Merry Christmas from the X Household!

I've enjoyed catching up on everyone's holiday posts this morning.  Sadly, I have come down with a fierce chest cold & sore throat.  No bueno.

But on the flip side, luckily I work for a fabulous company that has allowed me to take the day off & get some rest.

Since we're all wrapping up our holidays....what better time to finally share with you our Christmas card that went out to all of our loved ones last week.

One of my favorite parts of the holidays are PHOTO CARDS!  I just love 'em.

So Christmas began for us on Saturday.  The in laws arrived late morning & I spent most of the afternoon doing some last minute shopping.  The first Christmas celebration was Saturday evening...then onto Sunday, starting with an early morning church service.  Then Monday Christmas Eve lunch & lastly, an early morning Christmas Day breakfast at my Mom's. 

Needless to say, we are WORE out!

The gift I had made for my new niece & nephew born this year....thank you Etsy.

....and Christmas just isn't the same without an intense game of Holiday Pictionary.

And yes, that's a fake fire on the television.

We do it up right here in the Midwest.

Saw It. Pinned It. Did It. Christmas 2012 Edition.

Ok, ok...enough about the cruise.  Hope you enjoyed all the recaps & photos.  We had  a great time & I loved having the chance to share some of our memories with you all.

Moving onto all things CHRISTMAS!  I have had TWO different people wish me a happy holiday this morning, just in case they don't see me beforehand. 

PEOPLE. 

We still have 3 weeeeeeeks.

And this sistah hasn't purchased ONE gift yet.

So please stop wishing me a happy holiday.  Your stressing me out.

But not the kind of stress that a glass of Pinot Noir can't take care of. 

Thanks for the love on my Instagram (@annexenos) last night. 
You gals sure love seeing pics of VINO. 
And that's why I love all of you.

Linking up today with Katie & Steph with what this crazy crafter has been up to these past couple weeks.  I saw this pin and feel in love instantly. 

I love the rustic look.  Love the color, love the writing & I absolutely LOVE everything about the poem it came from. 

And the idea just grew from there...

So off to Michael's I went. 

Went home, painted them.  Let them dry overnight and sanded the hell out of the eges.

Then grabbed one of these....

(Sharpie makes the ABSOLUTE best paint pens.  TRUST ME. I've done lots of trial & error)

And wrote away!

Since I have LOTS of built in shelves on each side of the fireplace, I chose several of my favorite verses & spread them out around the room.

I ended up hanging my sign from the mantle with burlap ribbon.  I then drilled a couple holes & twisted in the burlap knobs...

Whipped together the stockings & hung them up!

The stockings are a little project that perhaps I'll share next week.

They are a work in progress, but I'm loving them more & more as they come together.

These signs are the perfect rustic touch to our rustic holiday decor this year.  I just love 'em.

Thank you Pinterest for the inspiration!

And while we're talking all things holiday, I'll leave you with this little heartthrob.

19 days and counting..........

Now go link up & join in the fun!