Christmas Simplicity

Just one week before Christmas and I'm done decorating! 

I am listening to the most beautiful version of Andrea Bocelli and Mary J. Blige singing "What Child is this" as I type. You see Todd surprised me today and picked up some  Christmas CD's for a steal and they sound amazing on the new, really old large speakers that a customer of his was throwing out and told him he could have if he wanted. Thanks Karen!! He place one of the speakers in the stairwell and the acoustics are nothing short of incredible because of the old plaster walls and ceiling.

I was excited to see how our decorations would look in our living room and dining room with the custom blue I created that I now call "Bye The Sea Blue" I have always loved a simpler look when it comes to Christmas and even though I was oh so tempted on more than one occasion to buy more decorations, I was good and didn't and I think that it all came together pretty well.

I love my feather trees and the I think these red berries that my friend Tracey gave me one Christmas have got to be my favourite. I repainted the peace sign a soft grey and the base on the candle holder a deeper turquoise.

I finally filled our frames with family photos, some frames are new, some are thrift store finds I painted white and one of mom's paintings is in center below. I have had this red wreath for many years as well and love how it pops on the blue wall.

 It feels magical and cozy at night.

 I also love my little sparkly stars. Inexpensive burlap garland is casual and warm against the blues and whites.

Of course I can't forget my seashells and mixed them in a antique ironstone bowl with large pine and sugar cones for an easy centrepiece. 

I adore this antique topiary tree that I found for $20.00 quite a few years ago. I had added some white lights to it and think this is the perfect spot for it in the basement stairway landing just off the kitchen and just makes the kitchen glow when turned on. A cute Christmas verse on the chalkboard, spruce branches in a pitcher and Christmas balls in the colurs of sand and sea are easy to do and easy on the eyes.

Although there are still items on the to do list still to do that make it not picture perfect,

it is all perfect to me, 

right now. 

Enjoy the next week. 

In the midst of craziness, don't forget to take a moment for yourself. 

Pour a glass of wine, put on some beautiful music and light a beeswax candle and relax even if for 10 minutes.

And my prayers go out to the families of Connecticut who have suffered such a terrible loss.

It is so very very tragic and unimaginably sad beyond words.