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Monday, December 15, 2008

A LITTLE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT DINNER AND AWARD

I am again joining Tablescape Tuesday hosted by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.





I have set a simple table for a Christmas Eve dinner. As you will see, I am not very discriminating about mixing colors and patterns (sometimes I wonder if I am color blind). I try to use what I have on hand, or what I have bought in my bargain shopping (and I'm afraid I don't have a lot of concern about any of it matching!).






The red toile placemats were a gift from my son and daughter-in-law last Christmas. The green toile napkins were from Tuesday Morning's after-Christmas sale a few years ago.





This Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus were a gift from my husband. (He picked them out all by himself--isn't he the best?)


I just used some cuttings off of our Christmas trees in vases on the tables.


I used votive candle holders that I purchased years ago on sale at Pier One. The star cut outs make a pretty glow on the mirrors. The mirrors are only at each end of the centerpiece. They are part of a three piece set, but the middle piece would not make the set long enough to go under the entire centerpiece, so I just tucked the two end pieces under the fabric on each end of my centerpiece.



Thank you for stopping in to see my Christmas Spirit tablescape. Please go to Between Naps on the Porch to see all of the beautiful tablescapes.

~~~~~~~~~~





I am so proud that I have received a very special award from some very special bloggers. The Christmas Spirit award has been given to me by:





Chari at Happy To Design, and




All of these are great blogs, so it makes this award even more special. If you haven't already, please go visit them, and see for yourself how great they are.

Here are the rules for the Christmas award:

You must be a true Christmas lover to receive this award.

The person to whom you give the award must also be in love with Christmas.

You must link back to the person who gave you the award.

You must list 5 things that you love about Christmas. If you can't limit it to 5 things, then keep going till you run out of space!

Pass the award along to as many people as you like. That can be 1 or 50. It's up to you! But, you must pass it on to at least one person in order to keep the Christmas cheer going!

Let your recipients know that you have tagged them by leaving them a comment.

Five things I love about Christmas:

1. I love that it is the celebration of the birth of Christ.

2. I love the excitement and feelings of good will that seem to radiate from most people during the holiday season.

3. I love that our extended family gathers for Christmas Eve.

4. I love that my children, their spouses, and our four grandchildren gather for Christmas morning and afternoon.

5. I love that, on Christmas Eve, all of the children in our extended family, participate in a re-creation of the journey of Mary and Joseph, and we put the youngest (usually an infant) in a basket and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. Last year, since we had new twins in the family, we had to switch the infant during the program, because the mother did not want one of them (when they were old enough to see pictures) to wonder why his brother got to be Baby Jesus and he didn't! We will have several new infants at our celebration this year, so I am wondering how many times Baby Jesus will be switched during the program!

6. I love the Christmas music at church, and I love the candlelight service at church.

7. I love the chocolate that I consume between Thanksgiving and Christmas that always leads to my quickly ignored New Year's Resolution to stop eating sweets!

You knew I couldn't stop at 5! Sorry! There really are more of them, but I'll stop now, since, as usual, I've gone on too long, and I'm afraid if I keep going, nobody will ever return to visit my blog!

I'd like to give this award to:


Lilly at Lilly Loves, who in spite of the fact that she has just moved into a new home and has arrived with some broken Christmas decor, she is decorating her new home for Christmas,


and the other Laurie, Decorating Fanatic. If you haven't seen her blog, you need to go look at her beautiful decor,


and Rose at A Santamaker's Journey. Although she may be a little tired of it all right now, you can't show much more Christmas spirit than she does by making beautiful Santas.

I think most of the other bloggers with Christmas spirit have already received this award, but if you haven't, I'd love for you to come pick it up and put it on your blog, because I don't know any bloggers who don't have the Christmas spirit. laurie




