Here’s the thing. This marks the third Christmas season since I started this site. In all honesty, I’ve had to look at the archives several times already this month to see if I’m telling y’all something I told you two years ago.
Chances are you didn’t really care back then and you certainly don’t care now.
But since today is Boomama’s Christmas Tour of Homes, this will basically be the same post I’ve put up for the last two years because as much as I wish I could decorate my home totally different each Christmas season, it wouldn’t really be a display of fiscal responsibility.
“Honey, I know we’re in a recession but look at these darling new ornaments I bought for only $8.00 a piece!”
It would be sad to end up in marital counseling during the holidays.
Truth be told, I really looked for some cute hot pink and lime green ribbon to add to my decor this year, but couldn’t find what I have pictured in my mind, which probably means it doesn’t exist anywhere EXCEPT in my mind. So I can add ribbon to a long list of issues.
Okay, I’ll start with the tree.
Yes, those are deer. Howdy, it’s Christmas in Texas.
This is our mantle.
Every year I frame a picture of Caroline with Santa and then put it on the mantle. At this point I’m starting to run out of room on the mantle, but, even sadder, I’m starting to run out of years that she’ll actually go sit on Santa’s lap.
But I can’t think about that right now.
This is a little nativity that Caroline made out of flowerpots last year. Mary’s hair is a little wild, but you try riding a donkey while nine months pregnant and then giving birth in a stable. It’s a recipe for bad hair.
This is another nativity that someone gave us a wedding present. Sadly, when we got it down out of the attic this year we discovered that Joseph was decapitated at some point during the last twelve months or maybe his head flew off when he heard that Mary was pregnant with the son of God.
Fortunately, unlike Marie Antoinette, we were able to fix him up with a little super glue.
These aren’t actually in my house but at my dad’s house. I figured since I have nothing new to show y’all, I’d show you Mr. and Mrs. Claus. My great aunt Mamie made these out of newspaper for everyone in the family probably thirty-five years ago and they totally take me back to my childhood when I see them.
And then here are the same pictures I’ve shown you for the last two years, but let’s use the magic of Christmas and pretend you’re seeing them for the first time.
This is the wreath on my front door.
This is our dining room. I’ve been known to fill those urns with M&M’s in past years, but this year I opted for ornaments because they are virtually calorie-free although they can be a little hard on the digestive track.
And this is our kitchen. I can’t remember when I took this picture but I promise it wasn’t five minutes ago or all you’d see would be dirty dishes in the sink and various works of art by Caroline all over the island.
This is the view from our living room into the kitchen. I just want you to see the columns wrapped like candy canes. They make me happy.
I’d leave them like that all year but that might be weird.
That’s it for this year. Maybe I’ll hit some after Christmas sales and load up on hot pink and lime green ribbon and ornaments for next year!
But then again, maybe I’ll just think about it since that requires less effort.
And I’m all about that.
Come visit my Texas tree…it’s just minus the deer!
I used hot pink and lime green ribbon to hang a mirror in my little girl’s room. it does exist…several varieties…check out HOBBY LOBBY!
I love that you wrapped your kitchen cabinets…very sassy. And I vote for M&Ms in the urns next year. Chocolate goodness in vast quantities? Heaven on earth.
Love the columns too!
Caroline’s flower pot nativity is great!!! My hair looks like Mary’s and I don’t even have her donkey-pregnant excuse.
The two deer heads are cracking me up!!!
Loving all those ribbons on your front door.
Also Mary with the bad hair is so funny – can’t imagine they had straighteners in the stable, so she is probably more realistic that the more saintly and perfect hair ones we usually see.
Hope you get a chance to visit my Northern Ireland blog. http://www.welcometomyworldjanmary.blogspot.com
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
I have a table display of our children with Santa from year one (and a preggo one of me by the tree with the first child). Our “understanding” is that as long as they live in our house, they will give me a yearly Santa pic! They are 10, 9, 9, and 6. I’m going to need a bigger table soon.
Wow! You seriously keep all the wrapped presents under the tree? I thought that you had done that just for show and pictures for your post after your shopping spree. Even if the presents weren’t for my kids it would cause meltdown city to have them out and touchable!!
Melanie, your home is beautiful! We have adeer in our Texas style room too, it’s just behind the tree this year. Great idea with the ribbons on your front door wreath and I love Caroline’s pictures with Santa.
Lovely-
Thanks for sharing!
I saw a bunch of the lime green hot pink stuffs at JC Penneys this year and loved the way it all looked on a tree.
