So this year I decided that I was only decorating for Christmas with stuff that I really, really love. And I certainly don’t mean to imply that in the past I’ve decorated with all sorts of stuff that I, you know, hate, because what in the world would be the fun of that, MY WORD. But I think you probably know what I mean. Which is why I’m going to fight the urge to overexplain WITH EVERYTHING IN ME and show you some pictures now.
All righty, here’s our tree.
This year we decided to go CRAZY and use colored lights instead of white lights. WE’RE OUT OF CONTROL!
We actually had to replace the lights on our tree because all the original lights (our tree was pre-lit) were BROKE DOWN when we (and by “we,” I mean the other person in my marriage who is not me) set up the tree and plugged in everything. My husband actually spent the better part of a day taking the old lights off of the tree – apparently they were welded to the branches with some combination of screws and super glue and molten metal – and the fact that our marriage actually survived Light Removal Day is proof that God is still in the business of miracles, my friends.
Once David put on the new lights, I started decorating the tree – and I think I subconsciously tried to turn our Light Removal Day frown upside down by only using our very favorite ornaments.
Like these fun Christmas balls that my mama gave me last year.
And these cute Starbucks ornaments. Because Starbucks is a deeply meaningful part of our lives. PLEASE DON’T PITY US.
I kept the living room pretty simple, too – just some wreaths, a couple of my favorite Christmas items and a rosemary tree that MAKES ME SO HAPPY WITH ITS YUMMY SMELLINESS.
I know. I didn’t even pick up for y’all. I should be so ashamed. In fact, my mama may not even be able to show her face at church next Sunday because SHE’LL NEVER GET OVER THAT WRINKLED THROW ON THE COUCH. EVER.
Nonetheless, here are a few of the things that make me smile in the living room.
I was four. My friend Laura was three. AND APPARENTLY SANTA FORGOT HIS MUSTACHE.
In the kitchen I made a quick little centerpiece with Christmas balls in my favorite colors.
Our Christmas card tree is in the office that’s right off of our breakfast area, and it keeps that part of the house feeling pretty festive.
Especially a couple of days before Christmas when it looks like this.
The Christmas card tree has become one of my very favorite traditions in our house. I LOVE IT. And when Mama and Daddy get to our house Christmas Eve, the first thing Mama will do is pull up a chair right next to the card tree and STUDY those cards. Then she’ll ask me 800 questions about how everybody on the tree is doing.
At least, that’s what she’ll do if she’s recovered from the horrible My-Daughter-Didn’t-Pick-Up-Her-Living-Room-Before-She-Put-A-Picture-Of-It-On-The-Internet ordeal.
Y’all might want to keep Mama in your prayers.
My dining room looks pretty much like it always does.
But a few days before Christmas, it’ll look like this.
And every single time my little boy and his friends stomp through that part of the house, I will cringe and wait to hear the sound of something breaking. It’s a very special tradition as you can imagine.
Speaking of the boy, he has a new tree in his room, mainly because the old aluminum tree – which was SO fun and vintage and sparkly – was not going to survive another year in a little boy’s room. So this year we went with something a little more, um, STURDY.
And as always, a few of the little man’s crafts made their way into the decor – I think these are my most favoritest decorations of all.
So there you have it. I’m tempted to say that we’ve really scaled back with the decorations this year, but then I remember that we have three Christmas trees, so I think I’ll just offer you a cookie and wave bye-bye.
(Here is where I should insert a picture of me waving bye-bye, only wait, I DON’T HAVE ONE.)
Merry Christmas, everybody – and don’t forget to check out all the other homes on Nester’s Tour!
December 13th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
LOVE IT!!! I know how you feel about the boys stomping in the room with all the pretty breakable stuff. I cringe and hold my breath till they make out of said room. Have a Merry Christmas!
December 13th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
I have a couple of boys that would get along real well with your boy!!! Your mom is beautiful, as always!!!
December 13th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Oh,and I love the Christmas card Christmas tree!! What a fabulous idea!!!
December 13th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Everything looks so nice! Merry Christmas from a girl in Arkansas!
December 13th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Love the Christmas card tree. I think I am SO doing that next year. (If I can remember) And I love that your momma wants to look at every card. I always insist on showing my mom each card and explaining who each person is! ha!
December 13th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
A couple months ago, I started reading your archive from the beginning because I’m not a fan of just picking up a blog the day I find it, I like to know the whole story haha. I finished today, just in time for the Christmas tour. Your decorations are gorgeous.
I was so excited because last week my college put out Christmas decorations in the library and they have the exact same blue feather trees set out!
