Merry Christmas

from Francesca and Shannon

Francesca joined our family a couple of weeks ago. She decided that she wanted to wait till Christmas to be introduced to y'all.

Christmas Eve night she joined us for dinner.

And after dinner she came downstairs to the family room with us. We always open our wrapped presents Christmas Eve night. Then we get the unwrapped "Santa" presents Christmas morning. She enjoyed all the fun of opening presents.

Francesca was my Christmas present from my hubby, so she thought it fitting that we should include a picture of all three of us.

I hope y'all are having a wonderful Christmas!

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Shannon

Festival of Trees Today is all about my Christmas trees. This first one is my favorite. My military/patriotic tree. My husband is military. So this tree means a lot to me. When I posted pictures of this tree in the Christmas tours post, this tree got the most comments. That made me happy!

This next tree is our live tree - the one we put our presents under! Yes, it's leaning. It has leaned at least three different directions this year. So far.

There is a lot of tradition attached to this tree. All five of us go each year to pick it out together. And our decorating party is one of my favorite nights of the year. We play Christmas music. We eat party finger foods. And fudge. My hubby puts the lights on. I put the red bead garland on. Then the kids hang all the ornaments. The ornaments are a collection of those that the kids have made over the years, and their yearly ornaments. Every year they each pick out one (or two) ornaments. We put their initial and the year on the back or bottom of the ornament. When they get married (or move out) they will take all their own ornaments with them to start their own tree.

Here are a few pictures of that night.
This next tree is in my sitting room. I put this tree in an urn. It is decorated kinda Victorian. I love this angel tree topper.

Now my dining room tree. This adds some sparkle to the room. I love this little tree.

My kitchen candy tree. Eventually this tree will have a lot more of the glass candy ornaments. I just add a little at a time.

The next tree is my Dollar Store tree. I bought this tree this year at Hobby Lobby with a 40% off coupon. I didn't have decorations for it, and did not want to spend much (because I am not done with my Christmas present shopping yet!!!!!) So I went to the Dollar Tree. Scroll down for a cost break-down!

Silver and copper reindeer - $1 each - I bought six. (I am going to add a little silver and copper glitter to these later.) I hung them each with a red ribbon. $6 for all of them.

Two boxes of these glass balls - they look like a faded silvery-gold vintage ornament - $2.

Two rolls of this meshy gold ribbon - $2.

Two packages of the red glittery ornaments - $2.

Total cost of the ornaments on this tree - $12. And I love it! It's really very pretty.

I wrapped two valances around the base that were on windows in our last house.

Next tree - the one my son decorates in his room each year.

One of my daughter's trees in her room.

Jewelry trees in my studio.

A little Christmas cheer in one of the bathrooms.

And I have several feather trees scattered around the house.

Thanks so much for joining my little tree festival. Hope you are having a wonderful week-before-Christmas!

I am linking up to Gypsy's Corner's "Three or More Thursday Party." Click below to see more.

And to The Southern Hostess' "Trim the Tree Thursday Party." Again, click below to see more.

I am also linking to Show & Tell Friday at There is No Place Like Home. Click below to see more.

Shannon

Vintage Christmas Balls

I thought today I would show you the places I have used vintage glass Christmas balls this year. Above, in a glass punch bowl mixed with greenery. This is on my coffee table. I just bought a short string of white battery powered lights that I am going to add to this bowl (as soon as I go buy "C" batteries. Yes, I have regularly scheduled battery issues.)
Above and below are in my dining room. The tiered tray was a $1 find at a garage sale! One of my favorite finds! This adds so much sparkle to my dining room!

And a few scattered on a silver tray.It is amazing how much shine just a few silver and gold balls added to the top of this piano.

This tray is in my studio on a little table. The silver tower below is on the same table.

This garland with vintage balls is above the window in my studio. This little bit of Christmas in my creating room is so cheerful! Do you decorate your creating room?

And a little touch of Christmas in the master bathroom.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Tomorrow is more Christmas, so please come back.

Shannon

I Hate Going to the Dentist!

It's like a medieval torture chamber. First they gouge and mangle your gums with that sharp, metal, pointy scraper thingy. Then they polish your teeth AND your bleeding gums with that spinning thingy. Then they pop that floss up to your tender, raw gums.

Can they pop that floss up there any harder? This must be my punishment for not flossing at home. Apparently they do not want you to collect the floss they hand out. They want you to actually use it up.

Then they give you your report card. Apparently silver fillings that are decades old can cause some problems with your teeth. And apparently some people have teeth that are more prone to cracking and fracturing than other people. And when this happens you might need a crown on one tooth. And on another tooth you might need the old silver filling out and a new filling put in to replace the old silver one and to cover up the crack in said tooth.

Oh, gee, thanks. That is what I wanted to hear today. Just shoot me.

Shannon

Christmas Tours

Warning: Picture Overload!

Just a random selection of Christmas in my house right now. Scroll to the bottom for links to blogs hosting Christmas tours right now.

BooMama is hosting a Christmas Tour of Homes on December 15. Click below to see the list!

To go to Thrifty Decor Chick's Christmas Tree Party, click below.

You can also go to Southern Hospitality for an Open House on December 15.

And click below to go to Kimba's Holiday Open House on December 16.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Shannon