looking back at 2010

I can't believe Sixty-Fifth Avenue is almost one year old! I've had a great time and look forward to the New Year and what that might bring. Thank you for your support and encouragement!

Here is a look back at some of my favorite posts of 2010. (The links will take you to the original post)

One of my first posts...creating a big girl room for the little one

Kitchen before and after

The playhouse gets a name

Our fairy garden

Bought a paint sprayer

Practiced using that paint sprayer on an antique dresser someone was throwing out because it was missing a drawer.

The practice dresser

Butterfly artwork

Created a playroom

Turned an old barn door...

and an ugly table...

into a versatile potting table

Outdoor family room

The dining room got a makeover and a photo wall

Painted a wall in our kitchen with chalkboard paint

It was fun looking back at some of these old posts, especially the summer pictures!

                                                         Sharing with Southern Hospitality

blog tour

Hi everyone, I just wanted to pop in and let you know about a year end blog tour that Jennifer from Rambling Renovators is hosting this week. Stop by and check out a few new "great reads" and find out my favorite post of 2010.

Merry Christmas

Santa will be on his way very soon and we couldn't be more excited! Tonight we will be wrapping the rest of the gifts and getting ready for our annual Christmas Eve party.

Look, they bloomed!

I want to thank each and every one of you who stop by to read Sixty-Fifth Avenue, it means a lot to me. I can't believe it's almost been a year since I started writing this blog, time flies when you're having fun!

Have a very Merry Christmas!

my favorite part

My favorite part of decorating for Christmas is bringing in fresh greens and creating something pretty for the tables.

I use all kinds of things to put them in each year...the one for the dining room table is really a candle holder. I lined it with plastic and used florist foam, I love that stuff!

I forgot what kind of flowers these are so I call them snowflake flowers.

Our little hallway got some good smelling greens too.

Are you loving the faux candles as much as I am? I wasn't so sure about them when I first saw them but now I want some big ones too.

The little one filled the votives with snow and we put this "winter in the forest" vignette together using a couple of her toy deer. The miniature urn is from her fairy garden and it's filled with ice. If I had more cloches she could have made a hundred of these, it was a lot of fun.

This tinsel topper is one of my favorite things. I try to come up with different ways to use it. This year I put it in a silver bowl that Mr. 65th uses to catch his wallet, change and phone when he comes in the door.

I used florist foam again and a few different kinds of greens, this is so quick and easy to do.

I just layer them all around until it's all filled in. I might add some white roses later.

I make a huge mess and I love it!

Off to get the house clean, we're having friends over tonight for a little Christmas party.


Sharing with Cottage and Vine Tour of homes   All things Heart & Home

The writing is on the wall

Well, I am officially used to the chalkboard wall. After one coat I almost chickened out and painted it back. I'm glad I went for it.

If you missed that whole saga, you can read about it here and here. I really do love it now...especially for winter, it has a cozy and warm feeling to it.

Mr. 65th drew Santa and his reindeer flying over the doorway...I think he did a great job!

We are Rudolph lovers so of course we had to include him!

Only one more week until Christmas, I can't believe it! This is when I want to slow things down and just enjoy the excitement of it all. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! xo

Sharing with Domestically Speaking power-of-paint

Funky Junk Interiors   All Things Heart & Home

Using what you've got

I've been looking for a table to go in front of my old window that sits in the corner of my living room. I guess I wasn't looking hard enough because I never found anything. Then I remembered a table I painted over the summer that was just sitting in my garage....

The window is just leaning against the wall so I had a chair in front of it so it wouldn't get knocked over by a little someone. It was functional but just temporary.

Now I have a sunny spot for my paper whites. I thought I planted my bulbs too late this year but I think they will be blooming just in time for Christmas. I found the container at an estate sale last year.

The greens on the table are fresh but the Merry Christmas swag is not...I put it together last year. I'm thinking I need some tiny round ornaments or something to throw in with these acorns....what do you think?

I think my search is over for now...this little table just found a new home.

Sharing with Hooked on Houses holiday tour   

Cottage and Vine Christmas tour of homes

 

Our Christmas Tree 2010

The overall look of our tree doesn't change dramatically from year to year. I've been collecting ornaments for years and it's evolved into silver, glass and glitter glass ornaments.  It's hard to tell in these pictures but it sparkles like crazy!

This is what I've learned about Christmas trees...they are very difficult to photograph! I hope to have a big girl camera one day. Did you hear that Santa?

I used a lamp sitting in front of the tree with the shade off to get this shot. It helped, without the lamp the front of the tree was really dark, even at dusk when the sun wasn't streaming in.

Here are a few of my favorite ornaments....A lot of them were gifts from my sweet Mr. 65th.

This cute little bird is new this year...I love him.

I use these glass balls in groups of three and hang them deep into the tree for lots of extra sparkle. They come small, medium and large, I use them all. I saw Hobby Lobby and Michaels selling them this year.

The baby's first Christmas picture. Can you see those cheeks? She had the chubbiest cheeks you have ever seen. It was hard to stop nibbling them!

Are you tired of Christmas posts yet? I have more to share...

Check out Thrifty Decor Chic she is having a huge Christmas tree party.