Wednesday, December 12, 2007

My Holiday Home 2007

My Holiday Home 2007
I want to thank Karla of Karla's Cottage for hosting this fun "What I love about my Holiday Home" party! Karla's parties are always so much fun!! Go to her blog & see the links to holiday parties all over blogdom today!

Thought you might enjoy seeing a pic of me circa 1960

A pic of me proudly wearing possibly the only thing my sweet Mother ever made for me ~ a cute white felt Christmas skirt. The sewing & crafting gene skipped her, almost skipped me, too, but I do love to craft a bit! Oh, how I wish we had kept that little skirt. Wouldn't it have made an adorable Christmas tree skirt? I don't know why Daddy had me pose with my leg hiked up like that, guess we thought my tree would show up better that way, but how could it with my hand covering it? Must have been wanting to show off my new bracelet~see, I loved jewelry even way back then!

Do any of you love to peep into other people's homes? We have so much fun riding around during the holidays looking in all the pretty lit windows. This is our home.....


What I love about my holiday home!

Decorating for friends & family
Cookie Baking
Giving Presents
Celebrating
A Warm Fire
Christmas Carols
Special Memories
Love

Gosh, what DON'T I love about my holiday home?!? Actually my home is my refuge, the one place I ALWAYS want to be. I love it & would rather be here than anywhere else on Earth. Especially with my DH, Mother, & my daughter & her new hubby, & my adorable granddaughter. Add sweet Sissy (Jack Russell Terrier), Rosie (Shih Tzu) & Muffin (Himalayan/Persian) & my little world is complete.

With all the holiday lights & Christmas decor, it is all just icing on the cake for me! Factor in that my birthday is on the 15th, & I have always thought this is the most wonderful time of the year! When I was little I used to think that everyone was really revved up about my birthday!!

Mother always made our home so beautiful, especially so at Christmas. And she always gave me such wonderful birthday parties. I remember the pretty little angel ornaments we gave as party favors one year. I'm still searching on eBay for those!!

This year I decided to go with a different color scheme ~ PINK PINK & MORE PINK!


I've been showing a few pics this past week, but have several more to share, so here we go........
I collect bottle brush trees.....the pink one has been displayed in my bedroom every year since I was 7 yrs. old! This year I placed it in our family room in the beautiful shabby wood box with appliques & crystal knob that my dear Daddy made for me. It is one of the last pieces of his that I have, given to me for my birthday 2 Christmases ago. I will treasure it always.

Celeste of La Rea Rose painted the adorable Pink SANTA for me and Mary of Oh Merci made the precious little pink church.


Pic of me, 5 yrs. old, 1960, playing with a stryofoam & plastic Santa, Sleigh, & reindeer. This is what started my addiction.....Below is the pic of the actual Santa ~ Mother was going to sell it for a quarter in a garage sale & I had a fit. It comes out every November! The sleigh & reindeer didn't survive ~ I broke them so many times, Mother finally quit gluing & pinning their little broken necks back together.

I pair it up with this little wooden reindeer my daddy & my daughter made one night while my parents were babysitting while we attended a party. I'm surprised Bree hasn't asked for it yet for her new home. Shhhh, don't remind her I've still got it!! :0)

Jen of Jennifer's Petal Palace painted these Christmas balls several years ago & I usually leave them out in my favorite cherub compote, another gift from my parents, until closer to Christmas.

Then I bring out the blue snowflake tablecloth & my favorite Blue Santa & some of my vintage bottle brush trees & decorate the dining room for Christmas dinner.

Isn't Santa regal looking? I always place him on an oversized antique plateau mirror along with tons of sparkly blue ornaments.


This is one of my favorite SPODE Christmas plates.

I will have more pics next time of some of my other favorite goodies. Thanks so much for coming to my holiday home. If you post a comment, I'll enter you in my birthday giveaway on Sat. night!

Hugs,
Stephanie



53 comments:

Alison Gibbs said...

Stephanie your decorations are devine and how lovely to have the photos of times gone by. Loving the pink.
Alison

Unknown said...

Steph, everything is so beautiful! I love the pictures of you when you were little too! SOOO CUTE! I love how you took a picture from the outside window! Now you know how others see it. It is funny because I always have looked in peoples windows while riding in the car to see what their house looks like! Ever since I was little!

Love ya,
Amy

Sharon said...

Absolute pink perfection but who would ever expect anything else from our Stephanie! It's all so gorgeous, I particularly love those apothecary jars. Got to get a few.

ShabbyInTheCity said...

I could settle right in here Steph...very pretty and festive!!! I love your photos (not gonna say vintage...)I was born in '62 so we are about the same!

Natasha Burns said...

Stephanie! I love your decorating and your garlands and your vignettes and everything!!!!! WONDERFUL!!!!

Monica said...

Your home is beautiful! I love your bottle brush collection , shimmery delights and your Blue Santa vignette is stunning!
Thanks for sharing and Happy Holidays!

