We Wish You a Merry Christ"Mesh"

Yes, indeedy ... the mesh has taken over the our front alcove.  And, it's all my husband's fault!

You see, in our house ... we have a rule.  The inside of the house is mine, and the outside of the house is his (well, actually, that's really mine, too, but I just let him *think* that it's his, lol).

Every year, when one more box of net lights is purchased ... *one* more spiral tree is added, and reindeers with moving heads arrive, there's my husband, with a big grin on his face.  He loves Christmas!  And, when he told me that he wanted to add garland above the door and for me to "make it pretty" (*while waving his hands in circles*), I knew I had my marching orders.  So, here's what I did:

Our mesh wreath isn't alone this year:

Once my husband added the garland above the door, I added matching red mesh, striped mesh and various ornaments: 

I couldn't stop there, so I went ahead and doused our plain topiaries with mesh and ornaments, as well:



While I'm always fearful to get too close to all of it, as I just *know* a family of lizards is going to jump out at me, I'm really enjoying it (and actually looking forward to adding MANY more ornaments next year)!  Plus, okay, it doesn't look too bad all lit up at night:

While we're out here ... you can see how I spared the wreaths on our windows from the mesh and only added an oversized, classic red bows:

Remember the reindeers with the moving heads? 

Of course, it *never* snows here, BUT, according to PicMonkey, it's snowing here right this minute!  Yay ... Merry Christ*Mesh!*

Thanks for visiting!  I'm off to play here:

On Sutton Place/Homespun Christmas Party - Doors and Wreaths

All Because of a Plate

Picture a gal walking into HomeGoods one September morning.  As she passes through the automatic doors, she is greeted (by name) with a comment she hears all-too-often, which is "weren't you just here YESterday?!"

Laughing (and, okay, *slightly* embarrassed), she buckles her purse into the child safety belt in her cart and goes on her way ... starting on the left aisle, as she always does.  As she turns the corner of aisle 3, she notices splashes of Christmas decor has been added!  Her eyes, caked with Benefits macara, get bigger and bigger as she spies beautiful holiday plates.  It is then that she sees this gorgeous one: 

She knows that she MUST add it into her holiday decor.  Her heart races as she comes up with a plan ... right there in the middle of the aisle.  Nevermind the fact that older, respectful women are trying to get around her ... this gal is on a mission to make this plate work!

So, here's what she did ... she decorated their sitting room in reds, white and greys ... all because of this plate (and its twin): 

Because of this plate, she bought beautiful new fabric for the window:

Because of this plate, she had to buy a companion plate to place on the sofa table in front of the window, with a red feather tree and ornaments offering to be holiday company to it:

Because of this plate, she had to dress the tree in matching colors:

Never having done a tree in reds, silvers and whites:

with a few of these cute fellas finding their way on there, too:

And, of course, a wild and crazy topper sealed the deal.

Because of this plate, leftover ornaments made their way over to the bookcase ...

and, Miss Reindeer got a silvery, blingy collar (with a little help from rhinestone "ribbon" from Michael's):

Because of this plate, the robin's egg blue accent chest was traded out for a mirrored chest, with festive subway art (from HomeGoods) and more leftover ornaments being added on top:

"Do you see what I seeeee?": 

 

Because of this plate, I ... I mean "she" is truly enjoying her holiday sitting room, dressed in reds, whites and greys. 

So, tell me, have you ever changed your entire decorating plans ... all because of a plate? 

Join me at:

Jennifer Rizzo/Holiday Housewalk Party
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/Tuesday's Treasures
Savvy Southern Style/WUW
Southern Hospitality/Holiday Home - Vignette Party
Housepitality Designs/Better Late Than Never Christmas Inspiration Party

Christmas in the Great Room

Welcome to our holiday great room (but please excuse the crazy lighting):

Come on in ... have a peek around.

Go grab some egg nog and have a seat (I even turned the wing chairs around to face the sofa for a better conversation area):

Feel free to toss our holiday pillows from Pottery Barn aside so that you can get comfy: 

That goes for this festive pillow (from Wal-Mart), too ...

I hope Buck, our guest of honor to our mantelscape, appreciates that I mixed in faux shed antlers to our coffee table centerpiece:

Hmmmm ... think I should add a little ornament or two to our Charlie Brown tree?

As for our *main* tree ... this year, I decided not to wrap it with mesh, but, instead weaved red, gold and green glittery garland throughout it.  I also decided to add more pops of white:

What didn't change (and, I doubt, ever will) is my love for crazy toppers!

These fun oversized snowflakes from New River Pottery are the perfect solution for adding more white to our tree:

As are these cute sparkly fellas (also from New River Pottery):

Don't you just love the nighttime glow?   

Now, it's your turn!  I'm off to visit your amazing holiday homes!

I'm joining:

Savvy Southern Style/WUW
At the Picket Fence/Inspiration Friday
Jennifer Rizzo/Holiday Housewalk Party
Housepitality Designs/Better Late Than Never Christmas Inspiration Linky Party

If Furniture Could Talk ...

I'm pretty sure if our furniture and accessories could talk, they'd have quite the stories to tell ... especially around the holidays.
 

 

They'd share how they watch in amusement each year at the *pained* look on my face as I stare at them (while pacing, stopping only to tilt my head back and forth and scratch my head), wondering how I'll decorate them *this* year:

 

 

An *every day* piece would share its delight as Mr. Reindeer moved on in for the holidays:

 

 

This small white pitcher would tell you how it laughed (and grimmaced, just a bit) as I gently *shoved* holiday greenery, berries and light up branches down into it:

Our otherwise plain lantern would tell you how it loves the new *hat* I concocted, made of greenery, ornaments and glittery garland:

 

 

A bowl once filled with seashells would share its excitement with you as it welcomed holiday ornaments, pinecones and snowflakes:

 

 

Annnnd, I'm positive our mirror would tell you it had *nooo* what was going on when I unexpectedly covered it in Christmas cards from years gone by (especially since I usually put them on one of our Christmas trees). 

 

 

"We Say Merry Christmas" and more greenery seemed only fitting to place above everyone sharing their holiday cheer!

But, before we know it, those pieces will be empty again after the holidays ... they'll see that same pained expression on my face as I wonder "what next?"  For now, I hope that they continue to enjoy the holiday merriment that has been added:

 

 

So, tell me ... what would *your* furniture and accessories say if they could talk?

Come on over and play at:

Savvy Southern Style/Holiday Vignettes and Mantels Party