Christmas 2015 Recap

It's another holiday finished 

and 

committed to tender memory here at our house in Southern California!

I decorated much more simply here this year

and

enjoyed it all so much more!

Without kids here at the house

I decided to keep all my decorations in their boxes

and 

go with a simple luxe palette

where floral and fauna

played so lovely with neutral textures.

I kept our Christmas Eve dinner table simple

but splurged on snow globes for each guest

as a place card and take home party favor.

I had so much fun picking a special globe for each guest.

For mine

it was a house

to signify my love of hearth, home and family.

When it came to Christmas Eve

another splurge was an abundance of white flowers!

I love our traditional dinner

where fabulous food, drink and decor are in true abundance

for the celebration!

My paper whites that I planted at differing week intervals 

have worked out perfectly

with some in full bloom for Christmas

while others 

will be fresh for New Year's Eve and beyond!

 I kept our tree simple and natural

with just lights this year

and 

have been ever so happy with my choice!

To echo the simplicity of my decor

my wrapping was kept in a neutral palette as well.

But luxed out with big full bows 

adorned with another natural element

pinecones of all different sizes!

My fantastic bows were made with some of the leftover high quality felt

that I made my tablecloth from at Thanksgiving.

I've used felt for bows before

but the upgrade in felt

produced bows that were even fuller 

and 

held there shape perfectly!

I draped my couches with and abundance or faux fur throws

which worked out perfectly for our unusually chilly Southern California temperatures

here this year!

My guest rooms were also 

garnished with simple holiday cheer!

The red stars found their way into both guest rooms!

My paper whites out front are coming along strong …

While my arrangement in the courtyard was in full bloom 

just in time for Christmas morning!

This single bloom 

which was ahead of the blooming pack

brought me so much joy everyday

watching it unfold.

When a rain storm proved too much for remaining upright

I brought her inside

in an attempt to revive her for some indoor love.

I simply tied the bloom to a skewer

and 

found a sweet bud vase nestled in the shelves at home.

Adding a simple cedar branch

yielded

one of my most favorite holiday arrangements!

It was a perfect addition to my bed tray upstairs.

For me this simple bloom

captured the simplicity and elegance

that I was seeking this Christmas holiday.

My garden cherubs are always crowned and bejeweled

but for the holiday

they got a little holly garnishing as well!

My huge ceramic bowl edged in a drapey succulent

spent the holiday with more paper whites

that are making their way beautifully!

Another of my favorite outdoor centerpieces

is made up of

a chicken feeder full of more bulbs

aligned

with a driftwood planter filled with succulents .

I love the juxtaposition of the two.

This was another wonderful arrangement 

that came into being

when I shopped at home for planting vessels!

I achieved my goal 

of having everything in place

before the arrival of my children and family

 for the holidays!

I wanted everything done

so I could just soak up time with them all.

The moon this year couldn't have been any more magnificent

with it's fullness only happening like this every 38 years on Christmas.

It was such a poetic reminder of the magic of the moments.

As beautiful as the decor was

it was truly the little special moments 

that unfolded

in the midst of the celebration

that I have committed into my heart.

I am old enough and wise enough by now

to know

the pretties of the season are nice

and 

one of the ways I like to love on my family

but they are a mere backdrop

to the loving connecting moments

that become our family culture

and

 shared histories

for years to come.

For me the highlight of the season

was the five of us reunited this year

after a three year estrangement.

My heart is full  of how the five of us were able to navigate

these uncharted waters

with grace, respect and love.

The holidays can be so many different emotions

for everyone.

I have learned to handle with care

for we can all be fragile at times.

I have also learned to let go of 

any aspirations of holiday perfections

and 

replace them with

quiet gratitude of time together.

Ever so grateful for the magic moments shared

and committed to heart.

I make a point now of replaying the seer magic moments

and

let all the less than bits drift away from memory.

For I have learned full well

we get more of what we think of most.

I choose to savor and enjoy

the simple loving moments these days.

Jeff and I now have added new traditions to our Christmas weekend

as our children have lives of their own.

One of my favorites

is going down to the beach after Christmas

just the two of us.

To savor our  holidays well done

and

 appreciate this stage of life.

I will be the first to admit

getting to the appreciation part of children growing up and on

has been a tough one for me.

But I am committed to being 

Grateful

for the 

right here right now.

And hey

a quiet house again is pretty nice …

especially knowing 

just like Frosty

they will be back again next year.

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life

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