Deck the Halls

This weekend hubby hosted the annual Christmas party at our place for his bank branch employees. It was tons of fun getting to know the new crew (he transferred to a new branch back in October). It was also super fun getting the house all Christmased up for the event. Since our house is really more cottage than chateau, I usually keep things pretty simple. This year in the wake of the blogosphere white-washed everything, I decided to be bold and keep it - GASP!- traditional as well. Red and white was the name of the game, with some chocolate brown and gold mixed in for kicks and giggles. I pulled out all my most vintagey looking decorations including nutcrackers, Santas (not to be confused with Santos, which we also have around here), and lots of poinsettias. I even hung my Grandma's collection of 1950's Christmas cards on a clothesline over the fireplace.
Here's the photographic evidence of the damage:

Here's a cute little vignette with the Santa mug my auntie made for me when I was just a wee thing. I LOVE the way the vintage cards look with my red velvet stockings (which incidentally I purchased at Dollar Tree 6 years ago)



Here's the other side of the mantel.

Here's the whole mantel. Not too bad, considering the fact that I have to work around that hideous huge TV. Definitely NOT "Romantic Cottage Style," but it works. Actually, it's much more "1950's-Rudolf-Claymation-Christmas Style," which I frankly prefer. I just love the Abominable Snowman! He's so gosh-darn cute!

Here's my good friend William Shakespeare the Nutcracker acting as centerpiece for the buffet table, pre-food. How amazing is it that I found a William Shakespeare Nutcracker at the local Goodwill Thrift store for $3? Donation stores rock my world.

The stairway is WAY toned down from in the past. Previously it has been lit up like a landing strip and COVERED with crap. I decided to keep it simple and retro this year. I'm still fighting the battle to not cover the whole thing with ribbons and multiple wreaths. I may lose that battle.

Here's a crystal candy dish from my Grandma. Grandma's house seemed to be the theme this year, so I broke out all my doilies, and filled my little dish with those apricot jelly/nut candies that every grandma seems to have around at holiday time. Yummy.

The season wouldn't be complete without my ethnically diverse Nativity.  I still need to track down the other camel, sheep, and cows that go with this set.

This is the first in a series of ornament close-ups. Buckle your seatbelts because it's about to get awesome. And glittery.

SO. MUCH. GLITTER!!!! WOOO!!!

Every year, we cover our tree with bagged candies. This was my solution to the traditional popcorn/cranberrie garlands that I want so badly to do, but cannot because of my little doggies. This year, we have dark chocolate covered cranberries, tied with jute. Kitchen twine FTW!

I think this ornament is peariffic! Get it? Pear-iffic! Ha ha ha! I'm a super dork.

Here's the whole scene. I just love my roll-top desk, even though it's super cluttery right now. If I was any kind of hostess I would have spent like 2 hours and fifty bucks decorating the top of such a large piece of furniture with all sorts of vintage cool doo-dads with cracking paint, but I'm not. I don't even own a broken typewriter. I kind of suck at holidays, but not really, but kinda.

This is the angel on top of the little tree- I super heart it.

Here's the little tree- this is where all of the non-matchy-matchy and kid-craft ornaments end up. I love the gold balls. I made those years ago with styrofoam, foil, my first-ever can of gold spray paint, and a whole lot of ingenuity. I think they look like Ferrero Rochet candies!

So there you go. Merry Christmas!!!