I have been in love with monograms for most of my life.  I remember being so excited when i stumbled upon the perfect table linen (with my new monogram) in a Galveston antique shop for my wedding reception!  Monograms are just special.  Even in their new and sometimes “overdone” popularity, I still love a gorgeous monogram. So you can imagine my excitement when this arrived from my new sponsor, SOUTHERN PROPER MONOGRAMS.

It is made of wood and come in the naked/bare wood state so you paint it any color..and it was super easy to spray paint.  I didn’t know if i was going to be able to make it through the Holidays without my red door but this is going to help!  The white looks so pretty with the gray door (SW Urbane Bronze is the color btw)…I tried it with green ribbon, red and green and a few greens…a bit smaller size monogram would look great layered over a fresh wreath but this one is so huge and dramatic it doesn’t need much!  in fact, i may hang it later with no ribbon if i can affix a little hanger on the back….should be easy….Souther Proper monograms also has different fonts and smaller sizes for ornaments, stockings or gift tags!  The possibilities are endless!

Notice I did what i call a duogram (and yes i took the house numbers off my door, it was just too much with the post box and the idea of holiday decorations but i reserve the right to put another up later)…truly proper would be my husbands initials i guess, since he is the man of the house and all but since we are all modern couple i did “duo”..I put my initial first, not because I have subordination issues (no comments) but because its etiquette to put the woman’s name first, and not separate a man’s first name from his last name?? Y’all correct me if i am wrong, just my understanding..and frankly in today’s world, there are bigger tragedies than getting this right or wrong so I do it however you wish though I am sure the nice ladies at Southern Proper can help you decide..you could also just do a single intial.

Another item i just ran across that I am very excited to share are these amazing nutcrackers..unfinished and very inexpensive from….HOBBY LOBBY!  I have a love hate thing with Hobby Lobby and i wasn’t thrilled with their colors, price and selection of shatter proof ornaments when i was in there on Friday!  BUT they redeemed themselves when i rounded the corner of the craft Christmas aisle (near the decorations) and found shelves of unpainted items including the nutcrackers, big ones, little ones….with a son who is interested in soldiers, i knew this was Christmas gold..I think my mother thought i was nuts i bought so many.  I could paint them solid white or red like West Elm but I think i will leave them natural.

 I am sure the boys will want to decorate a few…and at that price ($1-3 on sale!) I can allow them craft and play and use some for decor too!

And just a few more faves I want to mention because it takes time to plan and order…first, the tree idea for teacher and other gifts..I love this.

You can either order them from Seeds of Life and add tag like i did 2 years ago (paper tag with GROW stamped on it and then i handwrote inside) or buy your own tree or even just a plant and package this way..i never get tired of this idea.

And on the note of packaging, I have a wrap and ribbon report. Maybe it is just me, y’all may have found something cute or new or different but I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary at WalMart, World Market, Target or Hobby Lobby….last year i loved one from Target (looked like an Orla Keily print on kraft) BUT I am still loving the kraft paper from and bakers twine (and kraft tape) from Olive Manna, just fyi, the kraft paper is thin but not too thin..i don’t like the classic THICK kraft paper..just me.

I am also loving this wrap from Sundance and the french script wrap from Ballard.  Sundance also has some great ribbon for you ribbon-aholics!

Sorry for the long post and i apologize for posting on so much Christmas before Thanksgiving, I am really not a fan of that but I also wanted to give some heads up so you have ordering time etc..last year i waited until Mid December to blog about Christmas!

Have a blessed week and give Thanks to the Lord for He is good and His love endureth forever!