It's finally Christmas in my Living Room

I finally got my living room looking like Christmas.

I kind of hate to show you this room. It's not my favorite room. It's really my hubby's room. And since I love, love, love how my family room turned out, this room is really kind of a let down.

But I will share it anyways.

This area is the top of my antique pump organ. The Santa came from Dollar Tree. I made the star from a vintage folding ruler I just got from an antique store while on vacation in Phoenix a couple of weeks ago. I got 2 for $5.00. The "Merry Christmas" ornament came from Walmart a year or two ago.

I call this end of my living room, the dining area. This is where one of our dining room tables is located. You can see the pump organ to the left. And a buffet to the right.


This is the table. I was too lazy to put on a tablecloth and I couldn't find my red table runner.

Last year I purchased 6 glitter houses on clearance from Grandin Road. I think they were originally $20.00 each and I got them for $5.00 each. I added a battery operated tea light candle inside.


I found this huge cloche at a thrift store a few months back for $2.00. I placed it on top of a glass cake plate. Filled it up with different size jingle bells and placed a jingle bell garland around the outside. Placed it all in the middle of a green sparkly wreath.

Added gold & silver mercury glass votive holders around.

Next we have the buffet. I got the "HoHoHo" letters on clearance from Target last year or the year before (my memory is failing me). I placed them on top of the mirror.

I added the jingle bell garland that came from Kohl's last year. On the buffet I added a couple of fake trees and filled the largest Lenox bowl with mercury glass ornaments. I found the ornaments a couple of summers ago while on vacation in Cave Creek Arizona. I got them on 90% off clearance. I think I paid a buck a piece.

I usually fill the other two Lenox bowls with vintage ornaments. But I was too lazy.

Next we will move over to the other side of the room. This end table sits next to my couch.


I filled up this Dollar Tree vase with Christmas balls that came from ABC Distributing this year. They reminded me of my letter balls, so I had to have them. They say various Christmas sayings.

In this cloche I placed a small glitter house that is actually an ornament that came from Mervyn's a few years back. The "Joy" ornament came from the 99 cent only store.



Next is the coffee table. I mostly place candles here.

I just found this Santa at the thrift store for a dollar. The cloche came from a thrift store in Phoenix a few weeks back. I got it and the base for $1.60. I love finding deals. I almost hate to shop retail anymore.

This lantern always sits on my coffee table. I just added a Christmas pick to the handle and a "HoHoHo" ornament.


Inside I added a Hallmark Santa ornament that I got from my work Christmas party last week.


This candle came from Joann Fabrics a few years back.

I found this candle holder a few years back on clearance at Marshall's. I love how it looks like mercury glass on the outside, but the inside is red glass. Looks fabulous all lit up with a candle. I always add Christmasy candle rings to most of my candles this time of year.



And this is the area that I usually put up a full size Christmas tree. But I just got this antique dresser and I haven't found another spot for it yet. So for now it sits in front of one of my living room windows. So instead of a full size tree, I opted for 2 smaller ones. I also put the other 4 glitter houses from Grandin Road here.



I love these houses. This church is my favorite.

I was going to put down some white cotton batting to look like snow.

But, you guessed it, I was too lazy.

Besides, Christmas is in only 4 days. FOUR DAYS!!!! YIKES!!! I'm so not ready.




Here is the view at this end of the room. I'm not showing you the wall that is covered in cabinets that houses our TV and has a desk area for a computer. Hubby has the computer desk area a mess. Plus I didn't decorate this area for Christmas.

All the furniture in this room (except for the new antique dresser) belonged to my hubby before we got married. He loves Mission Style furniture. Not really my style, but I have learned to love it.

Well I hope that you liked my living room Christmas decor. I used the more traditional colors in this room.

Tomorrow I'll try & share all the cool vintage Christmas stuff I've picked up at various thrift stores over the past few weeks. I just love shopping at thrift stores.




Linking to:

Tablescape Thursday-A recycled tablescape

This year Earth Day happens to fall on a Thursday. So in keeping with Earth Day, I thought it was appropriate to do some recycling.

