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Hi and Happy Monday! Hope you had a great weekend, ours was fun, chock full and busy. Excited to be here for the second part of Styled and Set where a group of super talented bloggers are showing off their holiday decorating chops. I must say that I feel a bit behind the eight ball in terms of holiday decor but for me, having done even what I have done so far is nothing less than a miracle.

Normally, I  am barely even thinking of holiday decor around Thanksgiving so this is a big deal and this post actually gave me great motivation! I know most will have their trees up, stockings hung, and gifts wrapped…my hats off to them.

I am not quite there as my  holiday decorating is always approached in “mini stages”, when the creative urge strikes I take full advantage and seize the day. So today focuses first on my Thanksgiving table and the  beginnings of my Christmas decor as well as a short poll as to which you would choose for our Christmas day dinner table setting. Ready to begin? Also a special thank you to Lory from Design Enthusiasm for putting this wonderful 2 part series together, it is no east feat!  Let’s go….

There is no real organization here other than it’s just all holiday related. I normally am not done with my holiday decorating until at least mid Dec. and am constantly  tweaking and editing. I just got started  but will give you an idea of where I am headed! Sadly my Nikon camera charger has gone missing so all pictures here were taken with my trusty little iPhone-

Here was my Thanksgiving table, I do something very simliar for Christmas…..

Here are some ideas for my Christmas day dinner table, have a favorite? Please tell me which you would use for your Christmas table and remember whichever I choose will be dressed up with a few sprigs of holiday greens and mini pinecones:)

CHOICE 1

CHOICE 2

CHOICE 3

CHOICE 4

Here is a variation of what I did for my mantle in the dining room, proof that blue and white has a place in every season and fresh greens work every time (magnolia leaves are always a big part of my holiday decorating)-

And a few holiday touches starting to be added throughout the house-

And here are my only three gifts wrapped so far…as I say quality over quantity lol. Rest assured there will be a gift wrapping frenzy happening here mid December!

LOVE my gift tags from Dixie Design Collective….prettiest I have seen!

And a few other areas around the house-

Just got this mammoth magnolia and fresh greens 36″ wreath for my front door….bow soon to be added!

Love this cone topiary and like filling bowls around the house with gold sparkly pinecones-

This above is a faux garland (very life like) love garland around chests and secretarys, added a bowl of my blue and white ornaments for a little festivity!

This is our back powder room I never forget guest baths, these little potted amaryllis plants I have had for years, I will probably add a fresh wreath to the mirror in a few weeks and always have a holiday scented candle burning when I have guests over

 Bought these little wreaths (about 10″ side) a few years ago and use them on many things love adorning a pretty serving piece with one, like this stag tureen

A great example of using faux with real. The garland is faux and the boxwood on top are clippings from my year, mixed in with the garland one would never ever know!! The artichoke arrangement is part of the new holiday collection (promo coming up in a few days)

A few of my ideas/suggestions for holiday decor are-

• Buy bunches of fresh greens and garland, even at places like Home Depot, they are an inexpensive way to add holiday cheer around the house and can easily be cut into smaller pieces to use for adornments on gifts, etc….
• Don’t forget that fruit, apples, lemons, artichokes make beautiful arrangements along with fresh greenery
• If buying fresh greens because of the warmth inside the home, they can dry out faster than usual, you can mist them every few days with water and or buy a product called Wilt Pruf
• You can mix real with faux, I have done it often and it works beautifully!
• Use inexpensive ornaments as attachments for gifts
• Pinecones are really inexpensive and a great way to add a festive touch throughout the house, fill a bowl with them, add a cluster on a chest with some fresh greens
• I always have a few holiday scented candles burning throughout the house and in a kitchen on a daily basis- really adds to that holiday mood
• Personalized name tags really elevate a gift
• Use a sprig of fresh greenery on any gift and see the difference it makes
• I almost every year, get gorgeous wrapping paper from Homegoods and TJ Maxx, I stick to simple papers that have gold, cream and green and go to town with ribbon adornments and my Dixie Design gift tags
• I take the approach (so as to not be overwhelmed) of holiday decorating in many mini  stages, so do a little bit every day as time allows and somehow someway it gets done!
• Crank up that Christmas music all day long  and always have a glass of wine on hand (after 5pm) to take away any holiday stress, does it every time!

Hope you enjoyed this post and getting to come into my home and see the start of my holiday decorating! I must say having to  have pictures for this post was great motivation to get a head start. You do not want to miss everyone else’s and best part is there is a week long of amazing blogs to visit, all centered around the holidays. Suffice to say you will get all the inspiration you ever dreamed of!

Thanks for stopping in, until next time….ho ho ho!

PS If you missed my Seven on Sunday click here

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Coming Tuesday

Shabbyfufu | CitrineLiving | French Country Cottage
Maison Decor | Sand and Sisal | Sand and Sisal

Coming Wednesday

Bless’er House | Cedar Hill Farmhouse | Design, Dining and Diapers
Maison de Pax | So Much Better With Age | Sand and Sisal

Coming Thursday

Ella Claire | On Sutton Place | Randi Garrett Design
Savvy Southern Style | Stone Gable | Life On Virginia Street

Coming Friday

Buckets of Burlap | Finding Home Farms | Life On Virginia Street
Setting for Four | Sunny Side Up | The Wood Grain Cottage

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