62 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful... I love everything you do. I also am always so grateful somehow we ran upon eachother. I love coming to your blog and I even more love reading your posts on mine. You are a gem! Thanks

Ldy ~~ Dy said...

I think your table looks beautiful and festive!! Your Joseph and Mary are precious. What a lovely gift from your hubby! He did good!!

Bo said...

Good morning Laurie...You forgot to mention the mirror used with your centerpiece!! That was the second thing that caught my eye...
the first thing was that glorious Holy Family! And as far as matchy-matchy goes...let's keep breaking the "rules"...it makes a much more interesting table...LOL. ;-) Bo

Kat said...

This is a beautiful tablescape, I have those same Christmas dishes that I've used for years and we just love them. The placemats are beautiful. I really like your award post, the recreation idea is so sweet. Thanks for a great post. Kathy

Miss Janice said...

This is another lovely tablescape by you! I love that you included Mary and Joseph for your Christmas Eve feast! I also love the toile linens...everything is awesome!

Glenda said...

The sheep gamboling about the centerpiece are wonderful. Brings everything to life with their motion. I like that you incorporated the Holy Family into the centerpiece.
Those votive holders are very special and cast a reflection of stars on the mirrored glass you placed underneath the centerpiece.

Anonymous said...

Your tablescape is fabulous, Laurie. I love it.

Your husband's gift of the Holy Family is beautiful!

LillyB said...

Hey Laurie! Thank you so much for the award! Your table is so very beautiful!! The mirror is a great addition. When I saw it I thought Man why didn't I think of that! LOL Have a wonderful day!!!

Tardevil said...

Congrats on the award! Love the tablescape! Tell your sweetie I said he did a great job on the Christmas gift - that nativity! Hope he does just as well THIS year! :o)

squawmama said...

Laurie I loved your tablescape today and especially the centerpiece... magnificient... Your husband did a great job with getting you that fabulous Holy Family...The table setting was wonderful... Have a fun filled day

(((HUGS)))
Donna

Oh ya...
Tag your it!!!! Come on over to my place and pick up the rules...

Love Ya, Donna

Envoy-ette said...

Your husband did a good job! I don't think you are colorblind-it totally goes together! Beautiful table!

Anonymous said...

Oh this is a beautiful tablescape! I love the centerpiece - Your hubby has awesome taste! LOVE IT!

Linda said...

Your tablescape is beautiful. It reflects things you love and is a beautiful reflection of why we celebrate the season. Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

LAURIE,YOU KEEP GETTING BETER,AND BETTER.THIS IS AWESOME.AND CONGRSTS ON THE AWARD....ANN

Deb said...

Hi Laurie! Your table looks lovely I love the Mary and Joseph figurines, the plates, the mats, well I love it all! Deb

Rue said...

Hi Laurie :)

Your tablescape is gorgeous!

Thank you for giving me the heads up on Kady :)

rue

Laurie - Decorating Fanatic said...

Good Morning!! I have been trying for days to get on your blog - you are just so darn popular that it was no match for me and my little old dial up internet! Now that I've finally gotten here, I need to race the kids off to school, stop at the store to pick up veggie platter for the youngest's christmas party but after I am done I am coming STRAIGHT BACK HERE to take a look around. I glimpsed TWO christmas trees in the post before this one! OH MY! WOW!!! so I want to make sure I get to take my time looking at EVERYTHING!! Sorry - Life has just been coming at me at 100 mph! But I need to stop with a cup of tea and drink in all of your lovely home! Be back soon! :) ~ Laurie

Salmagundi said...

That is one beautiful Nativity!! Husbands surprise us sometimes with their good taste - after all, they married us, didn't they? Sally

xinex said...

That is the prettiest Jesus, Mary and Joseph that I have ever seen Laurie. I want them. I wonder where Danny got them from. I love how simple and natural your tablescape is and yet it is festive and beautiful...Christine

Kristen said...

I love the Christmas tree plates. You definately deserve the Christmas Spirit award!!!
Thanks for stopping by my blog...I am not in this children's play but I have been in some:)

Kathleen Ellis said...

Another pretty table! Love the centerpiece and your lack of fear in mixing patterns! I much prefer that to matchy-matchy! Great job!
Merry Christmas!

Knittings Nice! said...

Such a pretty table.....such thought has gone into it....thank you.

Melissa Miller said...

Hello Laurie, :)

I really want to thank you very much for posting and sharing the Christmas Spirit award. I know it's a busy time of year for most of us. Chari could not have said it any better.... You deserve it so much dear lady! Your answers were priceless.

