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FREE Valentine’s Day Printables

With a background in graphic design, one of my little known hobbies is designing decorative printables. I find it fun and relaxing to create something pretty to hang on a wall or add to a notebook. It makes me happy to express my artistic side this way.

In honor of Valentine’s Day (which is coming up quickly!), I’ve designed some pretty printables I think you’re going to love. These are free printables for you to print out and enjoy. Use them any way you like. They’re my Valentine’s gift to you, all my friends here at Mud Boots & Pearls.

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Holiday Decor House Tour

Decorating for the holidays is always such a delight. I love having my children help put up the holiday decor. We play Christmas music and dance around, making fun and happy memories.

Even though I love to decorate for Christmas with my children, I don’t love taking all the decorations down at the end of the season. With that in mind, we usually keep things pretty simple as far as holiday decor goes.

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We used to have an artificial tree, but in recent years, the children have asked for a real one. They usually go out on the back of our property and choose one from the woods. Chopping it down and bringing it home is an activity they all enjoy immensely. The excited anticipation as my older children put up the newly cut tree in the house is such fun to watch. Most of the ornaments are handmade by the children or have some sentimental connection.

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Our fireplace is the focal point of our living room. We have a fire burning in it most days during the winter. Decorating the mantel and hearth brings such a festive spirit to the room. It’s amazing the beautiful effect this one area of decoration can have on the rest of the room. The decorations are simple but sentimental. My grandmother gave me the carolers. Each family member has a stocking handmade by my mother.

We love receiving cards from all our friends and family each year. As we received them, we place each one in an honored spot around the archway to our living room. They are displayed there throughout the season, and I love the reminder they bring of the loved ones who sent them.

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The table centerpiece has the most prominent place in our dining area. I like to spend time planning it out displaying it in just the right way.  It stays on the table throughout the season, which keeps things simple for me.

This year, I decided to utilize my cake stand (which honestly does not get much use other than sitting on the hutch in my dining room most of the time) to create a simple but pretty centerpiece—all with objects I already had.

The sparkly garland is leftover from a holiday season decoration used many years ago. The ribbon was salvaged off a gift someone in the family received at one point. An arrangement of pinecones fills out the display.

The pine cones where my mother-in-law’s. She had a large pine tree in her back yard and collected pine cones from under its branches every year. She loved displaying those pine cones. It feels like a special little part of her is there in our midst as we gather around the table.

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Our manger scene is my favorite Christmas decor item. I inherited this set from my mom, who got it from my grandmother. I have fond memories of setting it up each year as a child, and now I love to watch my own children set it up. It has been well loved for many years and has sustained quite a few chips and scratches, but I think it just adds to it’s charm. It’s sentimental value far exceeds any monetary value it might have.

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A simple but beautiful wreath hangs on the front door. My oldest daughter made our wreaths this  year. She did an amazing job at it, too!

The bushes in front of our house have been decked with lights. They bring such a bright, festive look to our home.

I hope you enjoyed this little peek into our home’s holiday decor for this Christmas season! May your own Christmas be joyful and blessed!

Christmas Movies Your Family Will Love

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We have a little tradition in our house. During the month of December, we watch as many Christmas themed movies together as we can find time for. We have some favorites we watch year after year, but we also try to add a few new ones each year as well. Our favorite Christmas movies cover a wide variety of genres, from comedies, to animated classics, to heart warming family films.

Maybe you have a similar tradition in your own home. Perhaps your family has a few Christmas movies you watch every year. But maybe you’re looking for some ideas for new holiday films to try this season.

If your family is anything like mine, you’ll be able to find a few new favorites among this list.

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The Star of Bethlehem

I start the list with this movie because it’s important to remember what the Christmas season is really all about. Every time I watch this movie, I get chills. It induces a spirit of awe in me with each viewing. It’s unlike any other Christmas movie I’ve ever seen. I guarantee if you watch this one, you’ll be amazed at the intricacies of God’s handiwork in the universe. Your heart will cry out in praise to Him—I know mine does whenever I see this film.

The Christmas Shoes

This one will make you cry. It’s a touching movie about love and about discovering what’s truly important in life. If you haven’t seen this one, you need to. We’ve all heard the song; the movie’s much, much better.

The Christmas Box

My grandmother gave me the book by Richard Paul Evans (which has become a holiday classic) when I was a teenager. The story stuck with me for a very long time. In my opinion, the movie is just as good as the book. I don’t want to give anything away if you’ve never seen it, but I will say that having now experienced the loss of a child, the story of this movie resonates with me on a much deeper level than I ever imagined it would when we first started our annual viewings of it.