I almost took a picture to put on twitter for you haha!
December 13th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
I heart a rosemary tree.
Your decorations look flat out LOVELY!
Season’s Greetings!
December 13th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
I had never noticed that I was about to show the world my big girl panties in that picture of us! :-) Your mama does EXACTLY what my mama used to do with the Christmas cards. Hard Christmas, but that pic of us made me smile!
December 13th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
It all looks amazing! Love the STARBUCKS ornaments!
December 13th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
I love it! All of it! And I snorted at the mustache-less Santa.
December 13th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Oh my word with the Starbucks ornaments. I think I may have died and just went right on up to a beautiful caffeine filled version of heaven. Ya’ll are just simply my kind of people!
December 13th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
I was sitting here reading and admiring everything, and one of my girls (16) is sitting here with me enjoying everything and we’re laughing about your Mama, and then all of a sudden we burst out with, “Kiss Cookies.” Now she wants a glass of milk and a cookie. I wouldn’t mind one either. It’s a little late though to go making cookies, so it will have to wait. Plus I have no kisses in the house. She thinks chocolate chips might work, but I think desperation is just setting in about now.
Lovely, and I only wish I had a wrinkled throw was the worst of my offenses. You can share that with your mama.
December 13th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Beautiful! My favorites are your bowls of ornaments and your wise men picture. Merry Christmas bloggy friend!
December 13th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
I had to laugh at your lights story… haven’t we all had tree problems at some stage of our married lives that involved the man trying to solve the situation! I know you lived to tell the story and for that we are grateful! Big smile. I also loved the three wisemen picture…that is so precious. Of course all your pictures are wonderful…and your mom can take a sigh of relief! Enjoyed the tour very much!
Blessings,
Debbie
Tell your mom Merry Christmas from me…and say it with a smile.
December 13th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Just beautiful. Are you feeling bereft without your tour hostessing duties this year, or just dancing a jig in all your free time? :)
December 14th, 2009 at 12:01 am
Wow! Could you come decorate my house? I especially love that lime green ball ornament–too cute. Bring that one when you come. K?
December 14th, 2009 at 12:54 am
Love the green walls AND the wrinkled throw. :) The card tree is adorable and a really great idea.
December 14th, 2009 at 1:42 am
the throw is hilarious! you are off the chain! You are so precious Sophie! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
December 14th, 2009 at 1:43 am
ps that santa is pathetic!
December 14th, 2009 at 3:05 am
Love all your cheery decorations. Just made me smile!!! :)
Miss you girl – I need to get here more often!!!
December 14th, 2009 at 3:20 am
Your home makes me think of Flossie’s favorite expression from the Bobbsey Twins’ books . . . bee-oo-ti-ful! Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas!!!
December 14th, 2009 at 6:47 am
Oh, I’ll definitely take a cookie, or two, or three. Those are my favorite! Except that there’s hardly any to bake after I eat all the dough. We’ve learned to triple the batch.
… the rest of your house is beautiful, too. The cookies just distracted me. May I have another. We haven’t baked ours yet.
December 14th, 2009 at 6:49 am
Rosemary tree, feather trees!!! Love them!! Merry Christmas!
December 14th, 2009 at 6:55 am
Oh my word, your tree with the colored lights is AMAZING! :)
December 14th, 2009 at 6:58 am
Oh BooMama, you have The Friendly Village dishes! I grew up with those and when I saw them on your table I got goosebumps.
December 14th, 2009 at 7:20 am
I love you Boo, and I love you because you did NOT pick that throw up in your den. Momma will have to deal, you’re keepin’ it real!
December 14th, 2009 at 7:29 am
I lOVED your tour and decorations and I especially loved the messy throw. ;) Okay, off to pray for your momma. lol
Merry Christmas!!
December 14th, 2009 at 7:29 am
So pretty! I love your dining room with all the china.
December 14th, 2009 at 7:40 am
Just beautiful, and as always your commentary provided great entertainment. And what a GREAT idea for a card tree and that Santa picture cracks me up, haha!!
December 14th, 2009 at 7:47 am
I absolutely love the idea of a Christmas card tree!! I may steal it and use it for my own one day!
(it secretly makes me want to send you a Christmas card – but I know Mama won’t ask about me and how I’m doing… ;-)
December 14th, 2009 at 7:49 am
Love the idea of a Christmas card tree. Much better than taping them to the wall with Scotch tape like I have been doing.
Very beautiful!
December 14th, 2009 at 8:01 am
Your table is so cute! And I love the Christmas card tree idea. Well done!
