Christmas 2016 is unfolding as simple and uncomplicated, and I am so grateful.
All of the important things are still in place such as family, faith, and good food, but I have eliminated most of the extra.
No multiple trees, no decorations in every room of the house, no shopping- other than well intentioned gift giving.
Looking back this year, I can see lots of reasons why this was inevitable and needed, but I really don’t want to label the ‘why’, unless of course I label it a blessing.
Here is an update on what I have done and how this is evolving.
*We are not traveling this Christmas. My husband and I invited our family to visit us whenever they can.
*Our gift giving will be simple and personal.
*I decorated simply which includes everything you see in these photos.
To my friends reading this, yes, you read that correctly, I decorated simply.
I walked out to the garage to get the Christmas crates, decided to give our oldest daughter my flocked tree, I couldn’t reach our other tree, and the crate I could reach was full of red ornaments. Decision made.
*My faux red poinsettias and a simple tabletop tree were within reach, so I grabbed those.
Result? No large tree and I used red- which is my favorite Christmas color.
*I used plaid ribbon from Marshall’s ($5.99 a roll) and I bought a skinny garland at Michael’s for $2.99 to add to the simple mix.
*I added my beloved blue and white , stepped back , realized I could breathe, I was smiling, and I was
finished.
I know I have another Christmas extravaganza in me.
It can happen again.
This is not a bah humbug tale. This is about simplicity and relaxation and laughter.
It is also about feeling comfortable and cozy-
which leads me to the wonderful
Once again, she has gathered a group of bloggers and asked us to share how we feel Cozy at Christmas.
Isn’t that a wonderful thought?
There are 15 bloggers sharing what this looks like this week in their homes.
The schedule and their links are listed below.
Cozy At Christmas Blog Tour
Let's Add Sprinkles/ Hyacinths for the Soul/ Southern DayDreams/ White Spray Paint/ Garden Up Green/ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson/ Ellie and Elizabeth
Brookhollow Lane/ At Home With Jemma/ My Heart Lives Here/ The B Farm/
Botanic Bleu/ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen/ Art and Sand/ Ash Tree Cottage
Sweet Nothings/ At Rivercrest Cottage/ Opulent Cottage/ Decor to Adore/
Fern Creek Cottage/ The Dedicated House/ Bluesky Kitchen
I am having a simpler Christmas around my house too:) It just felt right to NOT over-do decorations this year, great minds think alike! Enjoy your day sweet Laura, BIG HUGS!
ReplyDeleteEverything looks fabulous, Laura. The plaid ribbon is adorable! Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteLove it! Simple is really good for your heart and mind sometimes. I'm proud of you for embracing simple and feeling good about it.
ReplyDeleteI'm working on it. :)
Simple is good. I try to simplify and stuff gets out of control. I hope you are breathing sighs of blessed simplicity and can enjoy the meaning of the season. Thanks for being part of our tour.
ReplyDeleteHi Laura, Oh it's perfect and we must have been thinking along the same lines this year. I didn't take out all my Christmas decor and kept it simple to a less is more approach. It still feels full but only a fourth of what I normally display.
ReplyDeleteLove your hutch and table vignette. The red with the greens and blue and white just feels so inviting. Love the plaid ribbon. Enjoy our tour and Merry Christmas sweet friend. xo
It looks great! Love the plaid.
ReplyDeleteYour pairing of the red tartan with your blue and white collection is absolutely stunning!
ReplyDeleteI've yet to learn to do simplicity, but it is simply beautiful! I keep telling myself that I need to down size, but don't have the heart to do it yet. Although, I did give my grandson all of my Dickins village. He and his new bride are thrilled! I love plaid and it looks beautiful mixed with the black! Merry Christmas to you!
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
I'm also having a very simple Christmas so I get it. Love the details you shared and it was fun being apart of this tour. Hope you get a chance to stop by and see some of my simplicity.
ReplyDeleteCarole @ Garden Up Green
Simple is gorgeous! Love your ribbon with your beautiful blue and white collection. So pretty!
ReplyDeleteI love your epiphany that you had while going to the garage, Laura! I've gone simpler, myself, since my beloved husband passed away.
ReplyDeleteYour tartan plaid ribbon with your blue and white on the mantle looks like cozy perfection! Happy Christmas blessings to you and your family.
Oh, Laura! Everything is so pretty! You know how I love your pretty blue an white pieces and your Christmasing with them is just perfect!
ReplyDeleteBe a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
It looks perfect Laura, and I love the fact that you embraced keeping it simple. That always gets vetoed at my house, ;) but I do have lots of helpers. Love your blue ceramics with your beloved Christmas red!
ReplyDeleteJenna
Oh so pretty and simple is always best. Love it all.
ReplyDeleteLaura, simplicity is always a beautiful decision. I get much pleasure out of decorating our home, but the energy to get it all done is waining. Our tree is up with favorite ornaments, but I was very selective this year. Didn't even open some of the boxes.
ReplyDeleteAll the best for a delightful Christmas with your family. You home will be festive indeed!
Keeping it simple still allows for a beautiful home for you and yours. I loved hearing how you've reduced your decorating, but still kept the spirit of Christmas in your heart and home this year. Katie is so kind to host this special tour. I love how she focused on the "cozy" and your post sure carried that theme along well.
