A little Christmas Home Tour

How about a little Christmas home tour...

Things to note:

1.) All the pictures are taken with an iPhone

2.) My house is LIVED in...I don't "stage" pictures.  It makes me feel depressed at times when I view beautiful homes on blogs or IG...then it makes me MAD at my family when they mess up my house.  So, I'm letting that go & showing you what it looks like in R.E.A.L. life.

3.) I love elegant decorations, but I always end up with traditional....more casual...more ME....I guess.   

My family room is FILLED with my Mitford Snowman collection that my mama started me years ago.  The Mitford Snowman are from my FAVORITE series of books by Jan Karon...."The Mitford Series".  I read the entire series about every two years.  

In the dining room, I have a tree that is filled with my Wallace Silver Bells...a tradition my mama started in 1995.  They are beautiful.  And, a TON of work because I have to polish them every. single. year.  

And, my Willow Tree Nativity.  Again, a gift from my mama.  I had wanted it for years.  Last Christmas, she spoiled/surprised me with the entire collection.  I made the Star from sticks from a walk The Gunny & I took with the pups.  I was inspired by a friend on IG.

 

My "sofa" table that I expand when we need extra seating at holidays.  The candles are "Catholic Candles" that I purchased at the Dollar Tree.  I just wrapped them with a sweater ribbon from The Hobbying & The Lobbying.  They burn forever.  I love them.  Oh, in the background you can see The Gunny's 70" TV.  Those of you who follow me on IG may remember THAT story.  The thing is MASSIVE...sometimes I feel cross-eyed when I watch it.  

 Our "hot chocolate" station...we've done beverage stations for years when we entertain.  But, this year it seems to be a "thing" on Pinterest, IG & blogs.  It makes me giggle.  My mama was trendy ALL these years & she didn't even know it.  To me, things like this are just a sign of someone who has the gift of hospitality.  My mama has that gift in abundance.  I'm not sure I have the gift, but I did learn from the VERY best.

I have two trees in our family room.  The first tree in the first picture is FILLED with all the handmade ornaments my children have made over the past 20 years.  Some they made with me...some they made at school....some they made at church.  When they were little, the tree was in their playroom & had colored lights because they ALWAYS wanted colored lights...and, I'm a white light kinda girl.  But, as they have gotten older...the tree has come into the family room...it's my favorite because of the memories it holds.

The small tree above holds all our other ornaments including all the ornaments my parents made in ceramics over the years.  This tree is super specials as well.  Do you see now why I can't have an elegant Christmas....there are just TOO many ornaments that I have to put out that mean so much.  

My children each have trees as well with ornaments they have been given over the years.  This year, I just didn't have the time to put them all up.  Maybe next year... 

More Mitford in our built-ins....I lined our bookshelves...I keep meaning to blog about it.  

 

The kitchen.  Simple.  Fun.  Cute.  And, a plate I painted from the thrift store.  

 More dining room....

If you look really close in the picture below, you can see my Rubbermaid boxes filled with craft stuff & ornaments for a wreath I made my mama.  I'm classy like that. Told you....NO STAGED PICTURES.

 

My Christmas mug selection has grown HUGE thanks to IG swaps.  I have loved that this Christmas season.  In fact, so much that I have decided to do different mugs each month for my little coffee station.  All from the thrift store, of course. 

There ya have it in all it's iPhone glory.  Our home at Christmas....imperfect, filled with memories, and love.

Emmanuel.

God With Us.