The Timepiece

This movie is the prequel to The Christmas Box. It is a touching tale set during World War II. A very moving story of forgiveness and faith and the power of love. This one is also based on a book by Richard Paul Evans.

White Christmas

I really don’t need to say anything about this one, do I? Who hasn’t seen this movie? It’s definitely a time-tested holiday classic. It’s also one of my personal favorites. The music, the dancing, the story, it’s all absolutely perfect. Plus, the costumes are utterly gorgeous.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Another classic everyone must see. The nostalgia attached to this one is almost as good as the actually movie itself. I love the scene where Linus is reciting the scripture passage from Luke 2 about the birth of Jesus. Another great reminder that “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

Elf

Such an entertaining movie, this is an all-time favorite of a couple of my kids. It’s fun and silly and sweet at times. (There are a couple of questionable scenes that might not be best for younger viewers, though.)

Christmas With the Kranks

This movie is hilarious! The concept is clever, and the execution is flawless. Another one that has a couple of questionable scenes for little ones, but overall a family friendly film.

 It’s a Wonderful Life

Another classic that bears mentioning because it is just such a great movie. I’m so attached to this movie—I have very fond memories of watching it as a little girl with my dad.

The Muppet Christmas Carol

A well known story told with a twist—a Muppets twist. For a movie with a whole bunch of weird puppets portraying the characters, it’s heart warming and has all the appeal of Dickens’ original tale. But it has something even better…Kermit the frog…as Bob Cratchit. Need I say more?

The Christmas Card

This movie is so sweet. It’s a love story set at Christmas time. The main characters are endearing, the story is interesting, and the message is positive. There are some really cute one-liners in this one, too. My husband loves to quote a specific handful of lines from this movie.

The Nativity Story

I’ll start and end this list with the same message. Jesus is at the center of Christmas. The Christmas story is about Him, His birth, the purpose for which He came to Earth, which was to die for the sins of His people. This movie beautifully portals the story of that first Christmas. We always watch this one on Christmas Eve. It’s a wonderful way to bring our focus back to the One who deserves our worship, not just on Christmas, but every single day of the year.

Any movies on this list you’ve never seen? I highly recommend you watch them. Who knows, one of these might just become a new favorite for you. Or maybe this list has reminded you of a forgotten favorite of your own that you’d like to view again. At any rate, I hope it’s given you some ideas for great holiday movies to watch with your family.

Do you have a favorite Christmas movie I didn’t mention here? Care to share your own favorite holiday movie titles? Please leave a comment; I’d love to hear what Christmas movies you love to watch each year.

 

Please note: This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase something using one of my links.  Note that I only recommend products I believe in. Your support is appreciated!

Fall Lifestyle Favorites (and a Giveaway!)

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I can’t believe we are already almost a week into November. Where in the world did the month of October go? In this post, I’d like to share a few of the things I’ve been using and loving in recent weeks.

Without further ado, here is my list of favorites from this fall.

Fashion

1.  Blanket Scarf

A blanket scarf is the perfect fall accessory. This scarf is so soft and cozy, wearing it is like cuddling in a blanket all day long. (Hmmm, I guess that’s why it’s called a blanket scarf…) If you missed it, you might want to check out my previous post on 5 Ways to Wear a Blanket Scarf. It’s always fun to get creative with your accessories.

2. Taupe Booties from Natural Breeze

I ordered these pretty little booties from Zulily recently and I’m really loving them. They’re just so cute! I haven’t been a real fan of the bootie craze in the past, but when I found these little cuties, I knew I was going to become a convert. They are so easy to style with so many different looks. As a bonus, they’re actually comfortable.

Beauty

3. Burt’s Bees Lipstick in Blush Basin

This lipstick has become my go-to lip color. I wear it almost everyday. It is such a beautiful mauve color. It’s the perfect “your lips but better” shade. The formula is rich and smooth and it goes on easily. Staying power is pretty good. And I like that the ingredients are fairly good (as in, natural and not full of harmful ingredients).

Food

4. Caramel Apple Rooibos Tea from The Republic of Tea

As I mentioned in a previous post, this is my absolute favorite tea for fall. Really, I could drink this tea anytime of year, but it’s only available for a limited time each year. So, I enjoy it while I can and spend the rest of the year looking forward to its deliciousness.