Yout tablescape is excellent. So beautifully done and very welcoming.

Have a wonderful week, ~Melissa :)

CIELO said...

So festive! It looks lovely!

cielo

Unknown said...

Oh I do like the use of the Nativity pieces in your tablescape. And yes it is more special that your husband gave it to you as a gift.
Also love that you used the scraps from your tree ...no waste...just more beauty!
I enjoyed your blog very much!
This is my first time to join in on the tablecape Tuesday. Please visit my blog at whiteirisdesigns.blogspot.com

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hi Laurie...

Girlfriend...another beautiful Christmas table!!! But I have to ask you...how do you do it? You are just full of "never-ending ideas and creativity"!!! My hat is off to you, my friend!!!

Your table centerpiece is fabulous...what a beautiful nativity!!! Your honey has good taste and he's a sweetie "all in one"! Oh yes...and I love, love, love those red & white toile placemats!!! Have a great day Sweetie...

Love ya,
Chari

nikkicrumpet said...

I think part of the charm of this table is that it doesn't all match...but it goes together as a whole beautifully!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Laurie! I love your table centerpiece and I like how you can see your living area from the table. Very nice! You have a beautiful home. Have a great week!

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Laurie, I left a message earlier and it's not here...oh boo hoo!! Your tablescape is beautiful. I love Joseph and Mary as your centerpiece.. I don't have one of those either..ummmm I think that means another mission for me...hugs ~lynne~

Rattlebridge Farm said...

What a great idea to add the votives to the mirror. Love your china. I have to go back and look at your Santa cabinet. That's the bestest idea in the world.

Speaking of dishes...I guess you've seen Desert Rose at TBIB? The first time I was there, I saw it and I felt an immediate kinship with Mary Gay and Paul--not JUST because of literature, but because they loved Desert Rose, too. I think it was Paul's mother's pottery.

Hope you are having a good day.

Lady Katherine said...

Laurie, You have such a wonderful tablescape, I love Joseph and Mary and the baby Jesus! They make the table so wonderful! Now the lamb! I do love sheep! As I used to raise them on the farm! Love that toile too. Want to come set my table? lol

Kristens Creations said...

I love the centerpiece! Everything is beautiful! Kristen

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

Beautiful tablescape... I am a sucker for anything toile....

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Your table is beautiful. I like the way you mixed the toile and that nativity in the center is so beautiful!

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Well, Laurie...You know you had me with the toile placemats and napkins! I love your centerpiece. It's a reminder of what Christmas is about, after all. Beautiful plates! Just gorgeous!...Debbie

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Laurie that is one of the finest looking tables girl..I love the toile and the christmas plates and your center piece..it all just beautiful girl!! What a great boss you have to give you a fine present like that and evn pick it out and not send his secertary out to get it for him...have a great day...hugs and smiiles Gloria

Four Paws and Co said...

Laurie, Your tablescape is beautiful! You have such a sweet & thoughtful hubby. Bet he blushes when you tell him how we all talk about him too. ♥ Diane

Scooterblu's Whimsy~Rhonda said...

Beautiful! I love the Nativity and the milk glass vases! ~hugs, Rhonda :)

Anonymous said...

Your table looks gorgeous - every detail. Definitely one of my favorites with the beautiful nativity!

Anonymous said...

Laurie, I love everything you do, and this is beautiful! I love the nativity as a centerpiece, and how it all goes together perfectly. Your Hubby is a sweetie! Love Ya! Connie

Anonymous said...

Evening, Laurie! Oh, your table is beautiful! I love your attitude about putting together what makes you feel good! That's what I like. I think your nativity is so lovely!
Thanks for the visit,
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Anonymous said...

Laurie I love the wonderful mix you have set at your table! The Nativity used as the centerpiece is so beautiful-

Everything matching keeps things so boring - your mix of fabrics etc. kept me wondering what new wonderful different detail I would find!

blessings
mary

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

Beautiful, as always, Laurie...I just love your tablescapes! The china and goblets are cute, cute, cute. The nativity is beautiful...hubby did good! Susan

Kathysue said...

