It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! I've been busy decking the halls and am so thrilled to share my Porch and Living Room for Part 1 of my Christmas Home Tour with you today.
I want to start off by thanking Marty of A Stroll Thru Life for organizing this week's tour. These tours are always a good opportunity to find new bloggers to follow and glean many new seasonal ideas. For those of you visiting from Life Love Larson, welcome! I'm so glad you're here! Andrea's classic, chic style is a joy to take in and I know you enjoyed her Christmas tour.
If you're a new reader, let me take a moment to introduce myself. I'm a wife and mom of two teens- a boy and a girl- living in Edmond, Oklahoma (I'm a proud born and raised Okie!). My husband is a Southern Baptist Minister, and although I have a degree in Education and taught 3rd grade in the early years of our marriage, since having children I have stayed home to care for them. Although I have no training and consider it just a hobby, I've always had a love for decorating and started blogging about our home over 6 years ago. You'll quickly see that I love color, mixing patterns, and making over unusual pieces, many of which are second hand. It's also readily apparent that I show no restraint in my Christmas decorating... after all, we're celebrating the biggest birthday of them all!
So, curl up in a comfy chair with a warm drink and enjoy our virtual home tour today. Let's start at the front porch!
Every year I take one or both of the kids and head out to a wooded area behind our house. The cedar is abundant and I cut a wheelbarrow full to cart back to the house and use here and there. This year I also picked up some free fresh tree clippings from Lowe's and Home Depot to mix in with the cedar, our car smelled heavenly while we were transporting the fresh greenery! To make the swag, I gathered several stems of cedar and pine and wrapped them tightly together with a pipe cleaner. I strung some mirrored balls and a bell together and looped those in the pipe cleaner too, then tied it all with a pretty bow and hung with this hook.
Next, come on inside! We have an open floor plan so the front door opens right into the Entry, Dining Room, and Living Room. There are a lot of photos, so I'm just going to keep quiet and let you scroll.
I'm really loving my DIY flocked tree especially with all of the colored ornaments, so glad I went for it!
We have several special nativity sets that have been given to us or that we've collected from around the world. The tiny set displayed on the pedestal is from Mexico, and the olive wood set was given to us by my husband's parents when they visited Bethlehem and the Holy Land.
They also gave us this gorgeous set from Myanmar. I set it up on a thrifted cake pedestal and surrounded the pieces with some fresh greens. It wasn't showing up with with the dark backs of the bookshelves, so I found a piece of my daughter's artwork from school, popped it in a frame, and propped it behind the nativity. Now it's so much prettier against the light background.
I love sprinkling chalkboards around for the holidays- this one has the lyrics to one of my favorite Christmas songs. I added some paper fans and tiny ornaments scattered around the board. Remember... I said I show no restraint at Christmas! (Would you believe that I rescued that gorgeous vintage chest from the trash???)
Want more Christmas decorating inspiration? Check out my home tours from last year!
Thank you so much for stopping by today! Next on the tour, visit Cristina at Remodelando La Casa. She loves a pop of color as much as I do, I'm excited to get some good ideas from her tour. Be sure to check out the rest of these tours this week, too.
*This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Read our full disclosure policy here.
The real boss around here... he has a twin brother that's not as inclined to sit still for the camera. He agreed to strike a pretty pose after hearing my son's bribe of a piece of ham for a snack... ;)
Every year I take one or both of the kids and head out to a wooded area behind our house. The cedar is abundant and I cut a wheelbarrow full to cart back to the house and use here and there. This year I also picked up some free fresh tree clippings from Lowe's and Home Depot to mix in with the cedar, our car smelled heavenly while we were transporting the fresh greenery! To make the swag, I gathered several stems of cedar and pine and wrapped them tightly together with a pipe cleaner. I strung some mirrored balls and a bell together and looped those in the pipe cleaner too, then tied it all with a pretty bow and hung with this hook.
I hang these oversized ornaments on the porch every year, but this year added a star pendant. The glow is so pretty at night and I love the shape and texture it adds. I bought four more to go across the back of our patio too, can't wait to get those up! The Merry Christmas sign is from Hobby Lobby, see it here styled over my mantel. My husband wasn't thrilled to drill into the brick to hang it so I tied a ribbon to the back and looped it over the porch light.
Black Urns (hand embellished with this paint) || Lantern Set (similar here or here) || Moravian Star Illuminated Pendant here or here || Red Pants || Similar Blouse || Leopard Boots (Almost identical bargain version here!) || Green Earrings || Gold Watch
Next, come on inside! We have an open floor plan so the front door opens right into the Entry, Dining Room, and Living Room. There are a lot of photos, so I'm just going to keep quiet and let you scroll.
