Christmas Decorating Part 1

I love the Christmas season.  Growing up, my mom always decorated every inch of our house.  She adored Christmas.  My mom's dad was a tenant farmer and they had very little.  She remembers one Christmas getting fudge (her mom had made) and an apple for Christmas and being happy about it.  But she wanted more for her children, I guess we all do.  So she went over the top.  Plus, Dad started having an open house every year for the church, at least I guess it was Dad's idea.  So then, we started decorating even more.  Mom and I would wear long skirts and turtleneck sweaters, we would light all the candles and offer tons of goodies.  We have some great stories around those open houses.  Like the year my dad decided to burn the grass the Saturday before the Open house.  Oh, and we had no sidewalk to the front day, so people had to track through the burned grass to get inside.  Oh my, we laugh now, but then....not so much.

When I got married, I married a guy whose family didn't quite celebrate Christmas like me.  In fact, his family put up a tree, a wreath, some stockings and that was about it.  On Christmas Eve, they opened their gifts!  ~gasp~  So, the first clash happened.  "Why do we need a wreath in the bathroom?"  "Why do we need a 6-foot tree when we have this perfectly good 3 footer from college?"  "Santa still visits you???  He still visits your brother?  (who was 25 and married at the time)"  Yes, that first year was interesting.  But over the years we have met in the middle.  I put up a little less, and he puts up with a little more!  Okay, well, you may wonder how I put up less....so yea, this is half of what my mom used to do!  On that note, welcome to our home.

In our entryway, I took an old window which I purchased at the flea market for $1 and hung a Yarn Ball wreath I made on it.  On the table I added my new hurricane jars (I think that is what they are called) which I made with thrift store finds, with snow(Epsom Salts), candy and a candle.  Next is a Snowman box I have had for years.  I found this yarn ball snow man at the thrift store this year for $.50!  And then the lamp atop a tin brings it all together.
















As you walk into our den the focal point is our huge fireplace that soars to the ceiling.  I found this wreath at a garage sale about 5 years ago and bought it for $5.  I added a bow and some lights.  This year I was inspired to add balls.  So I bought some large balls at K-Mart on sale for $.50 each.  I think it really dresses up the wreath.












Next I added more vases filled with vintage balls I have had a long time, garland with beads, and the lighted boxes which were gifts over the years.

I picked up this small red sled for $.50 at Goodwill, added a $.25 holly pick and a bow from my stash.  I hung it by the fireplace and really like how it looks.







On one end of the den I tried something new this year.  I put the old rocker in the corner and hung Jack's mom's mirror.  Then I added an old wreath I had and put some balls on it and hung it over the mirror. I really like this look.  The throw was a gift many years ago.

I got these old insulators at an estate sale because they remind me of my mom.  She used to have them all over the house.  So I just arranged them on the side table with some candles, an old bottle and some old McGuffy readers.  Yes, the one on the far left holds pens.  We always need pens when sitting in this chair, so I thought I would "pretty" it up.

On the other side of the room is our tree.  I decorate using ornaments from my childhood, our marriage together, kids' ornaments, places we have gone, and gifts.  I love the eclectic look of a tree. Beside the tree, I hung this great picture.  It is a felt tree from the Dollar Tree, $.50, the frame I got at the thrift store for $.50.  I painted the frame, and the mat and voila!  A piece of artwork for Christmas!

And then the kitchen.  I am having so much fun decorating the kitchen for the seasons!  These columns and plate ledge are fabulous for decorating!  So I took the frames and took out the fall photos and added another felt tree (from the pack I got for the art in the den) in one.  Next I used wrapping paper and cut out ornaments and candy cane shapes.  Looks great!  On the middle column I added an old grater, my camping       coffee pot, and a jar of "lollipops"!  On another column I placed an old feather tree and attached some balls.  On the far column I added my lollipop tree and some Christmas candy to my jars!

And finally I wrapped some tulle around the pillows!  I love my new kitchen!

Sorry for the glitchy photo placements.  Me and blogger don't do photos so great!  I'll work on part 2 and the baking blog post later.  This has taken a while!