Friday, November 30, 2012

Joke's On Me!

This year, I wanted to keep our Christmas mantel simple.  Ha Ha ... *who* am I kidding?!
 
Meet our new buddy, "Buck."  He's the reason my thoughts of simplicity went right out the Christmas window!  He's a Virgo ... likes long walks through the snow covered forest ... annnd, if you stare at him long enough, you'll swear that he has winked at you!  The moment I spotted him at "New River Pottery" (an a-MAZING Christmas shop in Wilmington, NC), I knew I just had to have him as our holiday mantel guest of honor.

And, to properly welcome him to the family, I saw it only fitting to splash a few lights and ornaments to the wreath that came with him.  From there ... it only got worse!  Ornaments began to hang themselves from the top of the mantel:


A big, lush garland arrived on the scene ... only for me to add lots of ornaments, glittery garland and snowflakes:


Prelit topiary trees made their way to the mantel, too, but not before I placed them in cream urns I had on hand, along with *more* ornaments:


And, hmmmm ... where did Santa 1 and Santa 2 come from?  I must've purchased them while in one of my *Christmas comas* at HomeGoods!


And, after all of that I had to "believe" that I was done!


Needless to say ... somehow this ALLL came together to create this:


Not exactly *simple,* but we'll take it ...


And, while I know our sled would much rather be used to fly us down a snowy hill (that does NOT exist here in Myrtle Beach), I gave it no choice but to be dressed with winter greenery and faux skates and placed by the fireplace:


So much for a simple Christmas mantel, right?  I s'pose the only missing now is a warm fire ... next time!


So, please tell me ... do you always start out with one decorating plan and end up doing the exact opposite?
 
I'm joining up with:

Savvy Southern Style/Vignettes and Mantel Party
The Lettered Cottage/Christmas Mantel Party
52 Mantels/Christmas Link Party
Becca











60 comments:

  1. Becca,
    WOW!!! It's all wonderful...love all the bright ornaments. Glad you left simple to me:) Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  2. Hi Becca! Your mantel looks beautiful! I love those Santas!
    ~Audra

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  3. So funny. Somehow I think that you and I would never be happy with simple. Simple is for well. non-bloggers maybe. LOL

    Love what you did. I have a Buck too. Come visit me next week to see him. :)

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  4. LOL!! How you could even form your mouth to say, "simple" is just hilarious to me!! You don't have a simple bone in your body! LOL!!! Becca, seriously, this is so pretty! I love all of the bright colors; and the deer is fabulous! Love it!

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  5. So gorgeous Becca! :) I am leaning more simple this year actually... but you are making me rethink the bold and beautiful!! Love it! :)

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  6. OH my goodness! We love it...and we especially love Buck! Amazing work filling the entire space...eye candy galore! One of Buck's cousin's (MonMell Designs' Reindeer Feed Pillow cover) would look darling nearby! Off to pin your decorating genius!

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  7. Becca, I never know what I am going to do. It's always pretty much a surprise! This years mantel is beautiful. So lush and pretty. Love that fluffy full garland and all your special touches.

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  8. Buck's a Virgo, I'm a Pisces - I think we're a match made in mantel heaven!
    Kelly

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  9. :-) Luv your simple Becca!!! It is wonderful..
    Cheers, Gee

    visit me at
    http://simplymedesignsbygee.blogspot.com

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  10. Absolutely stunning!! I wish it were my mantel! I'm so in love with that buck too! Thx for sharing.

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  11. OH MY WORD!!!!! LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was going to go all simple this year, but not now!!!! You have set the bar woman!!!

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  12. Oh my!! It is fabulous! Love the trees, the Santas, all the ornaments...fantastic job Becca!

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  13. It's AMAZING Becca! Every year you outdo yourself and I bow to your mantel decorating skills my friend. Love it!! :-)
    Vanessa

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  14. Hurray for you! I always over do it but I love that you are using COLOR! As much as I love simplistic and natural, my bins are filled with bright reds and greens! No turning back after 25 years and so many memories! Maybe you are starting a new/old trend!! LOVE everything!!

    XO,
    Jane

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  15. YOUR HIRED!! Come on over and create this look at my place.;) Oh, how I love this look! Becca, you AMAZE me every year with your "change-it-up" talent! I love all the color amongst the white backdrop, it POPS! I really love the dropped ornaments, it frames the whole display beautifully. Well done, girl! XO ~Liz

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  16. Buck looks perfectly fabulous up there all adorned with baubles! I'm finding "simple" sort of hard to do, too!

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  17. Becca, your mantles are always SO fabulous!!! can you tell me how you attach your garlands? Command hooks??? I adore all the ornaments you use on them too. BUCK is fabulous and he came with the wreath??? I have a reindeer in my mantle wreath too!!!!!! I will be posting it Monday. XO, Pinky

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  18. Santa is gonna leave you extra presents this year, Becca! I love Buck, really!! It is so gorgeous & bright and I love that one thing led to another. You rocked this one out!!

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  19. Un*BUCK*lievable. (Wink, wink).

    Right out of a magazine, Becca.

    Blessings,
    Meredith at thepolkadotshoes.blogspot.com

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  20. Love "Buck"..and he so proudly rules over your gorgeous mantel...and being a Virgo, he is very particular..so he is very pleased!...and you have my favorite holiday statement..."Believe"....
    Have a wonderful weekend Becca...and yes, that place in Wilmington is great!!...

