Christmas Home Tour 2015

I hope your holiday season has been filled with a new awareness of God's blessings in your life! We have so very much to be thankful for as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ!

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor,

The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Christ is born! Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

I know for many the holidays are hard because of loved ones we've lost. May the Holy Spirit comfort us this year as we cherish memories of our loved ones that are no longer with us.

"I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

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Our Christmas Buffet

I don't know if you're like our family, but on the holidays, we eat all day! Especially on Christmas!

We eat breakfast and then start cooking. We make all the hor d'oeuvres first so we can eat them while we fix our big dinner.

I love having this counter space in our dining room area. We hang out in the family room and in this area all day long, watching TV, playing games and eating.

But this counter is the place that we fill with hor d'oeuvres and punch and desserts and snacks.

I'm planning on sharing some of our favorite Christmas recipes with you in a future post.

I bought this Nativity several years ago at Hobby Lobby and have put it in this place of honor every year since I've had it. It's within your view when you're in the kitchen, dining and living room.

This year I discovered that my star fit perfectly here and makes a great back drop for it.

I bought these deer plates, by Better Homes and Gardens, that coordinate perfectly with my Christmas dinner ware. I bought 8 of the dessert size just to use on our buffet. On Christmas day, they'll be filled with shrimp cocktail, crab artichoke dip and baked brie.

My plate holder usually holds a variety of pies.

And a rum cake will fill the covered cake plate. I've had this cake plate for about 20 years. It was a gift from a dear friend.

I promised you several posts ago that I would share with you my husband's Christmas decorating and here it is! Our cow has reindeer antlers! Haha! He was SO pleased with himself that I had to leave it. It is pretty cute!

A little wheel barrow filled with evergreen and cinnamon sits next to the stove. My mom in law sent us a box last week filled with Christmas memories and this little box of evergreen.

I added a holiday bow to the topiary that usually sits here and surrounded our cow deer with jars of candy.

Need some great recipes for Christmas? Visit my Christmas Cuisine pinterest board.

Hope you're having a wonderful Christmas season! We have had rain instead of snow here and no indication for a white Christmas, which is very unusual here in Michigan. I hope we'll get some 'bad' weather the week of Christmas!

love and blessings~

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Luke 2

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Our Christmas Buffet

I'm planning on sharing some of our favorite Christmas recipes with you in a future post.

I bought this Nativity several years ago at Hobby Lobby and have put it in this place of honor every year since I've had it. It's within your view when you're in the kitchen, dining and living room.

This year I discovered that my star fit perfectly here and makes a great back drop for it.

And a rum cake will fill the covered cake plate. I've had this cake plate for about 20 years. It was a gift from a dear friend.

A little wheel barrow filled with evergreen and cinnamon sits next to the stove. My mom in law sent us a box last week filled with Christmas memories and this little box of evergreen.

I added a holiday bow to the topiary that usually sits here and surrounded our cow deer with jars of candy.

.northernnesting

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Home & Garden, Tips & How To

Christmas Tablescape

Have I ever mentioned that where we live, the nearest mall is an hour away? An hour away. When I want to go shopping, it's like taking the covered wagon and going into town for supplies. You have to clear your schedule, fill the car with gas, notify your family you're going to be gone all day and take off at dawn.

So when my husband told me early last week that the dentist said he might need a root canal and made him an appointment in Grand Rapids, I was thrilled! I promptly texted my daughter and told her that dad had a dentist appointment and I was going to Grand Rapids on Thursday! She, of course, was horrified at my attitude! So I back-tracked. Yes, it's awful that dad might need a root canal. But did you hear that his appointment is in Grand Rapids?!

Haha! I drove him down, slowed down in the dentist's parking lot enough for him to jump out, and yelled out the window, "Text me when you're done!" as I drove off to HomeGoods.

You know I'm kidding. (sort of) It's just that when I hear that you "stopped in" Hobby Lobby and picked up this or that clever thing, I'm really envious! That doesn't happen in my life!

Okay. Moving on.

Our daughter's family will be visiting the 'other grandparents' for Christmas so our crowd will be smaller on Christmas day and there will be no little ones. With that in mind, I'm planning to make a prime rib and seafood dressing for Christmas day. I also thought we'd enjoy a more formal table setting.

I've had these Christmas dishes for many years. My kids were small when I got them and I remember how pretty they thought they were and how careful they were when we used them.

