Home For the Holidays Tour

Hi everyone! Welcome to this here blog! If you are new here, thanks for stopping by! I hope you stay a while and click around.  If you like what you see.. let's be friends. Check me out on bloglovin, pinterest, or instagram. 

If you've been a frequent flyer here, you get 10,000 points for showin' up today.  That's just the kind of generous ship I run around here.  ;-) You're welcome!

Anywho... I know the real reason you came was to stalk through my home, checking out how I've decorated for Christmas.  So I'll leave you to that.

Let me start out by showing you my problem area.  The front porch is my biggest weakness.  Meaning, I don't know what to do with it.  And since we never enter our own home through the front door, it's out of sight, out of mind.  It gets pretty neglected.

I kept it pretty simple with a little greenery and a sweet little antique sled I have had for a couple years.

Our entryway has been pretty plain for a while... until now! It's been so fun to get it all dressed up for the holidays.  I found the mirror half off at Hobby Lobby and I made the swag from a couple picks I bought at Michael's.

I also set up our nativity scene on the entry table. I love the "Oh Holy Night" faux chalk piece next to it.  A friend gave it to me last year and I just love it. 

I kept the kitchen fairly simple - just a bit of greenery above the cabinets and something to dress up the island.

I found these pretty votives at TJMaxx that have a copper/mercury glass/frosted treatment on them and I couldn't say no.  In fact I said quite the opposite.  I said, "Yes! I'll take six!"

Then I set them on a piece of old pallet wood with a bit of greenery on it.

I'm. A. Big. Fan. 

Next, can I just say... I love our dining room.  It is one of my favorite places to decorate.

I decided to set the table for this little tour.  I probably should invite some people over so it doesn't go to waste.  Michael and I only eat at the dining table when we have guests.

This is how much I love Christmas: When we registered for dishes for our wedding, I chose these because I knew they would look great at Christmas time.  #christmasallthetime

For the centerpiece, I just wound some artificial garland that I had wrapped with silver ribbon around some candles and candle sticks.   I added in some red jingle bells and sparklies to make it pop.

The center is a cloche that I filled with some of my favorite ornaments.  I bought them at a garage sale a couple years ago.  Red ribbon to tie it all in. 

Last year I purchased these copper snowflakes at Crate and Barrel and just love them! I was having a hard time knowing what to do with them this year until I decided to attach them to the back of the end chairs.  I added some greenery behind it and secured it all with a straight pin.

And a special thanks goes to my mom who unknowingly donated all the real greenery.  I snuck over the other day and stole a bunch that had fallen from her trees.  Thanks mom!!  

Every year we get so many wonderful Christmas cards and I just LOVE it!! It always brightens my day when I get a new one in the mail.  So I rigged up some ribbon on the top of the beadboard trim and got out the clothes pins.

Finally, the living room.
 

I love that I was able to finally complete my vision of hanging lit garland above our openings. During the renovation we had decided to installed outlets up there for that very reason.  And it feels SO good to see that vision come to life!!



Also, I bought the garland last year after Christmas at Hobby Lobby FOR CHEAP!  It's just plain garland that I wrapped lights around and added some red sparkly picks to make them feel a little more substantial.  

I have decorated my tree the same way for years now.  I think this is the last year for the candy cane ribbon and bow.  It was fun while it lasted...

It seems like every year I have a new favorite ornament that I like to hang right in front.  This year it's this ornament.

After my grandma passed away last Thanksgiving, all the family members chose one of the ornaments from her tree.  She always had the most beautiful Christmas tree. This is the one that I chose, I just love it. And it will always make me think of her.

I'm also very attached to this one.  I found it hanging on our tree last year.  My Aunt and Uncle (remember Saint Steve!?) had snuck it on there when we weren't looking to commemorate moving into our first home.  :-)

I switched out my pillow covers for some of these H&M white and grey plaid ones.  They are so soft and a great price.  My reindeer pillow has been around a couple years.  I got it on sale after Christmas one year at Pier 1 and I am pretty sure I saw it for sale this year too.

