Blah, blah, blah. Truth be told, I'll probably do it, but I sure don't feel like it right now.
I'm actually kind of struggling with this mantel. The tv is brand new -- it's the family Christmas gift, and we LOVE it. I never, ever, ever was going to have a tv over the fireplace (form over function every time for me!) but I finally gave in. The old tv had been in the back corner of the room. Behind the sofa. Stupid, I know. So, I finally gave in. I love the way it is bringing us together. For example, I showed my son "Lord of the Rings" in 3D high definition last night, and it was awesome! BUT, I don't have any ideas on how to decorate the mantel for everyday use. Doesn't it look really plain? I can't make a vignette, obviously, so all I can do is a couple of things under the sconces (and fix the walls!) But that seems boring. Anyone have a solution? What it really needs is a wall of built-ins all around the fireplace and windows, but that's not happening any time soon.
Ok, point number two on how I'm lazy: My "Christmas" table:
Embarrassing. But let me show what what I have done. The tree:
Also, I made the kids' stockings when I was pregnant with each of them. Simple needlepoint, but I especially love the green one because I drew the design myself on the canvas, whereas the blue one was drawn by an artist:
I also started a tradition when my first child was a baby. I bought him a beautiful snow globe and wrote his initials and the year on the bottom. Then I continued doing it each year, and now they are old enough to choose their own and they really look forward to it. We now have 19 globes between the two kids, with only one broken (!) I'll probably stop when they are 18. Well, maybe I'll stop. Here is the collection:
So, that's all I've done. BUT, look at what my sweet little girl has done:
A red scrapbooking paper "ornament":
Glitter name ornament, below, and one for her brother in the photo above:
A Nutcracker - isn't she good at drawing for only 6 years old? I'm totally impressed:
And a star made out of paper and markers:
As much as I'll treasure these forever, this is the one that really stole my heart:
See the four blue and white circles cut out of glitter foam and strung together on the white twine? In the middle of each one, she cut out a letter (not easy!) -- they spell "Mimi" -- the name she called me as a baby. Aaaaawwwww, love her to death!
So even if I don't get to the rest of my decorating, Christmas is most definitely where it belongs, in my heart.
xo Stacy Thanks for reading!!
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Love your snow globe tradition. Your Christmas table looks beautiful to me!! And with the mantle, sometimes less is more. Maybe a single strand of fresh garland to drape under the TV, across the width of the mantle? Stick a few pinecones in it and you are done! It can also be easily removed but if you keep it under the TV, shouldnt' be a problem. Pretty tree and those handmade ornaments are the best arent' they? And Stacy so agree that the real spirit and magic of this holiday is not in the decorations (as beautiful as many are) but in your heart and how you live each day during this wonderful season!
Beautiful job......
I love the tradition you started with each child. It is that kind of thing that makes the holiday what it is~I would just add greens and ribbons to the table and the mantle and maybe some silver balls. Done!!
I feel just the same!!! I´m so tired of everything I do, that I don´t really have the strength nor motivation to do my own home! This weekend I´m giving it a try, because I think otherwise it would be so unfair for my children....(my third one is almost 4 and he´ll really enjoy the tree). Well I feel a little better that I´m not the only one feeling lazy about decorating my own house, although you´ve done a beautiful tree and the collection of snowballs is a great tradition! Your kids are going to love it when they grow up.
Thank you Stacy!
Loved reading /seeing the blog today. The mantel would need just a few snow globes and a ribbon laying along the top for me! Simple! I haven't even put up the tree, but its out of storage, so it could happen soon!
Hey Stacy, Your house is beautiful with or without christmas decorations wall to wall. Your tree is gorge especially with the paper ornaments. I seriously didn't think I would get to my own decorating this year either but I finally did it last weekend and now the boxes that were in my living room for two weeks are gone-thank god! If you were looking to do something simple, I would just go outside clip greens and make a few bows out of some fab ribbon. For your table, If you have a mirror your not using throw it under your urns in the middle. It will reflect the sparkle. Don't worry though if it gets done or not, enjoy your holidays. Life is too rushed these days and it's more important to spend time with the kids. Especially since they are still little. I had to laugh this year bc my three girls were decorating the tree and the 16 yr old was telling them not to put too many ornaments on. The preschool ones that were paper she wanted to put in the back. She didn't want to "junk up" the tree. haha Now she is in nyc looking at college for design. I can't decide if i'm in trouble or if I can just let her do it all next year. Maybe I'll get a decorating break next season.:) Take care and let's get together after the holiday. Merry Christmas!!! Kristin
Stacy, your house is so beautiful I wouldn't worry about the mantel. Maybe focus on the tree and go all out with beautiful papers and bows. Add some big poinsettias around and call it a day.Costco has some great ones. Sometimes its hard to be creative with your own house when you have given so much energy to other homes.
You need to have a pre-christmas party the week before Thanksgiving to get you motivated!
Hey, I am VERY impressed. We just did a small tree and I haven't even posted about my Christmas decor yet. I love your tradition of the snow globes. So pretty and sentimental.
Hey! Don't worry - your house is beautiful as it is and if you are in a festive mood that's the best decoration of all! I loved this post, Stacy - you have a wonderful tradition started with the snow globes and the ornaments make it all very special so I'd call it done! :)
Hi Stacy,
I'm still decorating for Christmas and the sad thing is, I won't even be home on Christmas day to enjoy it!
I love your snow globe tradition. My tradition was to put a new teddy bear into my son and daughter's stocking. Now that they each of a new son themselves, I'm going to transfer that tradition to the grandsons,althought that snow globe tradition is very special!
As for your mantal, I was thinking that wasn't it a shame that we only put up swags of greenery for Christmas and not something just for the beauty of the greenery itself?
No matter what you do, it will come and it will be beautiful.
Dawn
The tree looks gorgeous & I'm loving all the Christmas inspiration - you are being too hard on yourself!
x
Melissah
Oh, I do know what you mean! I'm working all week this coming week too. This year is the latest I've ever been, decorating for Christmas. Your tree is beautiful. I love those meaningful ornaments!
A you know, one of my passions is decorating for Christmas, but when I was working full time and keeping up with the activities of a young family, you just do the best you can, because in the end, it is all about the time you spend with your family. They will remember the times spent together and not the decorations. Your home is absolutely beautiful they way it is. They grow up so quickly, so if I had a choice of decorating more areas or baking cookies, i chose baking the cookies. Actually, my dream Christmas is renting a cabin in the mountains, cutting down a Charlie Brown tree, decorating it with handmade ornaments and just enjoying each other in front of the fire!..I know that it sounds really caaraazy coming from me, but it is true. Merry Christmas!!
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