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Saturday, December 20, 2008

SHARE A SPACE SATURDAY-WHY I CONSUME SO MUCH CANDY DURING THE HOLIDAYS and SOME ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS

NOTE: I have had a lot of trouble with my internet provider. I've been on the telephone for hours, because I lost my internet connection. Hence, Share A Space Saturday almost didn't get posted. I don't really think anyone would have missed it, but after all of that frustration with the tech on the telephone, I am determined to get it posted.

After taking pictures of my Christmas decor in my kitchen, I realized that there is probably a good reason I eat so much during the holiday season. My kitchen is filled with candy (real and faux)! Can I really let it go to waste? (How did all of this candy get here in the first place?) Chef Santa has candy canes and gingerbread people in his pocket. I'm sure I gain weight just looking at faux candy!


Under figures depicting a scene from Scrooge, hang faux cranberries.



A peppermint and lollipop tree is on top of the clock, and a peppermint wreath is hanging beside it. And look, even the tiny stocking has a candy cane on it!



Okay, no candy in the shelves under the clock. Just vintage nativity figures. I think these are commonly referred to as "Woolworth" nativity figures, because in the 40's, they were sold at Woolworth's for $1.00 each.


What can you expect from me when even Santa has fallen into the candy jar in my kitchen? I'm afraid you can expect me to be as large as Santa before 2009 arrives!

A candle even reminds me to drink some cocoa and eat some candy canes!


After drinking cocoa and eating candy canes, I can go sit on this little bench (with a box of chocolates), and just let the sugar I've eaten settle down into my hips while I browse the vintage cards on the shelves.



One tree holds candy canes with snowmen and Santas hanging on to them...
And another tree is filled with candy and cookie decor...Cookie and candy houses and a "Home from the Grocery Store Santa Chef" are at the bottom of the counter top tree...


And there's a cookie/candy railroad station under the tree...



And there are even candy canes falling from the ceiling in my kitchen!




Aprons show up everywhere in the kitchen (except on me).



Chairs at my grand children's table wear apron skirts (these were Christmas aprons I had when I was a child).



And one of my light fixtures wears a cross stitched Christmas apron.




Oh No! More candy! A basket made from peppermint holds chocolate kisses, and a faux chocolate Santa stands guard, with tiny candy Santa heads all around. Even though none of these are edible, looking at them makes me WANT some candy, and if I WANT some candy, that usually translates into I NEED some candy! (Quick energy for someone who is staying up too late at night-unfortunately, also quick fat for someone who doesn't need any!)



Candy jars with M & M's and other chocolate treats surround this Santa.

Cranberries and crab apples are all over the shelves that hold my 12 Days of Christmas glasses. Vintage Christmas cards are such an inexpensive way to add Christmas cheer and interest (as well as conceal the normal shelf accessories!).


Children are singing Christmas hymns in front of a church in the center of my breakfast room table.



More vintage Christmas cards in a card holder conceal my cookbooks on the shelf.

