Christmas House Tour 2012

I am linking up with Jen Rizzo Christmas house tour. Here are a few pictures of my Christmas decor for this year.  Thanks Jen for hosting this on your blog.  This is a lot of fun to see everyone's decor.  Some very beautiful homes and Christmas decor. 
http://www.jenniferrizzo.com






Here are some of my pictures.  Thanks for coming by.

This is my Family Room Christmas Tree.  I put it in an old vintage wagon from my garden.

This is the tree lit up at night.

Staying in the family room this is my old vintage mantel decorated.  I used an old ladder to hang the stockings.

This is the mantel lit up at night.  I used white lights in the angels.

This is above my tv cabinet in the family room.  The beautiful Santo's angel my daughter bought for me from Jennifer Rizzo at the Holiday Market this year in Morris.   She is so beautiful.  She somehow lost her crown when I got her that night and Jen is so sweet and made me a new one.  It is so pretty.  I took a close up so you could see the detail of this beautiful angel.

I took her down so I could get a better picture of her.  I love the old vintage pieces she used on this beautiful angel.  I embellished her a little bit too (sorry Jen I can't help myself).  I had an old antique ornament I put on her and Jen sent me the old vintage necklace along with the crown.  I also added some feather wings I had to her paper wings.

Small vintage bucket with a tree.

Stuffed wicker basket with vintage ornaments, burlap and lace and bottle brush tree

Moving into the kitchen. Old farmhouse truck and tree is a must in a farmhouse kitchen.

Kitchen Christmas decor

More kitchen Christmas decor

Entry Way into my home. Lovely old theater seats I got from Jen Rizzo too!!!! She sells the best stuff at the Kane County Flea Market. Very unique pieces with alot of history. Love it.

Entry Way Christmas



This is an old vintage watering can I put a tree into in the entry way

Love blinging up old vintage ice skates.

Dining Room Christmas Decor

Added a simple wreath with ribbon and a white bird ornament to my dining room chairs.

Dining Room Christmas Decor



Outside of the House

Thanks for taking a look at some of my Christmas Cottage Decor.  Thank you Jen for hosting this fun house tour party.

I have to give a shout out to Jennie Morgan that has a shop on Etsy.com.  She made me some beautiful drapes and I wanted to show everyone how beautiful they are and how she gives designer looks for affordable prices.  My camera does not do these justice.  Take my word for it they are beautiful.

The curtains in my bedroom I had made and the white panels that I hung on my french doors I won on her daughter Tiffany's blog.  http://thehouseofbelonging.com

I was so excited to get these.  I have seen other custom work like this on etsy and they were so out of my price point so when I found Jennie I was so excited. She does truly beautiful work and very affordable prices.

Her company name on etsy is Shades Up and Company.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ShadesUpandCo

Jennie is a real sweet heart and gets the job done quickly and these panels are really beautiful.  I just hung them when I got them.  No wrinkles to deal with.  So if you are in need of new drapery panels check her out.  Thanks so much Jennie I love my drapes. I noticed on her site she has a new panel called Farmhouse romantic with a large ruffle on the bottom. Really pretty so I am now thinking about where can I possibly hang these panels in my house:) !!!!!!

These are the pottery barn inspired farmhouse kami with a "wave" effect on the ruffles.  The wave ruffle is a unique design that Jennie does.  These are made out of muslin and the bottom cream ruffles are tea dyed.  I wish you could all see them in person they are so gorgeous and they hang beautifully.

These are the panels I won on her daughter Tiff's blog.  I was so excited to get these.  They are so beautiful.  This pattern is called Kami too I believe.  So beautiful and romantic.  If you have a minute check out her daughter Tiffini's blog .  She has a very cute  blog.  Tiff is a sweatheart and did the give away to help her mom's talent get showcased.  I was so thrilled when I was picked to receive these. 

http://thehouseofbelonging.com

 

The way the light comes in my french doors it is hard to capture these but they really are pretty on this door. 

Ok my dear blogger friends.  I said I would try and take come pictures of my charity girlfriend party so here are some of the pictures from last night.  I missed a few things because of having so much fun and running around being the hostess but I have to say it was alot of fun.

I really have the best group of friends and it was nice to celebrate them last night.  We eat, drink, laugh cry and do alot of hugging.

I know these pictures I am showing you mean alot to me I am just hoping seeing the fun will inspire some of you to celebrate the true friends in our lives.  I do not know what I would do without my great group of girlfriends.

Enjoy!!!! Be inspired to plan a get together and celebrate friends and family.

My center piece for the food table. Simple fresh greens and great smelling candles and of course those fab candles that smell nice and look like real candles.  I love the flickering wicks.

Yummy foods.  All recipes from pinterest!!!!

My friend Pat and Sandy enjoying some of the yummy goodies.

Cindy, Nancy and Sissy enjoying some yummy food too!!

This my blogger friends is what this party is all about.  The greatest group of girlfriends ever!!!!!

My daughter Jen and her bff Amy.  They made there cute outfits.  Footed jammies from Target with the Christmas story theme and then they made tutu's with jingle bells.  They were so adorable. They won the prize for cute!!!!!

These are my two daughters Jen and Kimmie. Love them both so much and I feel so blessed.  They have brought really great girlfriends to join our group too.  I am so excited I can share this party with them.

Beautifully wrapped gifts that all benefited wonderful charities.

Some of the beautiful gifts to be exchanged.

Marybeth and Val with their pretty gifts to exchange.

My friends Ann, Linda and Kathy holding some pretty little gifts.

Val scored this beautiful tote bag that the proceeds helped a domestic battered women's shelter.

OMG I wanted to steal this special gift.  Pat got this beautiful three tiered cake/cookie plates.  This went to help a women's shelter too.  This was made out of old vintage plates. The picture does not do this justice it really was a beautiful gift.  Recycled and also helped to benefit women in crisis.

Nancy scored this beautiful handmade scarf that helped women outside this country in 3rd world countries make a better life for themselves and their children. It really was so pretty and soft.

My daughter's friend Katie got Kimmie's gift in the exchange. Kimmie purchased this comfy pair of Tom's shoes for her gift. Tom's then donates another pair of shoes to someone in need with the purchase of these.  They were Katie's size too so it was meant to be for her to win these in the exchange.

My friend Sissy won my gift which was baking sheets that helped the local food pantry and also a cookie cook book from Kohl's cares and the pretty painted two tier cookie container that helped women in need.

These were are three runner ups for the ugly/cute Christmas sweater contest.  Sandy on the left won first place and Kimmie came in second and Val 3rd with her sparkly snowman sweater.  We had alot of fun digging out those old Christmas Sweaters from the back of our closets.  It was fun to see what everyone came up with.

Once again this is why I do this party each year.  This celebrates the best group of girlfriends anyone could have.  I am truly blessed to have them all in my life.  We had a great night celebrating all together.  I love you all.