My Holiday Home Details

We here in the Pacific NW, woke up to a fresh new blanket of snow. Yes, we received maybe 1 to 2 inches and school was cancelled and all the local news could report on was the weather.
Those poor reporters who have to stand out there and say "yes, it's still snowing and yes, the roads are a little slick".. for 5 hours! People from back East must roll over with laughter at us. But then again, it's the same when California gets a little rain and they are freaking out. It's all relative I guess.
But anyway, we enjoyed it and now it's slowly going away already. Bummer.

 

Thanks to anyone that came and saw my holiday home tour! I'd like to say thank you to Lisa and Jenny once again for including me in the tour. Such an honor. And to those that left such sweet messages, thank you! It warms my heart.

 

If you didn't see my full tour, click here.

 

I really got carried away with using fresh garland, and wreaths this year.

 

Boxwood wreath from Antique Farm House



Fresh garland from Lowe's put into the dough bowl (from Homegoods) and around my chandelier



some greens tucked around the candles

of course added to the mantels

 

 



garland again splayed on the console table



the tree basket skirt was purchased from Terrain

My favorite purchase this year was this plaid runner from Pottery Barn



And the matching pillows. I loved them because they have a stripe of blue in them and it goes with my blue/white ticking stripe pillows.

 

 

 

And these fun advent bags were my little craft of the season. The idea was not my own. I've seen so many on other blogs and even in home décor catalogs, and I just loved the idea.

I purchased the little bags from Amazon, and got the twine rope, and mini clothes pins from a local craft store.

 

The images were downloaded from Wolves in London. You can get the download free here.

There are many other ways you can decorate the bags, but I thought these were so cute and vintage looking. Once you download them, print them on iron on paper and it's super easy to attach to the bags. I didn't iron mine on super good, and the images were left looking a little more faded which I liked.

 

Thanks again and if you had any other questions on where I got anything, please let me know.

Happy Holidays!!

 

 

 

 

 



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Link Up Your Holiday Home Today

Today's the day to link up your holiday home tour onto Jenny's blog, Evolution of Style.
We'd all love to see your home too.

If you missed any of the other 10 beautiful homes on the tour, here are the links. Just click on the banner.

 

 

 and if you missed mine....

 Thank you all for taking the tour with us! It's been a blast. Now go link up your own, or hop over to Jenny's for more inspiration.

Come back tomorrow for a few details on my decorating for the holidays.

Happy Holidays!

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12 Days of Christmas Home Tour begins today... plus a WINNER!

Today is the kick off day of the 12 days of Christmas Tour of Homes, being put on by the lovely Jenny of Evolution of Style and equally as lovely, Lisa of Shine Your Light.

The tour kicks off today at Jenny's beautiful home. Be sure to take the tour of her home and be ready to be inspired and take away some decorating ideas of your own.

Here is the schedule of the tour but you can always come back here each day for the link as well.

Dec. 9th: Evolution of Style

Dec. 10th: Shine Your Light

Dec. 11th: Dixie Delights

Dec. 12th: The Creativity Exchange

Dec. 13th: Dimples & Tangles

Dec. 14th: My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Dec. 15th: Driven by Décor

Dec. 16th: Simple Details

Dec. 17th: The Little Black Door

Dec. 18th: Oak Ridge Revival

Dec. 19th: Steward of Design (that's ME! :))

 

Dec.20th: Link up YOUR home on Jenny's link up party!

(we'd love to see what you've done as well)

 

 

 

 

I know there are a few anxious people waiting to see who the winner is today for my giveaway of Nathan Turner's book, American Style....
I would first like to thank all that entered in the drawing. Thank you to my past followers for your continued support and to my new followers, I hope you will keep following along.
Without further delay.... drum roll..... the winner is Linda of Calling it Home!
Thank you so much, Linda! I swear this was a honest pick out of the hat but boy did this gal drive it out of the park for wanting this book. She follows me everywhere, pinned it, wrote a post about the drawing, instagramed it... this woman rocks! So thank you Linda and I will get in touch with you shortly to get your address.
Thanks again to everyone, and don't forget to come back here on the 19th when I showcase my home on the tour. I best be finishing things up quickly!

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My 2013 Holiday Mantel

I am slowly but surely getting my decorations up around the home. How about you? Please tell me I am not the only one still working on this! Lie to me if you have to, PLEASE!

I am switching things up a little again this year, and with the little tweaking I have done to the house since last Christmas, some things just don't work where they did the year before.

Things will still be tweaked upon over the next couple weeks I am sure but for right now I will share my two fireplace mantels.

My Living Room

 

 

Pretty simple styling here. Not much you can do with a tv above the fireplace and sconces on the side. I love adding the fresh garland and pinecones though.

 My Family Room



 

 

 The clock was new this year, so I had to rearrange and do something new on this mantel as well.
Don't you love the Merry Christmas banner? Target, people! Love it.

I'm linking up to Our Fifth House. If you are still decorating and need some inspiration, go check out her blog and see all the mantels everyone is linking up too. You will be inspired I am sure of it.

***Also, I have been kindly made aware that many of you catch up on reading blogs on the weekend, so I didn't want to leave anyone out of my GIVEAWAY, so I'll be extending it through the weekend, and pick a winner on Monday, December 9th. ******
 
 See here to be included in the fun GIVEAWAY!

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Holiday Decor Inspirations

I don't know if it's just me or if anyone else does this, but after getting ideas from magazines, catalogs, pinterest, and blogs I tend to find new inspirational ideas for holiday decorating every year. I tend to get rid of a few things each year, and add a couple new items. My tastes seem to change a little with every new year. I can't afford to throw everything out and start anew EVERY year, so I simply downsize a little and slowly add in a few new fresh ideas. Does anyone else do this?

Here are some lovely spaces I've found this year that I may incorporate into my decor next year.

jennysteffens.blogspot.com

www.classiccasualhome.com

amyscasablanca.com

forevercottage.blogspot.com

drivenbydecor.com

threepixielane.blogspot.com

acountryfarmhouse.blogspot.com

 

 

 

I think I see a common piece in these pictures... greenery. I have been gravitating towards all photos with natural garland and plants mixed into the decor this year. I added fresh garland to my mantels this year, and I'm really loving the look it brings. To see more of my holiday decor favorites, you can check out my Pinterest board.

 

 

I don't think I'll be posting anymore for a few days, for I have a lot of "ing" things on my list... cleaning, baking, wrapping, eating, drinking, fa la la "ing"... well you get the drift.

 

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas! Thank you to everyone that stops by this blog for a read, thank you to those that follow along with me on this blogs' journey, and thank you so much to everyone that takes a moment to comment. I really appreciate it so much! Happy Holidays!!!





 

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