Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Blogger Parade Of Homes: Holiday Edition

Here's Shannon's request for a holiday home tour. Christmas is my absolute favorite season! I love it and I love decorating the house for it. I'm one of those people that has to pack things up and completely change the decor. It sucks taking it all down though. Click here to see the before pics. Here's the view of the living room from the front door. Griffey in his favorite spot, of course. Because my house is a bit smaller, I have to stick the tree in the dining room. But I found the perfect spot. I can sit on the couch and watch TV but still see my beaut-ious tree!

View from the other side. I've watched so many decorating shows that I've picked up some tips. Here's one... hang ornaments from the curtains to make the room look more festive.

The mantle again. With the stockings all hung. I even change the fireplace candles out for red ones and the ones on the wrought iron stands there next to it. You can just barely catch a glimpse of the Santa chair covers in the dining room and my new penguin tablecloth.

Here it is!! The main attraction. The Penguin Tree! Nothing but penguin ornaments here. Except for the June Bug heart for my DTC group and a snowman that my cousin, Hope, gave me. (But the snowman is hanging towards the back...sorry Hope.) Mumble the Happy Feet Penguin is sitting under the tree waiting for Mia.

A closer look. I've been collecting these ornaments since I was a kid. Many are gifts.

The living room all lit up at night. I love the lights and the colors! I'm really just a big kid at heart, I guess.

Rudolph is my favorite classic holiday cartoon. More cheap and easy decorating tips. Add simple, inexpensive Christmas items to pretty glass bowls or vases to make everything more festive. A few glass ball ornaments in a bowl and simple, cheap bows in a vase.

Bead garland wrapped around candles.

Tape pretty holiday cards over your existing pictures. Makes it look like you bought all new holiday art.

Hang cheap plastic ornaments from your light fixtures.

Stick some shiny tree garland in a vase.

Here's my house from the outside all lit up at night. Gorgggg-eous... if I do say so myself. I love love love Christmas!! Can you tell? Some might think it's a bit excessive but I think it's just right!

Hope you enjoyed the tour. Y'all come back now ya here...

18 comments:

C's Mom said...

Awesome pics....even so the place is even more beautious in person.

Oh festive queen, oh festive queen, you ARE the one to have on the decor scene.

Hah - and that's with no grinch cocktails in me. Baddabing!

Anonymous said...

Krista, your house looks fabulous and festive!

Kelli said...

Ah! Now I'm embarassed! Your house is beautiful Krista! I skipped the decorations this year...leaving in two days for the Holiday, and not back until right before new years, but I have seriously been missing a Christmas tree this last week! wishing I had put one up anyway! Your house looks great!!! Thanks for sharing!

Pug Mama said...

Wow! You go all out for christmas - how pretty!
(i clicked on the before - and I must say I LOVE the metal horse decor you have hanging on the wall - my living room has lots of horses)

t~ said...

Gorgeous!! I love your holiday decorating. I've never seen so many penguins in my life. I'll never look at penguins the same way again.

The Mommy said...

Hee hee! I love it! We are so much a like! I do the same thing... ENTIRELY redecorate the whole house! It's exhausting though. I've scaled back quite a bit this year because of all that is going on at our house... but I still do quite a bit... I just love the 'glitter' that my house gets around the holidays! :) Yours looks fabulous!

4D said...

Holy moley! Looks amazing! Love that you are so into penguins.

Keep smilin!

Anonymous said...

Really pretty. And a penquin tree...what a great idea!

Anonymous said...

WOW - looks sooo festive. I wanna come over and party! :-) I love the mantel, tree - everything. You go all out - Mia is gonna loooove Christmas!! :-)

Anonymous said...

lol you are the decorating queen!!!!! Amazing, what a lot of effort you put in!
Well Done You!

Anonymous said...

OMG gorgeous! Love (and will steal) your decorating ideas!

OziMum said...

WOW! Holy crap! My kids would die with all your beautiful festive decorations! They love em! Your lights are amazing! And the tree... perfect.

Jill and Jaap said...

Oh it is so festive at your house! It looks great!

Elise said...

It looks so cozy and inviting! Can I come over for a cup of hot cocoa?

Abby's Mom said...

Beautiful!!!

Abby's Mom said...

Beautiful!!!

wzgirl said...

What a happy, happy wee house -- just look at Griffy smiling!! Great job decorating, K...your spirit is very festive! XOXO

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! And thank you for the decorating tips-I hope to be in a festive mood next year and would love to live in such a Christmassy world!