Our Happily Ever Afters: For the Holidays, You Can't Beat Home Sweet Home!

Today was the Christmas Tea and Home Tour for our Women's Ministry at church, and it was wonderful! We started out at the church for a time of fellowship, tea, and food. Our student pastor's wife, Wini, was our speaker. I teach high school girls' Bible study with Wini every week, and so I already knew she was a VERY gifted teacher of God's Word. But she absolutely blew me away today! I can't wait to share more with you in an upcoming post. She was truly anointed by the Lord today as she brought her message about keeping Christ as the center of Christmas. Sonya, our worship pastor's wife, sang along with her two oldest daughters and it was so beautiful. We are blessed beyond measure at our church to have such wonderful people in leadership!

After the fellowship, the host home people (that would be me) were dismissed early and my mom and I came home to light candles, etc. About 150 (give or take) women came through my house (in smaller groups) and it was so fun! I loved having everyone come through the house. It was like a housewarming. :) It was just the boost I needed to get my house decorated and cleaned for the holiday season. I'm so honored they asked me to be a hostess.

Yesterday, my friend Kristal offered to bring by her DSLR camera so I could take pictures of my house! I was so touched! You might remember my post about having a fancy schmancy camera and it being lost/stolen. It was so sweet of Kristal to bring her camera--and her ADORABLE son, Isaac--over!

So, here are pictures of my house decorated for Christmas (get ready for a LOT of pictures!)!

I love sentimental things on my tree. These are my mom's baby shoes.

I even have Hidden Mickeys on my fancy tree. Can you spot me?

One of my favorite quotes from my grandfather.

Close-ups of the nativity my dad brought me from Israel. I was supposed to go with him in the summer of 2008, but I found out I was pregnant 3 weeks before the trip! I was so disappointed about not being able to go on the trip (even though I was thrilled to be pregnant). As a surprise, my dad brought me back this nativity, and it's one of my treasures!

This was my grandparents' first Christmas card to send out after my mom was born. That's her when she was 7 months old. :)

We Three Kings!

Baby Bitty in my tummy. :)

I added these framed pictures in the landing upstairs.

My fancy tree!

I'll spell "LOVE" the rest of the year. I only have to change out one letter!

We changed out the light fixture and put in a chandelier from Lowe's. I really like it!

I added a crown to the top of my cross wall. I love that it reminds us that He is the King of Kings!

My Christmas tablescape. I tweaked (You've Got Mail reference) and messed around with this arrangement until I was pleased!

I just used glass candlesticks I got at a Homegoods in Dallas, along with mercury glass finials my grandmother gave me, ribbon, and little greenery sticks from Hobby Heaven Lobby.

My parents gave me this mirror that they aren't using anymore! I put a wash of silver paint over it to soften the gold, and it goes perfectly now. I filled the apothecary jars with faux snow.

This was a neat little project--I made a Family Rules canvas! I saw this AGES ago on The Pleated Poppy and knew I wanted to make one, and I finally did. Mine didn't turn out the same as the original, but that's okay! I think it's cute.

This is the Evy/Kid/Family Ornament/Fun tree! I put on the crown topper and I love how it turned out! I got the ribbon idea from The Nester and it's so easy but makes an impact.

I put little touches of Christmas on the playroom shelves.

I wrote about my mantle and angel wings HERE, and I've really grown to love them!

I put these pictures in the upstairs landing. They were taken when Evy was a week old! My friend Demetria made me the frame.

The main update to our bedroom is that I painted Kurt's end table and changed out the hardware. I love it!

This was my great-grandmother's chaise lounge that we had recovered and restored. It's so special to me.

We hung the star mirror and I added a lamp from TJ Maxx.

And now......MY OFFICE REVEAL! :)

Here is my Tiffany Blue office that I wrote about HERE:

I added a gallery wall of family photos and I LOVE IT.

Kurt's mom and I found this remnant of fabric and we had an antique chair recovered.

I painted the built-in desk and shelf and changed out the hardware (I got the handles at Target). I might tackle the counter later, but right now it actually doesn't bother me!

My little white tree!

Here are some pictures of the house at night:

Who is that ADORABLE, animal print-wearing, sippy cup-holding little angel?

It's Evy Katie! And her beautiful long eyelashes. :)

Here's Evy's little room.

I painted the mirror pink (it started out gold, then I painted it black for the foyer, and now it's pink!). I LOVE it in here, because it reminds me of the Magic Mirror in Snow White. :)