Since the holidays are here again I thought I would give you some simple holiday decorating tips. With kids, family, in-laws, cousins, grandparents... who has the time to even think about changing the decor. I mean, lets face it, I am lucky my counters get a Clorox wipe and floors get a quick swiffer in between our clean lady's weekly visit.
BUT.. I do change out my window treatments and mantle decor... down come the crisp white linen curtains and up go the mid-night blue sail cloth drapes. Somehow they just feel cozier, as if our living room is wrapped in a heavy cotton blanket. Off, come my sea shell throw pillows and on come the deep chocolate velvet... downside..ummm toddler drool / snot really shows up on chocolate velvet... Thankfully, IKEA thought of everything and they're washable.
Now, for the mantle.. My grandmother actually inspired this idea. As a child I remember sitting in her living room pocketing ribbon candy and looking up at the horse drawn carriage flurrying down the snowy trail which was beautifully framed and placed above the mantle on or around Thanksgiving. Down came the painting of the covered bridge and up went pine cones and bright red maple leaves.
Thus.. became my fascination with always changing out my mantle with the seasons. For fall, it's easy! Mini pumpkins and tea-lights. Now, I am no Martha.. I am not going to tell you to hollow them out for tea lights so they can turn to mold in a week in CA. Which reminds me of the clove oranges my own mother made for a centerpiece for Christmas.. they took FOREVER about 60 cloves per orange.. and then they rotted the next day! So... as Grammy would say.. "Keep it simple stupid!"
For winter.. change out the pumpkins for pine cones here in Southern California the pine cones are the size of a softball... seriously... so go up to the mountains and grab some pine cones and place them on your mantle with a few pine boughs. Now.. I come from a long line of decorators.. so... it's in my genes I guess, but I am going to spray paint (credit to Momma B.) my pine cones a glossy silver, tuck them in the pine boughs, sprinkle in a few shiny red ornaments (.99$ Store) and a few silver pillar candles and Whhhaaalllaa! Done!
Now.. if you want to get "martha on me" soak your pine cones in cinnamon water over night to give them a fresh scent then place them on block (hidden by the pine boughs of course) to add some height to them... give them a little interest.
Remember... beautiful things don't have to cost you a fortune... keep it simple!