ReplyDeleteSIMPLY beautiful, Laura! Your pairing of poinsettias with your classic blue and white is perfection! Hugs, Cecilia
ReplyDeleteI love your pretty decor, Laura! It is peaceful and festive at the same time. It is perfect!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Cecilia B
I love it! The blue and white with the red plaid is perfect! Your 'simple' is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI love the blue and white with the Christmas red added in. I'm also keeping it a little more simple this year. Thanks for sharing your pretty home.
ReplyDeleteIt is beautiful...and simple and serene is really what Christmas SHOULD be for all of us...but often isn't. Blessings to you and your family, Laura. xo Diana
ReplyDeleteLove your blue and white with greenery and plaid ribbon. Very elegant. How wonderful not to have to travel but anticipate family coming in. Wishing you a great week.
ReplyDeleteSometimes simple and classic really is best and if that means you are able to relax and enjoy the holiday season...all the better! I adore your greenery with plaid ribbon! It looks lovely!
ReplyDeleteYour blue and white really looks stunning with your Christmas decor...love it all
ReplyDeleteSimple is often best, and you did a wonderful job using minimal decorations for a really big impact! Love it!!
ReplyDeleteBig Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Dearest Laura,
ReplyDeleteOf course I adore the carefully placed touches of Christmas cheer that you have added to your already lovely decorated home.
Your simple and serene choices make Christmas all the more merrier.
Merry Christmas to you and your lovely family,
Jemma
Laura, sometimes we just to do what we can. There a million ways to decor a home for Christmas and hers this year is just one of them. You did a lovely job and put your heart into it. Thts what counts. Thanks for sharing on the blog tour.
ReplyDeleteLaura,
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done. The red plaid ribbon goes well with your blue and white. Here's to enjoying the season.
Joyeux Noël,
Judith
Good for you for simplifying! Your home looks lovely and very festive!
ReplyDeleteIt is beautiful, and isn't it so freeing to do it this way? Love ya!
ReplyDeleteJB
simple but beautiful! Merry Christmas Season!!!
ReplyDeleteSimple and pretty! I love the blue and white ginger jars paired with plaid! Sometimes it's nice to keep things simple so you can relax and enjoy the holiday!
ReplyDeleteLaura, it's fabulous. Simple and yet elegant. Warm but beautiful. and you know, you are done!
ReplyDeleteEach year I've cut back a bit (which isn't saying much). When I posted recently the decorations I realized that it was only part of the house! And the part not on the blog yet is done -- partly, and partly not. And you know, it might end up that way!
Because I have cookies I want to bake, friends to see, presents to wrap, maybe an impromptu party (or maybe not), songs to sing, cards to make (if I get to it) and cards to write (which I will). Now that I'm retired there is more time to do that -- and yet I find there are a lot of things downstairs that will stay there -- or more likely go to Molly if she wants them as she starts to build her collection.
You have made your home you for Christmas. And next year, it might be a bigger you -- or not -- and it will still be fabulous!
Always a treat visiting with you here.
ReplyDeleteI am going to be so jealous of you when it is time to put Christmas away!! Everything looks beautiful and less is more.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful Laura! You know that I love all of that blue and white ;) And can you please call me before Christmas next year and remind me that I said I wanted to do simple, also?!! Hahaha! Merry Christmas! xoxo, Andrea
ReplyDeleteLaura, everything is so beautifully dressed for Christmas. I love the blue and white...always appropriate! ~Blessings
ReplyDeleteI totally understand the need for simplicity. Although our house is fully decorated, there is an attic full of Christmas stuff that I actually brought down, set out, removed and took back to the attic.
ReplyDeleteOur family takes a vacation together for Christmas and that is the most special moment of Christmas for my husband and me.
Our house is fully decorated, but I'm done with that, well thought out gifts are arriving daily (thank you Amazon) and now all I need to do is my Christmas baking. That's not until the day before we leave on vacation so I'll just have to relax and enjoy the holiday.
Laura, I love your simple decorating. Sometimes, we can go overboard. Your home looks both beautiful and elegant. I love it! I hope that you have a wonderful and Merry Christmas season!!!
ReplyDeleteSimple is good :)
ReplyDeleteDiana
Gorgeous! Your fireplace is stunning...especially with blue and white! I discovered a couple of years ago how much I loved using it at Christmas with reds. It just pops! love it. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteAwe Laura, I adore your Simple Christmas! And you know I love the blue and white! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
ReplyDeleteI am reading a lot about people 'simplifying' this Christmas - as did I. I'm not sure if it's the election, the state of the country....or simply getting a bit older....but I knew I was going to keep things 'quieter' than last year. And you know what? I'm ok with that!! Your home looks lovely - so cozy and warm!
ReplyDeleteI'm sighing over your gorgeous blue and white! You can't get better than that! Thank you for sharing! Merry Christmas! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
ReplyDeleteOh, this is lovely. So nice of you to invite us into your home.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Simple sounds good to me....it is so easy to become overwhelmed! Love your mantle - so festive and pretty! Happy Holidays
ReplyDeleteI love this!! Of course, everyone has their own way of "doing" Christmas but I love that you elected to do a simple but beautiful Christmas! The plaid ribbon is lovely and it looks so good with the greens.
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed week!
xo
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