My dear blogging friend over at Jen on the Edge is hosting a holiday house tour. I’ve always secretly wished I would be invited to participate in a house tour, but I suppose I don’t run in the right circles or file in the right tax bracket. I can, however, insert myself into a virtual house tour and show off my budget conscious festive flair. Come on in and let me show you around!
We don't do elaborate outside decorations. We have some icicle lights my husband puts up each year, but I limit myself to some front porch decorations. Since Christmas is still largely kid-oriented in my world, I have gone with a more whimsical entrance - Candy Cane Lane. I love my elves and our increasingly shabby little tree covered in candy themed decorations.
In the foyer, we have a few items we pull out each each year: a little Fulton snow family sign that was made for us, a tin full of candy canes to which guests may help themselves, and an advent tree. The advent tree was made by my mother in 1976. I used it as a child, as do my children, to mark off the days 'til Christmas by reading a daily bible verse that prepares the way for the arrival of the baby Jesus.
Just past the foyer are the stairs leading downstairs. Here we've hung our stockings until Christmas eve, when they will be hung by the fireplace (with care!) We also have a great ledge around the stairway that is perfect for my little collection of light up houses. This year, Scott has added his own touch by adding some of his toy cars and a school bus (of course) to the tableau.
You can see the Christmas tree here as well. The tree and the mantle are the anchors of my decorating. We always get a real tree, and I love to use fresh greens - holly, pine, juniper and nandina are included on the mantle garland. I love the more traditional look and the glorious smell this brings into the house. This is also where I include lots of lights and bling - shiny red and glittering gold.
I always like to add a little something crafty and homespun to the decor. This year I made these snowflake garlands from paper doilies I sewed together. I have sliding glass doors on either side of the fireplace, so I hung strings of these doily snowflakes across each door and topped with an old school silver tinsel garland. I love the way they turned out!
Another important focal point is the dining table. This year I have a couple of Santas, a gingerbread sleigh (that has been ravaged by certain members of the household who do not appreciate the sanctity of the centerpiece), candles and small gold birds. I have gold chargers with my favorite Christmas dishes - dessert plates featuring cocktail swilling Santas. I also have a couple of Santas standing guard on the buffet.
One of my favorite Santas is my kitchen Santa. He keeps watch over all the holiday baking!
Finally, let me show you our little Italian carved Nativity set. We still believe Jesus is the real focal point of Christmas, so we have given this a central place of honor. I love that my children, and many other children that come into my house, kneel before it to play with the figures. They can't help it - it is so charming and lovely and inviting - and we believe Christmas should be experienced by sight, sound, smell, taste and touch.
Well, that's it for now. Thanks for stopping by, and thanks to Jen for organizing this tour.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
