Tuesday, December 16, 2014

MY 2014 CHRISTMAS HOME TOUR PART 1 (?)

I promised myself a simple and pretty look for Christmas and I think I held true to that.  The problem is it seems, it takes more time to pick and choose what I want from the many bins I have,  and then that little voice in my head chanting, "Too much?  Too little?" lol!  So I did my best.  This poor little poinsettia nearly didn't make the show.  I picked her up at a garden nursery where we found our tree.  Afterwards we went out for a light dinner and brought the leftovers home in brown bags.  Yep, you guessed it, she was stored in the fridge alongside the hamburgers and pasta!  A little shriveled at first but I think we're okay.  Next to my survivor are a few vintage ornaments from my childhood days.  Thank you, Dad.  Hope you're smiling on us from heaven.






This is the natural wood and grapevine "window" I found at L.L. Bean.  I can't wait to see it when there is some snow outside.  So far it has missed us.  Very odd compared to last year.  Parts of Northern Illinois have gotten it, not us.



If you click on the picture to see it larger, you can see the mantel better.  I seemed to gravitate to a 'tree' theme without knowing it.  I found the woolly trees last year at Windsor, and then this year I found the candles on the right at Crate & Barrel and I thought they were so sweet together.  At the garden nursery I came upon these mini cypress trees, and voila, a little winter wonderland with just some greenery and candles.  A little more than the 'simple" I wanted but I to have that candlelight! :)












Little touches in the master bedroom, home of my never ending insomnia.  I actually ordered two red standard size ticking stripe shams from Pottery Barn and they sent me one standard and one European.  Waiting on the standard (which went on sale by the way ;-)  More little sweet treasures around,,,just too gloomy to give them justice, but I will.  :)


A little greenery in the bathroom.  I used to keep magazines in this basket but they would get warped and shrivel from the steam!  Ha!


In the bathroom, I  used one of those Mason jar candles I made awhile ago, you can see how here.  Some red ticking hand towels and some Christmasy soaps and that's it for the shelves.  :)



And yes, this was a bittersweet time at the lake at the memorial for my friend Bob.  Thank you for your prayers.  It was held at his and Sharon's home and thank goodness their house is large...there were tons of people.  Food and sweets and wine, a party Bob would have loved.  Still..so sad that I will never see him again, he was such a huge part of my life at the lake.  Rest in peace, dear man, and love and prayers to your precious family.

Sunday was a wonderful 50 degrees in most of the upper Midwest and on my lake.  I pulled up a chair on the patio and sipped a big mug of tea to keep me warm.  Layla rolled in the grass and Milo ran all over our property in search of new smells that will most likely disappear once we get really cold.  


Lastly, I want you to hop over to my friend Elaine's blog.  She is having a great giveaway. And...read how she met Matthew Mead!  Yikes! We have been friends for a long time and she writes about life in Boston and the New England area.  Sigh...such a beautiful part of our country.  Visit her at Cafe Chatelaine.



Joining these Christmas Home Tours:
Shabby Story (Thank You, Lynn)
&
The Nester (Thank You Myquilyn) 
&
Rooted In Thyme (Thank You Stan And Jody!)

\Jane xx 

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Janie! Oh, everything looks so pretty and festive! Merry Christmas, sweet friend.
Shelia ;)

Anonymous said...

oh my gosh everything looks amazing, I love the gentle touches of the season, I hope your little dog eels better soon, thats scary, I am another person who sometimes see's the sun come up without sleeping, its awful! I hope sleep comes to you on this night,

Julie Marie said...

Hi Jane... love your Christmas home tour... your new pillows are my favorites!... and your big tree looks so pretty... I also love the vintage ornaments from your childhood, you know me and precious memories... sorry Milo is sick... yes, dogs can get everything humans can and then some... glad you caught it early... how fun you have something Christmasy in every room, even the bathroom... I have a small tree in mine as well... I didn't know you have insomnia... gosh, maybe we should just call each other up in the middle of the night and talk... I am awake all night too!... xoxo... Julie Marie

Unknown said...

Everything looks so pretty. Love the garlands, and your tree is wonderful! Hope you have a Merry Christmas!

