I thought this year would be different.

I thought this year, I would have a fireplace, and a mantel for stockings and a focal point for our nativity or Advent wreath.

Alas,.. I do not. = (

But what I do have, which might actually be bigger than most mantels, is my piano! = ) Each year I move my everyday piano decor aside and completely deck out the top of the piano. It’s a good place to put a nativity scene or advent candle wreath – or both!

Oh, this makes me smile! In keeping with the color scheme and theme of the Christmas tree, the white and the blue and the lights,.. oh what a pretty little sight. =)

You can even see a few of my “traveling nativity” pieces on the piano there…

I really like having the Advent candle wreath as the focal point in the middle. Usually it’s a nativity (but that has a new home this year.)

I bought a few of things on clearance at the end of last season (blue beaded garland, floral pieces) — and I forgot! Opening up the Christmas decorations and finding those on top was like finding an early Christmas present. 😉

This really makes the Advent wreath the star of the display – the blue & white Christmas lights illuminate the snow cover. I love it.

Take a good look at that vase because when I’m getting home it’s actually going to get replaced by something BETTER! You’ll just have to wait and see… ; )

More pinecones!! (I never knew I had such a thing for pinecones but I’m realizing I do like them a lot. Especially white tipped or silver.)

There’s a white and silver garland twisted together on here, in addition to the brown ribbon with silver and teal accents, the blue beaded garland and a silver snowflake garland (which you can see in the bottom left of the previous picture.) I’m learning my style is a combination of simple and multi-layered.

The two large ornaments used to sit in the Christmas tree basket with the three big gold ones, but this year they’re segregated. =p There’s the bottom of another vase that WON’T be there after I get my hands on it. Really, this is going to be so much fun! (But I’ll keep you guessing until I get home and get it done.)

And last but not least, these little beaded sprays, I adore them. These also were purchased on clearance for a ridiculously low price and were forgotten until a couple of weeks ago. I haven’t found *just* the right thing for them yet, they may or may not still be here once I switch out the vases. We shall see. They need… something… I don’t know what yet.

So that’s my “faux mantel”.. even when I do have a fireplace I imagine my piano will still serve as a place of prominent display.

Do you have a real mantel or do you create your own mantel space? What do you put there?

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Amber

Hey, y’all! I’m Amber and I wear many hats. I drink a ton of coffee and I’m constantly sweeping crumbs off the floor. After 20+ years of homeschooling, we are starting over at preschool with our fourth, Lil Miss Mouse. She keeps us young and she’s the main reason for my excessive coffee consumption. Drink up!