Therefore I'm going to recycle a tablescape from last spring. I originally posted it on my family blog. I hope you don't mind. It's Earth Day after all.

I don't have an "official" dining room in my house. I have an area in both my living & family rooms that I have dining tables. This week we are back in my living room "dining area". All the furniture in my living room is Mission style. It was my husband's furniture before we got married. Even though it wouldn't be my first choice of furniture styles (I'm more of a Shabby Chic girl), I have learned to love it.

For my centerpiece I hunted around my house for various items I could use. The artichoke concrete finials (I guess that is what you would call them. I asked my hubby what he would call them & he said "ugly". Men!) came from my backyard. The larger one originally came from Home Goods a few years back. The smaller one came from Marshall's last year. The pillar candlestick was a thrift store find & a leftover from our wedding. Two of the green balls came from Michael's on clearance & the one in front came from the Dollar Tree. And of course my Target birdie S&P shakers.

I've used my JC Penney Home Collection clearance plates.

My napkins were a clearance find at Walmart. For my napkin rings I used drapery clip rings & attached a silk gerber daisy flower (from a dollar store) & a piece of blue organza ribbon (the candle holders from Dollar Tree came tied up with this ribbon).

I set up my table on a Saturday & took my photos during the day this time. They turned out so much better. See what happens when I actually plan ahead? I get better results.

I found the blue candle holders at the Dollar Tree. The placemats are from Marshall's on clearance. The silverware is my everyday set by Oneida. The pattern is Michelangelo. I've again used my Libby goblets from Walmart.

One final look at my table. I just love how this table turned out.

Well I hope you enjoyed my spring tablescape this week. And I hope that you don't mind that I recycled this tablescape. Now go out & do some recycling yourself. And hug a tree while you are at it.

Linking to:

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Sunday Favorites-Celebrating St Paddy's Day

It's time for Sunday Favorites hosted by Chari at Happy to Design. Since St Paddy's day is coming up this week, I thought I would repost last years St Paddy's day post from my family blog. This is from 3/17/09.

Top o' the mornin' to you! And Happy St Paddy's Day. Normally I don't celebrate or decorate for St Paddy's Day, but this year I decided "Why not?". So come along with me for a look around my house for a wee bit of Irish charm.

First we have to make a little detour to my work office, I wanted to show you the 3 pretty fairies on my calendar for March. Aren't they the sweetest?
I decided I needed to dress a little Irish or Gaelic today. So I put on my Gaelic Poesy Love Ring. Poesy rings date back to the middle ages & are inscribed with a short poem or sweet sentiment. They were given as a romantic gift or a token of friendship. Outer band of my ring is inscribed: "Gra anois agus go deo." Inner band inscribed: "Love, Now and Forever."
Then I put on my new shamrock pendant. This was a recent purchase from ebay. Now I am ready to start my day & show you my wee bit of Irish around my house.
I want to officially welcome you to my house.
We have a surprise guest today. His name is Finnegan O'Brien and he is offering you a cup of hot chocolate. Do you want marshamallows with your hot chocolate? Who can resist such a flirt?
And here we have an Irish lass named Siobhan. She is so happy you came & wants to give you a kiss.
They are really trying to trick you into letting them out. You see, I trapped these 2 sly leprechauns by luring them with a pot of gold. And it worked! So don't feel sorry for them, and by all means, don't let them out!!!! At least not until tomorrow.
I need them to be the centerpiece for my dinner tonight. I'm not a great cook so I need all the luck I can get.

I have an Irish blessing for you all.
May you have:
A world of wishes at your command
God and his angels close at hand
Friends and family their love impart,
And Irish blessings in you heart.

Look, I've spotted another leprechaun. This one was out on my front porch. But he got away right after I snapped his photo.
A couple of leprechauns stole my gold coins from this bowl on my front porch, but they left me their hats and a couple of shamrocks to let me know they were the thiefs.
Here is the table on my front porch. I like to change out the tablecloth each season & the decor on top of the table.
May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
As you slide down the banister of life,
May the splinters never point in the wrong direction!
Happy St Patrick's Day!!!
"May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you
In the palm of his hand."