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.
Violet
I love the white jug pitchers. If I ask where you got them, you're going to say "The Dollar Store," aren't you?
Karen
Violet - Hah! No. Those are from Ikea, but they haven't had the X-Large size for some time. I love them too ... I get all kinds of inspiration from them. ~ karen!
Janet
Thank you for the entertainment, for the decorating ideas,Have a wonderful Christmas Karen and Fella.
Janet
Shauna
I can't take it anymore... everyone's talking about you're balls, but really.... no one mentioned your pussy!! Seriously!! That's one pretty cat!! Merry Christmas Karen!! & my fella is on your fella's same strategy!!
Brenda j
Your home looks just lovers!! But I did ask you not to put my portrait out for everyone to gawk at! For the love Karen....geeez.
Cheers,and Merry, Happy Christmas and 2012; despite what the old Mayans say about it.
Alyson
I think the Guy is right - I'm sure it's in a Buddhist text somewhere - words to live by...wish I'd heard that when I was 17 (sigh)...gorgeous house! Does the cat help you keep the silver table dust free by sitting on it?
Merry Chrissy!
Elle
Your house is decorated so beautifully! serve some alcoholic drinks and with all this beauty around no one will notice there is nothing to eat apart from store-bought cookies. If it was me at the party, I would just spend the evening staring at all those magnificant little lights. cannot resist xmas lights.
Maybe I wasn't paying attention (sorry! mast have been distracted by pictures of little lights...) but how do you do those firefly-like lights in the jars?
On my part, The house is barely decorated as the kids are away and will be back tomorrow and they want to decorate themselves. I do have the menu planned and I even went to the store and spent an outragous amount of money on the groceries (about 3 weeks worth or regular grocery shopping! there better be tons of leftovers! or we'll eat only pasta for half of January) but of course I forgot a few important items and need to go to the store again tomorrow.
At least all the presents are wrapped (except for one which is home-made and is still in the works).
Happy holidays! Love your blog!
Karen
Thanks elle! I didn't reveal the secret to the mason jars. It'll have to wait until next Christmas! ;) ~ karen
Erin {i can craft that}
Those bottle brush trees are everywhere this year but I cant seem to find them... where did you get yours?
Karen
Erin - I got that tree as a present from my friend Anj who buys me a Christmas tree of some sort every year. She gave it to me yearsssss ago. I think it was one of the first I got from her. ~ karen
Regina
Karen,
First and foremost your post are the bright spots of my day! you make me laugh so hard and outloud. THANK YOU!! I have coop envy, my girls are stuck in a 70 yr old run down coop. Someday.....
I love the faux fur you used as a tree skirt. Is it a throw or a bit of fabric? I'm obsessed with the stuff. I've been searching online for weeks for a striped thick gorgeous one. Just like what you used.
Thanks for all the joy! Many blessings!!!
Regina
Gayla T
This will long be remembered as the year of the pinecones. It's all stunning! But there you go with those darn jars, again. I'd finally erased them from my Christmas list and now I have to call my kids and tell them to put them back on it. Not that they will be able to find blue jars in Kansas. We are getting together tomorrow and I haven't been to the store yet but I'm going as soon as my pain meds kick in. My house is done and yes, I've got pine cones here and there. My faves are the long skinny ones that often have a bit of a curve to them. The create a great "line" in a floral design. I don't think I told you about washing pine cones, did I? I have over the years found places to go get my supply when needed and have one of the larger zip lock bags full of the ones about the size of a nickel. They are hard to find and take a while to pick up and when I got them out to decorate for fall there were BUGS! in the bag. I quickly dumped them in the sink and ran hot water over them. That took care of the miniscule bugs but I had to pick them out one by one and shake off the residue. I tried to dry them off but they were closing up into tight little balls. I kept blotting them with towels and put them in the oven to dry them and that resulted in some burning....no flames, just like a burned cookie so I had to sort them again. Bottom line, it took over a week with me blotting and fluffing several times a day. I was able to save enough to fill a bowl to set on my coffee table but I'm going to have to go pick up more in the spring. So you can see that I do love my pine cones, too. TTYL Granny Gayla
Carole McGinnis
Wow - you are amazing. I have said it before but I will say it again - I love everything you do! I want to do everything you do. ;-) I love the fact that you can take something so simple and make it into something amazing. You inspire me all the time. Keep it up - I so look forward to your posts every day. Have a wonderful Christmas and my wishes to you for a healthy and happy 2012!
joanne
I know the secret to the glowy-mason jars.... all the little Christmas fairies have moved into Karen's house, and are "hiding" in the snow.
And all I have here is an elf who lives on a shelf. Hmph.
mimiindublin
I've no doubt you'll pull something amazing together food-wise for the eve party too!
Those decorations are amazing, all of them. Soooo beautiful.
I'd love to see one picture of the room where you dump everything that isn't in the pictures, you know..old newspapers, bags, stuff waiting to be done, all the junk that I'm looking at around me!
Please don't tell me you don't have that room, please don't.
Larraine Murphy
Lucy, it's all in the name. Stop calling them Christmas cards. I still have 30 Whenever cards to write....
debbieo
Very beautiful. Merry Christmas and I hope YOU have fun at your party.
Debbie
Please please please please do share the jar lights..... Love your home - truly gorgeous.
Karen B.
You have done a beautiful job of decorating.....to me it says, "all is calm, all is bright"!!
Happy Christmas eve party!!
Natalie
It's beautiful and inspirational! :)
Another Karen
Wha?? Where are the elves?
Everything is beautiful. Have a Merry Christmas!
Barbara
I am speechless.
It ALL took my breathe away.
All of the above postings and Adjectives are in my head!
Warm,friendly uncluttered......
A very MERRY CHRISTMAS to you,and your family Karen and all of your friends on this site.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Eric
I want a reindeer antler!