And this red pillow is one of two that I have had for a while, I just have a cover over them when it is not Christmas time.  

 

And isn't this just the cutest Santa you have ever seen?! He's one of my all time favorite Christmas decorations that I have had since I was little.  He's a piggy bank but he's going to sit on my coffee table because I love him.  :-)

So this is where I was going to take you into the bedroom and show you what I did in there but I just feel like things have gotten a little long winded so I guess I'll stop here.  I will show ya'll the bedroom and bathroom decorations on Sunday... How's that sound?! Great! I'm glad we are in agreement.   You guys are the best!

Well thanks for stopping by!! PLEASE don't miss out on the other talented blogger on this blog hop! You've got to hop around and see what they've done.

You can't deny you don't love snooping into people's homes.  If you didn't, you wouldn't be here right now.  ;-) Gotcha!

Monday December 15th

Table and Hearth

Avery Street Design

Average But Inspired

Paper and Fox

Petite Modern Life

The Rustic Willow

The Domestic Heart

Wednesday December 17th

New House New Home New Life

Mrs. Fancee

A Nurse and a Nerd

Dandelion Patina

Elizabeth Joan Designs

Friday December 19th

Churchill DIY Mill

DIY Passion

Fresh Crush

Little House of Four

Home Remedies Rx

Dwell Beautiful

The Big Reveal

________________________________________________________________________

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Linked to: Thrifty Decor Chick,

Who would have thought...

Who would have thought that 9 years ago, a nerdy 18 year old boy would ask a talkative and excitable 17 year old girl to be his girlfriend.

Who would have thought they would have hit it off like they did.  That they couldn't help but talk way past their curfews - talking way into the future.  Always laughing and struggling to keep track of all their inside jokes.

Who would have thought that when they decided to go to different colleges, neither would regret it... even when a semester later they were together again.

Who would have thought the girl would end up at Purdue University (and love it!!)  And that her and the boy would meet some of the best friends in the world.

Who would have thought that a place like Purdue could be a place of amazing spiritual growth - for them and others.  That God could be revealed and honored in so many different and beautiful ways. 

Who would have thought that the boy and girl would get engaged and married, all before they were done with school.  And that they could work and go to school and learn how to live life as a new family.

Who would have thought they could fit their new lives into a 500 square foot apartment and love it.  And that they could find a balance in budgeting and picking out groceries.  And that, maybe, chocolate malts for dessert every night is not such a good idea.

Who would have thought that the boy would find a job back in their hometown and that their mothers would think they had won the lottery.  That the boy and girl would feel so right about moving home to be near family.


Who would have thought that their new jobs would teach them so much.  That the girl would meet some of the dearest people in her life.  That the boy would be challenged and mentored in a way he never expected.

Who would have thought they could find a church community that so closely matched their hearts. That the people there could share and walk through life alongside them.



Who would have thought that the boy would stop eating Pop-Tarts every morning for breakfast.  And that the girl would maybe miss it a little bit. 

Who would have thought that the boy and girl would buy "the little ugly one on the river."  That they would take a mess and make a home.  That they would be blessed with so many to help them along the way.

Who would have thought that 9 years later, the boy and the girl would soon be dad and mom.  That thankfulness would be pouring out of every fiber of their being.  Thankfulness for the new baby, but also thankfulness for all the time they shared leading up to this new phase.  So much thanks to God that He gave them so many memories and lessons to remember.  And thankful for the ones yet to come.

Who would have thought....

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Also....Come back Wednesday because I'm going to take you all on a Christmas Home tour!  My girl Emily at Table and Hearth has organized a Christmas Decor Blog Hop.  It starts tomorrow and runs through the end of the week.  Make sure you check out all the talented bloggers who have put lots of time, creativity, and love into decorating their homes.

