December 14, 2008

A Christmas Tour

BooMamaChristmasTour

Welcome! I'm so glad that you were able to stop by. This year, I got a head start on our Christmas decorating, as I wanted our last Christmas (Lord willing) at this house to be special, not rushed. Please don't think by the date on the photos that I'm THAT anal-retentive. I'm not, really. Honest. Also, I'm sure you all know this, but you can click on the pictures to see more detail.

The picture you see above is my front door. I made the snow sign on the door with the help of my friend Z, and now that I'm looking at the sign, I probably should have trimmed the dowel rod shorter. Oh, well - next year! The Christmas lights hanging on the wall are made out of felt and florist's wire - cute, easy, and cheap (my criteria for crafts!) This would be so easy to do with stars, hearts, any seasonal decor.
This is our Christmas tree. For the first couple of years, DH and I decorated our tree in blue, silver and white. So pretty, but not very kid-friendly. Now we have mostly sentimental and non-breakable ornaments on our tree. I only use about 1/2 of my ornaments on my tree each year. I hope that our next house will have a higher ceiling in the living room so I will "have" to get a bigger tree! This is our Fisher Price Little People Nativity set. I can't say enough good things about this set. BB has loved this set since we bought it the day after Thanksgiving. Typically, the set is scattered about the house being used with various monster trucks. I had to wait until nap time to round up the pieces for this picture ;)
Next to the tree is our entertainment unit, which we use to hang our stockings since we don't have a fireplace. The stocking in the middle is mine :)

Here is a close-up of the letters that I decorated when Z and I got together to make Christmas crafts. Some of my ski people are also hanging out here.

This is the door to BB's bedroom. I bought the joy sign as an unfinished wood sign for $2 at Michaels. I used Sharpies to "paint" the wood and then covered it with Elmer's glitter glue (love that stuff!). I think the sign might be too skinny to hang on a door - what do you think?

This, in case you can't tell, is the light in my living room. I bought all but one of these words on clearance at Target last year. They're meant to be ornaments, but I threaded some thicker ribbon through them and hung them from the globes of my fan. Target has the same words again this year, although in a different font. Originally, there was a red ball hanging with the green one, but it plunged to it's death and I haven't been able to find a replacement for it yet.
The piano is next to BB's door. This is where we have our Jesse Tree as well as a tree that holds our mini name ornaments. Until this year, I had the ornaments on the big tree, but I decided to move them to their own tree. I'm always afraid that I'll leave an ornament on the tree when we're packing up our Christmas stuff. It really doesn't matter since we use the same fake tree each year, I'm just weird that way.

The first year DH and I were married, I freaked out at the thought of the size of his family (his mom is one of 6, his dad is 1 of 4). I bought kits to make the snowman heart you see on the wall, and gave that to the various aunts. At the time, I didn't know that the adults in the family didn't exchange gifts. Needless to say, I have stopped worrying about that! The merry sign is another craft that Z and I made this year. The tree was a find at an estate sale.

Our stereo is currently holding our Advent wreath when it is not in use. To be honest, we haven't used our Advent wreath much at all this year. Neither DH or I grew up with this tradition, and we're having trouble getting this tradition established. We might pack this up and try it again in a few years when BB is older.

Atop the computer was deemed the safest place for our "real" Nativity set. Our set isn't anything fancy; it came from Wal-Mart. If you look closely, you'll see my angel nativity set and some additional ski people on the shelf below the nativity.

For the doorway between the kitchen and living room, I hung a set of indoor/outdoor lights I got on clearance last year. The space between the lights looked too bare, so I added some ornaments.
This is my Christmas village. I have loved Christmas villages for as long as I can remember. Most of the village is a little cheapy set I got at CVS last year, but the bottom shelf has the Lemax building I got at Michael's this year. I added a few Lemax accessories, but most of the trees and people came from Wal-Mart (much cheaper!). In case you are wondering about the giant Nutcrackers, I needed something to hide the ugly power strip for my village.

This is the wall my kitchen table is against. I'm not too pleased with how the shelf turned out, but I gave up messing with it.

