall ladder and strapping the garland around the columns and then topping them off with a big red ribbon – simple but so sweet! Merry Christmas!
I am simplifying decorating this year. Not as much out this year. We’re starting on a remodel project after Christmas, and I didn’t want to spend a bunch of time getting everything back away.
I love your ideas and the photographs you have shared are stunning. I actually love to keep my decorating simple. After all, what comes out has to be packed back up and put away for next year. May your Christmas bring you peace and love!
I love having all of the rustic looking ornaments that I’ve picked up over the years on the tree, and the familiar decorations that are aging along with me. It brings a sense of peace and contentment.
I have really cut down on the Christmas baking and crafting…I don’t want to be so stressed I forget the real meaning of Chistmas….thanks for the great ideas
“I’m in”!
I’m in! I’m in!
I carefully pack away the Christmas lights and ornaments every year, so that the next year, when I get them out, it’s easy!
Edie
We’re doing a big party today and the best way to keep it simple was to get most of the food prepped yesterday, enlist all the kids in helping clean and realizing that our friends are coming to see us, not our spectacular house and decorating. We are going for warmth and love, not House Beautiful.
I love you’re ideas. This year I let the kids decorate. I handled the decoorations requiring a stepstool. I’m only buying a couple of gifts for each child just so they can have the opening gift delight. The rest will be gift cards so they can get what they really love at after Christmas prices. For Christmas day, it’ll be finger food and dessert so that I can enjoy more time with my family.
Nikki–I love your tips! And since, this season we looked at our calendars and planned “special” times with our loved ones and than scheduled “white space” days to just “sit in the season!” Our stress is gone and memories are being created!
just three gifts for our son…a “want,” a “need,” and a book
Have fun with Secret Santas. You’ll be having so distracted, you’ll forget about half of your to do list.
My best Christmas decorating advice is — Don’t over-do it. Keep it all simple. Don’t over-decorate.
Don’t over-entertain. These things can become too mind-absorbing and stressful — pushing the real meaning of Christmas to the background. The main thing is to ENJOY whatever you are doing. If it becomes drudgery, you shouldn’t be doing it!
I love to put up my snow village during the Christmas season. Over the years keeping it simple is pure bliss.
One year I made a patchwork table cloth with all of our kid’s names (five of them) embroidered on it. It was during the eighties when country was in big time. I still love that table cloth. It is not very fancy but it is something that I have.
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing!!!
Merry Christmas blessings!
I read Karen’s advise a couple years ago about polling the family for what traditions they want to keep and ones we can let go. I ask every year what cookies we want to make. We only put some of our ornament collection on the tree. I only send Christmas cards to friends we won’t see during the holidays to keep that task simple too.
Thanks for the great tips. This year I’m baking only the favorites.
Am not much of a creative person and hence everything i do is pretty basic! so i do plenty of stars everywhere!!!!
I use natural materials – foliage, berries, seed heads, driftwood – and a few candles, a little gold paint and maybe some glitter. It’s so satisfying making decorations and gives me time to sit quietly and reflect on the ‘reason for the season’, too.
I’m in!
I’m in! We are trying to simplify these days as well. I will not be putting out as many decorations. I like the idea of switching them around – not near as stressful as trying to remember where they go! Also going to simplify the annual cookie baking this year – we are going to make carmel corn and only a couple kinds of cookies. Looking forward to a simpler Christmas this year. Thanks for the great ideas!
Something I’ve been doing for years is making my homemade lasagna the weekend after Thanksgiving and putting it in the freezer – ready to heat and eat on Christmas Eve. That way I can enjoy my family and friends. I also use paper plates and plastic utensils. It’s all about people and not stuff!
I am a little different than a lot of people. Christmas is my favorite time of the year and my living room always has Christmas up, from Santa’s to Nativity’s all year round.
I’m in!