Decorating Simply For Christmas...Can It Be Done?

OK, so it is not December 1...yet!  Once again, I am in panic mode about my Christmas decorating.  I am definitely not the type to have my tree up right after Thanksgiving or my outside Christmas lights!  This is the point where I ask myself "Why can't I keep it simple?".  The image above evokes how simple things can be.  A swag of evergreens just draped across a mantle.  You know what I also think about when I look at this "easy" decoration?  That I actually have to drag myself to the store to find it!  I will though even if it can be tiring... all for the sake of keeping it simple!  In the end, it is all fun and worth it!  I love this time of year and enjoy when I finally get up to speed and get it together.  There is always next year to start earlier, right?

This is such a cozy room.  Just the right amount of decorating here.  Love how the Christmas Tree glows!

Nice and simple!

I would never use a white Christmas Tree...just would not look right in my home.  However, the white tree just adds the right amount of sparkle to this rustic home.  

Well, there is something to be said for keeping it simple!  Now, should I drag out all my Christmas nutcrackers?  Maybe not!

Have fun decorating!

~jamilyn~

{Images via My Home Ideas}

What I Am Watching Now-love it!

Case Histories on PBS

Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter, The Patriot) stars as private investigator Jackson Brodie, the tough former soldier and policeman with a heart of gold, in this series based on the acclaimed novels by Kate Atkinson. Brodie, haunted by a past family tragedy, struggles to balance his personal and professional life while coming to the rescue of the bereaved, the lost and the dysfunctional in the Scottish city of Edinburgh.

I am so into this series on PBS!  I highly recommend watching it.  You can also start with the first one by viewing it online at pbs.org.  Jason Isaacs is perfect as the character Jackson Brodie.  He is a strong, instinctive private detective yet he cares about the people he ends up helping...very sensitive! He always does the right thing!  Love it!  

If you like the strong/sensitive type...then you have to watch!  Enjoy!

~jamilyn~

{Images via pbs.org}

BOO-lated Happy Halloween!

A little snapshot of a Halloween that just didn't get my full attention this year.  Actually started putting up the decorations right as trick-or-treaters were coming up the block around 7 p.m.!  Well, there were some little ones that came before that and they missed out on the full effect, which was not much!  I shouldn't beat myself up (which I am) about not getting into this year.  The fact that we had a winter storm here did not help.  Tree came down across the street and we were without power.  As you can see in photo above, there is snow on the ground!  Yikes, going to be a long winter!

My one pumpkin left after the carnage by the squirrels!  Such pests!

Pictures above and below are some of my better decorating years (last year).  So glad I took pictures!

Last year (wreath made by me)

This was my best inside decoration this year.  Found this rather large cinderella pumpkin (my husband just didn't get my attraction to this) for $6.99 at Whole Foods.  Well, hope everyone had a great Halloween!  I can never look at a piece of candy again!  My daughter even asked for a lot of veggie's in her lunch today because she over did it with the candy.  On an interesting note:  some of the towns here in Massachusetts had to delay trick-or-treating to Thursday or the weekend due to all the power outages!  Never heard of canceling Halloween before!

~jamilyn~

{Photo's taken via me and property of Living It At Home}