Thursday, December 12, 2019

Christmas Home Tour 2019



Merry Christmas Season!

My theme for this year's Christmas decor was "simple Christmas" because of a new baby coming any day now.
However, I'm not sure it has really happened. 
The only differences were that I didn't put up my big white tree, and I didn't haul up my tote of kitchen Christmas decor/dishes.
 I just grabbed a few of my Vintage Santa mugs out and called it good.

Here's a look at our "new" almost complete entry area...





The garland around the door has white lights strung into it, and that is the only outside lights we have this year. Simple, but it still looks like we tried a bit. ;)


I put out my old sled again with the ice skates off of it. 
New this year is the faux swag I got at Goodwill - half off for $6!


Right inside the door is our living room and view of the Christmas tree.


Again, we harvested one right out of the woods on my parent's land.
Charlie Brownish to some, but we like them like that now.


I had plans to make a dried orange garland for the tree this year, but I never got to it and also noticed that everyone else was doing that so I skipped it.
But then I added some fluffy yarn as garland, which is also what everyone else is doing, 
so I guess I am a sucker for trends after all.


My one Christmas craft for the year was this wreath hanging on the barn door.


I've had some pins on my Christmas Pinterest board (LINK HERE
for similar ideas, and I finally took the time to put it together.


I basically just hot glued some bottle brush trees to the bottom of a grape vine wreath I had lying around. Then added a bit of white paint and a few sprinkles of white glitter to the paint.



 It only cost me $6 because I bought the trees after Christmas on clearance, and the wreath was $1 at "Recycled Christmas". It has a nice rustic look that goes with my barn door.


I got a cool bokeh affect on this picture...unplanned of course.
I'm not that good of a photographer.
I only put out a vintage elf and this vintage angel in my corner cabinet this year, because "simple".


The pop of red landed on this wall this year. 
Since the photo I've also added a red and white plaid throw blanket. 
It looks cute, it just doesn't photograph well because it's right in front of the window.

The wreath in the window used to have pine cones hanging off of it all wonky like. 
I could never get them to sit right, so I just took them off this year, and I like it so much better now!


Still dreaming of a mantel to hang stockings under one day, but for now, this will do.


My mom and I made these stockings last year - as you'll see one is still waiting on it's name tag.
We still don't have a for sure baby girl name, but hoping we know when we see her.
I found these little bells at Salvation Army this year and added those for just a little something extra. 
Christmas decorating is all about being extra. Right?
I'm not part of the minimalist movement, if you can't tell. ;) 


In the window is my favorite little Goodwill Nativity, a little vintage angel bell, and some new white bottle brush trees I got this year at Five Below.


Above the window is my sparkly snow flake collection that is always so hard to photograph.


This is the only decor I did in the window this year. I basically just moved the lantern (outside) and plopped this down and called it good. And simple.


I have a few small pops of color on the tree this year as I grow my vintage ornament collection.
I found a bag of vintage ornaments for $1 at Recycled Christmas.
I think I have around 10 vintage ornaments now.


This top ornament I added to be one of the hanging snowflakes, because I thought it seemed big enough. It's one of my favorites and probably stands out more in the window than on the tree.


New vintage ornament next to a favorite - the "just married" car.


A closer look at the fluffy yarn I used as garland, along with the pom-pom garland I've had the last couple years.



The table just got a vintage runner along with this centerpiece I made last year at a craft day for moms and kids. 
You can't tell in the picture, but it does have some little fairy lights in it and looks pretty at night too.


A little baby white tree replaced the big one.
I found this pre - lite one for $2 at "Recycled "Christmas".


The gold garland was $1 and a bag of handmade pink cardinal ornaments was .25 cents. 
Both from my favorite indoor garage sale - "Recycled Christmas"! 
The fancier crystal ornaments were also from there. All were either .25 cents or .50 cents each.


The open shelving got some faux white pine and my favorite vintage Santa mugs.


