SANTA PHOTO TREE

One of my very favorite Christmas movies of all time is Home Alone.

Love the story,  love the music, the scenery, the home....love, love, love it.

I also love one of the songs from the movie...Somewhere In My Memory... 

It makes me feel like Christmas... and reminds me of another one of my very favorites...

My Santa photo tree.

I have put this tree up for years now...and every year I love it more and more.  ...Maybe it's seeing all those little bitty faces...that are growing up so fast...or the faces of aunts and uncles as children... it is a joy to put this tree up and everyone who visits enjoys looking at all the history too....

 A trip down memory lane....

The Santa tree has taken a number of different forms over the years and has appeared on a variety of different Christmas trees...

No matter where it is, it's a beloved part of our Christmas and it's just fun to look at... those sweet little faces... braving the lap of Santa to tell him their greatest Christmas wishes.... Darling.....

How I made it: Using copies of family Santa photos, I made frames out of red felt.  I measured each photo and cut frames using pinking shears.  (very important...I did not use the original photographs... it's super easy to scan them in and make copies)

Using a dab--a very tiny dab of hot glue, I secured the photos in place and then added a gingham red and white bow.  Simple, lightweight and the red felt frames draw your eye toward the photos in the tree.

I use a variety of Santa Claus ornaments, a mix of new, vintage and antique...but mostly all Santa's and in mostly a red and white color scheme.

Somewhere In My Memory...

Candles in the window
Shadows painting the ceiling
Gazing at the fire glow
Feeling that gingerbread feeling

Precious moments, special people
Happy faces, I can see

Somewhere in my memory
Christmas joys all around me

Living in my memory
All of the music, all of the magic
All of the family, home here with me

Memories of my childhood
When I was 5, 6 and 7

I would wake when dawn would
Living in Christmas Day Heaven

Precious moments, special people
Happy faces, I can see

Somewhere in my memory
All of these dreams all around me

Living in my memory

All of the music, all of the magic
All of the family, home here with me

The tree at night.... 

...Looks like I'll need to put my slippers on and grab a cup of hot chocolate... extra marshmallows please!

Make sure to ask Santa for everything on your list....He really does know who's been naughty and who's been nice... He does.

He knows.

Wishing you a holiday season filled with precious moments, and special people...

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TIS' the SEASON for a SANTA HOLIDAY TABLE

A little holiday table inspiration here…  Are you hosting a Christmas dinner??  A holiday feast?? A New Year's Day brunch??? There is still plenty of time to plan a fabulous table….

This was our table from Christmas 2013….I loved the red and the gingham...and all the Santa postcards...I enjoyed it so much I could repeat it again this year.... and I just might...Santa never gets old and I love traditional holiday reds and plaids!!

I used vintage Santa postcards on the table.  I framed them in small black frames (thrift store finds I picked up throughout the year)...simple frames show off the vintage artwork and don't become a distraction on the table....

Look, St. Nick is already in the sleigh...

The sleigh…a thrift store find too…. The very best kind of surprise…

I filled the sleigh with small wrapped boxes, using brown paper (lunch bags would do the trick too).  The boxes were actually 10 cent jawbreaker boxes I found in the old Halloween candy…the perfect size for a miniature sleigh! I tied the tiny packages with baker’s twine…the perfect red and white embellishment.

Fresh evergreens fill the sleigh and they smell amazing....  I love to add fresh cut pine and holly wherever I can. Sometimes, I nestle it among the faux greenery....it adds so much...and the smell... it's the smell of Christmas... (to me)

Adding interest to the table is easy when using small covered cake stands.  This little antique sheep looks extra special standing next to a bottle brush tree and a little "snow"...it creates a mini vignette at eye level when seated.  Each guest at the table has a unique vantage point...and it keeps the table fun and interesting.  TIP:  Sometimes it's a good idea to have a seat before company arrives -sit at the table and "see" what your guests will be seeing from where they will be seated.

Adding little extras, like Christmas crackers can add depth to a table. (Christmas crackers are a tradition originating in the UK, originally called cracker bonbons in the 1840's... Guests pop them open after dinner parties to reveal little prizes, jokes and often a paper crown inside....I had never celebrated with Christmas crackers until I was married... so don't feel bad if you didn't know what all the fuss was about... I didn't know either... they are quite fun and a nice addition to the party)

 TIP:  I am following my own advice this year... At the end of this holiday season... buy up Christmas crackers at a deep discount... even if you dislike the wrapping on them... you can re-wrap them in a wrapping paper that matches your decor... or your table...There are a million kinds of fabulous wrapping papers... and you can personalize your own... Next year... I'm going to be ready!!!  Just remember where you are storing them!!

I love a menu....It doesn't take too long to create a menu....As a bonus, it helps the table look all buttoned up… and making a menu becomes a huge help to my sanity… keeping things in order is helpful when you have a lot on your mind.  I like to print menus on card stock, that way, the menus lay nicely across a plate. -- no slouching at the table!!

 I loosely tied the menu and napkin together with a pretty Christmas-red ribbon I picked up from Jo-Ann's.

Don't forget to look up... I like to add some embellishments to the chandelier too... Christmas comes but once a year... so don't be afraid to go all out.... Tis' the Season!!

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Decking the Halls...Outdoors

Yesterday was the perfect day to put up Christmas lights...
The temperature... 67 unseasonably warm degrees in our front yard....it was almost tropical!

Deck the halls with boughs of holly...

We scurried around and got everything up...because those kinds of days and those kinds of temperatures don't last too long toward the end of November ....and today... just as December should be, it was cold, windy and sleety....

Today was not the best day in the world to photograph a front door wreath... but it had to be done.

When I started, it was just raining... by the time I finished...big wet snowflakes were falling.... in between there was sleet...plenty of sleet.  If you look very closely...it's in some of the photos...

It's a seasonal touch....courtesy of Mother Nature.

I ordered a triple monogram from Craft Cuts for my front door Christmas project.  I ordered two different kinds, the triple interlocking letters "gPk" and a single "P" --today I am just sharing the interlocking monogram on my Christmas wreath...However they are both fantastic!! They arrived quickly, packaged perfectly....they are beautifully cut....no rough edges, no sanding needed...  and I am thrilled.

I ordered mine unpainted, but they offer them painted in a variety of colors and fonts, also available in natural wood and metal...The website was easy to use... I am a huge fan!  Knowing how much I love a good monogram...I am sure I will be a repeat customer!!  Bonus-- if you share their business on Facebook, you'll receive a 10% coupon on a future order!  (as of 12/1/14).

Here is a link their website: Craft Cuts

I could not be more pleased with how it all turned out!!

I painted mine with gold craft paint, let it dry and then sprayed it with a coat of sealer to protect it from the weather.

I'm looking forward to more "decking the halls" but on the inside ....tomorrow!!

Fa la la la la 

La La...La La.....

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