First of all, thank you for being excited about the new book. There will be more to come in the future as we get closer to the official release date, including a giveaway that I’m so excited about. Sadly, it doesn’t involve you getting your very own antelope. I apologize in advance.
Secondly, I need to clear up that I do not actually have a house in my wall that has frames arranged in the shape of a heart. I’m so sorry to disappoint those of you that thought that was a real thing, but so appreciate that you thought somewhere in me I had the capacity to take the time to meticulously arrange frames in the shape of a heart.
(Also, a few of you didn’t realize it was a heart and thought it was supposed to be an antelope head. To you I say, SO DID I. P was actually the one that pointed out it was the shape of a heart. Whatever. So I lack an artistic eye.)
But there is some good news. Several of you asked to see a better picture of my wall of plates from Monday’s post. And that is a real thing. Granted, I didn’t come up with it myself. I had help from Holly Mathis of Holly Mathis Interiors. And when I say I had help, I mean she did the whole thing.
But isn’t it so cute? We used a mix of plates that we found at Anthropologie, World Market, Pier One and some antique stores.
And while I’m showing pictures, I figured I would go ahead and show some of my Christmas decor. Here’s a better shot of the tree.
And the deer behind the tree.
Normally he’d have a Santa hat on but I have been unable to locate said hat.
Then there’s the mantle. I especially love it this year because I have a new personalized canvas from The Canvas Boutique, plus I ordered new stockings and a felt ball garland from Etsy.
Here’s a close up of the canvas. It’s a mix of all our family Christmas sayings and traditions.
In the kitchen I just hung wreaths in the windows with the red chevron ribbon I bought from Hob Lob and was worried I’d regret. As it turns out, I’m so glad I bought it and the only thing I regret is my poor photography skills.
And I hung some festive dish towels on the oven because I am fancy.
Why, yes. That is a bunny dressed like Santa. Thank you for asking.
I filled my dough bowl on the dining room table with ornaments, greenery and a few deer antlers for good measure.
And then decided to use this little tree made of cardboard that I bought a few years ago as our Jesse Tree where we hang our ornaments from The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp.
I added a Christmas pillow to our couch because I am like Martha Stewart except not. Gulley bought me this pillow last Christmas and it’s one of my favorites.
And, finally, my favorite decoration every year.
The flowerpot nativity that Caroline made when she was three. I feel of all the nativity scenes you see, this one most accurately depicts Mary’s emotional state. Those eyes and that hair make her look just a wee bit frazzled. As is understandable when you’ve traveled many miles on a donkey only to be told you’re giving birth in a stable.
And that’s pretty much it. I ended up leaving at least half of my Christmas decorations packed away this year, but I’m liking things a little cleaner and a little simpler.
Speaking of, the other day Caroline was having some friends over for Bible study and wanted to make a Christmas dessert. And I didn’t want to have to make a trip to the store. So we made Edie’s best ever brownies because I had all the ingredients and then just crushed candy canes to sprinkle all over the top. They were divine.
I would have taken a picture but they didn’t last long enough.
We also spent some time making snowflakes and it was probably my favorite moment of the Christmas season so far. We taped them up on the wall in her playroom and have decided our goal is to cover the wall before Christmas is here.
It’s so much prettier than that photo conveys and every time I see it I think of the lyrics to Audrey Assad’s song Winter Snow.
You came like a winter snow
Quiet and soft and slow
Falling from the sky in the night
To the earth below
Here’s the whole song if you want to listen.
For me, it’s a reminder that the best moments of Christmas are often the ones that come without any fanfare or planning. They just show up and surprise you in their own sweet way.
Like cutting out snowflakes with a sweet ten-year-old girl who won’t be ten forever.