Monday December 15th

Table and Hearth

Avery Street Design

Average But Inspired

Paper and Fox

Petite Modern Life

The Rustic Willow

The Domestic Heart

Wednesday December 17th

New House New Home New Life

Mrs. Fancee

A Nurse and a Nerd

Dandelion Patina

Elizabeth Joan Designs

Friday December 19th

Churchill DIY Mill

DIY Passion

Fresh Crush

Little House of Four

Home Remedies Rx

Dwell Beautiful

The Big Reveal

_________________________________________________________________

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Come Shop With Me...

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Emily asked if I wanted to head up to Chicago to do some Christmas shopping.  There is just something about shopping in Chicago at Christmas time that just feels right.  It might be the beautifully decorated evergreens - aglow with lights, it might be the tastiness of Starbucks on every corner energizing you with Christmas goodness, or it might be the nipping cold that makes you wonder, "Why the heck do I only shop here in the middle of winter?!". 

So that's what we did Wednesday.  We took the train from South Bend to Chicago and 2 1/2 hours later we arrived, bundled and ready to shop.  All the stores seemed to be spilling over with deals and goodies, but there was one store that we had on our list that was the biggest hit in our book.  For a foodie and home decor loving pair, Crate and Barrel had us all-a-twitter (the feeling, not the social media). 

And last year when I was with my friend Beth at Crate and Barrel, we found tons of goodies... that's where I bought my copper snowflakes that I just love.  I was all geared up for a successful trip!

And success it was! So successful, I thought I'd share some of my favorite parts with you. 

 The first thing to greet us was this pretty tablescape.  Here's a close up picture of the details.

Emily was big on that plate and bowl set.  Meee too! And I was also a fan of the beaded garland casually strung across the table.  Fun.  It's just fun.

This pretty plate also caught my eye.  I love the subtle pattern... it kind of reminds me of a certain wintery Pixar movie, don'tcha think?!

Oh and these glasses.  Looks like Elsa got her hands on these!  Sooooo pretty! (But, $10 a glass?  I just had to let it go... ;-)

 I would love them on a table full of white and silver like this or a woodsy one like this. 

They also had the cutest collection of holiday tea towels.  I picked one up (not pictured) for a stocking stuffer.  

Something I bought for myself was one of these cute little wooden trivets.  

Something else I wanted to buy for myself was one of these beautiful metal bowls.  Oh my goodness!

I love the hammered design that really could translate to any season. 

These cookbooks were fun too and would have been great for gifts. 

 

Emily's pick was this one.  Have you ever heard of a tiny food party?  Me neither! But she had and she got really excited about this book full of recipes and ideas.  Tiny pop tarts?! Michael would die!  

I loved this one:  The Hoosier Mama Book of Pie.  Now if that doesn't scream home, I don't know what does?

They had a large selection of really unique ornaments too, here are a few favorites.  

Since I'm copper obsessed, this one was my absolute favorite.  A sparkly spiky copper pine cone!! I wish it would have made sense to buy one, I likely would have... it just wouldn't work on our tree.  

 

Here was another very pretty tablescape.  This one is nice because it seems to transition to New Years pretty easily.  

Oh and this really pretty silver magnolia wreath and garland - someone needs to buy it.  Please buy it and send me a picture so I can be satisfied and jealous all at the same time.  I'll even give you the link. 

They also had the coolest rocking chair that was just screaming for someone to bring it home to their cabin in the woods.   Cozy Cozy Cozy.

And finally these little appetizer dishes.  We even came back to try to decide if we were going to purchase them.  Aren't they fun!? Beer in various countries!  A great gift for that hard to buy for person!

We had so much fun that I just had to share it with all of you.  Hope all your Christmas shopping is going well! Other than shopping in Chicago, mine has mostly consisted of online orders.  That's the way I like it... as long as it includes free shipping.  :-)

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