Jessi Nagy said...

o my gosh!!! i love everything! love all the pink!
to cute.
jessi

Preppy Lizard said...

Love your decorations...the pink is divine! I also love the filled apothecary jars. I'm making a list of ideas for next year. THANKS!

Cindy said...

Thank you for visiting my blog! Your home is so beautiful! I love the red wall with the blue and white plates. I'm going to bookmark your blog and come back to read more of it!

Terri Steffes said...

I LOVED YOUR TOUR. I am going to add you to my blog list to check on day to day, if you are ok with this!

I have a ton of questions to ask you but I will wait for a better time since I am at work!

Brittany said...

Hi Stephanie!! Everything looks amazing!! I had to laugh because I always love to look in people's windows while out riding in the car!! I even have my husband trained to slow down when he sees an open window at night in certain neighborhoods lol! I thought I was the only peeper!! Merry Christmas!
Brittany

Southern Heart said...

Oh, wow...everything is so lovely! I really like all of the pink! I love the photos of you, too. :)

xo, Andrea

Lori said...

Steph, Oh my little darlin!!! You know how i love those childhood pictures of you!!! Your such a doll! GORGOUS mantel Stephanie, pink creme de la creme!!!! Everything is just how I thought my twin house in TX would be!!!! Love, Lori

Marina Capano said...

I love your post. I like very much a light blue Santa Claus!
Would you like visit my post in my blog! I hope it was!
Marina xo xo

Junie Moon said...

Everything is so beautiful at your house, Stephanie, and how you feel about your home resonates with me, too. I love the pictures of you as a little girl--so very delightful!

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Stsphanie, I don't know what I liked more, your ornaments, your dishware, fireplace mantel, or the wonderful vintage picture of you...that was taken last year?(hehe) Susan

Crafty Mama said...

Thank you for inviting me into your wonderful home! Ooohhh I Love the second photo. Is that what you would call a mantel? Anywho I love it! Great pictures!
Mmm do I peep.... well let's just say I wave a lot!! LOL!!
Thanks for visiting my home and leaving such a sweet comment!!

Mary said...

Hi Stephanie!
Thanks so much for visiting my blog, and for your sweet comments. Oh, how I love seeing a pink and white Christmas -- so different from what I have, and so lovely! Your mantle is gorgeous, and I love those bottle brush trees!

Have a wonderful Christmas!
xoxo,
Mary

vickie said...

Love those cute pic of you as a little girl. Beautiful mantle and dining room, everything!

Unknown said...

I absolutely love your home, especially decorated for xmas! And especially your pink mantle - my favorite color!

bj said...

Thank you so much for giving us this beautiful tour of your lovely home. Things look so merry and bright and just beautiful.
Your pics of you as a little girl are so sweet and I, too, wish you still had the little skirt. Look around, you may find another to replace it or....make one and use it for your tree.
Merry Christmas...
bj

wanderlustandpixiedust said...

Such lovely memories. Yes, my husband and I like to walk the dogs just as the sun is going down and before everyone has closed their curtains! Love to see how others decorate. You do a beautiful job!

Nunnie's Attic said...

Thank you so much for stopping by and enjoying some eggnog with me. I don't know what I like best about your home. I think the mantle, but geez louise everything is so beautiful. It's a toss up. And the pictures of you as a child are precious too!

Love,
Julie

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Hi, Stephanie,thanks for stopping by! I'm loving all these decorated homes, your's is beautiful with the pink accents...just lovely. I'm really lovin' all the bottlebrush trees I'm seeing (I have a very few) and think I MUST start collecting more of them. I'll have to be on the lookout for more at my yardsales next year.

Merry Christmas to you & yours!

Rhoda

Laume said...

Thank you for visiting my humble little post. Your home is decked out for the holiday beautifully! But I think I most enjoyed the photos of you as a child. I wish I had mine childhood pics, my mom still has them. I should ask for them next time I visit her. That old sled and reindeer. It wouldn't be a sort of wood/paper thing that collapsed flat for storage, would it? Because if it is, I have the ones that survived from MY childhood! Granted, the reindeer have several broken legs. But the sleigh is still in good shape and I usually display it alone with tiny botanicals and gifts (and of course a Santa) inside it.

ShabbyInTheCity said...

I got those dishes at Old Time Pottery for 99 cents a plate :)
And that was my mother on her 80th birthday last week :)

Ginny Gibson said...

Hi Steph I love your garland across the fireplace. Well everything looks so wonderful.

Would you believe I have only discovered bottle brush christmas trees this last year - and you've had one since you were 7!! Look at all those tree's I've missed out on:))

Well there's no time like the present to start a collection:))

Thank you for sharing your beautiful home.

best wishes Ginny over in England.

Anonymous said...

wow you decor is soo lovely! i love all the bottle brush trees! there soo pretty! merry christmas!

Sandy said...

Love all your pink and silver sparkle! Your mantle is awesome. And yes, I confess to being a bit of a peeping tom also! Happy Holidays, Miss Sandy

Heather ~ Pretty Petals said...