My Santa chef sends all of you wishes for a wonderful Christmas!



~~~~~~~~

Donna at Adventures with Tassie (a great blog site) tagged me., and here are the rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you have to write a blog with sixteen random things, facts, habits or goals about you. At the end choose ten people to be tagged, listing their names and why you chose them. Don’t forget to leave them a comment (“you’re it”) and to read your blog.You can’t tag the person who tagged you and since you can’t tag me, let me know when you have posted your blog, so I can see your weirdness.
I decided that, since I have been getting so many questions about my Christmas decor, I'd try to answer some of your questions with this tag. (I still have not heard from a psychiatric volunteer to help me with this problem though!)

As those of you who have been reading my blog know, we have about 30 family members for Thanksgiving dinner; therefore, I do not begin doing any Christmas decorating until the day after Thanksgiving. (Actually, I don't start until that evening, because it takes the day to get the dishes and decor from Thanksgiving all put back up.)

Behind the fireplace wall in my family room is a "holiday closet". When we remodeled this house, my children were no longer living at home, and I knew that the assembly line that passed boxes of decorations down from the attic would no longer be available to me, so I added this closet. It is the length of that wall and has shelves on each side to store holiday decor.

My original idea was to put paneled sliding doors on each side of the fireplace (when closed they would have looked like a panelled wall). The shelves on that side of the closet would have stored my Santas on them. At Christmas time, I would just slide the doors open to reveal the Santa collection. As in most remodeling projects, at some point, I had to make some decisions to cut some expenses, so that was one of the ideas I eliminated.

The shelves in my family room normally hold books and lots of my "junk" that I enjoy seeing on a daily basis.

When I get ready to put my Santas on them, I unload one shelf of Santas in the closet and one shelf of books from my family room and switch the shelf contents, so that my normal shelf accessories are in the holiday closet and my Santas are in the family room shelves.

I realize now that this works out well, since this is the one time of the year that I take everything off of those shelves. When I start putting my Santas back into the closet at the end of the holidays, I clean the shelves in the family room before I put anything back on them. (If I didn't have to take everything off of the shelves, these shelves would never get cleaned -- as it is they only get cleaned once a year-can you believe the things I admit to you?)

I do work every day, so I only do my Christmas decorating at night and on the weekends.

After cooking for 30 people on Thanksgiving, I do not cook again until the week of Christmas when I start cooking for the 30 people who will be at our house for Christmas Eve and for our Christmas day dinner (when we only have 10 people). We eat Thanksgiving leftovers the first week, and we eat sandwiches and quick meals the rest of the time (we know everyone who works at the local pizza restaurants during this time of year on a first name basis). For the first two weeks after Thanksgiving, I stay up way too late at night.

We live with our home in a horrible, disastrous mess for a full week (boxes, ribbons, ornaments, etc. everywhere)! We can barely find a path to walk through the house! I put a sign on our door that says, "Danger - No admittance-Christmas Construction In Progress"!

The second week after Thanksgiving, I have at least cleared some pathways through the house, and my husband is starting to sing "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" (which is his contribution to the decorating process). He says it is supposed to encourage me.

My husband picks out the Christmas trees, puts them in the stands, and puts the lights on them.

My children and grandchildren come over for dinner (the first time I've cooked since Thanksgiving), and we all put ornaments on the two main trees in the family room. This tradition is followed by cookies and boiled custard in the family room, with all lights other than the trees turned off.

By the time the trees get decorated, most of the house is decorated. I usually still have some bedrooms and bathrooms to decorate, but they don't get as much decor as the main living areas.

I spend a lot of time after that tweaking decor. I cannot leave it alone, so up until Christmas Eve, I am adding something, or changing something all of the time.

I spend a week getting the Christmas decor taken down. One Christmas tree in the family room stays up. I take the Christmas decor off of it, and decorate it for New Year's. All Christmas decor is taken down by New Year's Eve (of course, I do find Christmas decor for the next few weeks that I overlooked putting into the holiday closet. If I didn't have a goal, I'd never get it all down, so I have always set my goal as New Year's Eve. (I'm thinking of changing it to Valentine's Day!)

Yes, I really do realize that I am crazy! Yes, I am seriously considering paying for some psychiatric help for this condition, since no volunteers have come forward.