I'm really loving my DIY flocked tree especially with all of the colored ornaments, so glad I went for it!
We have several special nativity sets that have been given to us or that we've collected from around the world. The tiny set displayed on the pedestal is from Mexico, and the olive wood set was given to us by my husband's parents when they visited Bethlehem and the Holy Land.
They also gave us this gorgeous set from Myanmar. I set it up on a thrifted cake pedestal and surrounded the pieces with some fresh greens. It wasn't showing up with with the dark backs of the bookshelves, so I found a piece of my daughter's artwork from school, popped it in a frame, and propped it behind the nativity. Now it's so much prettier against the light background.
I love sprinkling chalkboards around for the holidays- this one has the lyrics to one of my favorite Christmas songs. I added some paper fans and tiny ornaments scattered around the board. Remember... I said I show no restraint at Christmas! (Would you believe that I rescued that gorgeous vintage chest from the trash???)
*See Part 2 of this year's tour here*
*See Part 3 of this year's tour here*
Want more Christmas decorating inspiration? Check out my home tours from last year!
Thank you so much for stopping by today! Next on the tour, visit Cristina at Remodelando La Casa. She loves a pop of color as much as I do, I'm excited to get some good ideas from her tour. Be sure to check out the rest of these tours this week, too.
Monday – Dec 4th
A Stroll Thru Life - Marty
Life On Virginia Street - Sarah
Clean & Scentsible - Jenn
Nesting With Grace - Brooke
Cuckoo4Design - Julia
Pink Peppermint Design - Tammy
Tuesday – Dec 5th
ZDesign At Home - Bree
Life Love Larson - Andrea
Dimples & Tangles - Jennifer
Remodelando La Casa - Cristina
Seeking Lavender Lane - Deb
Inspiration For Moms - Laura
Wednesday – Dec 6th
The Chronicles of Home - Jennifer
Our Southern Home - Christy
Decor To Adore - Laura
11 Magnolia Lane -Christy
Our Fifth House - Carmel
Rain On A Tin Roof - Jenna
Thursday – Dec 7th
Setting For 4 - Heather
Life & Home @ 2102 - Vel
Southern Hospitality - Rhoda
Decorating Delirium - Jennifer
Hymns & Verses - Doreen
Simple Stylings - Summer
Fri – Dec 8th
Haneens Haven - Haneen
Tidbits & Twine - Kim
Far Above Rubies - Anita
House By Hoff - April
Duke Manor Farms - Laura
Common Ground - Debra
i just loe how i know it's your home every time- no one does color like you! such a fun tour and you look adorable in your red pants!
ReplyDeleteYour home is so festive with all the beautiful colors! And I just love that console table. I can't believe what an amazing deal that ended up being. Just gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteShelley
I really love all the bright colors you use in your décor!
ReplyDeleteXO Ellen from Ask Away
www.askawayblog.com
Your home filled with tons of color always makes me happy and dressed so brightly for Christmas is perfect. I love all the fans and your collection of Nativity Scenes are stunning. Thanks so much for joining the tours. Seeing your decor is always a treat.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful as always friend!! I don't know how anyone could not be happy when they walk in this room! So cheerful and festive!
ReplyDeleteYour home is so bright and festive! Love those giant ornaments on your front porch. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThank you Laura! It was fun being on the tour with you, have a wonderful day!
DeleteWOW!!! You have a beautiful home and I love all your cheerful decorations for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThank you Charlotte, it's a pretty happy place around Christmas! Enjoy your day!
DeleteI always have lots of fun touring your beautiful home! I love your front porch, the Christmas tree, the nativity sets, oh and I couldn't get my eyes off that little elephant table, SO cute! I'm so glad to be on the tour with you!
ReplyDeleteSo so cute and of course colorful!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness....Absolutely gorgeous :)
ReplyDeleteHow freakin adorable is your little model. He is such a cute poser! And I just adore your use of color again. It's once again a showstopper of a tour. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteYour home tours never disappoint Jennifer! LOVE the burst of colors in your decor this year! I don't know how you do it without making it look chaotic, it always look like they all should go together! LOVE IT! I also love your nativity collection! As always, honored to share this home tour with you! Cheers!
ReplyDeleteJennifer your happy home always fills me with delight. Your seasonal touches are gorgeous. Love your ham loving cat. It's a true pleasure being on the tour with you.
ReplyDeleteYour home is just beautiful! I adore your outfit. I've been wanting leopard boots and now you have me sold!
ReplyDeleteAnother one of my favorites each year! I absolutely adore your colorful home decor! It's so cheerful! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDelete