how we decorate our tree for maximum sparkle, step-by-step

yes, I'm posting this on Boxing Day :) Pretty much sums up the pace of the holidays around there! Hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas, and that you have been fortunate enough to be with you family and friends.


I took photos of the tree as it progressed this year - and the kids announced that they were going to decorate it - so I just sat back with a cup of tea and watched!

We decided to use "sparkly nature" decorations - kind of embarrassed to admit that we have so many tree ornaments in storage that we can choose different themes on different years, and we don't have to buy anything!!!

The crocheted snowflakes are some of my favourite ornaments - my Mum made them one year when I was small, and they were on our childhood tree for most of me childhood. She gifted them to me a few years ago :)

We use wired ribbon woven throughout the middle of the tree (Miss N is allergic, so we have a fake tree) to fill it in a little, and we added in some glittery and mercury glass onion-shaped ornaments at the last moment.

Here are the pics:

being fluffed by Miss N

the darling boy taking a break for a puppy snuggle

light reflectors going on - these are the bane of my existence! 

They don't quite fit the lights, but the kids love adding them, 

so we end up steeping on them for the entire holidays!!

ribbon throughout the middle, and large pinecones place toward the centre of the tree for sparkle :)

small pinecones and snowflakes on...

onion ornaments and a small wreath for a topper...notice all those reflectors on the floor?!! 

and somehow I've lost the pic with the tree skirt :)

 finally, presents!

Happy Holidays, lovelies!

Am working on a post about the lovely colour of the year from pantone - it's gorgeous, isn't it?

xo

Happy Holidays!

Hello lovely friends!

 t's been a week of highs and lows, 

and one that has made me realize a few things...

the first is that I need to make more time for my family right now...

and that means certain things need to take a backseat... like this blog.

so thank you for sticking by me, and dropping in and reading,

but,

I am going to take a blogcation 'til the new year...

I'll come back happier and more inspired, with heaps of useful colour posts - promise!

and...

 since I had a couple of giveaways lined up for the holidays,

 they will be here for the taking in January!

Also, last year we did a really cool re-organizing link-up party, with The Great Clean Out.

Since January seems to the the time to clean up and clear out,

I'm thinking about hosting another one this year.

I've got at least six or seven spaces that could benefit from "the treatment" around here :)

We found it was really motivating to all do it together last year -

because when you really just wanted to stuff everything back in and shut the doors,

you knew you weren't alone, and that all the other ladies were feeling the same thing!

You also knew you had committed to a reveal, and so you just got it done -

and it felt so great after!!

So, if you'd like to tackle something around your place

(anything, from a cupboard to a room!)

please email me at amezeard@10rooms.com

and we'll figure out a posting date late jan/early feb that works for everyone....

Hope you all have the Merriest of Christmases

and Happiest of New Years Eves.

x

The Mad Party

Just realized I didn't post pics of the Coco's mad birthday party in Dec!

We had 15 kids to the house.

15.

The calm before the storm :)

I put the houses together beforehand - I ended up buying kits at Bulk Barn.

The two trial houses I made from scratch took an afternoon and an entire recipe of dough.

Each little darling had their own icing and cup of candy, 

but the fruit loops, marshmallows, and cookies were a free-for-all -

this worked really well.

It was interesting to watch - 

some kids eating as much candy as possible :)

some kids blissfully slapping it all over their house randomly

and some kids meticulously adding each drop of icing and candy.

I sifted icing sugar over the roof of each for snow before they went home.

Then they went tobogganing out back to burn off the sugar!

Coco came up with cupcake idea, and decorated each snowman herself.

Seven years old - how did that happen?

She's my baby.

At the very end of the party, Natasha and another older guest "judged"all the houses,

We had wrapped up more candy (those parents love me!) as prizes,

and every child received an award.

Best use of Hard Candy, Best Roof, Best Use of Color - they were so creative!

We cheered for each winner, and they went home on a high, 

telling their parents what they had won - priceless.

Wonder what Coco will dream up next year?

Moving On From Christmas to a New Year..

So our Christmas flew by.. yours?

Sorry for the lack of posts but today is our first day with no festive plans!

The kids had a blast on Christmas morning, of course...

The hit of the day was the plastic slinky!

He wants to be an engineer and build solar powered cars, so lego comes naturally :)

She has discovered the joy of reading, and neon hair :)

The eldest darling wore her new ski jacket and pandora bracelet

 the entire time she was magnifying everything in the house... 

"eww, Mum, come see what my hair/tissue paper/dog treats look like"

Days filled with skiing, skating, walks in the snowy woods and travel to see the families..

it was full of laughs and hugs, just as it should be, 

and I'm thankful for all of our blessings.

(and my new Kate Spade bag! 

A complete surprise, from my honey, who knows what I would love before I do :)

Now comes the next part, packing up and moving on.

I don't know if any of you experience this,

 but removing all the excess and then giving the house a good clean

 leaves me feeling ready for the New Year.

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Maybe it's trying to find space for the new "things" that have entered the home over the holidays,

 but this is usually when my organizational side kicks in and the need to start cleaning out closets..

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Over the next few weeks I am going to tackle some of our bigger storage and organization problems,

hopefully you'll come by and share your tips with us!

Today I'm packing Christmas decorations.

I wrap them in tissue and place into labelled (glass balls, etc)

 red plastic storage containers in the basement.

I guess it's not a surprise that I like color coding everything :)

How do you store your decorations?

Are you still in Christmas mode or have you packed up already?

til next time..

Open House and Merry Christmas!

It's here :)

Thought you may like to see

a little Christmas sprinkled through our home...

The entry - I made those sequined balls one year, and they always add a little sparkle somewhere.

We set up the nativity scene in the living room, and have been reading the story of Christmas nightly..

A few amaryllis brighten up this corner.

Onward to the kitchen - where the goodies are...

It's cookie heaven around here! 

Hopefully the neighbours will clean us out this evening,

 I have to stop eating them!

Then down to the family room, the greenery on the mantle smells fantastic :)

I gathered a few boughs from the forest out back, and tucked in some of our feathered friends.

This is the first year we have had such a traditional tree.

I began collecting angel ornaments in white, silver and gold when Natasha was born,

 and there's quite a few.. but this year they stayed packed.

The kids wanted to put all their Christmas crafts from years past on the tree, so we got out all the red decorations, and added some candy canes and balls to our collection...

The wrapping has a homespun feel, to go along with the tree.

Craft paper, bits of twine, and the paper D. bought with the kids :)

Since we usually do not add much red, this is a really festive departure.

I am actually feeling a bit of red overload!

 None of the presents from D. are here yet, of course, he always wraps his on Christmas Eve, LOL.

Tonight we are off to Mass, and then the kids each receive one present to open

(it's always new pj's and slippers!)

Tomorrow we will have a huge brunch with Mimosas,

 a little afternoon skate at the outdoor ice down the street

 and then a wonderful dinner with family...

what could be better?

I hope tomorrow finds you with friends and family...

Merry Christmas :)

til next time..

Yea or Nay: A Nutcracker Army

Taking the girls to The Nutcracker ballet this weekend - 

have you ever seen it?

 magic.

The girls and I attend each year, carrying on the tradition D. and I started when we began dating.

The boys come down to the city with us, and go to a hockey game :) to watch a different sort of dance.

My youngest, Coco, has begun a Nutcracker collection.

each year she manages to persuade me to buy her one during intermission.

You can see her tree here.

I have never bought a Nutcracker to put on display in the house, other than Coco's.

You?

Would you place a large statue to stand guard at your front door?

tuck them amongst candy on the mantle..

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or perhaps greenery?

    

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Would you place these at your holiday table?

Or tuck treats into these boxes?

(these are witty, yes?)

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Would a metallic nutcracker grace your buffet..

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or your mantel?

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Would you prefer the minimal West Elm take on tradition?

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I'm quite sure Coco will be keeping her collection in her room, 

although we were out shopping the other day and she was lobbying hard for this enchanting fellow.

He stands at SIX FEET.

"Maybe next year, sweetie."

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til next time..