It's Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas Y'all!

To make up for my lack of weekend links, I thought I'd share some pics I snapped of The Suze's house all decked out for Christmas. Of course, I took these fabulous magazine quality photos with my trusty iPhone. It's amazing I even got a picture with all the craziness running around me. We have a full house (3 large dogs, 5-8 grown up kids depending on who brings a friend home, 2 grandparents, and a toddler probably trying to climb a pear tree). I love when our house is busy with friends and family. That's how life was growing up here. Lots of people in an out, and I still find it very comforting. Anyway, enjoy your holiday y'all! I'll probably be back after Christmas when things have settled down. Love to you all this holiday season!!

Have a Lovely Weekend!

Morning y'all! I found this Letter to Santa the last time I was home in Dallas.  I literally cried, I was laughing so hard.  My sister who is now in college at Alabama (Roll Tide, except when it affects Mizzou then M-I-Z) penned this hilarious admonishment.  It is so her.  She's very literal and has no tolerance for people not getting their work done, including the occasional unreliable elf.  In Santa's defense, this may have been a school assignment based on a hypothetical.  There's no way Santa was late getting to our house! Regardless, it reminds me what the Christmas season is all about: making sure Santa gets it done.

I hope you have a lovely weekend!

GIVE: for those in the Kansas City area,

 consider sponsoring a bed for a child who doesn't have one

(this is a program I'd like to get more involved in in 2013)

How fun is this light fixture

Thanks Sophia!

I am so inspired by all this pink from Christine at Bijou and Boheme.  She does it so well!

GIVE: Charlie's House

another local organization I am becoming more passionate about, 

whose mission is to prevent injuries to children in and around the home. 

Yo, why aren't you doing what really makes you happy?

A fabulous find at World Market nonetheless, Chinoiserie Dinnerware

GIVE: The Birthday Party Project
A wonderful organization whose mission is to bring joy to homeless children through the magic of birthdays.  
Started by my wedding planner and friend, Paige Chenault, who literally brings joy wherever she goes. 

Aspen Heaven indeed! Charlotte Moss can do no wrong.

LOVE this quote

I'm so in love with the new Le Jardin Chinois collection from Brunschwig & Fils, I could cry.

Furbish is having a 40% off sale on lacquer boxes today - verry major

A great post from Cote de Texas on bookshelf styling
plus tips on buying antique transferware

Budget Friendly Etsy Art
always appreciate an Etsy discovery

GIFT GUIDE: For toddlers (great ideas)

How to get that cool glowy Christmas lights in the background effect in your photos 

Mrs. Howard's favorite seating arrangement

I was once a Highland Belle, and now someone has made a documentary about my high school's drill team called Beyond the Fringe, looks kinda awesome.

Just a pretty white house  

I love everything about this table setting party situation 

Joni's remodeled library is perfection 

I want this bedroom to be mine 

This young couple's first apartment is adorbs

* Some of you may have noticed that earlier this week, I wrote (and then deleted) a post addressing a small kerfuffle that happened as a result of a comment I made on this blog. A comment, which in the context of this entire blog and outside conversations I've had, was obviously a joke.  However, to the person who may not read my blog, but happened upon the single post, this comment may have seemed catty or mean-spirited, which was not my intention at all.  I deleted the post because it's too silly to really devote any attention to.  That being said, I never want to be mean or hurtful on this blog.  Belclaire House is a place to read and discuss pretty houses, yummy food, baby fat rolls, puppy breath and the occasional toddler temper tantrum, and I hope to keep it that way. 

This is Pretty

And Christmas-y and blue and white. All things I love :)

* meg braff via chinoiserie chic

Christmas Decorations in the Christmas House

Morning y'all! I finally had a moment to snap some pics of some of my Christmas decorations - a rare moment where I had both a clean house and a sleeping toddler.  That. Never. Happens.  Since this is the first year in our new house, I decided to focus on the basics.  I'm ashamed to admit that I could easily spend $10,000 on Christmas decorations.  I mean, it's not normal.  So anyway, it's not anything amazing or professional, but I think we have ourselves a good starting point for Christmases to come.


First up, a little vignette in the kitchen.

I love my Hadley plate.  I really want to get the Santa's Cookie's plate.  The rest is just some stray items I had here and there.  

The table decor is left over from Thanksgiving, but I put out some trays to put Christmas cards.  Christmas cards are one of my favorite things ever.  The one you see on top is Edward's future wife, Greta. 

The hearth room mantel.

We didn't have any mantels to decorate in the old house (#firstworldproblems) so I wasn't sure how I was going to do that, but I have to say the mantels are my favorite part.  The picture above the fireplace is a poster-size blow-up of a picture my dad took when they went to France.  I think it's so sweet.  How stylish are the little French kids in their red coats?

