Krimus is Coming to Town

Some years I go a little Christmas decorating crazy, but this year is definitely more of a toned down kind of year. Less is more, yes? And my awesomesauce (oh dear - after reading that word on this blog post this morning, I canNOT stop using it...my family loves this about me) friend, Charlottesville Andrea, did so many lovely simple touches in her home last year that I felt totally inspired to do the same. You have GOT to click on this link and scroll down to the December 17th entry - some glimpses of her beautiful home (she has some awesomesauce style).

This is a touch of my mantel.  Yummy bayberry scented pillars that have curvy melted rims, vintage apothocary jars with different kinds of candy, and greens and thorny (as in, I have the scratches to prove it) berries scavanged from the woods.  Am totally thrilled that Prince Charles hasn't decided to check the greenery out and knock my jars off the mantel. I bought these jars with my awesomesauce cousin Erin when I visited her in Pennsylvania this summer, and then we saw this idea when she came down here to visit us. So this is like, a total Ode to Erin Christmas Mantel. I'm penning the lyrics to this as we speak. Still wanting to repaint my stocking hangers and candle plates with my Rustoleum Antique Bronze spray paint.

And then, there's my Willow Tree Nativity.  Which, can I say?  I started collecting the pieces to this maybe the second year it came out.  And I was all, "this nativity is total awesomesauce!" Evidently everyone and their brother agreed on its awesomesauceness and went out and bought the same.  So, it has less of its original appeal for me, but I still love its simplicity.  AND, not everyone else has the stable to go with that is stinking made out of tobacco sticks.  Hello and nod to our North Carolina TOBACCO RAISING HERITAGE! Go smokes (ha - kidding)! Also, not everyone else has a shepherd that had to have an amputation procedure (look closely).  Fortunately, we don't have to deal with this issue again this year.  So embarrassing.

And finally, what Christmas decorating would be complete without the pre-requisite Christmas Cat Adorning the Tree Skirt?  Isn't he charming? 

Or it that he's awesomesauce?? You tell me.