Deck the Halls...Or At Least the Living Room

Welcome! As much as I'd love to do a big Open House this year and invite all of our friends and have it catered and hire a Santa Claus and buy a fabulous new outfit (with new shoes!), it's just not in the budget.

Not wanting to be a Debbie Downer, I've decided to settle happily for our dual-family Christmas Eve dessert/appetizer buffet and a few fabulous bloggy Home Tours. I'm linking to Julia at Hooked on Houses, who always hosts a fun party. I'm also linking to Sarah and The Nester.

So grab a virtual Peppermint Mocha, some iced Christmas cookies, and a few sausage balls (my specialty), and take a little stroll through the T house.

Like lots of other bloggers, I don't think there are any new decorations this year, save a few items I picked up at The Dollar Tree.

FRONT DOOR wreath:

Our stairs are directly in front of the front door. It's like, "Hey! Welcome to our home! Here are our stairs!" I used some cheap Dollar Tree garland to wrap around the banister and "fluffed" it with some plaid (love the plaid!) ribbon from Michaels.

Nothing fancy in the FAMILY ROOM. I love my mini bird tree, but I think next year, finances permitting, I'd like to try a new theme.

The ADDITION has been claimed as official girlie territory. T only walks through to get to the laundry room or the deck. You can read another post to see how I "made" our girlie tree skirt from The Dollar Tree.

Found some amazing glittery orange and hot pink polka dotted ribbon last year at Michaels. Dressed up the garland over the built-in bookshelves with star tinsely stuff and glittery snowflakes.

Love these glittery picks and ornaments from Michaels and The Dollar Tree. You can't beat the prices. I like the glitter mixed with the pinecones.

I couldn't do a good DINING ROOM picture because I'll be honest and say that my table is covered with all kinds of holiday gifty crafty things and some of the people who read this blog will be recipients of said holiday gifty crafty things.

I think I'm ready for a change from the red walls, but for now it lends itself nicely to Christmas decor.

Just a little shabby tree in the corner with red and gold balls.

I keep the smallest of my Nutcrackers here. It's been really fun reminding a toddler all day to "no touch!"

There's not a whole lot going on in the KITCHEN so far. If you saw it last weekend, it was decked out for an Ariel-Under-the-Sea birthday party. I'm still recovering from it.

Just another shabby, Charlie Brownish tree in here. The ornaments are antique cookie cutters and chocolate molds.

This is a chocolate mold in the shape of a bear, in case you were wondering....

Our main family tree is always the "real deal." I made T buy it from Lowe's nursery this year because I was antsy to get it up and decorated, and of course to start our annual "Great Ornament Debate". It sits in front of the big front window in the LIVING ROOM. A friend made the ribbons several years ago for me, and they match the tree skirt. Got it all from the Martha Stewart K-Mart line.

All lit up at night.

The only other decoration in the Living room so far.

Finally, the larger pieces of my Nutcracker collection in the FAMILY ROOM. I started collecting them in elementary school, when my sister and I started dancing in it each season.

I use old books and a small antique trunk to give them some varying heights. I think I can say that I have enough now...I'm ready to call it quits on the Nutcracker collection.

Especially after "Frank" moved in. "Frank" is short for Frankincense. He was a Christmas gift from T's grandparents several years ago and as you can see, he's taller than my 4 year old!

I guess that's my cue to go find the mistletoe. There's still some decorating to be done! Hope you enjoyed our little virtual Open House.

Coming up: a Christmas craft or two, recipes, and various other things that spark interest or give you a chance to laugh at my expense.

{Happy weekend!}