I feel like I should begin this post with, "Rain, rain, go away!". It seems like it has been raining for the last week! It has literally rained all day today. Hmmm.... this is not Christmas weather! Where are the chilly temps and frosty mornings? It has been so dreary that I have not been able to take pics of our home decorated for Christmas. It is hard to get pretty photos when it is dark and gloomy! However, I have been listening to Christmas music, wrapping presents, cooking and preparing for Christmas! It is the first time in my life (yes, my entire life!) that I have been home for Christmas. As a child we always traveled to see relatives. As an adult, both before I was married, and after I married Jon and we had Seth, we traveled to my parents (and then to visit our extended family. Christmas was spent on the road! This year, since we moved back to Mississippi (and we live across the street from my father (aka "Papa"), we will be HOME for the holidays. Seth will see what Santa brings in our very own house. We are so happy and excited for our first Christmas in our forever home! This made decorating extra special!
Welcome to our home! I wish you could come inside for a cup of coffee so we could chat!
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| A close up of the swags. I love the touches of burlap and rustic elements. |
All of the windows have festive wreaths that match the swags on the front doors. (I am not sure the bows will last another year with all of the rain we have had lately.) 
Our new foyer is small, but we found the perfect cabinet to fit the space. My mother's poinsettia pictures - there is another one on the other side - look wonderful in this spot. I filled the lamp with simple red and silver ornaments.
This is an original painting by Ashley Anthony. She is an amazing artist! I hired her years ago as a first year teacher when I was a principal. I knew then she was special. I will post a link to her page.
In our new home we do not have a fireplace. But, our new cabinet that holds the tv is doing just fine! I don't think Santa will have a problem.
I did our "natural" tree this year. I felt like we needed a pop of color though so I chose traditional red and green for all of our wrapping paper.
Sweet little deer.
Another piece by Ashley Anthony. All proceeds from the ornaments supported mission work in Chile. They were all named after children in Chile. This is Esmeralda. Precious!
The display cabinet is ready for the holidays. I was so worried when we began decorating for Christmas that we wouldn't have room for the nativity scene. It has always gone on the large table in our foyer (that pieces now lives in my sister's home.) Jon thought it would fit nicely on top of this piece. It does indeed!
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These snowmen have been in my office for years; however, since I am now retired, they are now at home again. They are vintage and so sweet. (They are vintage because we had them when I was a little girl - I think that qualifies! :-) 
I like to keep it really simple in the kitchen. With all of the cooking going on, I don't like the kitchen to feel cluttered. I am using a small "Happy Everything" cookie jar to hold my utensils. I found it on sale when we went to the mountains for Thanksgiving. Love it!
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A lantern filled with ornaments and topped with a pretty bow are the perfect centerpiece.
The table is ready for Christmas dinner!
This small tree holds my collection of Radko ornaments. The "tree skirt" is a runner that was quilted by my precious grandmother many years ago.
A happy Santa is this year's addition to my Radko collection.
I love pulling out this stocking each year. I bought it for myself at a flea market my first year of teaching. It was vintage then!
Thank you for visiting Buttercup Bliss and seeing a bit of our home dressed for the holidays!
This week I am joining the following:
