The Spirit of Christmas - Part 2

It's the last few days before Christmas and I don't know about you, but I'm staying completely clear of any stores this except for a grocery store from here on out.

The husband and I went out last Friday for a couple of hours to pick up the last of the gifts we needed to purchase and last night I went out for a while with the kid to finish up.   All I have left is to shop for the food we'll need for our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals.  Even though I did do some wrapping earlier this week....today is the main event!  and the husband is here to help. 

This year when I decided to re-do some of our Christmas décor, I knew the staircase garland was going to be one of the things that needed to be redone.   I was tired of the staircase garland we have used since moving into this house 10 years ago.  I also wanted to change up the hallway table that sit just opposite the staircase.

Rather than using wire to tie the evergreen garland to the bannister (which btw, I'm looking to replace this spring), I used jute rope. 

I found some really cute burlap bows at Kirkland's that I tied on to the length of garland.  The only problem with the bows is that a certain female cat in our home also likes them and finds it fun to jump up and grab one and drag it off the garland.

(See.....she's eyeballing it in the photo above)

For the newel post at the bottom, I went to my craft room and found a roll of burlap ribbon and made a bow that I also used a pinecone and some fake berries to finish the bow off.  I also had a spool of some textured burlap ribbon that worked perfectly to weave in and around the greenery.

 

It's very simple and exactly the look I was going for.

The hallway table is always decorated for the holidays starting at Halloween and I have switched the décor up on that table over the years, from having some of my collection of Santas displayed there to a collection of funky Christmas trees.  This year I wanted something even more simple that would also tie in with the bannister décor.

I used an evergreen garland we already had and the middle lantern we use on our table on our deck and the other two I found at Gordman's and used a 20% coupon on them.  I bought a couple more flameless candles, dug out some red berry rings I had in our Christmas decoration stash and placed some pinecones in and around the lanterns.  I love how elegant it looks and completely different than what I've done before.

I filled my antique crock from some fake poinsettia and filled my Longaberger bushel basket with more pinecones.

Here's how it looks at night -

Here's how it looks after I added the lighted IKEA vase filled with evergreen and another flameless candle next to the basket of pinecones.

 

This year some of the trees that used to be displayed on the hallway have taken over the top of the computer desk/hutch we have in our den.

Another favorite thing that sits on the shelf of one of our bookcases in the den is my set of gourd snowmen.  Years ago when I sold Longaberger baskets, I earned both of them as an incentive during the holiday selling season and I just love them.

Every year Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without me bringing out one of the last things that my mom made for me just a couple of years before she passed.  Her cross stitch projects were amazing and this one was no exception and such a unique piece....a serving tray.  The detail is amazing!

 

 

I'm still working on my photos of this year's Christmas tree and I'll get those posted just in time for Christmas Eve.

I'll end this post with a picture of what I've been lovingly referring to as our "destroyer cat" Coco.  She's been very naughty this year with the tree and garland and presents and centerpiece, etc. etc. but we still love her.   Just look at this face of guilt and naughtiness.

Have a wonderful week of Christmas!