Day 11 of 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways (with Nicki Koziarz)
Winners announced here! Congratulations!
*Give Away has Ended*
It’s Day 11 of 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways!
If you’re just joining in, start at Day One here.
My guest is my friend and Proverbs 31 ministry partner Nicki Koziarz. She is an author, speaker, and fixer-upper farm dweller. She is giving us a clever holiday and winter-time decorating idea I think you are going to love. Here’s Nicki…
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Pinterest. The breeding ground of all Christmas comparisons.
From tree decorations, to the perfect wrapping ideas for gift, it’s easy to look at all this perfection on Pinterest and suddenly feel like we don’t measure up in some kind of Christmas way.
But, I want to show you that just because you can’t make a Pinterest picture transfer to real life, you can still create something beautiful.
You can let the Pinterest’s success of others encourage, not discourage you.
Recently, I was searching on Pinterest for ways to decorate my table for Christmas. This was my inspiration picture (from Tuesday Morning).
I knew I could either look at this picture and become discouraged or I could give this my best shot and see what I COULD do. Here’s three things that helped:
1. Get honest about what you do have.
Comparison loves to convince us to see everything we don’t have. And we begin to write that “if only …” dialogue in our minds. So, I looked at that inspiration picture and realized I had almost NOTHING in it. But, I took a look around my house and realized I didn’t have everything that inspiration picture had, but I had plenty of beautiful things that still fit the vibe the inspiration picture had. So I grabbed this and I grabbed that, and before I knew it, my table was full.
2. See things as enough.
Comparison loves to make us miss what’s right in front of us.
I knew those plain white candles didn’t look as lovely as the ones in the inspirational picture, but I thought about what I could do instead of what I couldn’t. And then it came to me. I went out to my yard, cut a few rosemary stems and tied them around the candle. The simplicity was beautiful to me and I saw it as more than enough. Sometimes we just need to look right in front of us, beauty is there.
3. Perfection is overrated.
Comparison also loves to convince us that if it can’t be perfect, why even try?
Well, if you look closely you’ll see that in the inspirational picture the table runner has no wrinkles. In mine? Well, there’s a few! (smile) And I’m okay with it. Because someone once said, “Finished is better than perfect.” I agree. And hey, I’m sure my guests this Christmas won’t even notice the wrinkles.
What ideas do you have for decorating for the holidays? What are some simple items you put out to make your place festive? Let us know in the comment thread.
Happy decorating,
Nicki
Day 11 Giveaway
To help you keep you filled up with confidence this Christmas season and not let comparison compromise you, Nicki is giving away a copy of her newest book, Why Her?, her Rachel & Leah Bible study book, and a special signed copy of The Fixer Upper Farm Co. Journal! A combined $50 value.
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Nicki Koziarz is a wife, mom, two-time best selling author and speaker. She and her husband own a farm they affectionately call, “The Fixer Upper Farm”. They are first generation farmers, which is just a fancy way of saying they have no idea what they are really doing. Nicki has been featured on Life Today and contributes to the First 5 writing team at Proverbs 31 Ministries.
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Beautiful books….looking forward ro reading those.
I love my natjvity
We love lights!! We try and use as many lights as we can. Just something about night time and the house lit up with Christmas lights ?
I collect Santa’s and I love to put them on display. Some are formal and old world and some are whimsical (Santa with Bermuda shorts and a surf board). My order though, is my Nativity. I love putting it out and praying I’ve each piece. This year my 3 year old granddaughter helped and put baby Jesus in the manager. Pinterest is a great place for inspiration. I try not to do the comparison thing. Your table is beautiful. My Pinterest project for this season is finding a wreath that I can put the Nativity lantern I found in a rummage shop in. Wish me luck ?
Lights, lights and more lights.
Lights, lights and more lights.
Nativities and snowmen, that’s how I decorate at my house! Keeping it simple.
Shared on Facebook.. thanks for giving us a chance to win.love nickibooks
Thank the Lord , He never compares us to anyone else! He just loves us!!
Blessings and Merry Christmas!!
… and aren’t we fortunate that God never compares us! We are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139
Philippians 4:11b “for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”
I agree 100% that “Finished is better than perfect.” Perfectionism is the stumbling block to a job well done.
I love my beautiful nativity — set in the stable that my beloved father-in-law made and gave to me as a Christmas gift many years ago.
And I love the gorgeous hand-made ornaments my mother-in-law made for us — a new one each year. Of course, the ornaments our children made while growing up are given places of prominence on the tree.
And to set the mood — Christmas music and fragrant scented candles.
I am abundantly blessed and exceedingly grateful.
Merry Christmas to all & “God bless us, every one.”
My motto now is to decorate simply. I have a collection of Saint Nick’s ( Santa’s) and nativity scenes – a lot were bought at resale shops – also lots of non breakable Christmas ornaments for our smaller Christmas tree. “Enjoy life to its fullest everyday.” John 10:10 b.
We hang handmade paper ornaments & snowflakes to dangle from the ceiling in one corner & in wide doorways. We also placed a bowl of giant pinecones in a bowl & then placed red birds that were tree decorations on top.
I have a lot of fun decorating with simple objects, such as a string of cookie cutters. Recently, I used inverted black and white paper cupcake holders as wall art for a Paris themed birthday. We don’t use a tree, but this year, I have a pompom garland that I strung across a corner and use to hang up the little snowmen and other decorations my kids have made at school. My daughter told me that seeing my creative ways to decorate is even better than having a tree!
My favorite idea from a magazine for Christmas decorating is tying a wreath under a light fixture over my table and then hanging ornaments on it, especially those with meaningful sayings. Wonder if anyone reads them as we eat our feast? Lol. Love your table and tips! Never thought to post a picture of my decorated light fixture on Pinterest, but could.
My table centerpiece is actually intended as a wall swag. I put five votive holders of different heights among it and it’s pretty and simple and good enough for us. )
Great ideas!
I’m terrible with decorating. I put a festive wreath on door, our stockings and tree up. That’s pitiful but I’m ok with it, I own it. Haha
Your table looks beautiful!!! I try to find a least one new idea to use each year, and try not to get on Pinterest any more than I have to!! Thanks for sharing!!
Put some lights Garland up and turn on the lights
In this season most of my decorating stems from things my daughters have made.
I used a throw-away, plastic cookie plate from last year that someone gave me and hung it on our wall. I think the old school jolly Santa is cute and the kids and Ilike him. Upcycling at its finest.
I also have a wooden post that I change out with a new flag for each season/holiday.
Nothing fancy at all.
I love making things to decorate and the dollar store is my favorite. If you go right away, when they change the seasonal decorations out, they have some very cute things. I have made wreaths with all dollar store finds!
I’ve long ago given up trying to measure up in the decorating department – long before Pinterest made people crazy obsessed with perfection. I put up a small tree, make sure all the lights work, hang a few of my favorite ornaments that bring back beautiful memories in my life. I try to decorate with music – we have smooth jazz creating peace all day long.
Simple is ideal. And beautiful!!! One year I needed a centerpiece and had no money to go out and get something elaborate. I took some extra ornaments from the tree and put them in a trifle bowl and set it on the table with greener cut from the yard! It was beautiful! I have always used the branches cut off the bottom of our tree to add decoration to the mailbox and garage doors.
This is perfect! My Bible study group is studying Rachel and Leah in January. Would love to win a copy of the book!
Due to a complete house renovation underway, true holiday decorations are boxed up and not out this year. HOWEVER we do have a table top tree with some modest decoration and a nativity scene. Simple and small yet still very pretty!