Now for my Dr. Seuss Christmas tree in the kitchen.  

 

It's not literally Dr. Seuss themed, but it looks like it belongs in Whoville.  Kip wanted one tree with colored lights because he loved them as a kid.  I decided to use all white ornaments and fun ribbon from Hobby Lobby.

Yes, I made that bow.  I literally googled Christmas tree bow-topper.  It was easy. 

This manger scene is kind of sad.  I need to zhush it up a bit, but it's blue and white so I thought you'd like it.  I tried some grass around it and it just made a huge mess. 

I framed our first Christmas card with Edward.  I didn't love last year's card so I just took one of the pictures from it and put it in a tiny frame.  

This tree is in horrible shape.  It's fake and we probably won't use it next year, but I did what I could with it.  I totally stole the burlap accents idea from Amanda at Dixie Delights.  

I love the mantel in this room.

Obviously, because there's lots of blue and white.  The votive candles and reindeer are from Target and the gold pine cone things are from Hobby Lobby.  The big blue and white ginger jars are from Jennifer at The Pink Pagoda.  They are my favorite thing in my house! 

 This is in our fairly empty living room that we hope to turn into a library.

That black and white picture is from my wedding.  My very silly best friend, Marissa, and her family love to pull the photographer aside at the end of the night and take ridiculous pictures.  They are pretty much my favorite people in the world.

Hey Santa guarding the stairs.

Our first real tree.  Not as high maintenance as I was led to believe.  Filled with all of our special ornaments, including many from my childhood. 

And that's all folks!



P.S. I'm not totally sure I've fixed the computer issues I had yesterday, but I'm pretty sure I can get by.  #bloggernerdproblems 

How About We Not Go Bankrupt This Christmas

Ok y'all, I have about the same level of self-control when it comes to Christmas as this guy.  It doesn't help that Edward insists on watching Elf every morning when he wakes up.  Every. Morning.  It only feeds my enthusiasm.  So while everyone is sharing their gift guides (I'll link to some of my favorites tomorrow), I thought I'd share a couple ideas for Christmas decor that won't leave you completely broke before you even have a chance buy these gifts.

Most of it is from Target.  Why? Because shopping with a two-year-old is always a wildcard.  I need to be able to run 46 different errands in less that 25 minutes without getting Edward in and out of the car seat.  Enter Super Target.  I can keep him busy with a plastic tiger or dinosaur from the $1 bins, get a Starbucks, shop for groceries, baby stuff, clothes, shoes and holiday decor in one swoop.  The amount I spend at Target is a ridiculous, but necessary evil in my current situation.*

* Target absolutely did not pay for this semi-ringing endorsement.  I wish!

So here ya are, folks:

1. Quilted Velvet Tree Skirt $30 - I bought this for under our tree in our kitchen.  I love the scalloped border and the white looks really pretty under the tree. 
2. Red Gingham Wired Edge Ribbon $6.99 - Hobby Lobby is one of the most intimidating places on Earth, but they have lots of ribbon for not lots of money.  I went crazy with the ribbon this year, but more on that next week.  They also have a Hobby Lobby app that you can download on your phone and use to show them that 40% Off Coupon that you usually have to print out, but you always forget because who prints things anymore? Finally, Hobby Lobby is having 50% off all Christmas items.  
3. Red Curled Wood Wreath $31.99 - Say that quickly 5 times.  I bought this for our front door.  It's a really bright, vibrant red that you can see all the way from space.  You'll see next week. 
4. Gold Glitter Nutcracker $9.74 - I'm going to go get some today.  I love nutcrackers, except when they look angry.  I want them to look happy and gay, like these guys. 
5. Land's End Needlepoint Christmas Stocking $29.50 - These would be a lovely placeholder until you finish the needlepoint stocking you are thinking of starting to make yourself.  I really need to get going on that.  We haven't actually had a family Christmas at home yet, instead switching off between families each year while we can.  But the time is coming for Edward to wake up Christmas morning in his own home.  It will be bittersweet for sure.  I'll need to have some proper family stockings by then. 
6. Clear Acrylic Snowflake Tree Topper $20 - I have this for one of our trees, but I haven't put it up yet.  It's blingy, which I like.  
7. Furbish "Jingle This" Handtowel $12 - Furbish is one of my favorite places to shop online and I'm still obsessed with this hand towel.  I think it's funny and holiday decorating should be funny sometimes.  
8. Go to the grocery store, get some walnuts, put them in a glass hurricane with a white candle.  It looks festive and clever.  
9. Royal Copenhagen Christmas Plate 1983 $25 - I love these because they're old school.  Also, because they're blue and white.  You can find them all over Etsy and Ebay.  You can hang them or use them on plate stands amongst the greenery to get your blue fix.  

Sorry, I didn't make it to 10.  The OCD in me is stressed by that, but the lazy part of me didn't want to deal with it.  I'm almost finished with my Christmas decorations, which I'll show you next week!  It occurred to me that we will probably live in this house for the next 30 years.  And while I could easily put a tree in every window, a wreath on every door and trim around every door frame, I need to save some things for next year and the year after.   That is soo hard for me to do, but we would like to buy presents for people and give to some charities, so I hold back ... for the children. 

Morning Y'all!

IIIITT'SS CHRIIIIIIISSTMAAAAAAS!!! (you know, in Oprah's voice)

Y'all, I'm so excited.  I love Christmas.  It's the most wonderful time of the year.

I can feel myself getting annoying about Christmas all ready.  I'm going to try to temper it when I write, but just know, in my head it's all candy canes and sugar plums (what are sugar plums).  My goal from here on out is to do something fun and Christmas-y everyday with Edward.  I want to take advantage of every moment I have with him, while he believes in magic, even though he doesn't totally get it yet.  Today, I'll be gathering some Christmas stuff and decking the halls.  I'll try and share bits here and there with y'all.

I'm finding the process of decorating our new home for Christmas a tad overwhelming.  It's a different, more formal space than our previous house.  It's also bigger.  I want to do it justice without breaking the bank.  (Kip and I are in constant negotiation about how many a twinkle lights a tree needs)

I'm inspired by the lights in my hometown:

(images courtesy of my little sissy Laura) 

How cute are my sisters y'all? 

Elizabeth & Laura (a.k.a. Wizzie & Lulu)

Kip knows that this is what I'm thinking when it comes to our house and it scares him.  So I'm going to have to compromise, but seriously, aren't the lights heavenly?

Ok, I'll leave you with this:

Trying to take our Christmas picture this weekend - not easy with a two-year-old

More holiday inspiration to come this week!

Have a lovely cyber-monday y'all!

Merry Christmas Y'all!

'Tis the season to be merry! 

* My original picture disappeared, which gives me an opportunity to share Edward's meeting with Santa. It did not go so well despite all my prep work (which involved making him hug and kiss the little Santa we have at our house).  This Santa was not thrilled that we interrupted his nap so he could hold our screaming baby.  But you know what? This picture will get lots of laughs at his graduation slide show, which makes it all worth it.  

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah y'all! Thank you for visiting me and taking the time to comment and read my silly little blog! xo 

Only in my dreams ...

... as real as it may seeeeem, it was only in my dreams.  Do y'all remember that Debbie Gibson song?  The one where she's on a bed on the beach, but she's wearing like old man pajamas as opposed to the barely there negligees of today's tween popstars.  I was a huge Debbie Gibson fan so it's no surprise that when I see beautiful homes like this, my head fills with bubblegum pop of yesteryear.  Ok, maybe it's a little bit random.

Anyway, this gorgeous home comes from the same 2005 Southern Accents issue as yesterday's post and it is just so beautiful I had to share it.  Again, sorry for the image quality.  It's, of course, a New Orleans home (I'm still convinced the fancy New Orleans homes are some of the most beautiful in our country) and it looks like its straight out of a Dickens novel.

That dining room might be one of my favorite dining rooms I've ever seen.  My heart is racing over those burl wood Queen Anne chairs.  RACING.

Merry Christmas!

Debbie Gibson - Only In My Dreams by jpdc11

White Christmas

Morning y'all! Feeling better today, although still have no appetite, which is very strange for me as I am never one to forego the comforts of food during the holidays.  Speaking of food, my father-in-law is a fantastic cook and catered the office Christmas dinner.  He made these delicious cornish game hens by brining them in the delicious brine recipe from the fried chicken recipe in the Ad Hoc at Home.  Then he stuffed their little bootays with lemon slices and baked them breast side down for the first 30 minutes and I'm not kidding when I say they were heavenly.

Now on to some more Christmas decor.  This one comes from my Southern Accents November December 2005 issue (so pardon the poor scan quality).  I love the white decor with all of the greenery.  The house belonged to Houston designer Michelle Stewart (she may have moved since then).  I love the idea of lots of greenery in a warmer climate.  It keeps it fresh and not stuffy.  Enjoy!

Isn't it so lovely? Even 6 years later it still feels fresh.  I'm in love with the last image.  Is that a lilac velvet settee? Yummy!

Merry Christmas!