Home for Christmas Tour

by Alli

Welcome to my Home for Christmas Tour! This is the very first time I’ve opened my doors to all of you and I’m a tad nervous! Come on in and have some buckeyes and a cup (or two) of our favorite mocha punch!

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

I do believe it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Actually, it’s been looking a lot like Christmas at my house since the second week in November.  That’s when I begin putting up the trees. Christmas is my very favorite time of the year and I want to enjoy it as long as I can.  

The first thing I do every morning is to turn on the Christmas tree lights. If I’m home, the Christmas tree lights are on.

Burlap Fall Wreath Transformed To Christmas Wreath

Check out my Christmas wreath!  It’s the first thing you see on my Home For Christmas Tour. It was also my Thanksgiving wreath! I just removed the fall flowers, added a big red bow and a string of berries. Ta-Da!  There are Christmas trees filled with “snow” that I picked from a cotton field in Georgia back in October and lanterns on either side of the door.

christmaswreath

lanternsandtrees

Walk right through the front door and into my great room. I also have a wreath on this side of the door. It’s my sweater and burlap wreath. When I saw a beautiful cream sweater wreath,  I knew I wanted to try my hand at one.  

 I am in love with this wreath. I didn’t have any old sweaters so I called my daughter and she brought me her husband’s worn-out red sweater. Perfect. I do believe it’s my favorite wreath and I will cherish it for years to come!sweater wreath

This is the only house I’ve lived in during my adult life that does not have a fireplace. I really miss the mantle this time of the year.  

Adding a fireplace is on my to-do list!  No worries, I just hang them on a buffet table. My youngest daughter is bucking the tradition by using her no-sew denim stocking that I made out of her favorite jeans that finally bit the dust. You can find out how I made it here.

wheresstocking

For over 25 years, a little porcelain angel reigned on top of our family Christmas tree. It was always our son’s responsibility to place the angel on top of the tree.  

I fondly remember the days when my husband would hoist him up on his shoulders while I held my breath. She’s now falling apart underneath so I had to retire her a few years ago. She’s now content to watch over the stockings.porcangel

The Memory Christmas Tree – Home For Christmas Tour

I like to call our family tree “the memory tree”  because it holds so many precious memories. It used to be a lot bigger, but I downsized this year. All of the children’s handmade ornaments from their elementary school days reside here.

 The Father Christmas ornaments are from Hallmark. My oldest daughter started collecting these for me years ago (and adds to every year) hang on this tree, too.  

This tree also holds the ornaments I find on vacation trips. I also have the children and grandchildren’s first Christmas mementos as well as an ornament in memory of our beloved cat “Miss Kitty.”  Yes, this tree holds lots of memories!christmastree

I normally set up a large scale tablescape in my dining room. But today I wanted to show you a more intimate tablescape for four. I actually set it up in the great room using one of my sofas as a banquette. Who says we have to always eat in the dining room?  bouqstheoneone

tablescape1

table

My red and white snowbird tree is mine, all mine.  I place it in the dining room that is just off the great room.  I can see both trees at the same time.redandwhitediningroomtree

My youngest daughter’s tree in her bedroom features all of the ballerinas I’ve been collecting for her ever since she was just a tot and attending her first ballet class.  Ballet lessons eventually fell by the wayside, but I continue to add a ballerina ornament to her collection each year.ballerina

This is my rustic pine cone wreath that I made to hang over my desk.  I spray painted it white and added a reindeer to the center.  It makes me smile every time I look up from my laptop.

reindeer wreath

Thanks For Stopping By My Home For Christmas Tour 2013

Thanks so much for stopping by my home tour! 

christmastree1

I also want to thank each and every one of you for reading my blog and I feel like I know so many of you personally!  My wish is that you have the Merriest Christmas ever!  I’m singing “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” to you all.  Be glad that you can’t actually hear it!snowmen

Before you go, check out more articles and recipes!

33 comments

Melinda Snavley December 16, 2013 - 9:08 am

Everything looks so beautiful!!!! Love the fireplace in the church.

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Alli December 16, 2013 - 10:31 am

I love how the fireplace came out, too. I told Josh I wished it was real and I would put it in my house! 🙂

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Melanie December 16, 2013 - 9:30 am

Your decorations are so lovely. Beautiful tree!

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Alli December 16, 2013 - 10:30 am

Thanks, Melanie!

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Karen December 16, 2013 - 9:31 am

Absolutely stunning! Looks like it stepped right out of a magazine. So Jealous!

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Alli December 16, 2013 - 10:30 am

Thanks, Karen! You’re so sweet!

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Crystal December 16, 2013 - 11:32 am

Beautiful!! You did an amazing job!! Love it!!

