Ho Ho Holiday Tour

I promise I have an excuse for the brief (relatively) hiatus from blogging...

I have been a busy little elf, readying our house for the holidays!! I'm so excited to show ya'll what I've been up to. Get comfy and enjoy...

Welcome! Come on in...

Normally I go a little more dramatic on the banister garland, but I loved the simplicity of the unadorned garland with the plain ivory ribbon...not to mention how easy it was!The dining room waits patiently all year for Christmas...this room's time to shine. With the red walls, there is such a festive feeling in here.I must confess that I have a little addiction...with nativities. This one resides on the buffet. Here's the dining room tree. The theme is red and gold. This tree stays pretty much the same from year to year, but there is an addition or two each year. Last year I added the glittery poinsettias from HL. This year I added some gold sequin balls and gold berry picks. This tree is absolutely a Charlie Brown tree when it comes out of the box each November, but once it's decked out, it's so beautiful! Look - someone's been to Target! A view into the heart of our home...I made this little topiary to use some leftover ornaments.These fun little napkin rings were the inspiration for our "family tree" this year. Red, pink and lime green are a fresh combo and it's been fun buying things to coordinate.The countdown is on! Have you got all your shopping done?Monochromatic St. Nick and tree on a SL@Home tray. Here's the mantle featuring a lush garland and our stockings. I love the two red stockings with the cream bows, but I could only find 2. I need 3 more. For now, these are the girls' stockings. If you have a HL nearby and find 3 more stockings like these, let me know! I'll make it worth your while...
Close up shot of the garland. Lots of greenery, feathers, lights and ornaments. A little vignette on the side table. I love this angel. Festive birdie in a jar.Here's the "family tree". This is always a real tree and it features all the ornaments from my childhood as well as all the ornaments that Nick and I have collected over the years. Now the girls receive ornaments that are added to the tree each year! My favorite ornament from my childhood! Look inside!Ornament from Nick's and my first Christmas together 9 years ago.
Scuba Santa from a vacation this year. This is Ansley's tree. I love the way it makes her room look. She always helps to decorate it and I treasure the experience.The theme is pink and silver.Sometimes it bothers the psycho-OCD part of me that Ansley rearranges the ornaments and groups them all together...or that this beautiful ballerina has to dance on a bottom branch where no one can really see her...but then I realize that perfection is only obtainable in a home with no children. And the fact is that I wouldn't trade my babies for all the perfect decor in the world.

I hope ya'll enjoyed the tour. Now run on over and visit the Nester, Kimba at A Soft Place to Land, Tip Junkie and Boo Mama to see lots of other holiday homes. If those don't satisfy, feast your eyes on the homes at Thrifty Decor Chick, Southern Hospitality and Hooked on Houses. Warning...these wonderful blogs will consume your life and your family may not see you for days as you ogle all the festive eye candy. Seriously. Don't say I didn't warn you...