It seemed to take forever this year. Blame it on Thanksgiving. I do. But welcome to my holiday home! This is your guide, Lizzie! (
Cue the Music!)
(I warn you -- this is a long post. But time is running out and I can't break it into pieces. I got such a late start this year! And that's life.
Let's start in the living room, shall we? It's actually one long room, living at one end, dining at the other. And of course that's where the big tree is.
I call this tree my autobiography. Every ornament (many of which you might have seen
HERE) really has a personal connection -- a gift, a purchase while traveling, or just something I loved.
Did you know that the incredibly talented Laura from
Decor to Adore creates an ornament for charity each year? I'm lucky to have one of her 2019 creations!
All this is anchored under the skirt with tubs of cat litter. Because we know cats can knock down trees (though Lizzie has been very good. I take no chances.)
A couple of living room vignettes -- I love the cotton, of course! And one of my favorite Nativities.
The silver deer are resting on a Southern Exposure garland done
HERE with red berry stems added this year.
I also have my Woodland Tree in the living room.
It has favorites that are mostly snowflakes, birds, and woodland themed ornaments with the occasional snow person thrown in.
I gave you a peek of my Happy Tree
HERE. When I was a kid my aunt had a flocked tree and I just thought it was weird. And then I grew up!
And I wanted one so much, that even though I have too many trees, I got one last year on sale after Christmas. It might be my favorite!
This little one is right in front of one of the cabinets. You might recognize it from a long-ago
Southern Exposure post!
Moving toward the dining room, we have the White Tree. Everything here is largely silver, white, or pastel. With a hint of red here and there!
It stands beside the china cabinet, this year decked with greens and some treasures old and new.
I love this snowman by The Whimsical Whittler. Years ago I visited their beautiful home
HERE and
HERE. Oh, the Christmas joy!
And this little holiday girl is a new purchase from
Vintage by Crystal. I love her holiday pieces!
The top of the cabinet is one of my favorite eye-resting spots!
Then turning the corner, check out the Solstice tree. Here comes the sun! Soon, I hope!
There's something about sun, moon and stars that just gives me a bit of awe!
I love my Hitchcock hutch I found at an antique store -- a great deal. It is pretty from the outside...
...and fun to decorate within!
The Christmas plates and Doulton Lady were my mom's and special to me (especially since two of the plates represent Christmas in England and the Netherlands!).
Moving on, we hit the family room. This room is one of my favorites because it reminds me of the cottage. (The curved garland is another
Southern Exposure creation.)
I decided that the bottlebrush trees had to have center stage on the mantel this year!
I've collected a lot, dyed even more, so they show up in a lot of spots!
The tree on the hearth is my "Mom" tree -- these are ornaments she loved -- or ones she would have, had she lived long enough to choose!
Of course, Lizzie has her Cat tree.
It's right by her feeding and bird viewing station!
Across the room is my little chest and atop it a tree given to me by a friend who was moving. It's loaded down with icicles, along with some of the Santa collection! (I think that's too much stuff in the space, actually, but I don't have time to declutter it!)
And my fave flocked wreath!
That room moves into my VERY tiny kitchen (with the broken oven). So, just a couple spots of decorating here -- above the sink to make me happy while I tend to dishes...
...and this shelf that I picked up (literally) on the street a few years ago! And that's changed since I took the pictures, since I thought it was way too cluttered and took some of it down.
Tea anyone?
I did that in the family room in more than one place -- tore out a whole greens arrangement. I couldn't see anything because there was so much and it was making me nervous. At least in the other rooms it's spaced out! But it is too much for a very small house and even though I try to cut back, I just want my holiday friends out with me!
A hall wreath. There's supposed to be a wall tree in the hall too -- but not happening this year!
The bathroom just has a little pink tree and the Santa who looked like my graduate advisor! Love that it picks up the mirrored lights!
In the hall you'll see my Caroll Spinney (Big Bird) wall. To be honest, it's a badly designed wall. The nails work better with what's usually hanging there (which, as you might guess, are photos and art related to Paris!) The Spinney cards are from the late puppeteer and his wife over many Christmases. There would be more but I couldn't find the same frame this year. More on Caroll Spinney in an upcoming post.
And a short stop in the bedroom where your tour guide is pausing on my Mary Engelbreit "Believe" spread.
This Nativity, under the Dad Tree, came from a friend who moved. I love their sweet faces. But we'll visit Nativities more later.
I won't show you much of the office because that would scare you. It scares me.
I leave you with your holiday home guide -- taking a break now!
That's it, folks! Probably more than enough! If you missed posts on five cookie recipes I love, Southern Exposure, grieving during the holidays or others, you can click on the tab at the menu on the top of this post! Thanks for hanging in so long!
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