Entryway Re-styled

Entryway, foyer, or "foy-ay" as my mom likes to say...whatever you call it I have a big one. My last house didn't even have one when we moved in, but I was able to create a tiny one by adding walls when I closed in a formal living room to make it a home office. I was so happy to have a big entrance in my new home so the kids didn't bounce of each other and the walls as they walked inside. They reminded of me of little pigs trying to get into a pen. I didn't realize I would have to furnish it like a room until I started decorating it. I kept adding furniture and decor and it just never seemed to fill up. I can now sit three people in there comfortably and I'm not even finished. I could have a party in this "foy-ay."

After I took down the Christmas decorations I re-arranged things a bit. I moved the wall clock from my home office and added it above the bench. The colors and size are perfect. It's a bit too farmhouse for the look I'm trying to achieve. It worked in the last house, but I want something different here. Eventually, I'd like to replace it with abstract art as soon as I find the right piece. It will help offset the rustic table and add a bit of elegance. I also added the blue and white umbrella stand. I had mentioned to my mom that I was looking for one and she happened to have one. What are the chances of that happening?! I found an umbrella with a dog head handle at ZGallerie that I just love. I hope my family knows it's decor!

A better view of the clock.

And more pillows! I found a couple of these in a spare closet. I had forgotten all about them!

Even though there are things I want to add like artwork and a lamp or two, I'm just happy this space finally looks finished. Of course you can't see the other half behind me in this picture that's completely bare. It never ends!

Christmas Home Tour 2016

My halls are decked this year! There are Christmas decorations everywhere you look. I can only explain by saying I started decorating early this year and it just compounded until it took a life of it's own. I am enjoying every minute watching my cheesy Christmas movies next to the lights or listening to Christmas music as I work every day. By the way, Last Christmas by Wham! is the best song ever. I've heard them all and I'm not joking. Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas is You is first runner up.

It wouldn't be right if I didn't include Mario on this tour since he's always been a part of them. He's ready to party this year in his plaid bow tie!

I think the entry looks best at night all lit up!

As my boys are getting older our traditions change, but enjoying each other never does. From my family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Christmas Kitchen and Hot Cocoa Bar

My Christmas kitchen is pretty much the same as last year's, but with a few changes to the hot cocoa bar. I just love the way the blue and white vases look with the red poinsettias.

Even though my kids drink cocoa almost daily in the winter I didn't realize how much they would love having all the toppings and Christmas cups out last year. I improved it a bit and bought marshmallows, candy canes and m&ms. The m&ms never made it into the container because the boys ate them all before I could blink. I'll be running by the store this weekend for chocolate and red/green sprinkles at their request too. I obviously need to buy twice the amount of anything that has sugar in it. This isn't the best picture, but I just love the little gingerbread house I bought at Hobby Lobby too. I had a few gaps to fill from last year because some of the pieces are now in the upper glass cabinets. 

The view from the living room.

And the most festive of them all!

This picture never gets old! I am going to try and take a new one this year if I can find something cute. You can tell by his face how much he loves it!

My Black Friday Find and More Christmas Decor

I may have finished my Christmas decorations a week ago, but as usual I pick things up between now and Christmas as I see them. These gold reindeer were just calling my name!

I've been eyeing this mirrored tray at ZGallerie the past year for my coffee table and I finally bought it once I noticed there was a 20% Black Friday discount. It's a bit hard to see since I covered it in greenery, but it's the perfect size for this table and it made an instant difference in the entire feeling of the room.

I've been putting off buying it because I've been way too overwhelmed with all of the projects going on around here. Now that I'm coming down to the final details of my living room I decided it was time to finally finish it. Well, the custom drapes and massive chandelier that will require scaffolding to hang because of the tall ceilings will be held off indefinitely because of the cost. I can't justify such minor details when an entire home office remodel will equal the same price. Other than those projects and maybe some future woodwork, I am working hard to finish this room by the New Year. I received my final major piece of furniture today, a console table for behind the sofa. It fits in perfectly and just makes the room feel so much more finished. I'll show it to you as soon as I find decor to accessorize it. 

Now, for the best seat in the house! I popped in the dining room to take a quick picture of the chandelier I decorated a couple of weeks ago. It was then I realized the seat at the head of the table has the best view of the entryway and dining room decorations. 

Like most people with formal dining rooms, we rarely use ours. As I took this picture I vowed to have more family dinners here instead of standing around the island eating with maybe one or two of us at the breakfast room table. There's just something about the holidays that makes you want to bring tradition and celebration back to every day life. I guess that means I need to start cooking again so we have something homemade to eat here!

Early Christmas Decor

Life is busier than ever for me with work, kids, and an always out of town husband. I'm not complaining because even though it's busy life is full and good. Once Halloween was over I decided to start on Christmas because I was a little nervous things might not get done on time if I didn't start early. I was right because I'm only halfway done decorating the interior at this point. I'm hoping to finish the decorations and finalize the kids Christmas list this weekend. Wish me luck!

I'm not big on anything I have to store for Christmas, but I absolutely love this reindeer. Doesn't he look handsome with his poinsettia wreath? He's the first thing you see when you walk in the entryway and he makes the best impression. Love him!

I am so excited my tree is finally done. My kids said that the cream, gold and silver tree from last year didn't look like "Christmas." My son made the air quotations and everything when he said it. My other son said he wanted to see more red. Okay then! I had a bit of an issue decorating with red because it does not fit in with my house at all. It feels so jarring when everything else is so light. I had to figure out a way to add in red that fit in. That means in very small doses! I actually like this better than my tree last year. The bits of red just add a little something extra.

I just need to work on the dining room and stairwell when I get a chance. So far it looks like Friday night is going to be the only time that's going to happen. My fingers might be sore from floral wire next week, but I am determined to get it done!