Holiday Open House 2008

Oh. Visitors! Hi! I wasn't really expecting anyone today. Oh, you're here for one of those holiday open houses (like Kimba's, Tip Junkie's, Southern Hospitality's, Hooked on Houses, etc.). Is that today? Oh, it was supposed to be Monday. Yeah, I'm having a little bit of a hard time keeping track of time. Things have been a little crazy around here. You know, the first Christmas in our new home, and then preparing for a trip on top of everything else. Add in a few birthdays and recitals...well, I'm sure you know how it goes...

But since you are here, I'll show you around a little. Here is my home:

Of course, I have some big plans for the outside like lights in trees. And I couldn't convince my husband to get up on a tall ladder this year, but this is what it is supposed to look like:

That's better. Do you like my wreaths?

I threw these together with some wreaths and picks I got on an after Thanksgiving sale, and a ribbon that was waiting for me from last years' after Christmas sales. Quick, cheap, and easy! (I need to start repeating that mantra!)


So here on my porch is my poor tree that keeps getting knocked over by the wind. Have any of you found a great way to weigh down urns? Rocks aren't cutting it. I am very sad I didn't get my cool project for those windows done in time to show you.


This wreath wasn't supposed to go here at all. It is lighted and was supposed to go up with the garland, but, well, you know that story.

Why don't you come on inside? Don't you love my entryway?

OK. You're right, this isn't my entryway. I got it from him. But I would so love to have lush garland like this lining my banister next year...only it has to be fake, because I could never afford to do it year after year.

OK, this is MY living room. You may have seen my tree before, but I don't think you have seen it being carefully redecorated by my tree re-decorator. For a closer look at my tree go here.

My furniture got decked out for the holidays!

I just hope they don't make you think Christmas the rest of the year.

These are my fancy velvet stockings made by my mother-in-law. I am thinking an icy berry wreath and garland would look nice with the tree stocking holders...someday.

And you spotted my partridge in a pear tree! Finally one completed project, but this one took me a lot longer than I anticipated. I'll tell you more about it another day.

Here is one of my nativity sets. I took the other one for a display at the church on Sunday, and haven't had the energy to get it set back up, yet. Just try not to look in the family room. It's kind of scary in there! What? You want the whole tour? OK. But I'm warning you...it's not pretty....

...Maybe I should offer you some refreshments, first. As you will see, I have been working in the kitchen. Would you like some Holiday Butter Cookies?

Hey, Look!

My advent calendar got hung up! Babies were having too much fun playing with it, and it was starting to get destroyed, so my husband pulled out a hammer and nail and got it hung up! Too bad he didn't hang up this:

Speaking of Christmas Cards, those are mine...in that box...on the dining room table.

They might still make it out for Christmas??? And this is the rest of the dining room table. Can you guess what insanity I have been working on here?

OK. The family room. Try not to trip over that big folding table.

Sewing those Christmas dresses kind of did me in. I got the machine given back to its rightful owner (minus that white part), but didn't get the rest of it cleaned up. How are all of those pattern pieces really supposed to fit in that sleeve anyway???

These are my cute gingerbread people stockings made by my mom (and me). They are needing some better hangers!

I do have a couple of fun decorative things in here, though.
Of Santas...

and soldiers...

You really don't want to see the kitchen do you? OK. But I am putting my foot down about the upstairs. Just, too much liability!

Here's my really cool project for outside, that never got finished. Any guesses?

And here is what happens when you try and let the kids help make Christmas goodies.

Still got to get those finished!

*sigh*--So there is a tour of my holiday insanity. I hope you'll come back next year, and I hope things will look much different, then. But I won't make any promises. Because, let's face it, insanity is messy!