Donna, thanks for the tag. It is just too close to Christmas and everyone is just too busy for me to pass this tag on. If you are looking for something to blog about, please feel free to take this tag. I apologize for the length of this post. Maybe people will learn that they should never ask me to list 16 things about myself!


Thanks so much for stopping by my Candyland Kitchen. laurie

70 comments:

Anonymous said...

LAURIE I THINK OF YOUR ENTIRE HOUSE THE KITCHEN IS MY FAVORITE.AND THAT BIG SANTA.HE WAS ON THE FIRST AND THE LAST.I ADORE HIM.THIS IS ALOT OF WORK,BUT I KNOW IT IS SOOOOOOOO WORTH IT...ANN

Four Paws and Co said...

Laurie,
Your home is beautiful and you are so organized! I'm so amazed and downright jealous! Now I need to think of somewhere that I can organize all the holiday decorations so that it's not so difficult to dig it all out then carry it up & down stairs. My hubby helps with the big tree simply because it's too heavy. Other than that, it's all on me. ☺ Diane

Anonymous said...

Laurie, OMG.... what a joy to visit your site. That Santa...where did you get it???? I love it! NO>>... I should play favorites, I love the trees, the santa's, EVERYTHING!!!!. Somewhere along the line I had not picked up on the fact that you worked. How in the world do you keep up. You ROCK!!!! Nanette

imjacobsmom said...

Laurie, I think that your Christmas decor is my absolute favorite of all. Santa Chef is so cute! I think that I gained 5 pounds looking at your darling faux candies! I'm envious of your holiday closet idea! I am keeping that in mind for whenever I win the lottery and can move again. What are you preparing for your Christmas eve and Christmas day dinners? ~ Robyn

Tomarie said...

Well I already knew I loved your kitchen, but now I REALLY love it!! It exudes so much warmth and coziness..and now makes me hungry! :-)
I loved reading about how you organize/store your Christmas decor. Your built-in closet sounds amazing and just perfect to store all your pretties! And love the Santa chef!
I'm finally coming up for air now that I'm off! I've got so much to do..but at least I'm at home! :-) L~

Knittings Nice! said...

Laurie....these pictures made me smile smile and more smiles...so much to look at...the big Santa is brilliant and I love the Santa station. Talking about Woolworths....such a shame they're closing their doors after all the years of trading...they will be missed.

Anonymous said...

Laurie

I really enjoyed your Christmas kitchen! Each picture unveiled more treasures.... I know I can't pick a favorite! I loved it all!

Anonymous said...

Laurie, I hoped you would show us your kitchen with all the Christmas decorations, and you did! You made me smile and laugh all the weay through! I love the Holiday closet, and how organized you are. Your kitchen is so pretty and cozy, like the rest of your gorgeous home! I really love the Santa chef, and just everything! I don't know how you do it, you are so smart and adorable! Love Ya! Connie

Jean said...

Your kitchen is fantastic down every little detail. Its the kind of kitchen that invites you in to sit a spell to take it all in.
LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT.
Jean in Virginia

Anonymous said...

I had fun, Laurie. I really enjoyed seeing your kitchen all done up and reading your list! WOW!

We are already planning our strategy for taking down this year. The living room tree will come down before we leave for the lake. The hearth room tree stays up till February this year. We'll be gone a little over a week, then return for Drew's b'day then return to the lake. We may take down the dining room tree the weekend we're home. The plan was to stay gone as much as possible, until the end of Jan.

You really have it down to a science, Laurie. I admire you for that and I admire your love of Christmas and decorating!
Merry Christmas!!

squawmama said...

Oh Laurie I love your kitchen and the big Santa chef... I would die for him... My kitchen in Tassie is chefs and when I had the home it was chefs and waiters... You're a nut but guess what... so am I and that is why I am crazy about you my dear friend... You & I would have a dandy candy time...

(((HUGS)))
Donna

Anonymous said...

Oh Laurie you deserve a some kind of super award with an important and catchy title of which, since I am not good in the naming things ( I am still trying to figure out a name for myhouse) cannot come up with it- maybe in my dreams tonight something will come my way though I doubt it caz I usually have really weird dreams!!

Any who you are awesome with all your decorating! And so organized! How clever about replacing what goes on shelf in the box that is going on shelf- geez did that make any sense- anyways I always just stash stuff any little place I can find and then spend the next 1/2 year trying to figure out where in the world I put it! ex- oh why didn't I remember I put it in the built in hamper which never gets a looksee!!

Blessings
mary

Anonymous said...

Oh I love the apron idea on your chairs! And that Kitchen- oh I love your kitchen!

Unknown said...

Hi Laurie,
Love all your Christmas decor!

One of my goals this year is to really take my time getting the Christmas decor packed away and labeled!
diane

Unknown said...

You have the cutest holiday decor. You don't need a psychiatrist. Why., when you are just spreading joy around! Love that Santa and that cup lamp? Love it all. mishelle. Ps. I am glad someone admitted to dusting once a year. Me too. Lol

