Like many bloggers, I got the tree out a few days before Thanksgiving because I just couldn't wait any longer! Pulling out the boxes of vintage Shiny Brites and bottle brush trees was just what I needed a few weeks into Brett being gone to give me something to look forward to. The boxes covered the dining room table and spilled over onto both sides and sadly stayed there for weeks. I'd get some corner fixed up and then get stuck again. I didn't want to waste any great opportunity to do something creative but with little time and energy left over at the end of the day, my efforts were stalled and my enthusiasm wained.
I finally got the last of the boxes cleared away the day after Brett flew home for Christmas so we could eat together as a family on Christmas Eve. It was our first Christmas at home as a family this year and I didn't want to forget a thing about how it looked since we'll be in another house next year! I spent most of Ruby's nap on Christmas day picking up and photographing the living room. It only looked like this for about two more hours but it is still leaps and bounds better than it has been the last few weeks!
My MIL found our white tree at a garage sale for $5 and gave it to me for my birthday a few years back. I've never missed having a real tree but Sebastian asked me why ours was white this year. We may get a small one for the kids to decorate next year. I did thrift another 4 ft. white tree about two weeks ago that I decorated with gold and silver bulbs for our bedroom. I feel really lucky to have two!
I finished sewing the Christmas stockings a few days ago and then added one for Sunday after Sebastian decided she needed one, too. My vote was to put a lump of coal in it for those three instances in the back of the Volvo (shudder).
Next year, I'll be tackling the DIY I had planned for our little nutcracker collection but this year the time just wasn't there. This was Ruby's favorite vignette. She'd climb up on the chair and sit on the edge of the desk to play with them. One morning I found a blackberry in the big one's mouth. His beard is purple-ish grey now. The nutcrackers were either thrifted or found at the $$ section of Target.
I made the stockings from coordinating new and vintage fabrics I had in my studio. I used a standard stocking size as a template for their shape and then added a large bow to each of ours and a small bow to Sunday's. I used my favorite floral fabric on mine! It's from Melody Miller's line Ruby Star Rising and I used a different fabric from the same collection for Brett's. You can read more about the vignette on top of the locker here.
Most things in our home were found at flea markets/garage sales/thrift stores. Other than electronics and a few random decor accents, everything is vintage or handmade. It's been collected over the last few years and I've switched things out as our needs/spaces have changed.
And just so you don't go wondering how we keep things so clean with two kids and a puppy running around...
This feels more like it these days.
We call them the Glimmer Twins because they're trouble when they get together. They're either leaving a trail of toys, chewing on something that doesn't belong to them, or creating little emergencies. If you're a mama or a puppy owner, you know the routine.
We have thoroughly enjoyed getting to spend these last few days together again as a family. Brett has been taking the reins with housework and entertaining the kids so I can spend some time catching up on things that make me feel balanced and refreshed. He's pretty fantastic!
More Christmas photos to come as well as a little recap from the last few weeks. I hope you had a special Christmas this year. Do you keep your tree up through New Year's or is it already down?
xo,
Rachel
See my Cafe Mom Holiday Home Tour from 2008 here.
I want a white tree so badly! I love the way they look with all my rustic and vintage decorations.. but my Babes loves the real deal. Eventually he will get sick of cleaning up all those pines needles... I'm making sure of it teehee!
Love & Lollies... Jessa
Confessions of the Cupcake Countessa
Posted by: Jessa Belle | 12/26/2011 at 09:06 PM
You have the most perfect details! Such a lovely home! I love your stocking and tree! So pretty!
Posted by: Chloe | 12/26/2011 at 09:16 PM
Lovely! I have a tiny white tree for my daughter -- actually it's the top of an older tree that is no more. She loved decorating it all herself!
Posted by: Desiree Fawn | 12/26/2011 at 09:24 PM
Your house is so adorable!
Posted by: Sarah Thompson | 12/26/2011 at 09:39 PM
Your living room is so charming. I love the colors and the fabrics. Very warm and welcoming.
Hope you had a lovely holiday.
http://shannonhearts.blogspot.com
Posted by: Shannon | 12/26/2011 at 10:03 PM
So glad you all got to spend the holidays together! Your home is lovely in both sets of pictures :) Prayers are going your way for your whole family. Take care :)
Brooke
thebebebirds.blogpost.com
Posted by: Brooke | 12/26/2011 at 10:08 PM
Aw, your house makes me so happy. It always looks amazing, even when it's littered with toys. ;)
Posted by: skunkboy | 12/26/2011 at 10:09 PM
Oh, you photos & your living room look so lovely! You inspire me to be more creative with my own decor!
Kelly @
Elegantly Academic
Posted by: Kelly | 12/26/2011 at 10:14 PM
love your house! so cute and crafty. i like how there are more colors besides red and green in your holiday decor! happy holidays xxo em
Posted by: pushups with polish | 12/26/2011 at 11:01 PM
so generous of you to share your home with us, it is completely refreshing and totally delightful!
