I would like to interrupt today's regularly scheduled post with this brief announcement.
There are 2 days until my annual Christmas Eve party and I still haven't planned out, bought the ingredients for, or decided on a menu. As of now the menu looks like this: store bought cookies and hairbrushes.
There may not be any food, but there'll be plenty of Christmas decorations for everyone to look at. Here's hoping the 3 foot tall antler on the mantle distracts everyone from their hunger pains.
I'm happier with my Christmas decorating this year than I ever have been before. I'm not sure why. Every year when I step back and look at everything, I feel like something just isn't right. I like it. But I'm not certain.
That feeling when you answer your front door and you're not wearing a bra? It's that same feeling. Everything might look fine to a stranger, but YOU know there's something making you want to cross your arms over your chest and scowl.
This year though ... I think I've done it. It may not be the way you'd decorate for Christmas and in fact, it wasn't the way I decorated last year ... but that's the great thing about Christmas decorating. It's a month long opportunity to reinvent the style of your house.
For me, it all started with a pinecone ...
And in closing, a special note for the holidays from the fella:
Drink just enough to get through it, but no so much that you end up hitting someone.
I think it's a quote from one of his Buddhist books. But I'm not certain.
Dru
you. win. damn it.
looks beautiful! garlands on the drapes?! uncle. I can't keep up..our drapes need ironing and I can't put anything near them to draw attention..
Nicole2
Karen. It is breathtaking. Love, love, love it. Magazine worthy. Your white tree is sooo pretty! (I finally convinced my fella to get a second tree this year!)
I'm obsessed with bottle brush trees and cloches. (Stop by my blog and see for yourself.) I love yours. And the snowglobes with the old mason jars! I have a few of those, I may try that next year.
And your cat posing there, like the perfectly coordinated accessory, how did you manage that?
I'm sure you will whip up a wonderful menu for your guests. Or just serve a lot of eggnog and brandy until they think they have eaten. (The downside to this is you have to keep everybody overnight...and then deal with the hangovers...not pretty.)
Brenda
Karen, Your home looks lovely, so peaceful and natural. Just beautiful!!
Sherry
I would be smug too. Well done and I doubt anyone will notice there is no food. Love the tree, mantel, and......well all of it. Nice photos also.
Sarah
Everything looks so nice that I don't think people will even notice that the cookies are store bought. However, the hair brushes probably won't taste too good, so you might want to reconsider that one. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!!!
marilyn
it really is so pretty karen..great job and Merry
Christmas to you and the Fella xo
Jen
Looks so welcoming, and lovely. Now, hurry up and plan your menu and get shopping! Hairbrushes are not that tasty....well...maybe if you had a good dip recipe.
Susan
Those mason jars are amazing! And that is just teasing! At first I thought they were radioactive eggs or something... I know you have clever chickens but sheesh! Your house looks amazing just as you are. You are one creative Chickie! But do not buy store bought cookies! I am baking at home and will do some for you! Call me if you get real desperate but somehow I know you have all your baking done! BTW... What menu? Just throw some stuff in the oven with fresh herbs and garnish with pine cones and serve beside a frosty bowl of shrimp and a huge bowl of chips! What more do you want? Oh and lots of beverages!....Merry Christmas Karen!
Karen
Thanks Sue! :) ~ karen
Angela
Note for anyone who wants their gifts to all be wrapped in a certain 'motif' or 'theme': tell your husband. This is two years in a row that we've had a discussion about what he's using to wrap gifts for me and I'm tired of sounding like a spoiled brat demanding that my presents, that he picked out for me and bought out of love, be wrapped differently than what he's doing. Or, just make sure that the only wrapping paper and ribbon that is available is what you want him to use. I made wrapping paper snowflakes to put on top of kraft paper-wrapped gifts and instead he wrapped the gifts with the red paper. And on one he used the other side of the reversible paper and it's white with red polka dots. That does NOT match my theme!!
Karen
Angela - LOL. One year the fella wrapped all my presents in birthday paper and signed his cards "from". From?? FROM??!! And the paper ... ohhh. You make an excellent, excellent point. Hide ALL other paper. ~ karen
Bev
Gorgeous, warm and inviting - perfect!
