Welcome to our Christmas home!  Santa’s little elves have been busy here getting things ready for parties and dinners in the next two weeks.  It’s a busy time, but one filled with love, laughter, and the dearest of friends and family!

 

As the door opens you can imagine hearing the sounds of Bing, Frank, Dean, or the kids favorite, Strait No Chaser, The Christmas Can Can.  If you care to visit a while, please help yourself to a mug of English tea and bite or two of my favorite mint-fudge.  It is so creamy and delicious that I can’t help but make multiple recipes during the Christmas season (and a few other times throughout the year)!

 

The recipe you ask?  Oh it’s as easy as can be!

chopped pecans, optional

Spray an 8×8-in pan with Pam and set aside.  On the stovetop, medium high heat, melt together the chocolate chips, andes mint baking pieces, salt and sweetened condensed milk, stirring until melted and smooth.

Remove from heat and evenly spread into the prepared pan. Top with pecans if using.

Chill for two hours or until firm all the way through.  Slice into bite-sized pieces and serve.

 

I’ve spent an awful lot of time of Pintrest the last couple of months (if you haven’t discovered this treasure chest of inspiration, you must visit!), which is where the inspiration for our front door wreath came from.  It  varies from a traditional green wreath which was quite appealing.

 

As you walk through our front door you enter our cozy living room.  Even-though our four children are older, they still love the magic of Christmas.  I love to decorate with them in mind each year.

 

 

And, with this crew I can assure you there is NEVER a dull moment!

The tree takes center stage as our living room isn’t very big, it can’t help but command attention!

 

It is loaded with 16 years of such delights as peppermint garland, elves, sparkling glass ornaments, reproduction shiny bright ornaments and topped off with lollipops.  The sweet little elves are made by Mark Roberts, and the peppermint themed garland and lollipops are by RAZ.

 

I love adding silly little touches of the season and scattering them throughout the house.

The 112 year old rocking chair that belonged to my great-grandparents makes a charming seat for Mr. or Mrs. Claus to hand out gifts on Christmas morning.  The little pillow on the chair expresses a lot of the sentiment shared by my children throughout the year ….. “Dear Santa, I can explain..”!

 

Garlands around the doorways make it easy to have decoration everywhere without making the house look like a curio shop with “stuff” in every nook and cranny!

Other touches might be found in  the hanging of sweet fingertip towels in the bathrooms or Christmas themed soap dispensers.

A cloche lined with tinsel and filled with glass ornaments tops a side table for an unexpected sparkle.

 

I don’t do a lot of decorating in the kitchen.  This is the busiest room in the house on an average day, which often makes decorations become clutter.  I did do a little display in my hutch, to keep the spirit going of course.

The Santa figurines were a wedding gift 16 years ago and I love placing them carefully on display each year.

I also love using holiday theme cooking utensils.  It makes flipping pancakes so much more fun!

My side cabinets entertain a cookie jar and one of my favorite seasonal cookbooks, but it also acts as a buffet counter for those special celebrations.

And lastly we will take a peek at the dining room.  It’s another of those busy spaces in our home.  I love enjoying meals each evening with my family here, but I also adore hosting friends and family for a variety of functions.  I tend to keep things simple in here so that everyone is comfortable and we don’t have to rearrange just to eat.  Poinsettias, and glass ornaments fit this purpose nicely.

Lining a simple glass pedestal bowl with fresh greenery makes a lovely foundation for those ornaments.

 

 

I am so glad you stopping in and hope you this peek of our little home for Christmas this year!    I am linking up with the Inspired Room’s Holiday Home Tour , Thrifty Decor Chick’s, Tree party, and Cottage & Vine’s Room by Room Tour.

I can’t wait to see everyone’s Christmas decorations!

Merry Christmas to you all!