Since 2003, our family has taken a Christmas vacation and not been home for the holidays.
We did very little decorating, holiday baking, or even shopping - our ski trip was the present for everyone.
But, this year, KC is in a new job and has only Christmas Day off so we are home, we are decorating, we are shopping big and I am loving it all.
I am having fun finding Christmas decorations that haven't been out of the attic in a decade.
Each day I am gradually adding more "Christmas" to the house.
For the entry, I stole a chair from the guest room,
added a shell Christmas tree and some cloth candy canes to the entry cabinet.
We put the extension on our dining room table for Thanksgiving and are leaving it on until after Christmas.
Every surface in the dining room received a touch of Christmas.
I am savoring this slow process of bringing Christmas to the house and don't feel rushed.
Today we will put up the lights, Saturday we will cut a tree and I will keep adding a little Christmas each day.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I am joining these fun parties
Sand and Sisal - Christmas Extravaganza
Home Goods Blog - Holiday Home Link Party
The Charm of Home - Home Sweet Home
The Shabby Nest - Frugal Friday
French Country Cottage - Feathered Nest Friday
My Romantic Home- Show and Tell Friday
Imparting Grace - Grace at Home
Sand and Sisal - Christmas Extravaganza
Home Goods Blog - Holiday Home Link Party
The Charm of Home - Home Sweet Home
The Shabby Nest - Frugal Friday
French Country Cottage - Feathered Nest Friday
My Romantic Home- Show and Tell Friday
Imparting Grace - Grace at Home
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson - Share Your Cup Thursday
Rooted in Thyme - Simple & Sweet Fridays
Each of your Christmas decorations is charming, and that will be fun to cut a tree.
ReplyDeletei love all your candy canes. so fun!! enjoyable Christmas decor. ( :
ReplyDeleteChange is good! And it's looking mighty Christmas-y at your little cottage by the sea. Fun to just putter with the stuff, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteBrenda
It looks beautiful friend!!! How cool to have taken a trip every year! But how nice to be home this year!! I bet you are getting a kick out of opening the boxes! I am in love with your candy cane on the front door!!! It is perfect!!! Have fun chopping down your tree!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love your pretty shell tree and all of your special touches. I'm adding a little every day, too and not getting in a hurry. It's more fun that way, isn't it? Enjoy your afternoon! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteEverything looks lovely Carol. How fun it is to decorate and I hate to take it down. I am almost finished once I get someone to get some items put up and taken down in the garage. After following off the ladder and getting a concussion I am not allowed to get on the ladder which is very hard when your decorating. Christmas is my favorite holiday.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend.
Mary
It really looks cute! I love your Christmas things, and that striped candy cane stole my heart and the sign that says, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". Love it all. Enjoy and savor your time this year! It is fun to decorate.
ReplyDeletexoxoxox
Sheila
I love the idea of going on a ski trip over Christmas. I can imagine how fun it is to bring out the decorations after all these years though. Your decorating is looking great!
ReplyDeleteLove your decorations. I'm a sucker for candy canes! I think it's the combination of red & white, love it.
ReplyDeleteI want to sneak over and steal your candy cane on the door and by the looks of it from comments, everyone just loves it. All your touches are perfect. Gosh, what a story that you usually go skiing each year and now are home this year; makes it so special to be sharing with you. Can't wait to see your tree. I have to pin your lovely Christmas settings.
ReplyDeleteIm so excited for you having your daughter home for Christmas:) and I am still amazed by what is in that attic.
ReplyDeleteSo pretty! I bet you are so excited to be home. We've talked about vacationing at the Christmas holiday before but I don't think we could break with tradition. Your home looks amazing, as always. Love it!
ReplyDeleteI love your Christmas touches. Your reds just fit right in. Your vacation holiday sounds pretty good... will you miss it terribly? Blessings to all, xoxo,Susie
ReplyDeleteI am in love with the vignette involving alphabet balls - looks so pretty! And your sign, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, just delightful. Sounds like you're having fun getting festive!
ReplyDeleteMary
I love your candy canes and all your Christmas decorations.
ReplyDeleteCarol,
ReplyDeleteIt looks beautiful. So happy you will be home for an old fashion kind of Christmas. Enjoy the decorating, baking, shopping, wrapping etc. It goes so quickly enjoy.
Kris
It's so festive! I love the glass balls spelling CHrismtas!