Books

5. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

I recently finished reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad and I must tell you, it blew my mind. This book has been around for a while and is fairly well known (it is considered a classic in certain circles), though I had never read anything quite like it before. Maybe the content of this book won’t be that revolutionary for other people who read it, but for me, it was simply eye-opening in so many ways. It gave me a whole new perspective on finances, making money, and what it means to be successful.

For the Home

6. Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Dish Soap

Believe it or not, I actually like to wash dishes. (Which I guess is a good thing, since, with a family of 10, we create a lot of dirty dishes.) The only thing I don’t like about dishes is the damage most brands of dishwashing soap can do to my hands. I hate wearing rubber gloves to wash the dishes. With my sensitive skin, this creates a problem, especially in the winter months when my skin tends to be even drier than usual. The solution, I’ve recently found, is Mrs. Meyers Dish Soap. My favorite is the basil scented one. The formula is much gentler on my hands than most other dish soaps. And the basil scent makes me happy.

I’d love to hear some of your recent favorites from this fall. Please feel free to share in the comments.

Please note: This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase something using one of my links.  Note that I only recommend products I believe in. Your support is appreciated!

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And now, It’s giveaway time!

I’m so excited to be hosting this giveaway. The winner will receive their very own beautiful plaid blanket scarf, exactly like the one pictured here! To enter, use the Rafflecopter widget below. This giveaway will run for 10 days. I will contact the winner by email within 24 hours of the close of the contest.

I can’t wait to see who wins this gorgeous scarf!

6 Free Fall Printables

fall-printablesPretty printables to frame and hang on your wall are a great way to bring a little variety to your decor. With my background in graphic design, I find designing printable to be a lot of fun. I’ve designed a few fall-themed printables and I wanted to share them with you. Hope you like them!

Feel free to print these or download and save them for later use. I’ve included both the .jpeg and .pdf version of each of these, so that you can choose which format you would like to use. And if you’d like more printable like these in the future, please subscribe to my email newsletter using the form in the sidebar. I’ll be sharing more printables like these in the coming months. So, if you’re an email subscriber, you’ll be the first to know when any new printables are available.

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Simple Autumn/Fall Decor

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It’s official. Fall is here! It’s time to decorate!

Inspiration for autumn decor is all around us this time of year. Simply stepping outside can give me a flood of ideas for bringing the autumn theme into the decor of my home. Like many people, I consider autumn to be my favorite time of year. I love to see the leaves change colors and feel the air turn cool and crisp. The hills around our home are splashed with autumnal brilliance. Then the ground is slowly covered in red and yellow confetti as the foliage begins to fall from the trees. It’s exhilarating!

The Mantle

As excited as I am for fall decor, I like to keep my holiday decorating fairly simple. I prefer to use a handful of carefully chosen decorations to bring the autumn theme to life. The mantle is always a good place to start.

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I’ve had these votive holders and silk leaf wreaths for a few years now, and every year when I pull them back out, they still look great. So, I keep using them year after year. Don’t you love decorations like that?

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The Dining Table

Because there are 10 people sitting around our dining table each night, I try to keep the centerpiece fairly easy to move. Who wants to spent time removing and replacing an elaborate table scape two are three times a day? Not me. This simple fall centerpiece consists of a pretty painted pitcher with some silk flowers and leaves displayed in it and a cloth napkin spread underneath. The napkin has pictures of pumpkins, leaves, and acorns embossed into its fall color scheme of rust brown, burgundy, and dark green. (Please excuse the smudges on the french doors in the background. Did I mention that I have 8 kids? The equals lots of fingers making prints on my windows.)

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The Kitchen Island

I love the fact that so many typical fall decorations can be found for free. This line of artfully displayed pumpkins was harvested right out of our own garden. And it sets the perfect autumn mood, don’t you think?

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The Front Door

We can’t neglect the outdoor decorations, which are my personal favorite. I love pulling into my driveway after being away from home (no matter how long I’ve been gone), to be greeted by several happy, round, orange pumpkins by the front door.

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I just love to see a fall wreath hanging on the door. The wreath on my door this year is very simple (in keeping with the rest of my decor theme), but it stills gives a nice impact. It is made up of a grapevine wreath as the base with autumn colored florals adorning the top. So cozy and inviting! Can’t you just smell the hot apple cider simmering on the stove?

What is your favorite way to decorate for fall? Feel free to leave a comment below sharing your autumn decor tips.

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