Stephanie, your home looks so so gorgeous!!! I love how you did the glass balls on your garland...looks so pretty and view from outside is wonderful..great idea!

Your little pictures you shared from when you were little are so sweet too! xoxo Heather

Kerryanne @ Shabby Art Boutique said...

Stephanie, your Christmas decorating is truly beautiful. The pink theme looks so pretty and i love the old photos too.
Merry Christmas,
Kerryanne

Whimsy Pink said...

Everything looks so pretty! I love decorating for christmas!I posted mine too!

Paul-ene said...

Love your mantel so much!!! So pretty with the pink and lighted garland.

So cool that you have photos when your a child at Christmas. Such a treasure to have those memories to share!

Thanks for sharing your holiday home.........I enjoyed looking "IN" your window at your holiday cheer.

One of my fav things is going gawking at holiday lit up houses. So much fun-this virtual tour online is even BETTER!

kari and kijsa said...

Everything looks just Holiday perfect! Love the old photos (what a cute skirt!) and all the joy your house exudes with its lovely Christmas decor!!

blessings,
kari & kijsa

FrenchGardenHouse said...

Stephanie,

Everything is just beautiful! I can tell you love your home, and all who come to your sweet nest are blessed to be there.
xo Lidy

Fete et Fleur said...

Love your beautiful home!! I also checked out your wonderful ebay store. You have the most beautiful things for sale! Thanks for sharing.

Merry Christmas!

Jennifer Hayslip said...

What a gorgeous holiday home! Loooove your fireplace mantel and all the yummy PINK!!! Happy Holidays! Jenn

PattieJ said...

Beautiful!! I love that mantle of all pink and white!!! Gorgeous!!!

Betty said...

Stephanie! Your home is beautiful. I love all of your pretty decorations. My hubby is in so much trouble. I've been looking at all the beautiful pink and blue decorations on everyones blogs and I so ready to change my colors next year.

Celestina Marie said...

Steph, WOW, I have so enjoyed visiting your holiday home. Everything is picture perfect and I love seeing you as a little girl. So adorable!! Love looking in the windows of holiday homes too. Once again, thank you for the call. I am still thrilled!!
hugs,Celestina

Jeanne said...

Your home is gorgeous girl! Love the pink theme and the pics of you when you were little. My mother also created a warm and wonderful home at Christmas time agree that is the reason we want to do the same. Thanks so much for sharing and for stopping by my blog to say hello.

roseroomnz.com said...

Stephanie you were as cute as a button, love those darling little shoes. Your house is simply beautiful and so many precious treasures. Merry Christmas and Blessings - Rachael:)

Unknown said...

Steph, thank you so much for entering my drawing and sharing your favorite family tradition with me! I just loved reading it and it sounds like so much fun!

Love ya,
Amy

Ele at abitofpinkheaven said...

Your mantle is GORGEOUS!!!! I just love everything. The pics of you are soooooo sweet. Isn't that skirt the cutest thing ever and yes, you must have wanted to show your bracelet. You were a girly girl even then!

Adriann said...

Hopped over from Karlas...The pink is just lovely! Your home is decorated so wonderfully for Christmas. Love the pics too!

TFS!

Sweet Remembrance said...

I love the photos and sentiment in your things! Your pink tree is beautiful...
Happy Holidays!
Priscilla

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness, I love everything here, I'm come to with you, I pick one thing to comment on it all is just beautiful, thank-you so much for sharing.
Have a wonderful Christmas.
Kirstie.

Anonymous said...

Hi Stephanie,
Thank you for the sweet comments about my wedding picture & lace. I love the pictures of you & your holiday home is absolutely gorgeous! You already know I am going to love your pink but I have to say I love that Santa with the blue ornaments too. I wish you & all of your family a very Merry Christmas & a New Year filled with wonderful things.

Anonymous said...

Stephanie,
I almost forgot. Happy Birthday to you & I hope it will be the best of birthdays for you!!!!!

Wolfe's den said...

Your home is so beautiful!!
I love the wreath over the mantle!!
Jenn~

vickie said...

Happy Birthday Stephanie!!!!!
Hope you had a great,fantastic, and wonderful birthday!
Vickie

Mary said...

Hello Stephanie. Happy Birthday :)
Hope you have had a wonderful day ...
Our electricity has been off for 15 hrs. lines down on our street.
Hope you got to get out today even though it was cold here. Dinner and a movie with Hubby? How lovely your home looks. God Bless and have a wonderful new year. Hugs, Mary

Unknown said...

STEPHANIE!!!!
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY...from me!!!

Oh...your home looks heavenly...love especially your mantel, and many vinettes and displays...oh Christmas is just beautiful and your house! I'll be right over! lol

I have got some new pix of my decor on my blog...if ya get a chance...take a peek...and the Santa/Sleigh...well it looks divine in your home...it was meant to be yours!

Love Ya Sweetie!!! Lorena