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Laurie, you have a virtual winter wonderland inside your home. I do the same thing when it comes to taking off every day stuff and putting in the Christmas box or shelf. Sure makes things go smoother doesn't it? I would give anything to find a beautiful snowman like your Santa. It would look fabulous in my kitchen.. lol
From our home to yours
Happy Holidays!! hugs ~lynne~

Unknown said...

I think your kitchen looks like the inside of gingerbread house or maybe the Clause residence... DARLING!

Yah! My goal is New Years eve too! Hah! what a joke! : ) LOL!

~Liz

Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity said...

Laurie, Very cute post. I love all of the candycanes.

xinex said...

Laurie, I really enjoy visiting your house and looking at all your treasures. I believe you now when you said you have lots of Christmas stuff. LOL! I love that big Santa! Where do you store all of these? I need to learn about storing from you since you know how much I shop....Christine

Kat said...

Great post Laurie. I can't believe that you can accomplish all this and work too. It's all wonderful, but that cocoa cup lamp is so unique, I just love it. I like you storage idea also, it is getting old traipsing up and down attic stairs. We may do something like that in the laundry room, thanks for the tip! Kathy

LillyB said...

Awesome girlfriend! I gained 5 lbs viewing your blog today! How about coming over and helping me wrap some to these presents today after church? LOL I went on a Christmas binge and had to shop for the 22 close family members on my list, 15 that I haven't seen in years buuuutttt we do what we must to please our mama's LOL
I love the idea of the aprons on
the chairs and santa in the candy dish was too cute. Everything is wonderful!
Love to you my friend!

Bridget said...

I'm totally impressed with all of your decorations and I'm particularly fond of Santa upside down diving for chocolate (I can relate!)
I would love to have a Christmas closet, that is brilliant!

Merry Christmas, Bridget

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hi Laurie...Your kitchen is sooo cute with all of yur decorations. I LOVE that hot cocoa lamp! But I mostly loved getting another peek at your Quimperware all decroated for Christmas...Debbie

Melissa Miller said...

Hi Laurie,
I love when you post their is so much to see! I could look at your pics forever. Love the warmth of your home and collections.
So beautiful!
Have a peaceful Sunday dear friend. ~Melissa :)

Designs on 47th Street said...

You have the most FUN Christmas decorations. How fun it was to look at everything and how more fun if I could see it all in person!
Thanks for your compliments over at my blog! ;)
Donna

Glenda said...

Adore your canister with Santa's head on the inside. I have absolutely nowhere to display it, but if I saw it, it would go home with me. Love the hot chocolate cup with the candy cane.
I believe I spy a teacup nightlight that I really like. I saw an episode on Food Network about how they make the peppermint baskets. It was most interesting. I believe it was on "Unwrapped".
How ingenious to make a lamp out of a serving pitcher. You are just too smart.
This ranks right up there as another amazing and unbelievable post.

lvroftiques said...

Girlfriend I wanna be just like you when I grow up!! *winks* You have the most AMAZING collections!! I am so happy that you share them with us all!! It's like Christmas for me every time you do!! I can't even say what's my favorite...There's sooo much yumminess to soak up!!! Ooooohhhhhhh Ahhhhhhhhhhh Ohhhhhhhhhh Wowwwwwwwww!! Vanna

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

Laurie...I LOVE the way you decorate for Christmas...please adopt me so I can come to your home! It's truly like a wonderful fantasy land! I'll quit whining about all my decorating and having to work...you do more than I do! I know how hard it is to work all day and come home and decorate, but it definitely makes it worth while when you have family coming to enjoy it. My son will soon be here for 4 days and I can't wait! :-) Love ya,
Susan
P.S. I loved reading how you store it all...inspires me to come up with a better place to store all my Christmas stuff.

Miss Janice said...

Laurie, My goodness, you are one of those people who go all out for Christmas! I love it...your Christmas kitchen is awesome--my favorites being the santa and the scrooge characters! Thank you for the fun tour!

Lady Katherine said...

I love your Kitchen! Mine is the about the same color of blue! The chef Santa is so cool! I want a Gingerbread one! I want to come visit! You couldn't be but a few hours away! lol I have enjoyed your House this Christmas, as mine is in remodel! Thank you for all the hard work making Christmas with Laurie.

playsdolls said...

Your Kitchen is so wonderful and inviting.Love Santa Chef,and all you candy treats look so wonderful.Your post today was teriffic,I really enjoyed reading it and seeing all the pictures.

Rattlebridge Farm said...

You've inspired me. This was a fascinating read.I am really going to try and carve out some space in 09 to store my seasonal items. After reading your article, I am convinced that if I do this, it will be so much easier and more fun to decorate for the holidays.