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Kim December 16, 2013 - 12:22 pm

I loved the tour!! Your decorations are all gorgeous. I’m always impressed with how creative you are.

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Alli December 16, 2013 - 1:16 pm

Thanks, Kim! You’re too sweet!

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Anna @ Northern Homestead December 16, 2013 - 12:29 pm

Very pretty! Love the Christmas wreaths on your doors and above your desk. You are very talented!

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Alli December 16, 2013 - 1:15 pm

Thanks so much, Anna! If I can find a way to make it myself, I try. Sometimes the results aren’t that great, but I keep trying!

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Jane Rutherford December 16, 2013 - 2:22 pm

Everything is just bright and beautiful! Love it all.

Aunt Jane

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Alli December 16, 2013 - 3:12 pm

Thanks, Aunt Jane! Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

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James @ Home is Where the Mouse is December 16, 2013 - 2:56 pm

Beautiful Decorations! I think we’ll be “borrowing” the bows on the chairs for our Christmas Dinner!

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Alli December 16, 2013 - 3:12 pm

Borrow away! Thanks for stopping by!

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Jeannie December 16, 2013 - 5:23 pm

As usual your things are really beautiful. Love the Thanksgiving transformed to Christmas wreath!

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Alli December 17, 2013 - 4:46 am

Easy is my motto and I had made so many wreaths this year that I just did not want to tackle another one. Now I need to think of a way to make it a Valentine’s Day Wreath for the first of the year. 🙂

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Bethany December 16, 2013 - 5:34 pm

Your decor is just LOVELY! Merry Christmas!!!

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Alli December 17, 2013 - 4:45 am

Merry Christmas, Bethany! I was thinking about you yesterday and how kind you were to show me the ropes when I first started blogging. I will never forget your kindness!

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Renew Your Space December 16, 2013 - 7:32 pm

What a beautiful tree – love the decorative ribbon! I love the way it looks to have so many Christmas stockings. Just my husband, our dog & my stockings line our mantle… still pretty though 🙂

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Alli December 17, 2013 - 4:44 am

I still do stockings for all the grown children as well as the grands. Some of those stockings are over 20 years old! Thanks, Lillian Vernon!

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Amanda Smith December 16, 2013 - 7:34 pm

Lovely!! My favorite has to be the blue jean stocking!! I love blue jean crafts. Man I can’t wait until my sewing room is done being remodeled!! I miss sewing.

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Alli December 17, 2013 - 4:43 am

I love it because I don’t know how to sew! I hope you will show us your sewing room after it’s remodeled so we can all drool over it. 🙂

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Shirley @ Intelligent Domestications December 16, 2013 - 8:01 pm

Everything is really pretty. I love the red and white tree, especially the ribbon topper.

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Alli December 17, 2013 - 4:42 am

Shirley, I’m loving my Bowdabra! My mom always made the most beautiful bows and mine always looked like a hot mess! But with the Bowdabra, I try to find excuses to make bows. 🙂

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Shirley @ Intelligent Domestications December 17, 2013 - 10:40 am

I have never heard of the Bowdabra. I took a flower arranging class back in the mid ’80’s. We learned to make those bows in that class. It requires a lot of ribbon but they do turn out beautiful!

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Alli December 17, 2013 - 9:30 pm

I had not heard about the Bowdabra until I was reading a post about a beautiful hair ribbon for a little girl made with the Bowdabra. They have a mini bowdabra, too. Then I saw it at Micheal’s and bought it. It also has a DVD that comes with it. It takes quite a bit of ribbon, too, but it seems to be intended for people like me that has two left hands! I’m amazed that I can now make a bow that doesn’t look like a 2 year old made it. 🙂

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Kristen from The Road to Domestication December 16, 2013 - 9:00 pm

Oh, everything is gorgeous, Alli! I especially love that red and white tree!

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Alli December 17, 2013 - 4:40 am

Thanks, Kristen! Christmas is my favorite time of the year!

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Cindy Eikenberg December 17, 2013 - 6:12 pm

Alli, I am playing catch-up after some unexpected events this past weekend and I am SO happy I did not miss your beautiful home tour! Everything is just lovely and special – I adore your angel and I know how special she must be after 25 years with your family. Thank you so much for inviting us in to share your lovely holiday home – it was so wonderful to spend a little time with you! 🙂

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Alli December 17, 2013 - 9:22 pm

I know all about playing catch up! I really enjoyed your home tour as well.

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Rebekah January 1, 2014 - 9:26 am

I missed this post but I do believe it’s my favorite. You are the best decorator I know and I love your house at Christmas time! Next year, I want a bowdabra and I want you to teach me how to use it. 🙂

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Alli January 1, 2014 - 9:04 pm

You are too kind, Rebekah! I will definitely show you how to use the bowdabra. It’s really easy.

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