Kitchen corner, and our family calendar. On this feather tree are the cutest little kitchen lady ornaments. My Mom bought them for me a couple of years ago and they are retro 50’s women with darling cakes and utensils and stuff like that. I love them. Here Alix drew one of my inspiration sayings from an earlier post.

The fireplace mantel. I do this the same way every year and we call it the star garland. Emma has seen me put this up her whole life, and this year she did it herself. I was amazed and she just said, “Geez, Mom, I’ve seen you do it my whole life I totally know how.”

Every stocking has the initial of whom ever it belongs to. Each stocking hangs from a letter in “NOEL.” I handmade these stockings several years back so everyone knows who’s is who’s anyway.

These blue flowers were a new addition last year. I like to get something new every year. These are from our local wholesale design center, Shinoda’s, in Santa Ana.

Notice the stars

Sparkle sparkle!

This little snow man is a piece from when I was a very little girl. My mom hand painted it. I never really noticed it until I was six. My single mom just bought the condo I grew up in and the day us three girls moved in was December 7th, 1971. It was close to Christmas and I remember opening this up from our boxes and putting it on our little gas fireplace. After stealing this from my mom, I make sure it is one of the first decorations I put up on our fireplace, every year.

Emma bought her hamster a stocking this year and already filled it with gifts she bought her.

The tree. I’m a weirdo about my decorations matching the house decor. I’ve had different stuff for the house every time I’ve changed the house colors. Thank goodness these have been our colors for many years.

Miss Emma, putting on a nice pose in front of the tree. How much do you love her flashing bulb earrings?!

We bought this for Emma when she was born. For some reason we always bought her ducky objects and clothes when she was a baby. We even called her Lucky Ducky.

Blue filler bulbs. A solid color is a must for any tree. They ground the scheme for sure.

Much of the ornaments are things I’ve collected over the years. I think I got this butterfly at Easter.

I like different textures too, like these hanging things.

I’ve gotten better and not being so matchy matchy as I’ve learned it’s more important to have ornaments that mean something to the people in the house.

Like handmade things.

Or things that are symbols of our love for each other. Little acorn…

Who even knows where I got this angel, but it works. I’m thinking about something new for the top next year. Again, this netting fabric is from Shinodas. They have every color, and they’re selection of ribbon is to die for.

More Shinoda goodies like this sea flower that clips onto the branches.

I love the light airy look of our tree.

Next to the tree is our Jingle bell garland. Can you guess why we call it that? Many of these bells are from packages and things we’ve gotten as gifts. Every new bell goes here.

We have all of our Christmas books out. We pack them away every years and enjoy them like they’re new every Christmas.

Hand-me-down ornaments. I LOVE the colors but they don’t match, or do they? Who cares, they’re fabulous! Some of these are also handmade by the girls.

Hand-me-down houses. My step-mama passed these darling houses on to me. I never say no when people want to give me things because I can make them new or pass them on to someone else who will love them.

This little bear started quite a stir on my Facebook page! Who doesn’t have, or at least remember the Jingle Bear from Broadway Department store? The store doesn’t even exist anymore. I bought him in 1988.

We, of course, have to have a little sompin’ for Santy.

I also received these as a gift in 1988. I think I bought them from a little country store. If you were there, you know how popular country was in the 80’s. I don’t really even know if these are cute, I only know they’ve been here for the entirety of my children’s lives and they mean a lot to us.

Each daughter has put these out, spelling as they go. Little Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

My favorite Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Emma’s favorite too. She may steal these when she moves out.

My in-laws from my first marriage gave these to me in 1988. Another decoration that is old and outdated that I’ll never get rid of. My daughters have been arranging the mice their whole lives.

My personal favorites. These little snowmen came from Department 56. They’re from a line called Snow Biz and I think they were only out a couple of years and then discontinued. I was so sad because I think they’re so precious. I have several pieces on my snow man garland (not shown in this post).

Salt and pepper shakers. Emma puts them close because she said they are telling secrets.

Sister bench

Jolly

If it doesn’t move I’m gonna hang something from it…

I made these little ornaments during a Thanksgiving craft day at my step-mama’s house.

I’ve had these stars forever and have hug them all over the house. The last two years they’ve been here.

I love this wreath, and this advent calendar is darling. Emma’s the biggest date changer.

All of these things on this bird/nature garland are from many different years. They are what I’d call cross-over colors. They are colors from old years passed that I think can fly with the blues and greens.

These glass grapes are from my first “married” tree in 1988.

I try to mix in the handmade ornaments from my little ladies wherever I can. The tongue depressor snowman is priceless.

Last year I had a real tree in the office. This year I just decorated one of my fake trees. More cross-over ornaments from years gone by. These were from when my house was orange and red!