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing it with us!
i really love the ribbon hanging from the light fixture in your kitchen…so creative (and possibly going to be copied in my kitchen next year!)
All new to me because I’m a new fan, so I enjoyed the tour. Love the flower pot Mary, Joseph, and Jesus!
We totally have a flower pot nativity! I love the wreaths on the kitchen windows.
Your house is just lovely! I love how you wrapped the cabinet doors with ribbon! Great idea! We have a deer with a santa hat… We don’t live in TX but my husband is from TX so I guess it’s just a right of passage.
I think the kitchen is my favorite part! Merry Christmas!
I love, love, love the wreath on the door. My sad little $6 Target wreath is in for a make-over!
Happy Holidays Big Mama!
Love your decorations! Don’t want to shock you but we have the deer near the tree too!
How much fun is your kitchen??!!! Love it! Merry Christmas Melanie!
I’ll be on the lookout for some ribbon for you, Melanie!
You have a beautiful home! I have one question. I noticed you have gifts under the tree, and I wondered about your fun day with your friend, where you shop and wrap presents. Do you put all the presents under your tree then? Or do you hold a few back for Christmas morning? I just wanted to know, because I like the idea of presents under the tree early.
The wreaths in the kitchen windows are my favorite. You did a great job!!!
Merry Christmas
Love the wreath on your door and the chandelier in dining room. Actually, I love all of your shots, but those are my favorite
Beautiful!
I’ve never seen a wreath like your front door one before… very pretty and different.
And I’m sure, eye catching from the street!
You may have gotten this comment before, but my daughter came up to me and saw the deer heads on the wall and asked if those were Santa’s reindeer.
I vote for M&Ms in the urns, but you will just have to refill everyday. ;0)
The flower pot nativity is too cute!
I am LOVING the ribbons on the chandelier. LOVE. IT.
i am also thoroughly enjoying Caroline’s flower pot nativity. What a cute craft!
So fun to see how pretty everything is!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Caroline’s nativity!!! It is so sweet! I also love the candy cane columns and bow wrapped cabinet doors. Very festive Christmas decorations!
I LOVE the candy cane wrapped columns! Makes me wish I had columns to wrap!
Love it all!!! Especially the candy canes. Genius. And Carolines nativity. Also genius. You girls have it going on!!
Mel,
I still crack up over the deer. It adds to the Christmas decor. 😉 Your home is beautiful and I am still in awe of your lawn. I am weird, I know, but when we were there in August picking up my million boxes that is what I noticed..your lawn. P has serious landscaping skillz! Okay, back to the wreath, beauitful! I think my favorite thing is your kitchen and dining room. I love the wreaths hanging from the windows and I am going to try that next year.
Merry Christmas!
Love,
Patty
I love the candy cane pillars!! WHAT a great idea!
Caroline’s flower pot nativity just made my day. And I got a good laugh about Joseph’s head flying off when he heard the good news.
OK, I have to admit, the deer heads creep me out just a wee bit, but the tree is lovely. And that flowerpot Nativity? Too cute for words!
Beautiful! I love the centerpieces on your table and the candy cane columns! Great ideas. You have a lovely home. 🙂
I was surreptitiously (bad spelling I’m sure) reading this at work until I read the line about Joseph’s head flying off when he learned Mary was pregnant with the son of God, then I completely guffawed. I’m still snickering – that was so good. Thanks for the laugh – it does the heart good like medicine, you know!
Ok – I laughed TOOO hard at the deer poking their heads around the tree. Like, “Oh, there he is… is he going to shoot us AGAIN?”
A beautiful tree and I love all the candy striping. You really should just paint it that way. 😉
My grandmother has some newspaper santa and Mrs. Claus too! I had forgotten all about them until I saw yours. Thanks for the memory, and the tour!
I am loving the candy cae columns, but I gotta tell ya that my man just went into envy mode and is now asking himself why HE didn’t marry a woman that would let him put deer heads on the wall in the family room.
Of course, he would have to CATCH a deer first!
LOVE your house!
Love it! Your kitchen is so pretty, bright and festive with the wreaths hanging on all of the windows. That would be my favorite room to walk into particularly with all bright light from the windows. I also your Christmas tree. 🙂 I bet you have some fun, memorable ornaments on there. And Caroline’s nativity scene…precious! Thanks so much for sharing!
those kitchen cabinets disguised as presents are too cute!
Everything looks festive! I love your use of ribbons!
So sweet to include your daughter’s nativity-she must be proud.
Come and visit me!
Merry Christmas!!
P must be an awfully good shot to have gotten Dasher and Prancer like that. Is he aiming for all the reindeer eventually? Don’t worry, I won’t tell any of the kids. 😉
And for unusually-coloured and super-ornate Christmas ornaments, you will just have to join us in Morocco, where today at Marjane I saw velvet tasseled ornaments in orange and purple and blue. No doubt hot pink and lime green will be in next year.
I love Caroline’s nativity and the story behind Mary’s unruly hair! LOL!
You have a lovely home. Thanks for allowing me to take a peek inside.
Merry Christmas and God Bless!
Can’t believe you don’t have the deer decorated! Ours have wreaths hanging from the antlers. Thought I could do lights – but the hunter was not in favor. House is gorgeous. You did a great job!
Rhonda
Love the flowerpot nativity – what a keepsake!! Enjoyed the tour – all is lovely!
I think putting a blinking red nose light on the deer noses would be a nice touch. They have those here at our dollar store.
Great decorations!
A different Rhonda
You always make me laugh! Thanks for the tour!
YOur house is beautiful!! I love all of your decorations!! Merry Christmas!!
The kitchen is my favorite too! I’m not sure what I like more, the wreathes in the window or the candy cane columns. I take that back it’s the deer behind the tree but sadly I don’t think I can duplicate that. I’ll have to settle for copying your wreathes.
Thank you so much for sharing. You have a beautiful home!
We had the paper Mr. and Mrs. Claus when I was a kid too! Ours were made out of Reader’s Digest! Love the kitchen wreaths.
you go girl… love the ribbon hanging from the chandelier.
Oh, I’m so glad I wasn’t the only bloggy reader who laughed mightily at the thought of (rein)deer on your wall flanking the tree…or the red nose! Probably too traumatic for the wee ones, but still funny!
Love the flower pot nativity – the wild hair is definitely well within her rights, what with giving birth to God and all! Too cute! I did a Christmas tree out of flower pots all stacked up…those things are pretty darn handy at craft time!
Loved your wreaths! The wreaths in the kitchen windows are fabulous! And the front door is gorgeous! My S/SW facing door just fries the fresh greenery wreath I put up there every year. I’m totally going to be inspired by you next year and have big ribbony (fake!) wreath on my door!
Poor Joseph…we learned yesterday in church just how scandalous the whole pregnant virgin thing was in ancient Jewish culture. I guess his head popping off is to be expected!
Great job Melanie! Loved the tour!
This is my first year on the BooMama Tour, so everything is new to me! I love it! I love the cabinets in your kitchen, and Caroline’s Nativity is wonderful. I love the ribbons on the chandelier, too! Oh, heck…everything is beautiful!
Love everything. I woke my son up from his impromtu nap by laughing about Joseph’s head…. OOPS. Merry Christmas
Thanks for sharing your home with us. You have a lot of wonderful ideas and your home is beautiful!
I adore your kitchen! The cabinets are so much fun! I have whiteish cabinets and some red ribbon…hmmm… I love how your house has so many sentimental decorations. That is really what it is all about…surrounding yourself with things that make you happy…even if they have bad hair. Merry Christmas!
I just laughed. Really hard, really loud. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s exactly what I needed today. For some reason, because of this post, you’ve become my favorite blogger. Don’t ask me why.
It is my first time seeing ALL the decorations! I love it :-)!
You’re extra-adorable at Christmas time. 🙂
Me too, Melanie. My tour looks just like it did for the past two years. In my case, I plead old age and being totally set in my ways. 🙂
Caroline’s little clay pot nativity is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. What a keepsake! And I remember the wreaths in your kitchen windows from the past two years. Loved them then and I still love them. A lot.
“Howdy – it’s Christmas in Texas.” You crack me up. We always taped red cloth around our deer’s noses. You know. When we lived in SE Texas. LOL
Oh seriously, the deer on either side of the tree are just awesome!!!
I remember my mom making Santas with Reader’s Digest!!!!! Wow, I had forgotten those lovely creations!!!!! 🙂
Thanks for sharing and bringing back some of my childhood memories. (I’m just not sure if that’s good!)
Merry Christmas!
-Kim
It is all just lovely! I especially love the wreath on the front door. This is my first boomama Christmas tour and I’m having so much fun. Thanks for sharing your sweet home!
The deer were the first things I noticed. And I love the flowerpot nativity figures. Go Caroline!
