I think I went a little Christmas crazy this year--and I could totally buy more if it was in the budget.
Thought I'd share a little of what I have turned our home into, much to B's dismay.
Living Room:
Fireplace with stockings (yes, that is 5 stockings for a 2-person household--one for Dash and Raspy and the middle is our angel furbaby's); table behind the couch, view from the front door in the dark, and chair by the tree.
Entertainment center. I went all-out this year here and took down all my usual decor and decorated for Christmas. I even put lit garland along the top. The bears are no longer there. We had to move the center for AT&T u-Verse to be installed and I put the bears in the chair (in the pic. above) during the move. B said he liked them there and the babies haven't tried to eat them, so I think they are staying. Lights are still up and I'll probably add more floral stuff next year.
Close-ups of the entertainment center: left and right bookcases with my tin "collection" (I don't throw a lot of things away, so the tins and purses have become decoration over the years), candles, and a couple of projects for the year.
I was having a hard time deciding what to put on that top shelf. It needed to be something that would work with the light and not block it at the same time as the shelf is glass, so the light filters down. I finally decided I wanted to do a vase or bowl with balls. I put this together myself: vase with ornament balls from the dollar store and a greenery around the bottom to dress it up. I also dressed up the fake flickering candle with some ribbon garland. I didn't like that the stand was gold, so I covered it up.
Dining Room:
The dining room is my favorite room in the house anyway, but I really love the table. I'm pretty proud of the centerpiece. I made it myself a two years ago out of a lasagna dish and some flowers from Garden Ridge. I have to put it together every year, but I love it.
Next year, I want another small tree to go on top of the wine rack. I think it just needs something. I have my eye on a black pre-lit at Walmart. I also need to get a Christmas platter for the top of the china cabinet.
Kitchen:
This is also new this year. This is the bar between the kitchen and dining room. I have always put lights up and covered it with fake snow (it was the tree skirt for my first tree in my first apartment). I've always wanted a little village but hadn't gotten around to purchasing anything, so I usually just put up my small tree and just some little knick knacks. But, when I was at the dollar store, I found these little buildings and people for a dollar each (the people were three for a dollar plus trees two for a dollar). So, for around $12, I got my little village. I already had Santa and Santa's workshop (the lit house). And B has already pointed out that not only will Santa not fit into those houses, but the tree is too big too--I say it is the town Christmas tree. It's called an imagination.
I don't have any other pics of the kitchen. I don't have much going on it there aside from a tablescape. Next year's project!
Bathroom:
Yes, I decorate my bathroom. This was last year's project. It started with the monogrammed towels from my mom and the candles in the corner of the counter that I've had for years. The snowflakes on the shower curtain are ornaments and I love the vase. The bathroom's normal theme is ocean/beach, so it's kind of cool to turn it into snow and ice for the season. I probably a few things to add next year, but I love it--I actually kep it up through February last year.
And the tree:
Oh, how I love my tree. Probably more than a person should love their tree. I thought I had gone a bit overboard on the lights, but my friend Tracie assured me that I have the perfectly lit tree. Apparently, you should have 100 light for every foot of tree. I have a 7-foot tree and approximately 700 lights. No, I do not have a pre-lit. Yes, I will buy a pre-lit next time we buy a tree. Because it is ridiculous to put all those damn lights on.
It may not be as obvious by the way they are spread out in the picture, but I do have a lot of bears--my tree topper is even an angel bear. I have collected teddy bears forever, but they all reside in our spare bedroom. I insist, however, that my Christmas bears be displayed every year. For many years, my mom bought me a Christmas bear every Christmas, which is where most of the came from. They are probably a bit much, but I love them. And B tolerates them, bless his heart.
Happy Decorating!
