“Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?” Clark Griswold
For the third year in a row, I seriously debated whether or not to participate in the Christmas Tour of Homes but then I remembered those famous words spoken by Clark Griswold to Cousin Eddie and I was swayed by the sentimentality of the season.
But before I show you basically the same pictures I show every year, I wanted to make you aware of two things:
1. There is a fabulous giveaway going on over on my Giveaways page. It’s courtesy of the nice people at CWDKids. They’d like to give one of you a $100 gift card for Christmas! Ho, ho, ho! (I don’t know why I did that.)
2. P is writing another post that I’ll put up tomorrow with answers to all your questions. There were too many for him to answer in the comments. Is it just me or are y’all sensing a blog spin-off reminiscent of when George and Weezie moved on up and left All In The Family?
And is it just me or did I just use the most dated spin-off reference in the history of forever? I should have gone with Three’s Company and The Ropers. Much more current. Unless you were born after 1981.
Okay, let’s start with the tour.
These are the windows in my kitchen.
Here’s a close-up shot.
(I feel the need to explain that the red bow on top looks much looser and free in person. I’m not sure why it looks weird in the pictures, but maybe it got nervous from all the attention.)
In the past I’ve just tied the wreaths with a red ribbon, but it has long been a dream of mine (since at least 2008!) to incorporate some hot pinks, greens, and blues into my Christmas decor. And thanks to Michaels and their vast array of 50% off ornaments and ribbon, I made that dream come true this year. I’m embarrassed to admit how much time I spent debating various ribbon widths and lengths of ornaments. Let’s just say that Mama may get some Xanax and a book called Keeping It In Perspective in her stocking this year.
Next up is the island in my kitchen.
It took me a while to figure out how I was going to tie those snowflakes. In the meantime, Caroline picked up the scissors and just began to cut ribbon all willy-nillyish. I used my calmest voice full of holiday cheer to explain, “You can’t just start cutting the ribbon. First you need to get a vision of what you want.”
She looked right at me and said, “I HAVE A VISION OF WHAT I WANT”. And so we went with her vision and used all the random lengths of cut ribbon to tie the snowflakes onto my light fixture.
Speaking of random lengths of ribbon, here is the chandelier in the dining room.
I used a decorating technique called tying a whole big mess of ribbon together and hoping for the best.
Caroline was in charge of putting the ornaments in the glass vases and obviously she had a vision because they turned out lovely, even though it took a bottle of Windex to get rid of all the fingerprints.
It’s hard to tell in this picture, but I surpassed some type of lighting record this year. I honestly lost count of how many strands of lights I wrapped around it, but I can guarantee you that P would be horrified to know how much voltage I’m running on one circuit. Let’s hope he doesn’t read this.
The important thing is all the lights with my new pink, green and blue ornaments added in make me so happy. I also love that the deer next to the tree is like a scene straight out of a wildlife book, if deer were stuffed and mounted on wooden plaques in the wild.
Oooh shiny.
Sparkly.
I always put a few pictures of Caroline with Santa around the house and on the mantle. And the flowerpot nativity she made when she was three is my favorite decoration of all time. Seriously, if I could only decorate with one thing it would be Mary with her disheveled hair and baby Jesus in his little pot with a sparkly halo made of pipecleaner.
Here’s our mantle. In the dark.
Maybe all the wattage from our tree is causing our living room lights to dim.
I added a some berries and bling (does anyone still say bling?) to the faux greenery this year to give it a little pop. And I had big plans to find some hot pink and blue candy canes for the mantle to add to my color scheme, but it would have required a trip to the candy store was obviously low on my priority list because it never happened.
This is a sweet little nativity that I bought several years ago and you aren’t going to believe this but that lace that it’s on came from Nena. Which means someone was selling it in a garage sale. And now it’s mine. I’ll be honest, it needed a little Febreze, but I think it looks sweet and it came from Nena and that makes me happy.
Of course maybe I’m just happy that it’s not a fleece men’s shirt in an XXL.
And finally, this is the view from the living room.
With a blinding light from my flash adding just the right touch.
It’s the little things that say “Hey, I’m a terrible photographer”.