Vel Criste said...

Your tree already looks gorgeous even with this 'bad' picture! I love the colorful lights and the ribbons! I also adore your HG pillow, makes me wish there was an HG nearby :-( I'm so glad you got your decorating mood going already coz things are really good. Hugs again with the loss of Bob and hope Milo feels better soon, and Tulo too!

susan said...

Hi Jane - Your home looks lovely. I love the plaid tablecloth in your "office."
Hope your sweet pup is feeling better . I never think of our dogs having a fever or respiratory infection.
Enjoy this beautiful holiday season!

Row homes and Cobblestones said...

Evening Jane,
Your home decked for the holidays looks Merry, happy and bright.
I too have the Jingle pillow from Pottery Barn on my bed.
I enjoyed your tour and think the count down to Santa at your home will be fun.
Poor little Milo, I send him speedy get well wishes.
The memorial for Bob sounds like it was special, I know the precious memories of your friend will live forever in your heart.
xoxo,
Vera



farmhouse-story said...

jane, your home is gorgeous--not too much or too little:) love your fav pillow, too! beautiful big tree and cute bitty tree in the bath! the jingle pillow, sham and sign about your bed are darling! healthy wishes to milo and merry, merry christmas to you!! and thanks for linking up with creating christmas!!

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Your home looks so pretty, Jane! I love the little boxwood wreath on your chippy window and the LL Bean grapevine "window". That will look pretty with some snow behind it.

We have some flurries supposedly today and then Saturday there is some kind of wintry mix forecast, but we've been lucky so far.

Maria Elena said...

Oh, Jane! Your home looks sooo beautiful! Love, love your pillows and the old window. Very, very pretty! Merry Christmas, dear friend. xoxo Maria

Vicki @ lifeinmyemptynest said...

I tried to simplfy this year too and you are right - it is harder than just putting everything out, but I love the space it creates for the eye to focus on the pretty things. I love, love that square grapevine window - I would leave it up in January too :-)

Beth said...

Hi Jane, Your poinsettia looks fine - I enjoyed seeing your display of vintage ornaments - I have some too. I really like the window with the tiny wreath. Beautiful! Your mantel and tree are gorgeous, Jane. You as well as Emily have the interior designer gene! I like your office, Janie, is that where you blog? I mainly blog on the couch! However, we do have a home office with a a desktop computer (and a bed - it doubles as guest room #1). I used to work from home and was in that office 8 hrs./day. I like your tablecloth. Very festive. Hope you have a great Christmas and happy and healthy 2015. Hope Milo is feeling much better too.
HUGs and blessings, Beth

Melanie said...

I love all your pretty touches of Christmas around your house! And the pictures of the pups together is so sweet.

Susie said...

Blondie,It looks very nice at your house.As to those wires...is that baseboard heat..yikes, get the wires away from it. Lay the wires over those plastic tipped thumb tacks...they can hold the wires in place for safety, away from the heat. Poor dog, I just heard of kennel cough this year. Hope he's better. Love your plaid tablecloth. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

Primitive Stars said...

Morning Jane, Love it all, so warm and Christmas cozy. I adore your pillows, the Jingle one is so sweet. I also love the little wreath on the old window pane, great decorating. Blessings Francine.

Lisa @ Texas Decor said...

Hope sweet Milo is feeling better by now. Good thing you thought to take him in. Your Christmas decor is beautiful! I love how the grapevine window looks! Love that pillow too. I ordered a Christmas pillow and have had such a hard time getting it. The first one was lost in the mail and now this one's taking forever to get here. Ugh. I'm hoping to get my home tour up soon too. Enjoy your week!

Sew a Fine Seam said...

Jane, your house is lovely! I love all the Christmas touches everywhere. The pillows are so fun and I love chippy old windows too!

It's me said...

Lovely..!!...beautiful Christmas decoratings...love Ria...x!

cathy@my1929charmer said...

Every think looks so pretty Jane! I really like your new pillows and maybe once in a while I should step inside a Homegoods? Your tree looks good, the Charmer isn't large enough to have a full size tree. The only time I had insomnia was right after surgery...that is bad. Sometimes I feel like by the time I get it all up, it's time to take it all down!

