Sunday, December 13, 2009

Christmas Tour of Homes!

Welcome! I'm so excited to participate in the Nester's tour of homes! Yay for Christmas!



The theme of my Christmas decor this year really revolves around one thing ... repurposing! 

I didn't have a big budget to spend on holiday decorations, so I had to dig into my Christmas stash and make the most of what we had already.

Let's start inside!

 
I'm obsessed with vintage Shiny Brite ornaments. One of my favorite things to pull out at Christmas time are my Grandmother's Shiny Brites ... I just love these lime green and aqua ornaments!




These are glass and I have a toddler.  Not the best combination.  Ha!  So, I just hung them on our breakfast room chandelier. We all get to enjoy them this way!



Here's our front entry. This is pretty much what it looks like all year round.  I like to decorate around what we already have in our home, rather than replace our everyday things.  So, the Christmas things here are pretty subtle.  For me, that makes things more homey! 



I added a couple of vases of holly from our yard and filled this crystal biscuit barrel with cheapy ornaments I bought when I was in college.



I love frugalista finds!  A couple of months ago, I bought this crystal nutcracker and crystal angel for .99 cents each at goodwill.
                                             

 

       
 

I tried these in a couple of places, but they just didn't make sense.  I knew I wanted them to be somewhere with plenty of light. So, I put them on a silver tray of crystal decanters that is there year-round and I love them here!  They blend in, but when you do a double-take, you see Christmas!

                      

Here's our Willow Tree nativity that sits in a corner in our dining room. 


  
Big Daddy gave this to me one Christmas and I just love it!  I'm amazed at how much detail there is in these simple figures. 


                   

Mary with Baby Jesus is my favorite.  Jesus' birth means even more to me now that I'm a mama.

              

Now, for the living room! 

Here's our babyproof Christmas tree!  Bitty Baby is 19 months old and into everything!  So, instead of pulling out the breakable ornaments and saying "Don't touch" all season long, I decided to simplify and put only non-breakable things on the tree.  The colors of everything are red, green and gold.

                                  

The only things I bought new for the tree this year are some red metallic mesh (which I LOVE), lime green glitter snowflakes from Dollar Tree, and supplies to make pinecone ornaments on the cheap.  This was definitely a stress-free tree!

                       

I think decorating the mantle is my favorite thing to dress up every year. 



Maybe because I love stockings so much!



The mantle is still a work in progress!  I am on the hunt for some squatty, gold candles to finish the mantle.  Hopefully, I'll find them before Christmas :)

Big Daddy collects a Christmas village, which he L-O-V-E-S!  He wants to have a gigantic village one day and then invite people over for "the lighting!"  But for now, this spot will have to do!

                                

For a little fun, I wanted to do a tree for our girls.  I thought about getting each of them a little Christmas tree, but it wasn't in the budget this year.  (Although, I might have to pick up a pink one for them after Christmas!) 

I already had an ornament tree, so I bought some super cheap hot pink and lime green mini-ornaments from Wal-Mart. 

                                   

This sits in their bathroom and they love it!


                                   

That's it for inside, so let's go outside!

This grapevine wreath usually hangs undecorated on the door to our backyard.  But, I added some rustic decorations for Christmas ... and all for $1!


                                  

I spotted these jingle bells on a Dollar Tree door hanger and I thought they would work here.  So, I deconstructed the hanger and attached the bells to the wreath using the original twine that came with it.


                                   

Then, I just added some holly from our yard to the bottom.

                        

Finally, here's our front door, which ties in with our tree with lots of fun, metallic red mesh! 

                              
Thanks so much for stopping by Little Mama!  I really had fun posting these pics and am really excited about seeing the other posts!  I love to get inspired!

Merry Christmas!!!

To link back to The Nester, click here. 

37 comments:

  1. All of your decor is very pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very pretty. I especially like your Grandmother's vintage Shiny Brights hanging from the chandelier. Awesome colours. Nice safe place. I picked up one box at a yard sale, but it is so great that yours were in the family.
    I also spent very little this year, just used alot in different ways.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your home is just beautiful. May many wonderful Christmas memories be made within its walls.

    Our home is having an old fashioned handmade Christmas this year. I hope you will stop by.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have those jingle bells! Love Dollar Tree!

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a BEAUTIFUL home! Love the pink and green ornaments. Hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I so enjoyed stopping by. Very sweet decorations.
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your mantle looks fabulous, as does your front door. Love the mesh ribbon - I'll have to get some of that, it's so pretty! Merry Christmas! : )

    ReplyDelete
  8. Everything is gorgeous and you cannot tell it is repurposed either. Love the mantle and the red mesh you used!

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a nice blog!! Im now a follower! Come check out mine http://closetoftreasures.blogspot.com/ =)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Everything looks beautiful! Love the thrift finds and the blue & white!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I did a small tree in my daughter's room this year. She is really enjoying it.

    Thanks for showing us around.
    Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  12. love all your decor especially the crystal finds and your front door! BEAUTIFUL!

    thanks for showing us around!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks for sharing your home! Your decorations are beautiful! I am from the south too!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lovely decor! I totally get why you love the red mesh on your tree it gives it a lot of drama. Love your porch too!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Simply Awesome! Love your photos. Love your front door and love the garland on your fireplace. Those are my favorites!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Love your decorations! They are very simple but elegant.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Everything looks really pretty. I really love the mesh. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I so love the fact that you didn't spend a lot of money on some of your decorations. That is so cool because your home looks beautiful. The nativity is wonderful but so are your Goodwill finds of the nutcracker and angel.

    ReplyDelete
  19. saw you on the nester. LOVE your front door!

    ReplyDelete
  20. What a great job on a small budget! Just lovley. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas in your special space.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Blue and white china, yes PLEASE! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  22. It is all so wonderful. I do love the red metallic mesh. It looks amazing.

    Ruth

    ReplyDelete
  23. Beautiful home. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I am seeing so many christmas balls in hurricane vases or hanging on chandeliers... I need to do that.... It really adds a nice touch!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Ok, so I was really enjoying all of your Christmas decorations, then I got to the one of your front door...I had to catch my breath! I LOVE it! I have a slight obsession with pretty doors and entrances and yours is just gorgeous, great job! I have 19 mos old twins and was having a similar dilemma with having to put up my ornaments, which are all mercury glass, but they have been really good about not touching the tree...big blessing to me! Happy Holidays!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Just wonderful! I never thought of decorating the bathroom before...Hmmm! Have a joyful Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Ohhhhh...very pretty! I LOVE your nativity scene! I have to look at your b/c mine is still boxed up for the past two years as we have been on the road. Oh how I miss it so!

    Merry Christmas and thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Your house is beautiful. I love your front door. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Beautiful! I am stopping in from Nester's Place. To see my tour click on the 'Christmas 2009' Tag on in the left sidebar!

    ReplyDelete
  30. So Pretty! And I LOVE your front door!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Your home is great! That crystal nutcracker is definitely a keeper, and the stockings are wonderful. Thanks for sharing with the tour. Happy Holidays!

    ReplyDelete
  32. So unique and beautiful! Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by my misadventures! I would love for you to drop me a line. Reading your comments is so much fun!