Everyday Living

A Christmas To Remember Part Two

~ Christmas, Decorating, Holidays

 “And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:10-11‬ ‭

Once again, welcome back to the beautiful home of a very special family that has opened their doors and invited us in!  In the first post, we saw everything from a Grinch-style Christmas tree to angels heralding the coming King!  We will pick up where we left off, and trust me when I say you are going to love what you will see today!

One thing to notice and learn from this family:  they keep Christ the center of their Christmas….and their everyday living.  May the baby, who came to live the perfect life on our behalf to reconcile the weary world to The Father, be at the center of our hearts and homes this Christmas!   The two-story foyer opens to a show-stopping Christmas tree!  The gold nativity is perfectly displayed at the
center of the home and in the hearts of the precious family who lives here! 
 The stair railing is decorated with lighted garland and Santa sits on the newel post welcoming all who enter!
The entry looks directly into the music room…check out that chandelier lamp!    Touches of holiday cheer decorate the room! The breakfast table is set with the couple’s collection of Mackenzie-Childs!  Santa, to the delight of two darling little girls, makes his appearance on the table!
 Knowing my passion for tablescaping, you can imagine how much I loved the fluted Mackenzie-Childs “Courtly Check” pattern!  The dinner plate rests between a gold charger and a red salad plate!  How cute is that moose?!
The family room, adjacent to the kitchen and breakfast room, is warm and cozy with its beautiful mantel and tree! Stockings and garland decorate the mantel with holiday vignettes on bookshelves!  What a joy it was to be invited into the home and hearts of this family.
May we all have a Christmas to remember!side Linking with Pieced Pastimes, Silver Pennies, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice, Coastal Charm, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, Ivy and Elephants, French Country Cottage, From My Front Porch To Yours, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Charm of Home, Cornerstone Confessions, A Delightsome Life, Imparting Grace, Posed Perfection, Katherines Corner, Rooted In Thyme, Share Your Cup, The Enchanting Rose, 21 Rosemary Lane, Northern Nesting, Cozy Little House, Rattlebridge Farm, Rustic & Refined

City Sidewalks, Busy Sidewalks…of NYC

~ Christmas, Holidays, Travel

“All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord”
Isaiah 66:2a

One of my favorite trips to take is New York City at Christmas!  It didn’t work out for Butch and me to go this year, but our chosen daughter, Katy went and I was able to experience it through her eyes and camera lens!  I have asked her to share all about her trip with us today!

So here’s Katy…

I’ve always loved Christmas carols and I am “that girl” that admittedly starts listening to holiday stations on Pandora several weeks before Thanksgiving.  But the words “City sidewalks, busy sidewalks” took on a whole new meaning for me this past weekend!  I (along with several thousand of my “closest” friends) went to New York City for a few days for the experience I had only seen in photos!

A few things probably come to mind when you think NYC at Christmas…the Rockefeller tree, ice skating in Central Park, breathtaking window displays, and the ever-so-popular Rockettes…all of which I was able to do in four short days!  It truly was a magical experience and I am excited that Pam asked me to share these few days with you!  The weather was perfect, although not very Christmas-y…it was in the 60’s!  But, I walked more miles than I could’ve imagined and it was worth every step!

Come with me…let’s take a walk down Fifth Avenue in New York City!

 
The iconic Rockefeller tree!  It truly is magical…

 
…even in the daytime!

 
Ice skating in front of the tree!  The line was wrapped completely around the block!


These larger-than-life drummers stood on the corners around the tree.

 
You talk about stop-you-in-your-tracks!  Saks Fifth Avenue had the most magical store front display! 


At night, the light show would start every few minutes…the Christmas spirit was alive and well on Fifth Avenue!

 
The window displays were themed “A Winter Palace”.
Think: adult version of “Frozen”!

 
The Icy Eiffel Tower

 
There was a sea of people (including me) “ooh-ing” and aah-ing” at these displays!

 
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The Great Barrier Reef

 
A look at Saks from underneath the tree at Rockefeller Center!

 
I wish the pictures could do it justice!  Amazing!

 
And then there’s that Tiffany blue…


Who can stand in front of windows at Tiffany’s and not think Audrey Hepburn?!
   