Last year I went all out with a "hot chocolate bar" where these guys were the star.
This year they are just chillin' out front and center. 
Looking cute and old.

Miniature nativity was .25 at "Recycled Christmas". 
I have a thing for mini stuff.



I put my shabby chic bottle brush trees in the kitchen window in some floral tea cups.


And this blue Santa I've had since I was little - he matches the blue floral curtain above the window.


I love this little silver plated Christmas tree dish I got from "Recycled Christmas" this year for $1.
I think it may be my favorite thing I got there - not sure why, I just really like it and feel like it's one of those things that captures my "Christmas style" well.


I put some vintage carolers and bottle brush trees in the nook above my stove.
I can't remember where I got the sign on the cabinets, but I just love little old time Christmas scenes like that. They give me a nostalgic Christmas feeling.


The entry way console table looks similar to how it did a couple years ago (but simpler). All of the rustic/glam things ended up here.


Chalk painted church next to some silver jingle bells.


My talented sister painted the reindeer for me.


And finally, the "new" display for the year. 
Well, the antique buffet is a new piece of furniture around here, and it just recently got chalk painted.
It has been really nice having such a large space to do displays.



I was excited to put my Nativity up here this year - safe from small hands.



The flocked wreath was a post Christmas purchase from Walmart last year. 
Half off, so $5 for me!


I put white candles on my sconces, because after the buffet got painted the taupe ones just weren't cutting it. Then last minute I added some white tapers to the display because I could tell it just needed a little something else, and ya can't go wrong with candles.


The white sheep skin has a "fluffy white snow" effect. 
Not that there was snow in Bethlehem, but it just makes the vignette feel Christmassy and gives another layer of texture.


And that's all!
Not sure how I got this all done while also trying to get the house ready for a baby, but Christmas is a favorite for me, so I made sure things still happened. 
This is my take on "simple Christmas". ;) 

I hope you all have a great advent season.



Blessings to you and yours this Christmas!
~Olivia





Monday, December 2, 2019

Shabby Chic Nursery Tour


My due date with baby girl is just over a week away, and we just finished up her nursery!
I wanted a little girl so much just for the thought of buying girl clothes and decorating a girl nursery. But also looking forward to having someone I can do girly stuff with the rest of my life. :)



Welcome to the nursery...
Let's pretend the ugly boob light is a pretty crystal chandy, shall we? 


This room was formerly the guest bedroom, and we left the walls the same color, but I was still able to add in plenty of soft girly pink touches.


This corner is a favorite spot with all the vintage touches - which is good because I'm sure I'll be spending plenty of late night hours here, nursing little love.


The dresser is a family heirloom that my mom refinished in this pretty blue color. 
It was the same dresser that was in my sons room - we got him another family heirloom dresser and moved this to the new nursery because it's a great size for a changing table. 


I just stuck the swing in this open corner, but it will probably go all over the house. 
On top is a beautiful quilt my mom made for her first granddaughter along with a matching pillow.


I found this shelf in the garage and chalk painted it so it could hold all the vintage decor touches. 


The canvas above the dresser was a thrift store score. It was marked $10 and I couldn't decide if I liked it. When I went to pay it was half off, so I decided I liked it quite a bit for $5! And decided I really liked it once I put it over the dresser because it has little touches of the same blue that the dresser is, and that blue is also in the rug as well.


I always knew I wanted a bed canopy for a little girl nursery.
I was a little overwhelmed with the choices, but eventually settled on this one I found on Amazon because I liked the lace on the edges.


The crocheted blanket at the back was mine as a baby, and it's the exact same peachy pink as is in the rug.


My college bestie was the first to send a gift, shortly after I found out I was having a girl.
 She thoughtfully sent this sweet Cuddle+Kind polar bear, Stella. 
It is soooo adorable and perfect for a little winter northwoods girl.

The white Jellycat bunny is big brother's Christmas gift to baby - It's now under the tree for him to help her "unwrap" Christmas morning.


