Gibby, what a great way to decorate your mantle shelf, I love the color scheme against your wood. Mrsmarv, your kitchen is too perfect for this season! It's great anytime, but decorated for Xmas, it's postcard perfect. I did a little bit of kitchen decorating tonight (finally). Bought a couple things at Walgreens (LOL!) that were on clearance on the way back from DD's Orthopedic Surgeon appt. The funny snowman cookie jar cheered us up! Then went to the market, and picked up the rest of my decorations: cranberries, cloves, and oranges. A few existing pieces I worked in and I think that's it for this year...unless I happen across the sale of the century! :-D Thanks to all those who have shared their wonderful photos, and a standing invitation to those who might still! Nat

I love the idea of turning Christmas decorating into Winter Decorating and have been trying to practice that the last couple of years. Just don't know how you can get it into one picture. Just to give you an idea - some of my changes have been: *My door wreath is just pine with a few cones and a few berries and a red bow. I put it out after Thanksgiving and leave it up until March when I put out a Spring wreath. I think I am going to update the bow to a polk-a-dot! *One of my vignetes is gold and white with greenery and lights - love to leave it up until the end of January sometimes. *I like to use red birds, birds nests, berries, pine cones, etc. Just winter items. *I want to add a brass item or two - a deer, partridge or quail, etc. *Lots of white/clear lights that brighten things up AFTER Christmas. *Snowmen and Snowflakes are good winter decorations - but I personally don't like that idea - I just don't like snowmen - they look too Christmasy.

Are you a long lost relative I don't know about, Sue? LOL I'm a crazy, Christmas decorating 'junkie' too. I won't be home for Thanksgiving(NC), but will start with the decorating just as soon as I return. My big 10' tree will be in the LR, with a small 5' in the sitting room off the kitchen, a 5' on a landing going upstairs, 5' in the DR, 3' on DR table, 3' in powder room vanity, and a 2' in each BR~have I left out any?LOL The big one in the LR is decorated with *pink* lights, and ornaments that *must* have pink on them, pink balls, irridesent icicles/snowflakes, and I made at least a hundred beaded tastles out of pearl/irridesent madigras beads. I also started collecting ballerina ornaments a few years ago~I had lessons in 'pointe' for many years, and still hang my shoes on the tree. I've been doing the pink for at least 30 years, and my grandchildren, even the oldest ones, are always excited to see 'Grandma's big, pretty tree'. The one in the sitting room became my tribute to Katrina, decorated in madigras beads of lime green, purple, and turquoise. It has a madigras mask as a treetopper with peacock feathers. Ornaments are in the same colors, but NO solid color is used. They're differed designs~stripe, dots, zig-zags~and shapes. Being my powder room is a deep red, I use leopard print ornaments on the little tree. It's a 'small room with a lot of interest', so I need an interesting tree. LOL The one up on the landing is all sparkly in golds, white, and seashells. Dr table gets deep red ornaments. Bigger one in DR corner is bronze/gold. MB is irridesent white, but i'm looking for sparkly black ornaments. 2nd BR is monkey/tropical ornaments. I use the electric candles in all the windows, wreaths on the ouside front door, as well as the inside. Mantle, mirrors, chandliers, tables, armoire, hutch, desks, are also 'adorned' in Christmas finery. My legacy to my children is to continue the tradition of Christmas being all about family, and part of that is a beautiful decorated 'Christmas home' that feels cozy, and the smell of good food coming from the kitchen. ALL my children 'show signs' that's it working! ;o)

I have seen some really cool stuff on Pinterest. My computer is currently blocking some of my favorite pins. Look up "Christmas tree dress". Some of those are really beautiful for interior decoration. Here is something I think would look great on the front door and hold up pretty well in harsh sunlight. Wood Holiday Ornament Of course you could could use your own word and colors and use UV protectant spray on it. I also like the idea of a huge wooden monogram letter of your last name decorate in Christmas colors and a bow and a little bling.