My Mom's Merry Home Tour

I just got home from my parents' house tonight. While I was there I decided to snap some pictures of their decked out halls.

The tour begins at their front door.

The porch has one of many Xmas trees.

An adorable garland-wrapped chair with a lantern by its side.

Inside, you find a vase filled with vintage ornaments...

...another vase with red ornaments.

The bar cabinet is draped with garland and lights.

A cute little reindeer.

A nativity scene sits on top of the entertainment center.

The large main Xmas tree in the corner of the family room.

The mantle above the fireplace.

Adorable plaid candle votives. I love love LOVE these!

A gorgeous box filled with poinsettias.

A mini tree by the front door that has an Iowa theme (my mom's home state).

Here are some of the ornaments: a hen

a pig

John Deere tractor lights

a barn

a cow

Another mini tree in the basement that has a fishing/ Up Nort theme.

a catfish

a canteen

a fishing boat

a tackle box

a fishing vest

a bear

a moose

Even the bathroom is decked out!

I love this old shutter. I think I need one :)

And now the kitchen. Lovely poinsettia plates.

Garland wraps around the chandelier.

A beautiful Xmas tray sits on top of a homemade tablerunner.

A vintage Xmas postcard.

And one last themed Xmas tree- a baking theme of course!

Several mini baking tins.

a thermos

a rolling pin

and an apron-wearing snowman.

Merry Christmas to all! There's no place like home :)

Xmas Cards

Here are our Christmas cards for this year:

That's right...those are our kitties.

We're not embarrassed- they're our babies :)

Eat, Drink & Be Merry

It's that time again- Tablescape Thursday!! Visit Between Naps on the Porch to see her Tablescape and many more.

Last Friday I hosted a holiday cocktail party at my house for just the girls. My friend said she had a dress she had been dying to wear so we all decided to dress up. We seemed to have perfect timing when we saw the forecast for Friday's weather...27 degrees for the high!!!

Anywho, I managed to remember to snap a few photos as I set up before my guests arrived.

And that is why my pictures look so bad- I had to take them at night which I don't usually like to do. I set up everything buffet-style on the dining room table.

I decided to serve 2 signature cocktail drinks: champagne with pomegranate juice (to give it that festive red color) and a candy cane martini. Someone else brought bubble gum flavored vodka which was pretty amazing! I also set out some cheese curds and sausage and baked up some mini quiches to snack on. The other girls brought spinach dip and bread. Yum!

I set out some stirrers and coasters...

...a tray with champagne glasses and cocktail glasses...

...and a festive-looking vase with a candle and some mini ornaments.

I made these tags that say "eat, drink, & be merry" using scrapbook paper and stickers.

And here we are (minus the one taking the picture). I was starting to get sick this day so I don't look my prettiest :)

Happy holiday hosting!

A Merry Tour

The Christmas home tour continues...

Our front door is adorned with a pretty green wreath. (this is a dark area in the house so the camera doesn't capture the color right).

I picked a wreath this color so that it could stay up longer than the Christmas season. I added a little bird ornament and a gold bow.

On a hallway wall, I hung up this cute photo holder that my mom got at Pier 1. For the Christmas season, I plan on hanging the xmas cards we get in the mail.

For now, I hung up vintage xmas postcards found at an antique mall.

These birch candles are perfect for my woodland theme. You can't see it, but the tray is also wood-grained. I added bunches of garland and pinecones from Hobby Lobby.

I pulled out my red blanket from Crate & Barrel.

It has beautiful shades of red and pink with a gold threading.

This is my dining room.

This is my favorite Christmas item. It's a tablerunner from Crate & Barrel.

The vase holds a candle and some mini ornaments. The placecard is from a wedding we went to last December. It was 1 month after Ryan and I got married and I loved seeing Mr. & Mrs. Lee. I just thought it was cute and kept it :)

Here is my sideboard with lights and garland.

Some metallic candles found at Target last year.

A sugar bowl and creamer.

Our stockings: one for me, my husband and our 2 kitties :)

A tray filled with some accents. These are some mini lantern ornaments found at Hobby Lobby. (yes I still have the tags on...whoops)

These are vintage carole books found at the antique mall.

A vase filled with ornaments and berry accents.

And here's the tree.