Thanks to all of you for your kind words. I have so enjoyed looking at everyone's ideas and homes that I was inspired to post my own. I have to say it was such fun taking the pictures and learning about photobucket. I do enjoy the collecting of Christmas stuff but like most of you here on the boards I am budget minded too. When I get some on these gorgeous items on sale after the holidays it makes it that much sweeter. To answer some of your questions: Kathleen li - I love the ironing board Santa in the hall display too. It isn't really an ironing board but a piece of plywood with fabric and paint done to look like Santa. I bought it years ago at a craft fair here in Birmingham, AL for less than $20. The santa portrait is new this year from Kirkland's Home. The have one every year and it is only $59. I got it last week at 25% off. Calicocat1967 - I like the Santa plates. I was fortunate enough to most of them from Fitz and Floyd last year on Christmas day. They put everything on sale and I get their emails telling when. I picked them up for less than $10 each. The covered dish in the kitchen corner cabinet came from Tuesday Morning after Christmas last year. It is a Christopher Radko but I only paid $15 for it on sale. luvstocraft - Thanks for thinking I "belong". I kind of felt like I did and it's nice to point out to hubby "There are others like me. I'm not the only one always picking up dishes or decorations everywhere I go" One of the things I have enjoyed about the board is the comradery. Every when I didn't post I felt apart of the community. I am glad that I came out of lurkdom. I got the angles in the pictures for 25 cents a print years ago and had them framed for less than $10 each. I stole the hanging on a ribbon and dowel idea from a magazine. Very eye catching and costs very little too. phyl345 - I'm glad you enjoyed it. sameboat - Thanks for looking and commenting. melvalena- I hope I didn't create new work for you for next year. I am enjoying changing up things a bit from year to year, so I love the ideas you guys come up with. Hope you have a wonderful holiday with your grandkids. bonniee- Thank you. I enjoyed your post about decorations too. mary ruth - Thanks, I love the Fitz and Floyd too. I got the large santas on top of the refridgerator last year on Christmas day. They are normally $350 each but on their clearance/outlet on their website they were only $89. I know that is still expensive, but I couldn't pass up the chance for something so large and beautiful for that price. I ordered my mom and her sister one for this year's Christmas present. I am so excited to give them to them. They are the chief decorators in the family so I came by it honestly. slinkey - What a nice welcome. Thanks for you praise and I feel like I will be a regular now that I've broken the ice. I do love my home. It is older and I actually came to these boards because we are considering building a new home on a lot we bought so I was researching building and come across this board on a search. But it didn't take me long to go from the Building a House forum to Decorating to Christmas/Holidays. purplemoon - I have loved all of your decorations and posts for the year. I thank you for your comments. The pair of large leaping reindeer are my "pride and joy". This is the first year I have displayed them, getting them last Christmas Day online. They came from Frontgate, which is not a store that I can normally afford. But after Christmas they put all their stuff on sale and mark it down a little more each week. On their website is a section called Outlet. I did not know of it and wanted a large reindeer for my fireplace hearth, so I searched and got a hit on them. The are regularly $199 each and but were on clearance for $59 each. Again a little more than I normally pay for a Christmas decoration, but a great deal on a heavy well made piece. I am pleased with the display. I would be honored to have some of my stuff in the Inspiration Album. Thanks for asking. Does that mean I have "arrived"? Ha-Ha. Feel free to look all you want. prosperity66 - Thanks for your kind words. I am glad others enjoyed it. Thanks again to all of you and I am off to scour the Internet for any clearance deals, but not ever sure where I could possibly put more if I find it. Merry Christmas!

You know, I'm not even sure!!!! Ha ha...I know I'm just having trouble explaining what I'm going for, so here are a few inspiration photos...(I don't think these are anyone's kitchens from here, but if they are, I apologize, I don't have names or anything saved with these!) I realize these aren't very Tuscan, I honestly don't have too many photos uploaded of those (they are on my hard drive). But I guess when I think 'mountain', this is what's in my mind!

jan s - Thanks for the link. I believe the 4th photo is the kitchen I posted earlier that antss said won a contest. It looks much better in the larger photo. I'm glad you all are enjoying the album. I haven't had the time to look at these closely. But there were a couple that caught my eye. msrose - I replied to your email. I hope you received it. Do any of you have the rough edge treatment that this counter has? Is it difficult to keep clean? CC

my3dogs. I can get a pic of the area tomorrow, but my "theme" is sophisticated roosters! I don't have a set dimension in my mind, I am just wanting the area to be pulled together. A sideboard my even be too tall. I guess I was really thinking using the piece I am confiscating from my mother (no pic of that until I go visit and get it ) with another piece, but not just right next to each other lined up in a row :) Also, by budget was just blown by my massive fridge, so I will not be buying a pottery barn piece, but something maybe from Hobby Lobby with a coupon :) I won't get the pice from my mom for a few weeks, but want to have the area pretty well done when I get back. A vintage piece would work very well with the house ('36 brick tudor in the country), but I want the area to not look cluttered. Not to say I don't want a lot of stuff in the area, I just want it to not look cluttered. luckygal-I hadn't thought about just doing a MDF shelf for the area. The window is really big though and probably starts 20 inches from the floor, so not sure how a shelf would look in the middle of the window? I have a movable high sideboard that fits at my island that I use to have at the window, but it never looked right. It seems that an interesting furniture piece would add a lot of warmth to it.