~d.
Posted by: Dee | 12/26/2011 at 11:29 PM
Adorable!!! Every little detail is perfect. Thanks for sharing it with us.
W. :)
Posted by: Wendy Whitley | 12/27/2011 at 12:22 AM
i'll keep it up as long as possible! if it were only up to me the tree would be up all year 'round and would change decor with the seasons. ;) your home is lovely.
Posted by: kellychristine | 12/27/2011 at 12:44 AM
All these colors and all these beautiful things...
I LoVe your living room!
Posted by: Mariana | 12/27/2011 at 01:45 AM
Love your 'REAL' pics, I've often wandered how you keep it so tidy, now I know 'hehe'
Your Christmas decor is fab and you're making me quite wishful for a white tree next year!
Posted by: beki | 12/27/2011 at 01:56 AM
Extremely pretty and cozy. Thanks for sharing! Must be so nice having your man about the house again. Enjoy!
Posted by: Bek | 12/27/2011 at 02:09 AM
Very pretty and tidy house!! Even with the toys on the floor, it is tidier than my own!! :D
I must say, I love the real deal when it comes to trees, but I admire your tastefully-decorated white one! I keep my tree up as long as I can, it's so sad when it has to come down!! Oh and also - I love those miniature pink trees soooo much!
Posted by: Tertia | 12/27/2011 at 04:02 AM
Lovely Christmas in your home.
No one can move on without taking pictures!!
like me every Christmas!! wink!!
Posted by: jennifer Camplin | 12/27/2011 at 06:41 AM
i absoultely LOVE that couch. if i were to break into your home, that would be the first thing gone!!! lol so you probably have some outrageous story about how you found it out of the blue and paid about $17.27 for it, huh??? and a white xmas tree for $5!!! amazing!!! i love your style.
Posted by: ira lee | 12/27/2011 at 06:43 AM
Your home always looks so magical at Christmas! I love the stockings the most though. So pretty and personalized!!! Oh and I can't imagine having a toddler and a puppy at the same time. I'm not sure how you do it. We've had to call poison control at least 3 times in the past 2 months just for Dash.
Posted by: Dana | 12/27/2011 at 06:45 AM
Oh my goodness you living room is so adorable! And with it decorated for Christmas I would go as far as saying it is magical looking! I cannot wait till my fiance are done building our house so I can start to decorate!
Amanda
http://littleladylittlecity.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Amanda | 12/27/2011 at 08:11 AM
"White Christmas" in the background. I could hear Danny Kaye and Vera Ellen singing, "The best things happen while you're dancing."
Posted by: Deb | 12/27/2011 at 08:16 AM
Your house looks beautiful! I've been wanting a white tree. I'm going to start looking, maybe I will find one on sale.
Posted by: ana | 12/27/2011 at 08:19 AM
Everything you have put together combine to make a bright and cheery room :)
Posted by: Paula Miller | 12/27/2011 at 08:45 AM
Looks like you had a fab Christmas.. love your decorations & I think the white tree looks lovely.
Posted by: Charis | 12/27/2011 at 10:03 AM
I love this post! Seeing glimpses into people's homes is when of the reasons I love reading blogs. :) Your house is super cute. I see so many things I want! Hehehe. I think that sofa is just to die for! Really. Lucky girl! I have a white tree as well but I really want a silver one. I seem to only be able to find tiny silver trees at the stores. :( Maybe someday I will luck out! :)
Posted by: Heather | 12/27/2011 at 10:15 AM
Everything in your home is beautiful! My mom had a gold tree that she put up in our living room when I was growing up, and she also got a pine for our family room that my sister and I got to decorate. It was the best of both worlds! I bet a little tree of their own would make Sebastian and Ruby very happy. :-)
I leave my tree up until after Orthodox Christmas on January 7, out of respect for my Aunt, her family and all of those who celebrate the holiday then. My favorite part of the season is now, when I get to enjoy all of the decorations and festiveness without the looming "to do by December 24" list. I love to work on my New Year's resolutions and planning by the lights of the tree; it's so calm and peaceful.
Enjoy the rest of your time with Brett!
xo, Anita
Posted by: Anita | 12/27/2011 at 10:38 AM
Wow..really love it!!! My girls have grown up with an heirloom aluminum tree that spins! I think they would feel that a live tree was not Christmas-y at all!
I think my fave part is the bookshelf with the 3 trees!! ....but it all goes so wonderfully together!!
Posted by: jungle dream pagoda | 12/27/2011 at 11:56 AM
that tree for 5 dollars was for sure an amazing deal!
Posted by: giselaandzoe | 12/27/2011 at 12:26 PM
Your home looks so festive! and I LOVE that tree!
Posted by: Margobetty.blogspot.com | 12/27/2011 at 12:39 PM
i've been waiting for a tour of your christmas living room! looks great! thanks for sharing! so happy you all were together for christmas.
Posted by: casey | 12/27/2011 at 12:45 PM