I love your door wreath!!
Love your kitchen!
The candy cane columns are so cute!!
Merry Christmas!
Oh: Caroline’s nativity set was the very best!
Melanie, I loved your tour and just cracked up at the deer heads flanking the tree. You are so fun and your home is beautiful. Thanks for sharing your Christmas world!
Merry Christmas,
pat
Love the decorations and the wit! As usual! I always enjoy your post so much.
Have a very Merry Christmas.
I really like the wreaths on your kitchen windows, and how you wrapped some of your cupboards like presents. Thanks for showing us the candy cane pillars, too! I love this home tour because I’m getting SO many ideas. Of course, I’m out of steam this year, so I’ll have to use them next.
All I have to say is I laugh out loud every time I read your blog. You’re a hoot girl!
I love your house — and your commentary 🙂 thanks for having us – merry Christmas!
I love what you did with the ribbons over your kitchen table! Cute idea!
I was just thinking about those “homemade” Santas today. We used to make them out of old Yellow Pages. Christmas trees too! I can’t believe that someone still has them, lol!
You will be happy to know that I am seeing these for the first time. Very cute. Love your house BTW. I am going to have to steel your wreath idea too.
Your decorations look fabulous! I’d love pink and green ribbon too. I’ve seen some great ornaments in those colors this year. I’ll keep my eye out if I seen any ribbon like that here.
I love that idea of putting the ribbon on your kitchen cabinet door. I may have to steal that idea.
And, I think Rudolph might be scared to see those deer near the tree. LOL
I’ll be laughing all day about Joseph’s head flying off. LOL!!!! Your decorations are beautiful!
I love this tour!!! You gals are great. I especially love Caroline’s flowerpot nativity!!! You have a beautiful home.
Thanks so much for opening up your home for all of us! I LOVE your wreath on the front door and the wrapped columns and cabinets are just too cute! Merry Christmas!
OK, so the deer don’t shock me because we have them too. One gets a red nose taped on, another gets icicle ornaments hung from his antlers, the third usually gets some sort of ornament on top of his head, and the fourth is right by the tree. My daughter had her first squirrel taxidermied( not sure it that is a word, stuffed!) and he gets dressed up for Christmas too. Yeah, we’re a crazy bunch! I like your wreath.
Merry Christmas!
My mom had a Santa and Mrs. Claus JUST like that when I was little!! I loved them. She doesn’t put them out anymore….but when I see them it always takes me back to Christmas as a child!
BTW–Love the deer and how they are centered perfectly around either side of your tree in that picture….and they’re in a dead stare at the camera…. :o)
You are making me want columns in my house!! And the wrapping cabinets is a great idea to spice up the kitchen. And your tree is beautiful!
AHHH…MY grandma has newspaper Santa & Mrs. Clause that look JUST like the ones in your pics!!! How funny is that?!?! I LOVE the ribbon on your wreath!
Your decorations look very pretty! And we have THE SAME ribbon on our tree! I know you’re looking for fun new colors, but can I just share that I got a smidge of the I-have-something-in-common-with-a-celebrity excitedness when I saw your tree and I totally think you should keep this ribbon!
(Unless, of course, you decide you don’t really want to live up to the celebrity status and then you can change yours and it wouldn’t matter if we don’t have the same kind.) : )
Merry Christmas!
If it makes you feel any better, my sister continued to take the “on Santa’s lap picture” for my mom until she was 19. By then, Santa started resting his hand on her bum so she quit. But, she did it as long as she could just to keep mom happy. 🙂
I love your home! And I’m already planning to hit those after Christmas sales too. I need some cute decorations. Your’s looks great even if it is the same every year!
cute cute cute home!!!
thought id let you know, I have the deer thing going on too!!! funny! you’ll have to check it out
girl, your wreath reminds me of homecoming mums…i KNEW you were from TX then!!! 🙂
I love the decorations, they look great! Particularly the kid made ones, what fun!
I can’t believe it!!! I am JUST NOW getting here by way of the BooMama tour – – – I’m TRYING to go to every home on the tour, but nearly as fast as I polish them off from the top down, new ones are being added at the bottom.
Whew – – – I may be at this until next year!!
Merry Christmas again – – –
my sister got married this past august–and her colors were hot pink and lime green–my uncle turned her wedding decorations into christmas decorations and ta da she has hot pink and lime green christmas decorations! not sure how this helps you out though! 🙂 but couldn’t resist sharing!