For more fun and probably a lot more true decorating inspiration, go visit the other homes over at The Nester’s Christmas tour.
And don’t forget about the CWD Kids giveaway on my giveaway page.
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Everything is so sparkly and bright. LOVE your nativity set, the cutest I have seen so far. Where did you get it?
Merry Christmas!
1. The Wildlife in the background behind the tree—hilarious.
2. I love the ribbon on top of the chandelier….I need to try that next year…
3. You’re hilarious!
Love, Love, Love the windows in your kitchen and the Christmas balls! Absolutely fabulous!
love it! Girl you really need to decorate those deer and kick em up to the reindeer notch! That is what I have to do.
you were cracking me up with the 80s throw backs! yes!
It’s lovely! I really love the green, blue and hot pink touches and bit by bit I’m incorporating them into our decorating too. And the deer framing the tree on each side . . . priceless. I just hope they aren’t Santa’s.
Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas!
Walmart has candy canes with the different colors of stripes (think they were lifesavers brand or something). Love the deer, as my sons have been saying all month “Eat More Reindeer!”
Looks LOVELY!
I feel the same strangeness about posting my same decorations! But oh well. I try to at least take the shots from different angles! LOL
BEAUTIFUL!! Everything is so festive.
mY tOUR iS nOW sHARED….come by, if you can, to visit. Happy Holidays!
CLICK HERE FOR DIRECT LINK
Love how you did your kitchen windows.
I am on my way to Michael’s AT THIS VERY MOMENT. I didn’t realize how boring my decorating had become until I saw yours and got some ideas. I’m off to buy lights for my mantle and ribbons to hang ornaments in my dining room. Thanks!
Those wreaths are beautiful! What a great idea!
Your house is beautiful!!
I LOVE the color in your kitchen, and the “vision” was perfect. I am easily distracted by shiny things (like a raccoon), so I could stare at your tree for ages. Everything looks lovely. 
Only you could make a Christmas Tour of Homes FUNNY! You rock (do people still say that?)!
I think I’ve finally been inspired to join in the fun. Beautiful!!
The concentration apparent in the reflection of yourself in the kitchen window wreath close up shot is inspirational.
Your house looks great! I was going to participate this year, but honestly my house looks a little sad and non-Christmas-y. I could show a picture of our tree, which only has ornaments on the top half. but really, that’s all we got.
Love the bright and cheeriness! Come on by! I’m touring, too!
What a beautiful house! Great job decorating.
Seriously…I come to your blog every day just to laugh. You crack me up.
I love your home, especially your kitchen!! I love the wreaths on the window, it all looks beautiful!! Wishing your family a Merry Christmas!! Thank you for adding that line from Christmas Vacation, my holiday season isn’t complete without watching it 95 times!
I triple love with all my heart the ornaments hanging in your kitchen. And I’m totally stealing that idea for next year. Because I’m saying that now, I’m certain my memory will NOT fail me 11 months from now and I won’t be kicking myself when I see your Tour of Homes 2010 and remember how much I love it. Because I do love it.
Everything looks beautiful!!
So glad you joined in again. I think it was on a BooMama tour a couple of years ago that I first found your blog and added you to my reader.
Love your Merry and Bright – they would match my “Christmas” on my kitchen windowsill very nicely thank you!
Also a huge fan of nativity sets, and the true meaning of Christmas. Having a Christmas Nativity Carnival on 21 December if you would like to join in and share.
Merry Christmas to you and yours from N Ireland.
Just beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!
Looks so nice! Great job! Don’t ya just love the way your house looks at Christmas time.
We love driving up to our house at night…..the lights are so pretty!
The only downside? Taking everything down. Boo! Hate that part!
Beautiful decorated. I am surprised though, that your deer did not have any hanging ribbon and bulbs from their antlers!
Looks great! I love to put out pictures of the boys from years past with Santa. And this year it means more to me because my oldest child of 9 told me this weekend he doesn’t think Santa is real and that we just go buy the presents and put From Santa on it. Seriously where did he get this crazy idea!
Loved the Christmas tour of your home! So cute and so festive!