Oh Laurie, I love the nativity scene on your table they look so serene and peaceful,like silent night.Christ should be at the center of all of our tables and celebrations, I think we get so caught up in the festivities we forget it is because of Gods love for us and the birth of the Saviour that we have this special day.Your table was a wonderful reminder of that to us all, thankyou for sharing.You are the best, Hugs Kathysue

Angie said...

Your table looks beautiful! Love those toile placemats and napkins!

Lisa (aka) French said...

Laurie so happy to have found you! Your table is so beautiful and the attention to detail amazing;) French;)

Anonymous said...

Gm Laurie, better late than never,:) I am so far behind with my visiting. But, I do want to tell you how much I loved your answers on your award. I feel the same way. And your table is beautiful and so inviting. It's a great idea to use Joseph and Mary as your center piece, lets everyone remember what Christmas is all about. You did good, girl.

Hugs,
Chris

Cottage Rose said...

Hello Laurie; I really love you Christmas table, it is just beautiful. And Joseph and Mary and Baby Jesus is so wonderful.

Have a great week.

Hugs;
Alaura

Screaming Meme said...

You are good...real good....:) I love your table...Hi, Im Meme from Screaming Meme...It is so nice to meet you....:)

playsdolls said...

Oh I love your Christmas Table Scape it is so beautiful.Your husband did a great job picking out the nativity set it is wonderful.Congrats on the Christmas Spirit Award.

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

Beyond words Beautiful. I love it all< your pictures, your writing, everything...Merry CHRISTmas...m.

Cami @ Creating Myself said...

Love that opening shot...w/ your room as the backdrop.

I love this table & all the components work beautifully together. Sure wish I could find some toile placemats like those. Hobby Lobby had toile napkins last year but no mats.

Lynette said...

Hi Laurie - your tablescape is lovely as always and I loved your answers for your Christmas Spirit award!!
Enjoy your holiday season ~

Anonymous said...

very special laurie, I loved it. thanks for sharing. I could not believe all the santas...lol vickydarnell

Designs on 47th Street said...

You really know how to set a beautiful table. Everything looks magazine perfect. Oh how I love that mirror additional...just wonderful. :)
Donna

Laurie - Decorating Fanatic said...

Oh my goodness! You did it again! What a beautiful table! I love the nativity! And how clever you are with the cut branches, it looks perfect, tucked away like that. Did you give the hubby a huge kiss for picking that out? It's beautiful! I love the mixture of the placemats,napkins and wonderful plates! Looks very cozy & intimate. And how darn sweet that must be of the children recreating the story of Mary & Joseph. That must be adorable! The two trees in your living room look amazing flanking the fireplace like that. I love the symetry and those adorable kid friendly nativity sets underneath. Then I scrolled down ....and down...and down to your AMAZING SANTA COLLECTION! Holy Moly!!!! I can't even think of anything to say..I am speechless! You are so amazing - all the time, energy & love it takes to put that all together so your family & friends have it to look forward to every year. It's tradition and it wouldn't be Christmas without it. I bet it just amazes all the little ones in the family. They probably think it's Santa's workshop. :) Your new Santa is just beautiful - I want him! :) You are, hands down, the most deserving person of that Christmas Spirit award a thousand times over! I am still speechless...and I was going to gripe about my busy week! sheesh! I can't imagine how long that all takes to put up (or take down - sorry wish I could help!) Well it's late and I am currently baking mini cakes for the kids to bring to school tomorrow. I will be singing joyfully tomorrow at 3p.m. when school is out for a few weeks and the kids are all MINE! Have a great weekend. Take care. ~ Laurie

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Laurie...thanks girl for coming by for a visit ..glad you like my old DR set..hope all is well in your world dear friend..take care...hugs and smiles Gloria

Dawn Marie said...

I love those figurines your husband purchased...so beautiful. The votives are neat to add.

I normally get flowers for Christmas day dinner-I think I will pass that up and get some beautiful votives to place around my Nativity piece.

Visual Vamp said...

Me likee your mix!
You're the Mix Master!
Merry Merry!
xo xo

Anonymous said...

Your tablescape is spectacular and put me in the holiday spirit.

Renee

Unknown said...

Laurie! Congrats on your Christmas Award! You do have an once or 2 of Christmas Spirit! : )

I love your table scape!

~Liz

Bridget said...

I hope you are having a Very Merry Christmas!
Hugs, Bridget