Christmas Lite: Diminished Decorating for Curious Paws

Longtime readers of The Thrift Shop Romantic know I tend to go all out when Christmas comes around, with decorated theme trees in most of my rooms and no surface left undecked.

But this year, with the addition of my kittens Alice and Harry (particularly Harry) I am unsure how delicate decor will fare under the attentions of curious paws. For to them life is bright and new and terribly, terribly battable.

Yes, Harry, I am talking about you...

So I'm planning on doing Christmas Lite this year, with only one main tree in my livingroom and decked in shatterproof Christmas balls-- just to be on the safe side.

I'm trying to keep most temptations up off the floor and away from tasting tongues and poking paws.

I'm going with a sort of candy-colored theme this year in my diningroom... layering red, mint-green and pink onto my table and mantle...
My opalescent Moonstone Anchor Hocking china seemed a frosting-like contrast to the sweet colors.

And it gave me a chance to display some cardboard houses that look tempting, but likely taste a bit bland...

You can see a close-up of those here...
Shatterproof balls in a bowl feature as the centerpiece...
And three different colored tablecloths get a tiered petticoat look when secured with a vintage pin...This allows me to have red in the usually pink and mint-green color scheme of the room, without it being too dominant.

In the entryway to the room's left, I've swagged some simple garland along with bottlebrush wreaths from an end of last season clearance...

And my usual transferware pieces on this shelf are replaced with more cardboard village pieces...
Ah, but still, even with the best laid plans, you cannot predict what will happen when Godzilla rises from the deep to stomp the Christmas village...
Fortunately, all the villagers seem all right-- just suffering from a little post-traumatic stress.

Now I'm wondering what it will be like when I set up the tree...

Wish me luck!

Christmas Lite: Diminished Decorating for Curious Paws

Longtime readers of The Thrift Shop Romantic know I tend to go all out when Christmas comes around, with decorated theme trees in most of my rooms and no surface left undecked.

But this year, with the addition of my kittens Alice and Harry (particularly Harry) I am unsure how delicate decor will fare under the attentions of curious paws. For to them life is bright and new and terribly, terribly battable.

Yes, Harry, I am talking about you...

So I'm planning on doing Christmas Lite this year, with only one main tree in my livingroom and decked in shatterproof Christmas balls-- just to be on the safe side.

I'm trying to keep most temptations up off the floor and away from tasting tongues and poking paws.

I'm going with a sort of candy-colored theme this year in my diningroom... layering red, mint-green and pink onto my table and mantle...
My opalescent Moonstone Anchor Hocking china seemed a frosting-like contrast to the sweet colors.

And it gave me a chance to display some cardboard houses that look tempting, but likely taste a bit bland...

You can see a close-up of those here...
Shatterproof balls in a bowl feature as the centerpiece...
And three different colored tablecloths get a tiered petticoat look when secured with a vintage pin...This allows me to have red in the usually pink and mint-green color scheme of the room, without it being too dominant.

In the entryway to the room's left, I've swagged some simple garland along with bottlebrush wreaths from an end of last season clearance...

And my usual transferware pieces on this shelf are replaced with more cardboard village pieces...
Ah, but still, even with the best laid plans, you cannot predict what will happen when Godzilla rises from the deep to stomp the Christmas village...
Fortunately, all the villagers seem all right-- just suffering from a little post-traumatic stress.

Now I'm wondering what it will be like when I set up the tree...

Wish me luck!

In the (Saint) Nick of Time

I feel I'm really pushing the Christmas deadlines here, trying to get things done. But then I looked back at my blog posts last year at this time and I was saying the same thing. So at least I'm consistent-- if also perpetually disorganized this time of year.

Forgive me, folks, that this isn't a terribly long post. I'll explain why in a moment. But first I wanted to show you how the guest room has been shaping up for the holidays.

The pink McCoy pot my friend Josette gave me last year has become part of a display for this one!...

I decided to use a tree decorated all in vintage jewelry, scarves and a hat in the room this time. Only technical difficulties ensued...
Oh, sure, everything looks okay on the surface, but the bedecked lady seems to have developed a bum leg...
In fact, there was a tremendous cracking sound just moments after I took this picture and... TIM-BERRRR! I caught it just in time.

I do believe this is one job that even duct tape cannot cure. So, I'm going to be moving on to Plan B. And no, I don't know what Plan B is yet. But it sounds positive and enterprising, at least.

What I'd mainly been working on today was moving my desk, computer and everything else to one of the unused rooms on my third floor. My desk used to face this McCoy-filled closet... Now it's just for display.
In the coming months, I hope to share with you how the third floor gets transformed from a dark two-room attic which hasn't seen inhabitants since the Victorian era, to usable, bright and airy office and storage space!

Well, there's much to do... and less time to do it in. So I'm off to do some wrapping and I hope to see you for the next post, on Wednesday.

Have a terrific start to your week!

In the (Saint) Nick of Time

I feel I'm really pushing the Christmas deadlines here, trying to get things done. But then I looked back at my blog posts last year at this time and I was saying the same thing. So at least I'm consistent-- if also perpetually disorganized this time of year.