The window displays were small, but the diamonds certainly weren’t!

 
I had to snap this photo of the deer with antlers and chandeliers…it’s everyday living at Tiffany’s!

 
Lord & Taylor’s window theme was “Our Favorite Things”.  This was the Advent calendar mansion that had opening doors revealing different winter scenes!


The Sweet Shoppe
I’m with you, Lord & Taylor…I love sweets too!

 
Animated gingerbread men carrying a gingerbread house


 I think I stopped and watched this cuckoo clock for ten minutes…it was beautiful!


I’ve never seen such detail! 


The window displays brought out the kid in me…I could’ve stopped and gazed in for hours!

 
On Sunday, I ventured up to the east side of Central Park…and found Laudree…THE place for macarons!

 
How can you possibly make a decision between such pretty desserts?!
  
Endless options of flavors!

 
I am not sure what the “perfect” macaron is supposed to look or taste like, but I think this is it!  Delicious!!

 
And the windows were beautiful there, too!

 
Standing on the Brooklyn Bridge!

Thanks for taking the time to read all about my trip to NYC!  But there’s more…and I will be sharing the rest with you on Friday!

Linking with Pieced Pastimes, Silver Pennies, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice, Coastal Charm, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, Ivy and Elephants, French Country Cottage, From My Front Porch To Yours, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Charm of Home, Cornerstone Confessions, A Delightsome Life, Imparting Grace, Posed Perfection, Katherines Corner, Rooted In Thyme, Share Your Cup, The Enchanting Rose, 21 Rosemary Lane, Northern Nesting, Cozy Little House, Rattlebridge Farm, Rustic & Refined

Tablescape Tuesday: Merry & Bright

~ Christmas, Food & Entertaining, Holidays, Tablescape Tuesday

“For nothing will be impossible with God”
Luke 1:37

I think we can all agree that Christmas is the time everyone steps it up a notch with decorating. What other time of the year do we take an entire weekend, some even longer, to decorate for a holiday?  I love to see photos of trees, mantels, porches, and everything in between all decked out in the traditional red and green. It’s also the time of year that we open our homes to family and friends to enjoy good food and fellowship, making it my favorite time of the year to tablescape!  I love using fresh cut greenery, fruit, and of course, lots of bling and color! Over the years, I have collected so much Christmas decor that I have an endless supply of things to choose from…and I like to mix things up a bit!  This Christmas season, I added salad plates from Pottery Barn that I can use during the winter months, not just for the holidays!  They make for a good transition while bringing holiday cheer!

 
The salad plates provided the inspiration for the table!

 
The long centerpiece is made with fresh-cut cedar, apples, and candles!


 There are four different birds represented on the plates!

 
I paired a solid red napkin with an apple green chevron print napkin and cinched the two with a napkin ring!

 
A pair of square vases filled with cranberries hold a floating candle…so simple, but elegant!

 
The rattan chargers add texture and give the setting a rustic feel!

 
Candlelight provides the perfect ambiance anytime, but especially at Christmas!

 
The foundation for the centerpiece is a festive table runner!

 
The colorful stemware is always used during the Christmas season!


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This was one of those tablescapes that came together in fifteen minutes…love it when that happens!

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The five flocked slim trees are a new addition to the dining room!  They were so easy to assemble and put in place – perfect with just the lights and no ornaments!


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“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold
in a setting of silver”
Proverbs‬ ‭25‬:‭11‬

The Details:
White Dinner Plates – Home Goods
Bird Salad Plates – Pottery Barn
Stemware – Pier 1 (several years ago)
Gold Flatware – Cambridge
Rattan Chargers – Hobby Lobby (several years ago)
Table Runner/Napkins – TJ Maxx
Napkin Rings – Fairhope, AL (this past summer)

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Linking with Pieced Pastimes, Silver Pennies, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice, Coastal Charm, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, Ivy and Elephants, French Country Cottage, From My Front Porch To Yours, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Charm of Home, Cornerstone Confessions, A Delightsome Life, Imparting Grace, Posed Perfection, Katherines Corner, Rooted In Thyme, Share Your Cup, The Enchanting Rose, 21 Rosemary Lane, Northern Nesting, Cozy Little House, Rattlebridge Farm, Rustic & Refined