In Pictures: My Christmas Decor

Merry Christmas!

Genius! Stocking Rods

Stocking Rods!  Seriously -- this is an amazing idea for your Christmas decor as you get ready for the holidays.  My mom found this idea from South House Designs on Pinterest and posted it to our Facebook wall. 

When you have more than 2-3 stockings to hang by the chimney with care, the mantel fills up quickly.   Most stocking holders on the market are bulky and can takeaway from the overall look of your mantlescape.  Enter Two stocking hooks and a run of the mill curtain rod.  With these three items you can hang multiple stockings from the fireplace with ease.  Don't have a mantel?  Hang the rod from a window sill, entry table or hutch.  I love it! Head over to South House Designs for more details and pictures!

Just have a few stockings to hang but don't like the traditional stocking holders? (That's me!) Last year, I ordered mantel clips like these from Target in the oil rubbed bronze finish for our two stockings.  I like that they blend in without interfering with my decor.  (Pictures of my Christmas decor to come soon!)

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for the m.elaine beadworks bracelet!  It ends tonight at midnight.  (Come on...you know you want to enter!)

Thanksgiving at Mom & Dad's

When you are one of four kids who have spouses (who are one of three or four kids themselves), significant others, and kids of their own, scheduling is....well, CRAZY.  My parents worked around our schedules and planned a Thanksgiving meal at their house last Sunday. 

We had all the traditional fare; and for the first year, all of the kids brought something to share.  I happily contributed homemade sweet potato souffle (sans marshmallows, add pecans) and pumpkin pie.  I got too caught up in ogling over the adorableness of my niece and nephew (and eating) that I did not take any pictures of our elaborate meal.

I did, however, snag a few shots of my mom's dining room decor for any of you looking for last minute centerpiece ideas of your own.  This year, my mom went with simple, yet beautiful.  (I say simple, because decor in past years have involved such things as my mom drilling holes in over-sized gourds to make gourd vases to line the table.  There you go.  Now you see where I get my craziness creativeness.) 

She started with an over-sized wooden bowl and filled it with all things fall: extra large pine cones, deer antlers from our recent Scotts trip, cabbage planted in ceramic gourd pots, acorns, and decorative balls with fall-like textures (ie, twine, wicker, and feathers).

These photos are very deceiving in terms of scale.  The table the centerpiece rests on is a large square that seats 12 people with 3 on each size.  To give you some perspective, see that large wicker ball in the back?  That has about a 12'' diameter.  Those pine cones are about 12'' long as well.

My parents have a fantastically versatile dining room chandelier.  Essentially, the center is a glass vase that allows them to change out the look from season-to-season (or dinner party-to-dinner party in my mom's case).  I love that the seasonal decor is not limited to the table and sideboard. 

For Thanksgiving, she filled the bottom of the vase with horse chestnuts she collected while visiting my grandmothers in Michigan.  The green leafy stuff (sorry it's so dark!) is more cabbage to continue the look from the table.  She added a few sprigs of red berries from their yard to finish the look.  This room is so gorgeous when all of the surrounding candles (and the wall of candles behind it!) are lit. 

Finally, my mom had her china cabinet all decked out for her Halloween party Thanksgiving.  Note that your buffet or china cabinet need not be limited to the traditional items: dishes, candlesticks, and serving ware.  She has glass cloches, antique bottles, books, and interesting antique finds (such as that iron bathtub foot on the second shelf).  My favorite part of this display, however, is the top.  On the left, she has a grouping that includes a large wicker tray, a wicker covered glass jar, and beautiful green and white pot.  On the right, she has a beautiful antique scale weighing...what else?  A pumpkin!

Ryan and I are celebrating Thanksgiving with his wonderful family in Nashville this year -- with one dinner tonight and a Thanksgiving lunch tomorrow.  The turkey is currently brining in the fridge -- and we will drop it in our Big Easy Oil-less Turkey Fryer this afternoon.  Yummy!

I plan to get ahead on my blog posts while I am here.  A few upcoming posts to look for:

• What I Want for Christmas (I need to post this soon, as the list keeps growing!)
• Giveaway on CyberMonday from M.Elaine Beadworks
• Black Friday Finds

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Fall Decorations..Sort Of.

I know that I promised to show you my Fall decorations; however, Sunday I was confronted by THIS before I could take pictures.

That's right.  My husband was overcome by holiday spirit and pulled out all of the Christmas decor.  Whoops.  (Secretly, I am happy.  Every inch of my house is now Christmas-ified...and I love it.  Another benefit?  I was able to take inventory of things I need to buy to add to the decor, like large evergreen branches and outdoor wreaths, before the holidays get too crazy.  Double bonus.)

Anyway, I was able to snap a few photos of the still intact fireplace and kitchen island.  The rest will just have to wait until next year!  I know, right?  How will you sleep in anticipation for a whole year?

What's the best Christmas decor idea you've seen on Pinterest?  I am in FULL Christmas mode now!