Christmas House Tour

 Today, I'm guest posting my Peppermint Bark at Or So She Says.  And How to Make an Imitation Potterybarn Ornament at Under the Table and Dreaming.  I'd love for you to stop by and say hi.

I'm so glad you're here for a house tour!  I have what I like to call a healthy amount of curiosity!  I love snooping through homes and getting new ideas for myself!  I use to be so excited when my kids were little and they'd wander off a chance to go and "retrieve" them and peek through the rest of the house.  LOL!  Nowadays, I have to be a big girl and just ask for a tour!

We're in the middle of remodeling our 1950s house, so things here aren't totally as I'd like at this point.  Something about decking the halls for Christmas helps you appreciate the warmth and many blessings we truly have to be thankful for and let go of the 'If Onlys'!  I've taken the month of December to post for Christmas, but beginning in January it will be back to more DIY house projects and lots of before/after pictures!  And a bit on photography as well!  Again, I'm so glad you're here and I hope you'll make yourself at home and if you have any questions {design, craft, home school, mommy, etc} ask away!!!

Here's our Christmas Card picture!  The letter is ready to go too!  Here it is the 15th and I haven't stuffed the envelopes and dropped them in the mail yet!  Top on the list tomorrow!!!

After a few traditional styled wreaths I was ready for a little change!!!  I had a large frame lying around that I wanted to do something with, it was collecting too much dust!  I gave it some Christmas Spirit a covering of bright red spray paint!  

As you come into our home one of the first things you see is our beautiful Christmas Tree!  I love finding  GORGEOUS ornaments for less than $2.  Stud does the Black Friday deal shopping, I shop the after-Christmas sales!  I love the collection I've gathered over the last several years!  Some from thrift stores, others from Potterybarn and the Market!  I used lace to trim my tree this year.  The lace was even less expensive than ribbon at Hobby Lobby and with a coupon, SO CHEAP.  I think it was all of $4.50 for 27feet of lace.  The best part was that my lace had a straight edge and a curved edge so it twisted up the tree effortlessly!  The boys are ready to put the train and track around the tree! Perhaps this weekend!

 These have hung on my tree since our first Christmas!  Love them!

I want to leave it up all year long {but by December 26th, I bet I'll change my mind}.  I'll just enjoy the season for all it entails!

Above the piano, across from our tree, reminding us of the true reason for the season!  On the other side of my nativity scene are my Dreamy Feather Trees made from paper bags, displayed on my favorite ZGallerie candle holders {which I'd love more of so I put it on my Favorite Gifts Under $30 list}.

Just across the way is my dining room!  There is perhaps no better season to set a pretty table, then Christmas!!!  As usual, SIMPLICITY was my inspiration!  I used the pretties I've collected over the years from various garage, thrift, antique sales, and the DIY decor I've made this Christmas season to create a Winter White Tablescape- Brunch style.  The table is set with snowy white features, fresh green elements and a bit of rustic flare to keep my guys comfortable!

Remember the Before/After pictures of my Dreamy White Chandelier!?!  Here it is all Christmas-ish with a bit of garland AND my new Winter White Wreath {I flipped over my Thanksgiving wreath and used the same form and boa for my Winter Wreath} and my inspiration came from Crate and Barrel's 'White Wreath.'

Stud wiggled out the nails, cut two boards to hold them together perpendicularly, and then used his air gun to attach each fence board to the support wood.  SIMPLE!  He nailed a hammer in the top center soI could hang my wreath that has been through way too many Christmases and yet I welcomed it back again!  Do you LOVE it!?!?  This is our family room and we spend most of our time in here!  It's cozy and comfy!  I'm so glad we painted our fireplace white, everything POPS!  If you haven't seen the before pics, check it out here. I'm married to the best Stud EVER!  Seriously it took all of ten minutes {if that}.

Here's the link for my Modern Country Christmas Mantle Details!

As we were pulling down the ornaments, the boys instantly grabbed their nutcrackers and carried them to their rooms to set up a little Christmas in their space!  The next morning I stopped in at my favorite thrift store this time of year!  They have an enormous room filled to the brim with thrift Christmas goodies.  In a little basket tucked under a table nutcracker ornaments were overflowing!  I threw them in my basket, knowing that I couldn't beat the price!  Five dollars spent would cover their tree! Here's the process.

This Christmas my three Sweet B's had asked a few times why Christmas colors were Red and Green before I finally slowed down {I know the hussle bussle is awful, right}.  Once I took the time to listen to them, they quickly figured out the colors themselves and with that, I thought why not add an additional Christmas Color in our home this year!  Yep, Yellow!   I had some leftover fabric from when I made curtains.  I cut strips and tied a strip to each candle on my white platter.  Then I attached a bell to each side of a 8 inch piece of floral wire and wrapped the wire around each candle.  I added a few pine cones and greenery. 

Red- Christ's blood shed for our sin on the cross. (John 19:34).

Green-  Eternal life in Christ. (John 3:16-17).

Yellow-  The wise men came from the far east when they saw the star which appeared when Christ was born.  (Matthew 2).

Here's the free printable I made for my kitchen, I made it in a several colors so you can print and use it too!  And since you've stayed with me through the end, let me share my favorite 2 Ingredient Peppermint Bark Recipe with you!!!  It's delicious, my readers have returned to leave me sweet notes because they enjoyed it so much!  With 10 days left until Christmas, us mommies need simplifying life treats!  Thank you so much for stopping by and visiting!  I do hope you'll come visit again soon!  Until then, from my family to yours, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!