Thanks so much!

santamaker said...

Hey Laurie,
I finally got over here to catch up on your beautifully decorated Christmas home....WOW....it's amazing. Gorgeous and I just love that you are such a "Christmas enthusiast". What a lot of work, but certainly rewarding. Love your big kitchen santa too!

Bo said...

Good morning Laurie...I was just thinking I'd say your grandchildren must love your magical Christmas home...but, heck...so do old people (me)! I LOVE your BIG Santa Chef...I've never seen one like him or else I'd have one just like him..and as long as I'm coveting, I'll take one of everything else! ♥ Bo ♥

Cami @ Creating Myself said...

Oh, how cozy & festive your candyland kitchen is! I love your Chef Santa. I have one like him but he is much, much smaller.

I had no idea that you also worked outside the home. You are one busy gal!!!

Kristen said...

I love your Christmas quilt and the elf picture of you on the side is so cute.
Thanks for sharing more of your home

Helen said...

Oh my! I feel as though I just left Willy Wonka's Candy Factory! Your decorations are just awesome, your home looks so warm and inviting!

Helen said...

I realized one more thing after taking a second look at your photos .... our nativity figures also came from "Woolies" in the little town next to ours! I treasure them and have been looking at them since the very early 40's!

Myrna said...

Your "Christmas Kitchen" is GORGEOUS!! And I must say--WOW!--after reading all you do from Thanksgiving to New Years--when do you schedule your nervous breakdown?;-)
Have very Merry Christmas!!
Blessings!
Myrna

SmilingSally said...

Hi,
This is my first visit (I think!) yet I see my blog on your blogroll. How nice! I don't remember you leaving any comments, though.

Your decorations are amazing! I love that cup of cocoa lamp the best!

I'm putting your blog on my blogroll. Maybe we'll "talk" more often.

ellen b. said...

OK Laurie! I want your kitchen. Will you swap with me??
:0)
Have a very Merry Christmas!!

artis1111 said...

Love your kitchen. It makes want to come for a coco. Love the lamp!!!. Our customers at the beauty shop bring cookies and candy for the last two weeks. Then we do a dinner at the shop, of coarse there is always too much food.Have a great Christmas. Kathy

Sara's Sweet Surprise said...

Laurie~ I'm sooo enjoying getting to know you. It looks like we suffer with the same afflictions. Christmas galore-titus. I've got 26 years of decor stored in my garage. Christmas alone is in S-e-v-e-r-a-l bins from Santas to Snowmen and everything in between. You'd think with all I've got I wouldn't be tempted to purchase more...not so. I just have to be more cleaver at my hiding places when bringing them home. Then when hubby asks where did that come in from? I can safely reply with all the others.LOL!

I made a boo boo when signing your guest book. I only meant to put in the one entry with my kitty, but notice a spelling error. When I went back to edit, it added a second entry. Please feel free to delete the non photo, double entry.

Sweet Christmas Wishes,
Sara

Sara's Sweet Surprise said...

P.S with a kitchen like yours I'd find myself sipping on cocoa for many hours! You have many inviting nooks in that wonderland of delights.
Sweet Holly~day Wishes,
Sara

Lady Katherine said...

I loved revisiting your Kitchen! Just love the lamp ,cookie jar, and Every thing! I shall come again. No I had no idea I won, How did I miss that? My Grands have been here since Hubby got out hospital. No time! lol

CIELO said...

Love your Santa collection; your home looks so festive!

Merry Christmas and warm wishes from our house to yours

cielo

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

GM Laurie, thanks so much for popping in girl..I hope you have a safe and blessed Christmas dear friend..hugs and smiles Gloria

Anonymous said...

Laurie, I'm back again and just love your kitchen and all of your decorating! I want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!
be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Ribbonwood Cottage said...

Laurie, I love it. I love all of it. Your place looks amazing and how fun to be in the middle of all of it. I wish I could come for a visit...I love your aprons. What great ideas for using them too. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas dear one. Blessings,
Debbie

Envoy-ette said...

I can't stop smiling after your post! So many wonderful ideas, you've created a magical happy land! Aprons- brillant!

Deb said...

Laurie! What are you doing to me? All I've been able to think about during this post is that jar of chocolate kisses. Now I love all of your decorations and I love the blue cabinets in your lovely kitchen. I just have to say good luck taking them all down. Merry Merry Christmas to you and yours from me and mine! Deb

Scooterblu's Whimsy~Rhonda said...

Hi Laurie! I just love all of your Kitchen Christmas decor! My favorite is the Santa upside down in the cookie jar! Too cute! I may be a lot of work, but well worth it! It is all delightful! :)

Wishing you and your family a Wonderful and Blessed Christmas! ~hugs, Rhonda :)

Kris said...

Thanks for sharing your beautiful home with everyone. I love your decor. The upside down santa jar is tooo darn cute.

Kris

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Laurie, thanks for swinging by to see the table today.
From our home to yours,