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Jane,
Your home looks happy and cheery, just like you! I love Christmas pillows too and HomeGoods makes it hard it to resist loading up on several.
Love your tree too. The mantle and the tree are perfect.
Hope your little doggie is feeling better and sorry for the loss of your friend.

I hope that you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.

hugs
Sissie

Terri Steffes said...

I think your home looks festive, cheerful and holiday!! I am hoping your little one feels better. I am a pillow hog so I love your pillows. I wonder if our Homegoods store has any left? :)

Merry Christmas!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Your home looks wonderful all decked out for Christmas Jane. I do like your tartan tablecloth.

JoAnne said...

Your home looks wonderful, Jane. I really love how you decorated your mantel and it's so sweet that you have stockings for everyone. Your tree is beautiful too!

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

Jane everything looks so pretty and festive!!

Doreen@foxdenrd said...

Love your tree! Nice and chubby, just the way I like them :). Your mantel is so pretty, and I love the chippy window too!

I hope Milo feels better soon, poor baby. Give him lots of hugs and wet kisses from Auntie Doreen.

Kelly said...

Your Christmas décor looks so pretty! I especially like your bedroom all decorated. Hope your dog starts feeling better soon. My dog once had pneumonia and was wheezing too. It was so scary because we didn't know what was wrong with him and he was visibly sick. He was put on antibiotics and got better quickly though.

Linda said...

I love your 'Merry Christmas' home!!!
It looks perfect!!! Warm AND cozy!!

Sylvia said...

Your Christmas decor is so festive and inviting, Jane. I adore vintage ornaments and yours are priceless. I hope Milo is doing well ( I didn't know dog could cough either and I have 4-year old Chocolate Lab; thank you for sharing that). Marry Christmas!

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

I love it all Jane! Your tree looks fabulous! The pillows are all wonderful and I love, love your mantle!
So sorry about Milo, glad to hear he's on the mend.
Not much exciting here although I am trying to get everything done for Christmas. Just like everyone else.
Hugs friend,
Cindy

Heaven's Walk said...

What a warm and welcoming place you've created for the holidays, Jane! thank you for sharing your home with us. Love that Jingle pillow! lol Merry Christmas to you and your family!

xoxo laurie

deb @ frugal little bungalow said...

Jane it all looks absolutely wonderful!

And in real life we all have wires! :)

Merry Christmas ! :) Hope the pup perks up asap :)

podso said...


I like all your big and little touches. That chippy window looks so good on your mantel. I tried one and it was voted down by the other person living here. I hope you all have a wonderful Chrsitmas.

Traci said...

Everything looks sooo good! Poor little pups. I hope they're feeling better.

Privet and Holly said...

So warm, cozy,
cheery, embracing
nature, traditional
with a twist.....YOU!

Merry Christmas --
enjoy all of your
peeps together!
Glad your pup is
feeling better!

xo Suzanne

elaine said...

Your home is looking so festive - beautiful - I particularly love the square window wreath - I love decorating for Christmas too but soon tire of it all and am relieved when the time comes to put it all away. Hope you have a lovely Christmas.

chateau chic said...

Your home looks Wonderful and Beautiful all dressed for Christmas, Jane! You have a way of creating so much warmth and coziness in your home...I know most of that comes from the darling lady (that would be you) who lives there!!!
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!
Mary Alice

Ricki Treleaven said...

Your Christmas decor is so pretty, and I love that you even decorated your powder room!

Your tree is gorgeous!

Jane, I hope you get a lot of rest during this season. I appreciate your stopping by my blog considering I haven't been around much this semester!

xo,
RJ

Linda said...

Hi Jane....
Everything looks just perfect!
Why would I expect anything less from you!
Thanks for your sweet comments over at mine...
I am also glad to have "met" you♥️
Have the merriest Christmas...
See you in the New Year!
Cheers!
Linda :o)

Kit said...

Oh everything looks great! I love all your little touches and your tablecover is so pretty. I use them all the time. Especially vintage ones. You have a very Merry Christmas! Kit