Forgive me, folks, that this isn't a terribly long post. I'll explain why in a moment. But first I wanted to show you how the guest room has been shaping up for the holidays.

The pink McCoy pot my friend Josette gave me last year has become part of a display for this one!...

I decided to use a tree decorated all in vintage jewelry, scarves and a hat in the room this time. Only technical difficulties ensued...
Oh, sure, everything looks okay on the surface, but the bedecked lady seems to have developed a bum leg...
In fact, there was a tremendous cracking sound just moments after I took this picture and... TIM-BERRRR! I caught it just in time.

I do believe this is one job that even duct tape cannot cure. So, I'm going to be moving on to Plan B. And no, I don't know what Plan B is yet. But it sounds positive and enterprising, at least.

What I'd mainly been working on today was moving my desk, computer and everything else to one of the unused rooms on my third floor. My desk used to face this McCoy-filled closet... Now it's just for display.
In the coming months, I hope to share with you how the third floor gets transformed from a dark two-room attic which hasn't seen inhabitants since the Victorian era, to usable, bright and airy office and storage space!

Well, there's much to do... and less time to do it in. So I'm off to do some wrapping and I hope to see you for the next post, on Wednesday.

Have a terrific start to your week!

Treasure Box Wednesday: People Who Live in Cardboard Houses

Ah, two more rooms down, one-and-a-half to go! Christmas cheer has exploded here at Waterhouse.

Well, not quite. I mean, it starts out as Christmas grumbling because, honestly, who really wants to climb on ladders and unpack boxes after a nine- or ten-hour work day?... But then that gives way to Christmas Accomplishment. And then Accomplishment works its way into the Christmas Cheer.

It's a three-step-to-Cheer process.

So last night I got the chance to add my cardboard vintage-style village to the entryway. It's pretty much the same every year, but I love the tone it sets when you step in the door...

Warmth... nostalgia... welcome...

I exchanged the three transferware vases that regularly sit up on this ledge shelf for three more little cardboard houses, chosen to match the aquas and pinks in my entry...
We'll get back to this room shortly, but first... Remember the purple and silver dining room theme I've been working on for this year? This is the accompanying tree...
It looked pretty lame the first night I was working on it-- kind of like a sad, soggy pipecleaner collection with some sparkles on it. I had considered just taking it down and putting the lamp back that normally lives there.

But, then it seemed the more ornaments I slathered on, the better it started to look. I think that tree actually perked up!...
And now, it's preening in the mirror...
Okay, now back to the entryway... Long-time readers have probably seen this tree before-- the one that's traditionally filled with faux candy and as many ShinyBrites as it can handle...

Underneath, it gets a base of faux poinsettias, to add a little extra color...
This one, too, is reflected by a hallway mirror. I think it adds just a little extra sparkle...
ShinyBrites never cease to amaze me. They always remind me of something Dr. Seuss would have come up with...
And little elves look on, nestled in their ornament homes...
As he waves goodbye for today, so do I! If you missed Sunday's Christmas decorating post, you can catch that by clicking here.

And this Sunday, I should have the last of the decorating to show you-- unless I'm being overly ambitious in saying that. Ya never know.

Treasure Box Wednesday: People Who Live in Cardboard Houses

Ah, two more rooms down, one-and-a-half to go! Christmas cheer has exploded here at Waterhouse.

Well, not quite. I mean, it starts out as Christmas grumbling because, honestly, who really wants to climb on ladders and unpack boxes after a nine- or ten-hour work day?... But then that gives way to Christmas Accomplishment. And then Accomplishment works its way into the Christmas Cheer.

It's a three-step-to-Cheer process.

So last night I got the chance to add my cardboard vintage-style village to the entryway. It's pretty much the same every year, but I love the tone it sets when you step in the door...

Warmth... nostalgia... welcome...

I exchanged the three transferware vases that regularly sit up on this ledge shelf for three more little cardboard houses, chosen to match the aquas and pinks in my entry...
We'll get back to this room shortly, but first... Remember the purple and silver dining room theme I've been working on for this year? This is the accompanying tree...
It looked pretty lame the first night I was working on it-- kind of like a sad, soggy pipecleaner collection with some sparkles on it. I had considered just taking it down and putting the lamp back that normally lives there.

But, then it seemed the more ornaments I slathered on, the better it started to look. I think that tree actually perked up!...
And now, it's preening in the mirror...
Okay, now back to the entryway... Long-time readers have probably seen this tree before-- the one that's traditionally filled with faux candy and as many ShinyBrites as it can handle...

Underneath, it gets a base of faux poinsettias, to add a little extra color...
This one, too, is reflected by a hallway mirror. I think it adds just a little extra sparkle...
ShinyBrites never cease to amaze me. They always remind me of something Dr. Seuss would have come up with...
And little elves look on, nestled in their ornament homes...
As he waves goodbye for today, so do I! If you missed Sunday's Christmas decorating post, you can catch that by clicking here.

And this Sunday, I should have the last of the decorating to show you-- unless I'm being overly ambitious in saying that. Ya never know.