Merry Christmas my friend,
hugs ~lynne~

Tardevil said...

I mean this in the nicest of ways...when I go to the crazy place for Christmaholics, will you be my roommate? I know we'd have the happiest cell EVER!!! YOU KNOW I LOVE IT ALL! I wouldn't change A THING! MERRY CHRISTMAS! (Do you dislike Jan. as much as I do?)

Tardevil said...

p.s. that big Ho is my fave of them all too!

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Ho...Ho...Ho...& Merry Christmas!!!

Hey Girlfriend,

It's just unbelievable...you truly are living in a "Christmas Wonderland"...I've never seen a home so filled with the joys and wonders of Christmas!!! If I could spend time in anyone's home for Christmas...it would be yours Girlfriend!!! Your kitchen is amazing and such a delight!!! Thank you so much for sharing it and your entire home with us!!! It's truly been a joy!!!

Well my friend, just wanted to say that I'm sending my very best Christmas wishes to you and I pray that the Lord bless you and your family in the coming New Year!!! May it be filled with joy, peace, love, and abundant good health!!!

Love you Sweetie,
Chari

JudyBug said...

Your kitchen is just absolutely stunning. I love everything!! I think the cutest thing is the Santa upside down cookie jar.

Kathleen Ellis said...

I clearly see your dilemma! Time to up the dental insurance :-)
I love the aprons on the chairs...very cute! Your kitchen is beautiful!
Merry Christmas!

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Merry CHRISTmas from my house to yours dear Laurie...hugs and smiles Gloria

Carol said...

Merry Christmas blessings, Laurie! Enjoy your celebration with family & friends!
Hugs,
Carol

Dawn Marie said...

Merry Christmas to you and yor family. You have so many beautiful things..its unreal. I LOVE that bench in your kitchen--looks like a quiet place to just chill.

Kathysue said...

Laurie,Whew,I am tired just reading all that you do.Your are the decorating diva for sure!I think it is wonderful that you do all of this.It is obvious that you love it or you wouldn't be able to pull it off.No wonder you have 30 people in your home for the Holidays,no other home would do after seeing yours.I loved the Christmas childrens aprons,that is really a special touch.I am putting that one in my memory bank.Thank you for sharing,I loved it.hugs to you Kathysue

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Good morning Laurie, thanks for taking the time to swing by this morning. How's the tearing down of the Christmas coming? I'm so glad I got all the outside stuff down and put away yesterday. We've been under tornado watchs, now have pouring down rains, have had heavy winds and some are without lights, and some have damage. I had a tree blown over.. Now, they are calling for freezing rains... yikes, I think old man winter is mad at something..I hope you aren't receiving the same weather... don't work too hard today..
hugs ~lynne~

QtPiE said...

Laurie, your home is sooo beautiful! I love Christmas, it is my favorite time of year, if I could get away with it I would leave my house decorated in Christmas all year round. My mother and I have very similar taste and both our kitchens are chefs and waiters...so naturally I would love to have that santa chef, where ever did you get him? He is so awesome! You know I think if my Christmas deco had that much candy, I too would eat more candy. Dangerous sister! Well I sure an glad that you came and visited me and I look forward to talking with you more, btw, my mother is donna aka squawmama... :~)

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

If I didn't just do my hair, I would now take a nap. You exhaust me. I mean, don't get me wrong...it isn't like I don't have any decorations...but my word! I must admit I am anxious to see your New Year's Eve tree. I do a table, but not a tree. I probably shouldn't look because then I will want to do it and...the cycle continues. You have such beautiful items...I just love some of those Santas. Well, don't overdo (ha ha) and have a great New Year!

Kristens Creations said...

Hi Laurie, Thanks for stopping by and reading Chase's letter. I hope you had a Merry Christmas! I stopped by the other day and thought I left a comment on your kitchen, but see I didn't. I sure do love it! The santa chef is so cute! I have a lot of candy in my kitchen too, faux and real! I love all of your scrooge characters too. We watched that the other night. What a great movie! Hope you have a Happy New year! Kristen

Anonymous said...

Laurie, Your home is beautiful and you are just as beautiful inside and out.... You uplift me on your blog and on my blog with your comments. There need to be more Laurie's in this world... ((hugs))Nanette

Salmagundi said...

Somehow I missed this post until now - 2 days after Christmas! But I read every word and checked out every picture. I love reading your blog. Hope your Christmas celebrations were as wonderful as your home! Sally

Rhonda said...

This is totally so much fun. I love your rooms. Have you ever considered showcasing your beautiful decorating on boomama.net site? She has Mr.Linky and you put your posting of your Christmas decorations on for the boomama.net Christmas Open House.

You sure have a fun way of displaying it all and I am so impressed.

Oh, thanks again for all your sweet comments you always are leaving when you visit my blog.

Cheers!