Quick questions any tips for shopping for warm flannel sheets for my kids beds? I don’t want to spend too much but, I’d like something that is stylish for my 6 year old boy and 3 year old girl (both sleep on their own full bed).
~ Ali
Where did you find the “shiny” and the “sparkly” glass oranaments!?! I love them and think they be great on my tree!
Please share!
You are super funny and my husband is so glad you posted your husbands thoughts on gifts for outdoorsmen!
~ Ali
First of all, I’m loving that both you and Boo Mama have open windows in your home. LOVE that. Although I do not have open windows. I envy you and all of your openness.
Your decor is just fab!
But I have to say that my absolute favorite is your lovely tree hanging so festively between Rudolph’s great-great-grandfather Rufus and his great uncle Ralphy.
Your home is beautiful! I fell in love with the flower pot nativity- absolutely precious!
And really? People don’t say “bling” anymore? I guess I should thank you for the heads up.
That’s it, I’m hiring you as our holiday decorator in the future. BEAUTIFUL!
Your house is beautiful! And I love your kitchen.
Your house looks beautiful! I could never join the Tour of Homes because I don’t think people would care for the following decorations that ALWAYS seem to be at my house:
- stack of clean, folded clothes that reinvents itself and never seems to move off of my overstuffed chair
- basket of socks next to the chair that never get sorted
- array of wrappers to evidence the daily after-school picnic that the boys have
- open laptop on the couch because I never seem to stop working
- variety of random legos that only the vacuum cleaner or your bare feet can find
- scattering of shoes/backpacks/jackets in the front entryway, which is really just my “mud room” on the front of the house, except without the sink and all of the necessary mudroom accessories
- stacks of school paperwork on the table, microwave, end table from where the boys empty their folders and expect me to review on demand by shoving the paper in front of my face while cooking, working on laptop, etc.
- piles of opened Christmas cards that I can’t find time to attach to ribbons and hang on my door
I have someone to help me CLEAN the house, but what I really need is a de-clutterer for the daily life. Unless we can all make a pact that these are just additional forms of holiday decorations!!!
I have to tell you that I always loved to come to your house at Christmas…you girls and your mom had a way with ribbon and ornaments. It always felt like pages of a magazine came to life. And you have definitely carried on the tradition. YOU ROCK!
The deer heads next to the tree crack me up!
I would pick the polka-dotted leggings set for my 2 year old granddaughter. She and I will be spending lots and lots of time together soon….I’m retiring and and will keeping her! I can’t wait
I love your blog! Your home is beautiful and all the streesing really paid off on the ribbons and ornaments because the wreaths on your kitchen windows are STUNNING!
The Christmas pajamas!
The cowboy boots!
The knit Santa hat!
(for my gorgeous 15 month old son)
Congratulations on your ribbon success! Beautiful look!
you never cease to make me laugh! love the mantle!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the wreaths in the kitchen windows! I loved them last year too and just had to do the same thing despite the fact my kitchen window is very much smaller than yours! I went with a smaller wreath this year and it looks much better. Now I love those balls hanging in front of them and I may need to do the same thing!
Carloine did a great job with the balls in the glass vases. I have a vase with which I’ve done the same thing and it always comes out so lovely. Big points to you for letting the 6 year old do it this year…I always break at least one ball as I’m putting them in there!
But you missed the wreath on the front door this year…that gigantic ribbon concoction fom last year was fantastic – inquiring minds want to see it!
Merry christmas!
How about Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice, as a more up-to-date reference of a spin-off?
Looks great! I’m with you on the pinks, greens and blues, I wanted to do the same this year.
LOVE, love, love the flowerpot nativity! Could we get a close-up? I’d love to do that “project” with my niece.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Merry Christmas!
Your decorations look great. I love the colors you used. I can’t wait to get back to hanging balls and things when my kids get a little older.
I am hoping to share my decorations on my blog.
Happy Holidays. When does Caroline get out of school?
The kitchen windows are just lovely, and I’m currently trying to think how I can rig ours similarly. Oh, and I second Beth’s suggestion. We need a close-up of that sweet nativity!
Beautiful home, BigMama
Love all your Christmas! Not that your socks aren’t totally beautiful, but you should check out our socks at Bim Kreations! They would look so cute on your mantel!