ReplyDeleteHow fun to unpack things you haven't seen for so long! It must feel so exciting, like opening presents a little bit? I love your embroidered Santa with the beads.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting it must be to unpack Christmas decorations that haven't been opened in many years! I bet you didn't even remember what you had! Have fun with all the decorating. :-)
ReplyDeleteI love your funky wood candy cane hanging on your red door! So fun!
ReplyDeleteYour home is looking so cheery and festive, Carol! Love all your Christmas touches.
ReplyDeleteMary Alice
It all looks beautiful!
ReplyDeleteMy dear Carol! WHEW, another wild day on the road. It snowed yesterday, and we shoveled, I almost drove into a tree, it's below zero, but WE LOVE IT!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSo good to see your Christmas décor go up and to know you are staying home, enjoying baking and SHOPPING! OH YEAH!
Love all the reds. Big hugs to you! Anita
How fun that you are able to take your time with it plus getting to shop your own attic. It is looking beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun! I know your seaside cottage is going to be delightfully dressed for Christmas. Can't wait to see all the details. I had planned to put up our tree this evening. Frustrated with it once I had it out of its box, so think I'll go buy a new one tomorrow. Best laid plans.
ReplyDeleteYou really have some fun, festive, cute and beautiful decorations...the full Monty! But you are always so creative, my friend! We are planning to be like Paul Bunyon this year as well, keep your fingers crossed. And enjoy Christmas at home this year!!
ReplyDeleteXO,
Jane
Oh- It all looks just lovely, Carol. I can remember the years we went away and didn't decorate and it wasn't the same. Enjoy every moment of the year! xo Diana
ReplyDeleteCarol, this is one of my favorite posts of yours. I could feel your nostalgia of Christmas decor you have not seen in years. I think your Christmas star is so perfect for a home by the beach. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteEverything is looking great and so cute!! I've been taking my time decorating too and just enjoying all of it.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Cindy
It's all looking very pretty at your house, I bet your having lots of fun. We are off on holiday just after Christmas so not much decorating going on at our place.
ReplyDeleteYou have some charming and fun Christmas decor! I love the red of course, and those Santa's~
ReplyDeleteCindy
To live the life you have imagened .........
ReplyDeleteI read in your sidebar
I realise I am working on my INSIDE right now
Whole you are working on the outside
With all the respect for you being you because I now you share
The process of WHY and HOW ........
And there is an INSIDE part with you too.
I love to follow you !
It looks like you're off to a good start - everything looks so fresh and welcoming. I'll bet Christmas at your house will be particularly happy this year. Change is good!
ReplyDeleteAll your little touches of Christmas have charmed an already cheery home. Love your tray of Santa on his horse and the candy cane on the door, so welcoming!
ReplyDeletePoppy
All the reds and greens of Christmas match your house so perfectly, it all looks so pretty. It must be nice getting out all your Christmas bits again, after so long.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy putting all the decorations slowly, and red and green are always the colours that mean Christmas to me. As always I lovre the way you display all your treasures.
ReplyDeleteSarah x
I love your christmas decorating. So many pretty things. Are you sure you are not Mrs Claus?
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog! I have enjoyed reading your blog and love your house and holiday decorations.
ReplyDeleteYour home is looking very festive! I am enjoying decorating my home this year! So far it seems to be a mess, but I'm hoping after this weekend it is more put together!
ReplyDeleteOh Carol...I love how festive your home is looking. The baskets with the balls spelling Christmas and the big letters spelling joy are my favorites! I love the have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas sign too. I need to make one of those! Have fun decorating and enjoy the season...:) Oh...the ornament exchange post is up, so be sure to link up soon...:)
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Vicky
Life On Willie Mae Lane
Love it all- it's looking fab! ♥
ReplyDeleteWhat is Santa Claws bringing Lulu?? Is she enjoying the Christmas decorations? Mary
ReplyDeleteSo, so cute! You have the touch, girl!
ReplyDeleteEverything looks so nice. I like opening boxes and finding the treasures stored in them.
ReplyDeleteHave fun decorating and being home for Christmas this year.
I love all the red in your Christmas touches! It looks very festive and happy. I also decorate slowly, a little is added each weekend.
ReplyDeleteYou are doing a fabulous job....I love it all. I bet it really is like Christmas every time you open up a box that has been stored. I can tell you are having tons of fun.
ReplyDeleteIt all looks so lovely and "comfortable" Carol... like HOME! II love it :)
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is looking wonderful Carol. Warm, cozy, and festive! I love it! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann