Silver, Gold, and a Confession: Our Christmas Living Room

Well, we're cutting it close over here, but the stockings have been hung by the chimney with haste care, and the trees are finally up (although the bottom three feet are looking suspiciously bare these days...). It's actually starting to look pretty Christmasy at our place (just in time to open presents and take it all back down. Awesome.)

Before I go any further, I have a confession: I can't sew. I don't mean "Oh no, the hand stitching on this homemade baby quilt is a little wonky in this corner here" kind of can't sew. I mean the "I can't even pretend to sew this button back on to my pants because I don't own a needle or thread. I guess I'll just tie them together with this extra shoelace" kind of can't sew.

The good news is, my mom can "kind of" sew, and she very generously made these stockings for us this year. I wanted something simple that I could use year after year, even as my tastes change. Made from natural quilted muslin and white faux wool, these are perfect for that.

This year, I opted to continue my cheap is the new black theme by tucking a little backyard greenery into these initial pins. I picked up the resin initials at Hobby Lobby and superglued pins onto the back (Ordinarily I'd hot glue them, but my glue gun has gone missing. I'm offering a reward for anyone who might have information on it's whereabouts. We're very close. See "I can't sew" above).

 

 

I usually do a simple silver and gold tree in the living room, and a more colorful tree in the dining room. Instead of a traditional tree skirt, I used an old galvanized tub and wrapped it at the base with a knit blanket. 

Buggy Boy's still at the age when he doesn't have the wherewithal to go looking for his Christmas presents, so they're still stacked unwrapped in the laundry room (except for the one from Santa, of course). That really might not get done until Christmas Eve. No judging.

The little wall next to the tree was looking kind of sad, so I propped up an old door I had out in the shed (Doesn't everyone? But for real, Justin is about two antique window sashes and a drop-leaf table away from calling Hoarders on me). 

I layered it with an extra wreath, and my old friend the would-be bathroom vanity (you can read her story here). Finally, I topped it all off with a vintage typewriter, a few books, and some more greenery.

That's all for now, but check back soon for a look at our dining room all prepped for Christmas morning!