Linda
Hey Karen,
Can I just move into your house for the holidays? Please? I'll bring booze!
pve
karen,
you and your pine cones have put us all to shame. this year the tree is up - just white lights. no ornaments. i'm fine with it.
and some battery operated led strand lights. i'm fine with that too.
now you and yours have a fine and merry little christmas dear.
kiss those chickens.
pve
Karen
PVE - I actually love a tree with just white lights. Every year when I decorate my tree, I get the lights done and think ... I could leave it just like that. Merry Christmas! ~ karen
Robyn
It all looks stunning! I really love the Christmas trees in the jars as well. Going to pin that for next year ;-)
Did you like my Aussie Christmas Tree btw?
http://goo.gl/fe7V7
Karen
I LOVE the corks! That's brilliant. ~ karen!
kate
Wow! the corks really are wonderful - and what a spark to my imagination - I can even envision using corks as gift tags now -
Jo
Oh, I see you use one of my favourite decorating touches -- a Siamese cat. I just move my elegant Py around to different parts of the living room. He classes up the joint! I always say if you have a Siamese cat and fresh flowers, you don't really need anything else.
Lucy
Is it safe to assume my invitation was lost in the mail? I don't drink but 1/2 a glass of wine and would be happy with a fried egg from one of your chickens. If you really want to go all out, I'd be overjoyed with an omelet. Everything is stunning! You have reason to be proud. I, on the other hand, still have 60 Christmas cards to get in the mail. I'm thinking about just considering them REALLY early for next Christmas. It's probably because I need more protein (kind of like eggs) in my diet.
Karen
Lucy - In truth I don't really drink either. We could go to a restaurant and split a glass instead of a bottle! It's be perfect. ~ karen
Lucy
We can add "cheap dates" to our list of frugal tendencies.
Nancy
What???!!! We have to wait until next year for the glowing trees in Jars??? Ack I can't stand it.
cheri
ok, just finished reading your last 5 or 6 posts (since "I" have been getting ready for C'mas) and I must say...you always make me laugh out loud. (I can't remember what you are serving along with your hairbrushes but ...gawd, I 'bout died!!) You are so flippin' random. I. Love. It. And your commentors are just as ridiculus. It makes me feel happy with the world.
However. I can't believe you aren't telling us how you lit up the jars NOW. Because I would be running to ?The Dollar Store? to get materials and get it done in all the free time I have left in the next.....two days?
Marti
You're such a tease! Toss out the "bra-less at the door" comment and then show us your nekkid chalk outline art (did the fella do that hisself?) as a statement all its own.
The mason jar snow globe jobbies are definitely eye-catching. That entire shelf arrangement is luscious! Did I miss the "how-to" post on that one? You know I hate missing out on anything.
Which is why I now have to clock in at midnight and again at midday, in case you have TWO major, can't-go-any-further-without-this-SECOND-post per day during the Christmas holiday, right? (Still trying to figure if I shaped that sentence correctly. Ack! I'm a total loss today.)
Karen
Marti - Wow! Those shelves really threw you for a loop! ~ karen
Marti
MOST of your stuff does, Karen. ;) You just noticing that?
Stefanie
As always, stunning. Question- what's in the ball jars? Are they really lit up or is it a reflection?
Tricia Rose
I was wondering too...
Karen
Tricia - They are really lit up. A little craft I have up my sleeve for next year. ~ karen
magali
what do you mean next year?! we have to wait a year before we can know how to make them?!
Julia
Next year is too far away. Very cool.
Ginny
You mean you are holding out on us?!? Oh well, I'll be here next year to find out. Your house looks beautiful!
Angela in Spokane
I love them! I love them! I love them!! I got some 'balls' exactly like those from my grandma and they are one of my most prized posessions :) I am excited for the how-to...
Violet
NEXT YEAR? I thought it was bad enough when I found out yesterday I have to wait a whole 'nother year for The Hobbit, but now I have to wait a whole 'nother year for cool glowy mason jars, too? Universe, WHY ARE YOU BEING SO MEAN TO ME???
Larita
Your home is gorgeous. There's just so much character instead of just a bunch of trends, the way a home is supposed to be!
Karen
Thanks Larita - That's exactly what I was going for. A few trends here and there, but a house that's comfortable and a bit quirky. ~ karen!