I used a sleigh filled with evergreen, pine cones, poinsettias and tiny silver and gold packages in the center of the table surrounded by gold deer, which match our plates.

Gold chargers and gold stemmed wine glasses tie everything together.

I found these dish towels made my Better Homes and Gardens and laid them in a row down the center of the table to create a table runner. The gold and silver trees and stars are perfect.

I also found these gold damask paper napkins at HomeGoods on one of my trips into town and put them festively into our wine glasses.

I've told my family they have to leave the table like this until Christmas day. ;)

I always fill our counter top in the dining area with egg nog or punch and hor d'oeuvres and desserts. I'll be back later this week to share that and our kitchen.

love and blessings~

"Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child." Luke 2

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Home & Garden, Tips & How To

Christmas Tablescape

I've had these Christmas dishes for many years. My kids were small when I got them and I remember how pretty they thought they were and how careful they were when we used them.

I used a sleigh filled with evergreen, pine cones, poinsettias and tiny silver and gold packages in the center of the table surrounded by gold deer, which match our plates.

Gold chargers and gold stemmed wine glasses tie everything together.

I found these dish towels made my Better Homes and Gardens and laid them in a row down the center of the table to create a table runner. The gold and silver trees and stars are perfect.

I also found these gold damask paper napkins at HomeGoods on one of my trips into town and put them festively into our wine glasses.

I've told my family they have to leave the table like this until Christmas day. ;)

I always fill our counter top in the dining area with egg nog or punch and hor d'oeuvres and desserts. I'll be back later this week to share that and our kitchen.

love and blessings~

Home & Garden, Tips & How To

Christmas Dining and Living Room

I hope you're all enjoying the holiday season as much as my family and I are! The news said we have broken a record here in Michigan for not having any snow yet and for warm temperatures this late in the year. But it has been so cloudy!

I took some pictures this morning and they honestly looked like it was night outside. I ran errands today and had just gotten home from the grocery store when the sun peaked out for a second. Less than five minutes.

Fortunately, our dining and living room were neat and clean. I can't say the same for the kitchen as I had covered the cabinets with groceries.

So I paused and ran around like a banshee taking a few pictures. They're still not sunny by any means but there's no sunshine in the forecast so I have a feeling this is as good as it's going to get!

I added a boxwood wreath to our china cabinet in the family room and a small tree. I love having the lights in the evening when we're eating.

I filled this small tree with lights and icicles like the other tree but I also added pillow batting mimicking snow. I bent the branches of the tree down like they were weighted with the snow to add realism.

My husband made this 'trough' for me a couple of years ago. I filled it with a faux pine garland for a base then added more cream poinsettias, faux fruit, glittering ornaments and candles.

I showed you our living room in the evening recently. In the daytime, I love all the fresh white and flowers.

I didn't put anything on this wreath - just added some frosted evergreen bows at the bottom.

I added a faux garland to the mantel with lots of lights and lots of candles, all woven together with a gold sparkly ribbon.

I want to say again how much I've enjoyed everyone's Christmas home tours! I especially have loved how differently everyone decorates and it's still all so beautiful!

An article came through my Facebook news feed today from a popular decorating magazine. In it, designers were sharing the mistakes they feel that people do when decorating for Christmas. I had done most of them. So did you! Ha! So I promptly dealt with it by deleting the magazine from my news feed.

So I want to say - load your tables and shelves with all the knick-knacks that your grandmother gave you! Fill your house with fake greenery and put a Nativity on every surface! Buy a poinsettia for everyone you know! They may be "the mum" of Christmas, but they sure are beautiful! Decorate your house exactly like you like it and don't compare yourself to anyone else. It's YOUR house and it's YOUR memories. Traditions and family are far more important than doing things 'right.' Next year they'll tell you something else is 'in' or 'out' so do it your way.

Whew! I feel much better! Sometimes I get so tired of being told what's 'right' and how to feel about things.

I have heard other bloggers express that they had wondered if their house and their decorating was good enough. They had compared themselves to someone else and then been afraid they weren't as good. I've also heard another beautiful blogger express that blogging had changed a lot over the years and sometimes she felt she couldn't keep up.

You don't have to be better. You don't have to keep up. It's wonderful to be unique and be yourself. My style and your style may not be liked by everyone. That's ok. I really like my house. And I'm the one who lives in it.

