Merry Christmas!

Holiday Centerpiece....

Using the wooden box I made from fenceposts for fall http://mysocalifornialife.blogspot.com/2012/11/fall-centerpiece-from-old-fence-boards.html, here is the same box now decorated for Christmas!

 

 

"Dressed" Winter Vases

Here in southern California, it's going to be 80 degrees today.  Not exactly winter.  So, we have to create a winter look to make if feel like Christmas!  Dressing up some vases is a quick and pretty look.  I first saw this in Pinterest.

 

 

Start with some old sweaters you can cut.  I purchased two at Goodwill for $4.99; but go through your closet first!

 

 

 Cut the sleeves off at the shoulder; even my tallest vase didn't use the entire sleeve.  Slip them over the vase, then cut off the excess.

 

 

I added Rosemary branches snipped from the backyard to the smaller vases, and some artificial berry branches to the tall vase.  I also added lighted battery-operated branches to the taller vase, and they look beautiful at night.  Lighted branches were $14.99 at Big Lots; you can also get those at Kirklands, Marshall's, Jo Ann's, and other craft stores.  They take 3 double A batteries.

 

 

 

Voila!  Beautiful AND Easy!

 

 

 

I've linked up with The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays!  click this link for more fabulous ideas!! http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/

New House, New Tree

It's been months since I've posted, and there is so much catching up to do!  We've moved (more later) and needed a new tree for the new, bigger, house!  It's artificial, I keep it up so long it has to be.  Our last one lasted 10 years, so it was time.  This is a 9-foot tree from Home Depot, and I love it!

Moving (Resisting really) Into January

I know Christmas is over...the ornaments need to be boxed, the wreaths wrapped up...the garland and lights unplugged...but just a little longer, please!  I LOVE the house this time of year, and although I also love the clean feel and look after it's all put away, I'll give it another week.

Lighted garland and holiday dishes in the hutch...

The Christmas Angel, made for me by my sister years ago... 

The fresh smell of pine... 

The dining room mirror, all decked out in garland and last year's Eddie Ross ornament wreath...

The staircase, lit up nightly...

Gift bottles, awaiting friends that stop by...

My favorite wreaths, hanging high in the living room windows...

The mantel, adorned with handmade stockings from Grandma...

A few more nights of Sassy sleeping/hiding/playing under the tree...

And lots of memories...

It's up!

The Christmas Tree at night is my favorite...

Our Family Christmas Card...

Our Little Christmas Angels

Do you notice anything wrong with this picture?

I bet your tree has ornaments on the ENTIRE tree, right?

And your gifts - they are UNDER your tree, right?

Or are they stacked on the dining room table, like ours?

The reason reasons ...

... the newest family members, enjoying their very first Christmas.  They reeeeealy love the tree, and the pretty presents underneath.  The tree is a bit ragged, ornaments askew and a light or two chewed, but it's all good.  These little cuties are bringing so much joy to our family, that I'm okay with a little chaos.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Plate Tradition

Several years ago, my mom and 2 sisters started a fun Christmas tradition.  We each bought one Christmas dinner plate for each other to exchange.  Each Christmas, we'd each end up with 3 new plates, some the same, some different.  After about 5 years, we stopped, only because we'd each collected so many plates, we no longer had room to display or store them!

Each year I display mine or set the table with them.  Today I helped my Mom decorate her home, and we put out some of her plates in her hutch; the rest we used on her table, but of course I forgot to get that picture.  I thought you might like to see how they looked...

Here are a few of mine on the plate rack:

...and in the China Hutch ...

If you're looking to begin a new holiday tradition, this is really a fun one!