December 14th, 2009 at 8:05 am
We have been really lazy about decorating this year…but I still have two trees up! But that is about it! I love the Christmas card tree. I have been trying to think of a new way to display our cards….I may be hitting the stores after Christmas to find a good deal on a tree for next year!
December 14th, 2009 at 8:18 am
Loving the Starbucks ornaments!
December 14th, 2009 at 8:20 am
BEAUTIFULLY done! Your tour was wonderful to read. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas season.
December 14th, 2009 at 8:26 am
I love your decorations.
December 14th, 2009 at 8:37 am
Very cute. That doesn’t look scaled back at all to me!
Oh, and I linked to you today. So when your stats go up by 3 people, that’s my love I’m sending your way. Your welcome.
December 14th, 2009 at 8:42 am
I can’t believe your PRE-LIT TREE quit working! If that happened to me, I might have had to call the pre-lit tree people from whence my faux fir came and give them a smidge of some holiday cheer. In my nicest voice, of course.
I think your home is lovely, by the way! Those Christmas balls are my favorite!
December 14th, 2009 at 8:58 am
So glad you joined in, even though you are no longer the “hostess with the mostess” …well I am sure you still are a wonderful host(ess), but you know what I mean!
I do declare (I only ever talk like that when reading your blog) that I have NEVER seen Starbucks on a Christmas tree, but what you do in US will probably reach us in Ireland in a decade or so, so maybe I should get ahead of the times!
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
PS Having a Christmas Nativity Carnival on my blog on 21 December so if you have a Nativity Set (with or without the Starbucks) you might like to join in :)
December 14th, 2009 at 9:08 am
Very pretty and not too much if I do say so myself. :)
December 14th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Everything looks lovely! Several years ago I made the decision that our tree would only have the “nicer” ornaments on them. I loved the home-made ones, but when the daughter became a teenager I thought it was ok to remove the toilet paper roll ornaments??? Yes? Well… several years ago my daughter was feeling sorry for those rejected ornaments. We now have a second tree that she has named the “Reject Tree”. On this tree we have all of our home-made ornaments as well as any of the “gaudy” ornaments that we find. The tree makes me smile.
December 14th, 2009 at 9:58 am
I adore your plates on the “few days before Christmas table”. What kind are they? Everything looks beautiful and very festive :)
December 14th, 2009 at 10:00 am
LOL on Santa forgetting his mustache! That’s hilarious.
Love the Starbucks ornaments. I don’t pity. I envy. I’m not sure which is worse.
Merry Christmas!
December 14th, 2009 at 10:08 am
I cannot begin to tell you how much I love our Christmas Card tree (an idea borrowed from a super-awesome blogger who’s blog starts with Boo and ends with Mama….). LOVE IT!! As always, beautiful home! Merry Christmas! : )
December 14th, 2009 at 10:37 am
My comment mirrors Sandy’s!!! I too grew up with Friendly Village dinnerware that we used for special holidays- like Christmas and Thanksgiving! It made me kind of sad to see it though, my mom went and sold all of her Friendly Village dinnerware at her garage sale without asking any of us kids if we would have wanted it. I’m still a little sad about that. All I was able to salvage that didn’t sell were a few covered vegetable bowls and a coffee mug. Oh the memories of the coffee mugs! Our fireplace mantle had hooks beneath it that we would hang our Friendly Village mugs on. After playing in the snow we would come in and grab a mug off the fireplace and fill it with hot chocolate and marshmallows. Now, THAT gives me goosebumps! Do you have the full set? Need any covered casserole or vegetable bowls? Just let me know if you do. All I really want to hold on to now is the coffee mug. I’m trying to sell the other pieces on ebay…
December 14th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Your home is just beautiful! May many wonderful Christmas memories be made within its walls.
Our home is having an old fashioned handmade Christmas this year. I hope you will stop by.
December 14th, 2009 at 10:56 am
I wonder how many people reading this understand the phrase “pick up.” This is why I love to read BooMama. Merry Christmas!
December 14th, 2009 at 11:01 am
LOVE IT! Your feather trees are GOR-GEOUS and the card tree is brilliant!
December 14th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Love seeing your home decorated for Christmas. It’s so beautiful! We have so many things alike. I do LOVE LOVE LOVE the Christmas card tree! I hang all my cards on the garland throughout the house. The fact that your boy has a FULL SIZED TREE in his room is making me green with jealousy! Thank you for sharing!
December 14th, 2009 at 11:17 am
I love the Christmas card tree. That is a great way to display your Christmas cards. Thanks for the idea. Your house looks lovely for the holidays. Merry Christmas!