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Wednesday, December 11, 2013

HAVE YOURSELF A RETRO LITTLE CHRISTMAS

Retro Christmas-Bargain Decorating with Laurie

We have a bribe tradition (that sounds much nicer) we do each year before Christmas.  I invite our children and grandchildren over for dinner, and all of them help decorate the two trees in our family room.

Retro Christmas-Bargain Decorating with Laurie

The tradition also includes custard, hot chocolate and desserts served in the study, around my retro Christmas tree.

Christmas Decor-Bargain Decorating with Laurie

First, the custard.  I haven’t decided whether our grandchildren like custard or whether they drink it because they like getting it in a Christmas wine stem to clink with each other.  (Another tradition is the lecture about clinking lightly.)

Christmas Decor-Bargain Decorating with Laurie

After drinking the custard (with a lot of toasts and clinking by the grandchildren) in front of the lit trees with all of the rest of the lights out, we go back to the study and make our way to the hot chocolate.

hot choc

 

Christmas Table

Amid the retro ornament boxes and Christmas decorations, there are plates by Rainbow Mountain, depicting each of Santa’s reindeer.  It takes awhile for each grandchild to select which reindeer plate they are going to use.

Retro Christmas

 

 

plates 1-vert

Ooops!  I just realized that I have taken Cupid’s picture twice.  I have three sets of these plates.  So…there is a reindeer missing, but I don’t have time to figure out which one.  Let me know if you figure it out.

Retro Christmas

We wind our way past the retro Christmas village, and

Retro Christmas

past a couple of Santas in sleds being pulled by reindeer.

Retro Christmas

Until we find the candy canes in the vintage Santa mug.

Christmas

Retro Christmas

We might stop to see more vintage ornaments in the box before we find the bowl of kisses, because after decorating our trees, we all deserve a kiss or two.

Christmas

After we get a piece of cake (which I forgot to photograph), we end up at the “castle” cookies.  My grandchildren think these Walgreen’s cookies are the best, so I have to provide the “best” for my grands.

Christmas

This table is set on a vintage Nutcracker tablecloth that I bought at a flea market some time ago.

Retro Christmas

Thank you so much for coming to visit.  laurie

I’m partying at Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters, and Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

24 comments:

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Spectacular Laurie!
Your grands have the best life thanks to their ultra cool and creative Grandma!
Your table and tree just sparkle with retro beauty.
Hugs friend,
Cindy

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Love the Retro, you have the best collections!

Mary@mydogsmygardenandmary said...

Oh Laurie, what a great tradition and I'm sure the grands love helping decorate and eating all that custard, hot chocolate, kisses and cake. Everything looks so special.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful post.
Have a great week.
Mary

lynne said...

Laurie, how wonderful! They must love that tradition! You are an awesome grandma, I just know it.

Tardevil said...

Oh, Laurie! I love your home at Christmas! Love the green tree, Shiny Brites and the stained glass church....and traditions!

Mary Ann said...

Oh, gosh, it is so festive and Christmas-y!

Sara's Sweet Surprise said...

Laurie~ your home is where wonderful memories are created. Retro Christmas is everything from my childhood. I guess it's why I gravitate to the ornaments and decorations that carry the older (classic) flair.
We share many of the same patterns for dishes and stemware. It makes me happy to think my Grandson will grow up with the traditions Grandma has celebrated for many years.
I would imagine your family enjoy eating or drinking the custard you've prepared because they know it was made with love.

Sweet wishes,
Sara

Peggy Thal said...

Very sweet! What a lovely and happy time for your family. They will remember this time always. Love your cute plates. Children love picking things out. Thanks for sharing!

Tricia said...

Laurie, your grandchildren are so blessed to have you nearby! I know they LOVE all the wonderful traditions and amazing decorations at your house! I enjoyed seeing all your vintage decorations!

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Laurie,
You make Christmas so special and your grands will remember these precious memories forever. Love your table, tree and all the treasures around. You have such a gorgeous collection of vintage pretties.
Love the tree and the light green color. Your tablecloth is beautiful too.

Always inspired when I visit.
Christmas hugs, Celestina Marie

hidden art of homemaking said...

Laurie,
This sounds like so much fun! Your Santa and sleigh made me smile. I have one just like that and move him around each Christmas without finding any place to really display him. LOL Yours looks great. I love the way you have displayed all of your retro Christmas deco...Maybe next year mine can all come out of their storage...:-) Thanks for the inspiration..
Love, Mona

April D said...

I enjoyed this post so much, Laurie! Your little tree is absolutely unbelievable, and what a yummy collection of vintagey goodies!
The castle cookies made me laugh. Kids DO appreciate simple!
Hugs and Happy Christmas to you!~april

ellen b. said...

So many retro treasures to see and enjoy here. I think I'm going to have to start bribing someone to come help me decorate the tree. I didn't even unwrap half of the ornaments this year and I'm d-u-n done!!

Ginger said...

Your house is so much fun. Your grandchildren will have the best memories forever.

Tea in Texas said...

Can I come to your house and enjoy all the traditions. Your a great grandmother and them must love all your fun times. The retro decor is perfect and I think I will go back and view each photo again! Have a Merry time with your family!

Pam

Laurie @ Vinyet Etc said...

That looks so amazing and so much fun, what a cool tradition! Wow the amazing things you have!

Liz@ HomeandGardeningWithLiz said...

You know I'm a big kid at heart and this table makes me want to be there sucking on a candy cane wandering around with big eyes to look at everything! First that tablecloth is the BEST! I love the details like the ballerinas, and ribbons. The tree in the center is fabulous and all the vintage decorations really make it! I wish I would have kept boxes my ornaments came in but I do remember them as a child with my parents! I love the tradition you have with the family....The cookies look super good to me!! Loving all your dishes, glassware and candy dishes!

Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads said...

Laurie, you are just an amazing grandmother! I wish our grandchildren lived closer to us, and as always, I love seeing your wonderful collections.

xinex said...

Oh what fun! If I was younger, I want to be your grandchild. You sure do the best for for them...Christine

Perfectly Printed said...

Oh my gosh so much inspiration here!! I'm having 30 ladies for Christmas tea Sunday and thought I had my tablescapes planned...I may just have to change my mind after reading this post!

Marigene said...

Wow, your retro Christmas is fabulous, Laurie...brings back wonderful memories of when I was a little girl...love those Shiny Brights and that beautiful vintage tablecloth.

Unknown said...

Wow, phenomenal, you got lots of Christmas decorations and figurines. Advanced Merry Christmas!

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Alycia Nichols said...

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the retro feel throughout!!!!!!! I have been in a very nostalgic mood this season, and this just marches right along to the beat of my drum!

You do such wonderful things that involve your family. You're a good Grandma! On the flip side of that, just wondering how much your children and their spouses want to run you out of town on a rail for fillin' the kids up with all that sugar and sending them back home with them!!! :-) :-) :-) I say, "Right on, sister!"

LOVE those reindeer plates!!! Merry Christmas to you and your family, Laurie. Oh...and I just saw the prayer list on the sidebar. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I haven't been on the computer a lot since Daddy first took sick in the Spring, so to see that really makes my heart swell. Thank you!

Kathleen said...

What a wonderful tradition! Love all your retro decos, those little mugs are darling! Hope you are well and enjoying this beautiful season. And the baby?