Check out our blog: http://www.kosekcasa.blogspot.com
Merry Christmas!
Your home looks absolutely lovely… Maybe I’ll buy a bunch of ribbon next year and copy some of your beautiful ideas!
I love your color scheme. In years past, I’ve stuck with the traditional early marriage/ young baby/ broke as a joke/ we’re not even going to be here for Christmas excuses for my decorating (& lack thereof), but I’m proud to report that I did indeed have a color scheme this year: Red, Green, and Pear Green! I’m actually very pleased with how it turned out:)
Wow. Looks beautiful, Melanie. I feel inadequate. Except where I used the same idea for the hot pink and blue and green and orange balls for my own chandelier; about that, i feel that we are on some kind of psychic Christmas linkup.
Hahaha…I love those colors too and have been feverishly trying to justify why I neeeeed them.
Love your writing style!
Happy Holidays!
How do you keep your house so CLEAN?!? No way could I ever do that… that’s awesome.
Love the kitchen window decorations! Your home looks lovely! Got to love a post that starts with a quote from my favorite Christmas movie of all time!
I’m so very jealous of the pink and blue additions to your Christmas decor! My Skoal dippin’, shotgun totin’ husband and our RoadTrips w/Michael Waddell watchin’ son tell me that pink IS NOT a Christmas color. However, they would be perfectly fine with Realtree or Mossy Oak break-up stockings if I could work that out! I really meant to join the Nester’s tour, but that would mean I had to take pictures, and upload them, and….just thinking about it wore me out!
Love all the color. So pretty
Love the ribbons with ornaments hanging from the kitchen and dining room!
Hey Big Mama,
LOVE Caroline’s flower pot Nativity…I have the privilege of teaching some sweet 4 year olds at a Mother’s Day Out program and would love to make it with my class…could you send me a close up picture of it, please? I would appreciate it so much! Your home is beautiful! Thanks!
Rachael (yearwoodr@att.net)
OHILOVEITALL!!!!!! It looks awesome. The colored ribbon is so fun. Now, I hate my red ribbon and wanna re-do it all. Hmph.
Oh well.
Thanks for being a huge blessing in my life this past year. You are. So thankful and I know God has wonderful, fun things in store for 2010!!
Hugs,
Fran
Love all the color! Thanks for sharing.
Love your wreaths in the kitchen windows!
I would definitely buy the toile cardigan with plaid skirt for my daughter with the matching boys outfit for my son. Who am I kidding? If I don’t win, I’ll buy it anyway!
I love what you did with the window wreaths in the kitchen… gorgeous!! And the deer? They add just the right touch of fuzziness to your holiday decor
Merry Christmas!!
love the bright colors! and yes, i understand the ribbon obsession of which you speak
in 2 or 3 yr old sunday school, my two older boys (and maybe the third also, can’t remember now) made this little paper bag manger with a paper baby Jesus inside, covered with a scrap of fabric for a blanket. that was always one of my favorite additions to our christmas decor
Love it! Your house and your decorations are adorable, just like you! Thanks for sharing your home with us…
Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!
LOVE the Merry & Bright wood words…. where did you get those?
Merry Christmas!
Looks great! Can you share what color your dining room walls are? Is it the same color that is in your family room?
Everything is gorgeous. And I take back my recommendation to go traditional and simple on those wreaths in your kitchen. I LOVE THEM. I think there’s something about all 3 together – they look gorgeous.
That hutch or whatever-you-call-it with the Nativity and Nena’s lace on it- I LOVE that! Looks like something my mawmaw used to have. Is that a family heirloom or a antique store find or what?
I say bling!
Your home is beautiful.
I love it all! The ornament things in your windows are very inspiring. Makes me think I too, could go straight to Michael’s, buy some ribbon and some pretty ornaments and make something beautiful!!! I triple love Caroline’s nativity. I can see why it is your favorite!!!
The addition of colors is very nice! And I LOVE Caroline’s vision for the snowflakes in the kitchen! Too cute. I’ve been debating on ribbon lengths for some mirrored balls I want to hang in the dining room so maybe I should just let my 4-year-old cut them!
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