Our Merry Christmas Mantle

The Christmas party for my family is held at my house every year.

Designer's Christmas Tree Decorating How-To

Thanksgiving is but a sweet memory.

Christmas decorating is in full swing!

Way back in September, I was able to spend time with the designers at Caryl's Christmas Shop just as they were starting to unpack the many, many boxes of Christmas decor that had arrived at the store.  Oh, happy day!

Sue and Kendra are amazingly talented designers and were sweet enough to walk me through their process of decorating a tree, step-by-step.

In this post, I'll show how they took an empty tree from this...

...to this!

Sunday Worship

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Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

I Ths 5:16-18, NIV

Christmas Decorating Tips from a Designer

I'm still enjoying time with my family this week, but now that Thanksgiving is over, it's time for me to get serious about the Christmas decorating at my house.

You too?  Need some help?  Well, here ya go...

Last year, I spent quite a bit of time with Sue, who is one of the talented designers at Caryl's, my favorite local Christmas shop.  Sue has 30+ years of experience and has been with Caryl's for five years.

This re-post from my time spent with Sue is full of tips and how-to's for decorating a tree, making tree toppers, wreaths and garlands.  I hope you'll find it helpful too.

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I'm back today with some great Christmas decorating tips from one of Caryl's designers.  Sue has been a floral designer for 30 years.  Here she generously shares tips on decorating your Christmas tree, creating a tree topper, creating a wreath and creating a garland.

Trees

Do you love a lush, full tree?  Oh my goodness - I do!  These tree decorating tips will help you create that look, but they can really be applied to any style of tree decor that you prefer.

Christmas Inspiration

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Just like many of you, I'm enjoying spending time with my family and making preparations for our Thanksgiving meal this week.

If you're like me, your mind isn't just on Thanksgiving - you're already looking ahead to Christmas.

I hope this re-post from last year will give you tons of Christmas inspiration.

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Sunday Worship

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Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before him with thanksgiving

and extol him with music and song.

Psa 95:1-2, NIV

Chic Chateau Showhouse - Details and Inspiration #3

Well, peeps...we've finally arrived at the very last installment of the Chic Chateau Showhouse series.  :(

We've spent the last two days looking at Details and Inspiration of the Living Areas, Kitchens and Dining Rooms, and the Master Bedrooms, All Other Bedrooms and All Bathrooms.

Today we're going to finish up by looking closer at the Laundry Rooms, Mudroom, Offices and Bonus Space.

Laundry Rooms
and
Mudroom

House #1

Chic Chateau Showhouse - Details and Inspiration #2

Hello everyone!

I'm back with installment #2 of Details and Inspiration from the Chic Chateau Showhouses.

Today we're going to be looking at the master bedrooms, all of the other bedrooms and all of the baths.

There are lots of pics here, so sit back and enjoy!

Master Bedroom

House #1

Chic Chateau Showhouse - Details and Inspiration #1

Surprise!  If you've been reading for a while, you know that I've been sharing tours of the two lovely Chic Chateau Showhouses every Thursday.

So what's up with this one popping up on a Tuesday???

Well, it's like this - my intention had been to end this series with one final post sharing many of the inspiring details in these lovely houses, but there are just too many to put into one post.

I want to get all of it in before Thanksgiving week (before when the Christmas fun begins)!  Sooo...I'll be sharing a Details and Inspirations post today, tomorrow and Thursday.

When it comes to home decor, it's true that it's all in the details.  Combining all of the details together to create a space that is not only lovely, but one that draws you in.

Today I'm going to share details in the Living Areas, Kitchens and Dining Rooms.

Living Areas

House #1

Fall Tour at Nancy's

I couldn't jump out of Fall and into Christmas without sharing some of the Fall yumminess at the home of my oh so talented friend, Nancy.

Sunday Worship

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Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name;

make known among the nations what he has done.

Sing to him, sing praise to him;

tell of all his wonderful acts.

I Chr 16:8-9, NIV

Better Late Than Never Thanksgiving Bloghop Favorites

Thanks to each and every one of you for making our lil ole bloghop such a success!

But - WOW - you guys really know how to make it tough on a gal!

There is so much awesomeness at the party, that I really, really struggled to choose just one favorite.  But after much looking and studying and sweating, I finally chose...

Chic Chateau Showhouse - Exteriors

Now that we've toured the interiors of the Chic Chateau Showhouses, I think it would be fun to take a closer look at their exteriors.

Both of the patios were sponsored by New Garden Nursery.

Exterior of the home built by R & K Custom Homes.

Bounty of the Harvest Thanksgiving Table

When I think of Thanksgiving, the first thing that comes to my mind is the word "bounty".

I like for my Thanksgiving table to reflect that.

Sunday Worship

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Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe...

Heb 12:28, NIV

Better Late Than Never Thanksgiving Inspiration

Questions for you: Are you as far behind as I am???

Do you feel like you just pulled your Fall decor out of the box and now it's already time to think about Thanksgiving???

Chic Chateau Showhouse - Office and Bonus Spaces

Y'all, we're on the home stretch of the Chic Chateau Showhouse tours.  Only two more to go after this week.

Did you know that the tips that I've been sharing are from the designers, not from me?  I wish I had half their talent!

This week we're touring the offices and bonus spaces of the two houses.

First up is the home built by R&K Custom Homes.

Office

Designed by Linda Pokora, Designer's LTD., lindapokora@aol.com and 

Ann Warrick, A Warrick Design, warrickann@gmail.com