My Christmas dishes and centerpiece. The tea light holders I bought individually on clearance at HallMark. I couldn't decide how to arrange them throughout my house, and when I saw the holder at Target, I took it to be a sign. The garland was some that I had left over from craft projects, and I topped the garland with some glass balls my parents bought in the 70's. You can't see my Christmas dishes too well in this photo, but you can see them better here, if you really care.
The pizza sheet on my frig is our Christmas countdown. I drew a Christmas tree on a cheapy pizza sheet and attached magnets on the back. Each year, I arrange 25 Hershey kisses on the tree. For each day in December, I get to eat a kiss :) I figure this is the last year I'll be able to get away with eating the kisses myself. BB has already asked me about this several times this year. I've a sneaking suspicion that he know's he's missing out. So far, he hates chocolate, but that can change by next year!
Now for the yummies - I don't have a picture to accompany - and really, you don't need a picture for this:

Super Easy Sausage Balls
1 LB sharp cheddar cheese (full fat)
1 LB hot sausage (I prefer Jimmy Dean, again, full fat)
3 C Bisquick, divided

1. Allow sausage and cheese to reach room temperature. If you are phobic about food poisoning, skip this step. It is easier to mix the ingredients if your hands don't get frostbitten, but I suppose it's better for your fingers to get frozen and fall off than to get food poisoning and die. Personally, as anal-retentive I am about clean kitchens and food, I let the food warm up for 15 minutes. It's still not long enough, but it's all I can stand. My MIL lets it sit out for an hour or so, and nobody has died from her cooking yet.
2. In a large bowl, combine cheese, sausage, and 2 C of the Bisquick. You can use a spoon or a mixer with a dough hook for this, but hands work best. Wear latex gloves if you're squemish. Once the ingredients are well combined, gradually add the last cup of Bisquick. Stop adding Bisquick when the mixture becomes difficult to manipulate.
3. Form into 1" balls on an ungreaded cookie sheet (after all, you ARE using full-fat cheese and sausauge; it's not like anything with that much fat will stick to anything except an artery) and bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Place on paper towels to drain and cool. If any are left after cooling, keep in an airtight container. I refrigerate mine, but most people don't.

Thank you so much for stopping by! I can't wait to see your house!

38 comments:

  1. Heather: Your home looks so sweet and cozy!

    XO
    Elizabeth Esther

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  2. Your home looks so cute and so inviting. Merry Christmas!!

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  3. Love the village and also love the big NOEL words! Merry Christmas and thanks for the recipes!

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  4. What a great cupboard your village is in! Lovely decorations!

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  5. I agree. The Fisher Price nativity is invaluable! Merry Christmas!

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  6. I love the fisher price nativity. My kids would have had all the characters standing in line to see Baby Jesus-even Mary and Joseph! (all their fisher price toys had to stand in line for one thing or another whenever they played with them)

    Thank you for visiting my blog/home and allowing us to come to yours. It is lovely!

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  7. Such cute ideas everywhere! And I am filled with regret by not ever buying the Fisher Price nativity. It is SO cute!!

    Thanks for stopping by my place too.

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  8. I keep looking at the Fisher Price nativity - i think I need to just go and buy it!!!

    Thanks for sharing you home, and for visiting my blog.

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  9. Thanks for stopping by my home earlier on the tour. Isn't this fun?

    Really, you can't say enough about the Little People Nativity. One year, my daughter slept w/Baby Jesus every night. Sweet memories!

    Have a wonderful Christmas!

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  10. I love your Christmas village! I'm a village person. Our family was up in San Fran a couple weekends ago and got to see the largest Christmas village collection in the world! It was wonderful. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment!

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  11. Heather,

    I'm so glad you shared about the Fisher Price Little People Nativity set. It is adorable and now I know what I want to get my darlin' little niece!

    Thank you kindly for stopping by my home today and for your kind words.

    Peace and joy,
    Lora

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  12. I never saw a Little People Nativity set when my kids were little enough to enjoy it, it is so cute!
    Thanks for the tour of your home.

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  13. I agree with all above. I wish your photos were a smidge bigger, even though they are clickable.
    Have a wonderful Christmas!
    Dianne
    www.diadsie.wordpress.com

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  14. Your home is so lovely and warm. I loved your shelf above the door, decorated so cute!

    Merry Christmas

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  15. Thank you for inviting me into your home. Your Christmas decor is so welcoming! I especially love the stars hanging from the plate rack and your village! I'm partial to blue and white, so clicked on that one to see the detail. Thank you for visiting my home, too, and Merry Christmas! ~Arleen

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  16. Merry Christmas! Thanks for inviting me into your home. I really like the NOEL you created, and the just overall comfy feeling you have.

    Thank you for visiting me earlier in the tour, I love new visitors.

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  17. What a cute, fun, and child-friendly (for your future) advent calendar idea! I've been looking for something like that; thanks for the idea!

    Your home is so warm and inviting; have a Merry Christmas!

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  18. Your home looks so lovely decked out for the holidays. I have to say my favorite of all your crafts is the tree on the fridge. What a WONDERFUL idea! I think I might have to try something like that next year.

    Merry Christmas!

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  19. Hi Heather,
    Thanks for the tour and for your visit to mine. You have your village displayed so well! I like it. I also like all the blue...
    Merry Christmas to you and yours...

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  20. All your decorations look great. I love the Jesse tree and the FP nativity set. I wish they had one when my kids were young. The sausage balls sound like something my hubby would love! Thanks!

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  21. Cute decorations, you have so many. I recognize that nativity too!
    Toni
    http://thehappyhousewife.com

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  22. Hi Heather! Your home looks beautiful. I love the Fisher Price nativity. I haven't seen that before, and I have 2 sweet nephews who would LOVE to get their hands on that! :) Thanks for your sweet comment on my blog too. Merry Christmas!

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  23. Oh, I love how you have your Christmas village displayed!!

    Have a wonderful Christmas, and thank you for visiting me today!

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  24. Very pretty. I love the hershey kiss countdown!

    Shannon

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  25. Thanks for having me into your lovely and cozy home! I'm impressed that you've done so much since you're moving!! Love the nutcrackers to hide the village power strips (I'm going to steal that tip!) and your kitchen hutch with the village especially. Thanks for visiting my place and for your kind comments ... hey, I was a teacher "in my former life" too! Merry Christmas!
    Susan
    http://girlsinwhitedresses.wordpress.com

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  26. I am so in love with your Christmas countdown idea. I want to go make one now so I can have it for next year. Though I'll have to make 3 if I hope to get to eat any of the chocolates myself!

    Also, I posted the recipe for those sausage balls on another website this very week and someone pointed out there's a lot of trans fat in Bisquick. I had NO idea. I thought you might not know either, so I'm passing it on.

    Happy holidays! :)

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  27. What a fun tour! I'm so glad you invited me in and fed me all those sausage balls. ;)
    We also love our FP nativity set, but ours is about 7 years old and doesn't have as many characters as yours. I tried to buy a "new and improved" one this year, but I've not seen them.
    Come on over to my tour when you get a chance!

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  28. I enjoyed the visit - that centerpiece is so cool! And that advent wreath is so neat. I'm totally going to "steal" that idea from you.

    Thanks for visiting. :-)

    Merry Christmas

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  29. wow - you've got Christmas in every corner!

    Tx for stopping by!

    Merry Christmas

    V.

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  30. I love that centerpiece! So cool!

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  31. Cute decor! I especially like your NOEL letters that you made! I have some just like that, that I painted in my son's room! Thanks for your comment. :)

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  32. I LOVE the NOEL! Aren't Christmas crafts so fun!?

    Merry Christmas!

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  33. I love your decorations, especially the Christmas village. My granddaughter has the FP nativity and just loves it.

    Thanks for sharing.

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  34. Thank you for having us over to your beautiful home! I love your Christmas village...so pretty! Merry Christmas!
    ~Kelli

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  35. First, I know you've been a busy little tour visitor and commenter, because I've seen your avatar at A LOT of the houses I've also visited.

    Secondly - - - I see the OTHER Keetha, Kudzu Keetha, has already beaten me here.

    Third - - - Everything looks great in your home.

    Thanks for having me over.

    Merry Christmas

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  36. Love the Fisher Price nativity. So great! Thanks for the recipe! Merry Christmas

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  37. I like the big NOEL! Thanks for opening your home to us.

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  38. Ok, I seriously love the Pizza pan advent tree. =) I'm thinking I may need one myself next year.

    Thanks for having us over!

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Thank you so much for caring enough to leave a comment! I typically don't respond to each separate comment here on my blog. If you would like to ask me a question and have my reply, please feel free to e-mail me at heathershodgepodge@hotmail.com