Farewell to Christmas

Have you had all your Christmas gatherings or are you still in the midst of it?  New Year's is around the corner and I like to have my decorations down before then.   As much as I love color, it can be an overload this time of year and I am eager to take it down.  But before I say farewell to Christmas 2015, here are a few photos.

My daughter, April, made this beautiful cake!  It is a red velvet cake with two cheesecake layers and white chocolate icing.  She saw it on a Southern Living magazine and went for it.  It took her two days to make it with five layers in it.  My mister decorated it with the berries, rosemary and leaves for her!  I think he did a great job!  I was focused on cooking other things.  We usually have cornbread dressing every year and this year I added too much salt to the dressing before it went in the oven. Usually I can't get enough salt in it so I was really surprised how salty it was.   I thought I was going to have to start over but discovered if you put a potato (I cubed mine)  in your dressing while it's cooking, it will draw the extra salt out.  This was big news and saved the dressing!



My daughter and mister can cook better than me, but I am not complaining.  It's very nice that they do.








Berries nestled here and there.


Sonny got a trim just in time for Christmas.



The tree wearing many colors including blue and pink.



Blue plates to blue balls and blue in the floral ribbon.



A very close up view of a sequined pontsettia.



Can I just tell you that I will be so glad when this isn't in my house anymore?!  It has been taunting me, I tell you!









Jan



http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/2015/12/amaze-me-monday-143.html
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/happy-holidays/
http://www.cozylittlehouse.com/2015/12/tweak-it-tuesday-173.html#more
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2015/12/wow-us-wednesdays-254.html#more
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/2015/12/new-years-traditions.html
http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/2015/12/home-sweet-home-252.html

Looking Back 2015

I do wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I know many of you will be busy visiting with family and friends.  For others this may be a tough time of the year and I want to remind you that it’s only for a couple more weeks.  In the meantime, I have some fun posts up along with a little sentimental one from 2015.   Reflecting back on this year, I hope I brought you a smile and maybe an ‘Aaah’ or an ‘Oooh’ every now and then.  I hope you enjoyed the ride.  Let’s look back!


There’s lots of Va~Voom red in this post as only Valentine’s can have!  Starting off a fun post from the past is This Valentine Is For You here.







The first post was on Black and White Floors here.

Mark Maresca ~ Southern Accents




More Valentine Fun here.





Visit With Judy here.





Shades of Green here.

Designer CeCe Thompson of Bunny Williams, Inc.




Chit Chat with Cathy here.





Spring Green here.

Ann Lowengart ~ HGTV




Suzy Stout here.





Peeking At Spring here.





Which Room Are You? here.

Penny Morrison




Slim's Conservatory here.





Garden Inside and Out here.





May Child here.





My Magnolias and Natchez here.





Happy With Glory here.





Beautiful Behind The Sofa here.





The Coffee Table here.





June Beauties here.





Jan




http://www.frenchcountrycottage.net/2015/12/feathered-nest-friday_17.html
http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/2015/12/amaze-me-monday-143.html
http://www.cozylittlehouse.com/2015/12/tweak-it-tuesday-173.html#more
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2015/12/wow-us-wednesdays-254.html#more
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/2015/12/new-years-traditions.html
http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/2015/12/home-sweet-home-252.html
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/the-marietta-pilgrimage-christmas-home-tour/
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/2016/01/show-and-share-no295.html#more
http://shabbyartboutique.com/2016/01/shabbilicious-friday-link-party-120.html
http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com/2016/01/saturday-sparks-link-party-149.html

Finally The Stairs

When we left off, the dining table was being shared. It is dressed for Christmas in blue and pinks, reds, burgundies, crimson, etc.  The kitchen/dining room is one large room with the stairs going up from here.




  The stairs needed something simple because there already is a lot going on, which is the way I like to go.  I am definitely a more is more kind of 'girl'.  I mixed some magnolia leaves in the wreaths and added a bow.  It's simple but effective in an already decorated room.








I have added a lot more greenery to the wreaths before but it ends up shedding most of it before Christmas and can be quite a mess.




The buffet is wearing a garland with light green faux pointsettas and a little gold here and there.  If you squint your eyes, you can see my little reindeer is standing proud there as well.


















Jan




http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2015/12/wow-us-wednesdays-251.html
http://www.cozylittlehouse.com/2015/12/its-time-for-holiday-link-up-party.html
http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/2015/12/treasure-hunt-thursday-232-highlights.html
http://www.adelightsomelife.com/2015/12/home-and-garden-thursday-126.html
http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/2015/12/home-sweet-home-250.html
http://www.frenchcountrycottage.net/2015/12/feathered-nest-friday_10.html
http://shabbyartboutique.com/2015/12/shabbilicious-friday-christmas-link-party-12.html
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/2015/12/christmas-crackers.html
http://www.21rosemarylane.com/2015/12/share-your-style-link-party-43.html
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/mongrammed-door-mat-from-frontgate/
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/2015/12/show-and-share-no-292.html

December Dining

Christmas is on its way and there's lot of entertaining to do.  This is a simple tablescape to put together for Christmas dining.


Repeating my theme from the living room this year I have blue and various shades of pink/red on the table.  My candelabra sits in the middle of the garland.  There are magnolias leaves from our yard wrapped in the faux garland.



Gold chargers add a touch of glamour.







Crimson Christmas ribbon compliments the various shades.



Blue toile pops against the various shades of pink/ruby/ red tones.













Jan




http://betweennapsontheporch.net/beautiful-way-to-display-and-store-perfume/
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/2015/12/show-and-share-no291.html#more
http://www.cozylittlehouse.com/2015/12/tweak-it-tuesday-170.html
http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/2015/12/amaze-me-monday-140.html#more
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2015/12/wow-us-wednesdays-251.html
http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/2015/12/treasure-hunt-thursday-232-highlights.html
http://www.adelightsomelife.com/2015/12/home-and-garden-thursday-126.html
http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/2015/12/home-sweet-home-250.html
http://www.frenchcountrycottage.net/2015/12/feathered-nest-friday_10.html
http://shabbyartboutique.com/2015/12/shabbilicious-friday-christmas-link-party-12.html
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/2015/12/christmas-crackers.html
http://www.21rosemarylane.com/2015/12/share-your-style-link-party-43.html

December Sweetness

Christmas season has arrived.  It's a whirlwind of decorating everywhere.  We are rushing to adorn our homes and shop for those gifts.  A lot of the time it makes my head spin.   There's still beauty outdoors here in my little town and neighborhood,  although it's falling everyday.  When February's frigid temps arrives, I think a lot of us will be yearning to be outdoors and wishing we could enjoy nature's colors again.  So here's a last glance at Autumn's extravaganza.











































The mild temperatures have the azaleas confused and they are trying to bloom now in December.











Jan



http://betweennapsontheporch.net/beautiful-way-to-display-and-store-perfume/
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/2015/12/show-and-share-no291.html#more
http://www.cozylittlehouse.com/2015/12/tweak-it-tuesday-170.html
http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/2015/12/amaze-me-monday-140.html#more