My prayer for you this year is that you find your identity in Christ. Once you find that, it can't be shaken. When you follow the things that God has for you, you have a confidence that you're doing the right thing... no matter what anyone else thinks. A new year is coming. I'm praying it's a new day for each of us!

love and blessings~

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14

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Home & Garden, Tips & How To

Christmas Dining and Living Room

I added a boxwood wreath to our china cabinet in the family room and a small tree. I love having the lights in the evening when we're eating.

My husband made this 'trough' for me a couple of years ago. I filled it with a faux pine garland for a base then added more cream poinsettias, faux fruit, glittering ornaments and candles.

I showed you our living room in the evening recently. In the daytime, I love all the fresh white and flowers.

I didn't put anything on this wreath - just added some frosted evergreen bows at the bottom.

I added a faux garland to the mantel with lots of lights and lots of candles, all woven together with a gold sparkly ribbon.

I want to say again how much I've enjoyed everyone's Christmas home tours! I especially have loved how differently everyone decorates and it's still all so beautiful!

Home & Garden, Tips & How To

Holiday Nights

I think my favorite thing about Christmas decorating is all the lights. There's nothing cozier than relaxing in the evening by the fire and the lights from the tree.

Ours light up the whole room and I really miss them when the holidays are over.

I have my decorations all done but the forecast is clouds, clouds and more clouds for the next several days so I thought I would share our evening view in the meantime.

I put a small tree in our dining room - perfect for romantic evening dinners. I filled the trough my husband made with faux evergreen, poinsettias, glittery fruit, ornaments and candles.

And I put (almost) every other candle we own on our living room mantle. A faux garland and a string of lights add sparkle in the evenings. I filled the hearth and ottoman tray with more cream poinsettias.

A large wreath hangs in the picture window.

I got this throw at HomeGoods. It's the softest! I think I'm going to have to take it up to our bedroom and use it more because I don't sit in here often.

I hope to catch a sunny day soon to take some pictures of the living room and dining room and post them. And I hope to show you my husband's contribution to the decorating! lol and a forehead slap! He was so happy with his idea that I had to leave it.

Be back soon!
love and blessings~

"Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house." Matthew 5:15

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Home & Garden, Tips & How To

Holiday Nights

I think my favorite thing about Christmas decorating is all the lights. There's nothing cozier than relaxing in the evening by the fire and the lights from the tree.

Ours light up the whole room and I really miss them when the holidays are over.

I have my decorations all done but the forecast is clouds, clouds and more clouds for the next several days so I thought I would share our evening view in the meantime.

I put a small tree in our dining room - perfect for romantic evening dinners. I filled the trough my husband made with faux evergreen, poinsettias, glittery fruit, ornaments and candles.

A large wreath hangs in the picture window.

Home & Garden, Tips & How To

Christmas Family Room

Christmas is in full swing at our house. I have always loved decorating for Christmas and try to change things up every year.

Our family room is where my husband and I spend most of our time when we're relaxing. It's sunny in the day time and cozy at night.

Winters can be dreary so when decorating for Christmas, I love lots of trees and sparkle and flowers.

Our fireplace has a gas log that's easy to flip on. It makes winter almost enjoyable.

We had a real tree every year for many years but, as I mentioned yesterday, it bothered my husband's allergies. So several years ago, he bought us the largest artificial tree we could find. I felt it was a good compromise and love how tall it is.

Most years I put a garland on our tree but this year chose not to. Instead, I loaded it with several sizes of glittering snow flakes and lots of icicles.

The fur throw on our couch is from Pottery Barn. Michigan winters are long and cold and our couch is where I hibernate.

I put some more sparkly trees and a worshiping deer on our sofa table behind our couch.

I left our mirror above the fireplace and added two lengths of garland from Hobby Lobby. I have two of these little wooden wheel barrows. This one holds cinnamon scented pine cones which fill the room with their scent, especially when the fireplace is burning.

The coffee table holds a vase of white amaryllis and pine and two sleighs of faux evergreen and more scented pine cones. I put them everywhere and also burn pine scented candles. I love when friends tell me that our house always smells so good. And the candles make up for not having real evergreen.

I'll be back soon with pictures of our dining room and living room.

love and blessings~

"'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah;
For out of you shall come forth a ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.'" Matthew 2:6
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