I closer up of the pretty quilt.
 I love the colors and patterns my mom chose, and the back side is a soft, fuzzy, green fabric.


We still haven't put closet doors back in any of the rooms, but I like it like that. 
Instead I put up curtains because this is such a wide closet, and I wanted to hide some of the uglier storage stuff at the top. The clothes are so cute I wouldn't care about hiding those. :)


My best friend sent so many cute girl clothes as well as the pretty dried rose garland, which I was so excited to see, because otherwise I was going to attempt making some myself, and not sure I would be gentle enough. 


A shot of the entry door and this weird little nook that the closet forms.
We still managed to make use of the space.


This little area behind the door happened kind of last minute. 
I mostly just wanted some place to hang baby towels and then started hanging a bunch of other stuff up, and it all worked out. 



This pink pom-pom throw is super soft and I got it on sale from Target for $8.


This beautiful antique lamp my best friend also gave to me :) 
She added the crystal, and I love it.


I wish there was an antique chandelier hanging as the bedroom light in this room, but since there isn't this makes me happy. I love old crystal! 

I got the little, blue, wooden box at Goodwill for $1.50 and it now holds her mini book collection and a special burp rag grandma and grandpa brought back from their trip to Alaska.


The little romper used to be mine as a baby. I wore it for a 6 month photo shoot. 
Weird to think I was that little once... 


The antique purse was something my grandma gave me in one of her infamous "goodie bags". 
She always had little thrifted treats for everyone, and it is now a lovely little feminine touch that reminds me of her.


I got the pitcher for $1.50 at the thrift store and dried some sale roses that were $3, because they were just about at the end of their life. 
Pretty & inexpensive decor is my thang. ;)


The antique framed art my mom found at Goodwill, and it used to be in my son's nursery.


We had a family photo shoot this fall, and I thought this shot seemed nursery appropriate. 
I found the old frame at.... you guessed it!... the thrift store for .75 cents.


The blanket basket was also found at a thrift store for $8.
I am forever on the hunt for large baskets to store things.


Here is a closer up of the rug - the first thing I purchased for the nursery. It's from Wayfair. 
The Moses basket has an organic cotton muslin swaddle with the same peachy pink. 
I found it on  Amazon after being crushed that the Simply Shabby Chic line at target was all sold out (and possibly discontinued?) of their adorable floral muslin swaddles. 
But this will do.


The floral crib sheet is more "my style floral". 
Vintage-y floral and less trendy looking. 
I found that on Amazon as well.


I'm basically Marie Kondo ya'll. 
Almost. 
Newborn, 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months +.

Would ya look at the size of those newborn T-shirts!? I can't get over it. Literally the size of my hand. (And about 3 of my toddler's hands as pictured - so tiny!)


I put all of the sleeper, onesies, and pants in the dresser.

I hung all of the "pretty" more dressy clothes in the closet.
As you can see, about 80% of her wardrobe is floral - as it should be. ;)


I got a pink striped Burt's Bees organic cotton changing pad cover, because I knew I needed to break the floral up a bit on this side of the room.


The blackout curtains are from Wayfair in the color "Baby Pink". 
It's a little scary ordering pinks online, but I was quite pleased with this shade when it came. 
It's pretty much what I was looking for. Soft and not an obnoxious pink you will get sick of. 
I cringe at the hot pinks and bubble gum pinks. Just not my thing, but I definitely wanted soft, blush pink in order to make it feel girly. I think these did the trick.
I did want them to touch the floor, but I wasn't going to take the time to send them back and reorder the right size, so it is what it is. 


All plates hanging in the corner were from various... THRIFT STORES! 
When I say I'm a frugal decorator, I'm not kidding. 


Okay, I think I've covered it all! 
Soon she will be sleeping right here... hard to imagine. 

*Praying she's a better sleeper than her brother was.*


Thanks for taking the tour!



Have a blessed week and Christmas season. 




~Big Momma O