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  21. Love "Buck"..and he so proudly rules over your gorgeous mantel...and being a Virgo, he is very particular..so he is very pleased!...and you have my favorite holiday statement..."Believe"....
    Have a wonderful weekend Becca...and yes, that place in Wilmington is great!!...

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  22. Love this, so fun and colorful...way better than simple :)

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  23. How fun! Love the traditional red and green used in this whimsical way! Isn't it great when you can change your idea from "simple" to "over the top" and still be happy! Great job!

    DD

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  24. You've outdone yourself, Becca! The mantel is gorgeous. I usually only have a basic plan when I start out, and just go from there. The only place I try to plan out pretty well is above the kitchen cabinets. I don't want to climb that tall ladder any more than I have to! Looking forward to seeing more of your decor!

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  25. Becca, there is no way you can do simple. It looks fab, dear.

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  26. Hi Becca! OH, Buck looks marvelous on your mantel! I love all you've done and your mantel looks so pretty and whimsical and Christmasy! :) You always to the best!
    be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  27. Oh, my! This is completely gorgeous -- like a picture out of a shelter magazine! Buck is super handsome, I can see why you just couldn't say no to that face! ;-) I love all of your glittery ornaments and your garland is so full and thick! You did an amazing job!

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  28. I know what you mean ... amazing, but to me, it happens regularly ... I am completely helpless in front of the Christmas decorations, they have the power ... In any case, your decoration is lovely and festive, and the deer is just beautiful...
    Hugs,

    Vesna

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  29. I about fell over when you said that you wanted to keep it simple this year. Ha! You're way too talented to keep all of that creativity locked up inside! Love Mr. Buck! I've ordered one, but he won't be here in time for Christmas this year. :( Love, love, love your mantle. BTW - I finally made it to New River Pottery a few weeks ago and was blown away by the room in the back with all of the Christmas decor! I bet that place is a zoo right after Christmas!

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  30. Becca, embrace the decorating elf inside!!! I LOVE your Christmas mantle. It needs it's own spread in Southern Living!!!

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  31. Your mantle is beautiful!
    I always end up with something totally different than I planned, ALWAYS!

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  32. Your mantle is beautiful!
    I always end up with something totally different than I planned, ALWAYS!

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  33. Love it! Why would you want simple when you can have this???

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  34. Oh I absolutely love it. The deer is fabulous and I would want him too, but I don't have a fireplace, so no place to put him. I love all the garland full of beautiful ornaments and beads. Stunning. You did good. Hugs, Marty

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  35. Beautiful, Becca! You always do such a great job on your mantel decorating. I had so many ideas and inspiration pictures pinned but when it came down to it, I just couldn't get it all done without it running into weeks. I opted for the simple route this year.

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  36. Wow! The mantel looks amazing!! I love it all.

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  37. Well, look at you! You did it again, Becca! Another wonderful and beautifully decorated mantel. I've been waiting for your post on this. Each year it is worth the wait to see what you do.
    LOVE it!!! I'm glad that you didn't do simple. =o)

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  38. This is gorgeous! I hope I can pin it. I always start with an idea and change it up as I go! Happy to be a new follower.

    Karen

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  39. Everything you do Becca is sheer perfection. Gorgeous as always. I look so forward to all your posts. Patty

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  40. Your mantel is so beautiful, Becca! I love the bold reds and greens with touches of gold. "Simply" gorgeous! You should make this mantel photo your blog's new banner for December!

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  41. Oh Becca, your mantel is BEAUTIFUL!! You are amazing!!! Hope you are having a wonderful day, Gail

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  42. Stunning!!!! Oh, Becca the mantle is just fabulous! You do such a fabulous job every year! Every detail is just beautiful!

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  43. Oh Becca....you always make me smile. It is BEAUTIFUL!!!! You need your own show. When is someone at HGTV going to get a clue and give you one!!!

    Hugs,
    Cricket

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  44. Amazing! I want to come and sip hot cocoa by all that Christmas Spirit Beauty! It's PERFECT! XO, Aimee

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  45. Becca this is fabulous! My husband would love Buck!

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  46. Ha ha, sounds just like me, I was going to go with all silver and white and that lasted about 2 minutes before the red arrived! I love your look, your "inspiration" and especially the Believe letters. Definitely a dramatic and fun display!
    Jenna

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  47. Beautifully done! Love the garland and your new "Buck"! Your sled is great with the skates! Every year I start saying I'm keeping it simple but it keeps growing as I go!

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  48. Whoever said less is more?! You've created a masterpiece!

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  49. Just when I think you cannot possibly outdo yourself.......you go ahead and do it again....just beautiful.

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  50. Just when I think you cannot possibly outdo yourself.......you go ahead and do it again....just beautiful.

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  51. Girl you have CMS!!! Cuh-Razy Mad Skillz!
    What a fun space for your little man!

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  52. GORGEOUS!!!!
    Love the buck..and the trees..and the garland...I think this is my fave so far!!

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  53. Wow! That's gorgeous!

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  54. Gorgous! I do the exact same thing - I am going to do something simple and it never turns out that way. What a beautiful mantel!

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  55. Wow, I do declare, that is the prettiest mantel I have ever seen. Simple materials used and it's gorgeous. Great job.

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  57. Beautiful!! Love the reindeer ~

    xo
    Pat

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