Christmas Decor

I thought I had started early this year, and in fact I did, but there are still bits and pieces that need doing in order to make the house fully Christmasy. Those outdoor Christmas lights? Two more strands died!! They were brand new! We won't get our money back due to no receipt (that'll teach me), but they will give us a credit for the amount. No problem, we will easily buy more items at the same store.

Here is my home, in pieces.

The village went up pretty early. No new buildings, just a different configuration.

On the next shelf up (same piece of furniture - which husband built) are some of my crocks, and some snowmen and little birds. The "greenery" comes from... (shh don't tell anyone) Dollerama! I thought it looked pretty realistic, even if it is plastic.

One more shelf up, is this Santa. I love it!! It looks hand carved, but isn't. With his spectacles and straight, slightly pointy nose, I imagine this Santa looks like what my father might have looked like if he had lived to be very elderly with white hair and a beard.

Tradition holds that son gets a nutcracker every year. We have many displays throughout the house. This is one top of the computer desk.

A collection of cookie jars (and one more nutcracker) sit on my windowsill over the kitchen sink. (No actual cookies in them!)

Some of my (and daughter's) Santa collection on a shelf in the den.

A few little Victorian children surround a music box that my mother gave me so, so many years ago. The little mouse figures "skate" on top while the music plays. Ears have been broken off, but it must be on display every year. When our kids were little, they would wind it up and watch the little mice spin around.

In the living room, I have my "gold" display. I love the figure of Santa on the reindeer. It is quite large. I draped little lights throughout and it looks very nice in the evening.

We purchased our tree a couple of days ago (real) and although it wasn't quite as tall as we would have liked, it is nice and full and smells heavenly. We decorated last night, put Christmas music on, and put the fireplace "video" on Netflix on the tv!

And finally, to round out the post, here is something I set up tonight when I came home from work: a hot chocolate bar. I want to add some peppermint sticks, maybe some Bailey's Irish Cream, or even peppermint Schnapps, some whipped cream...

Here's a nifty trick. Make yourself a cup of hot chocolate and put in a mint tea bag. Let it steep, add some milk, remove the tea bag, and voila - mint hot chocolate! Have a beautiful weekend, everyone!