Are you in the Spirit Yet?

I have hit the ground running this week.  In addition to my design projects, I am helping a few clients style their homes for the holidays.  We are working on fresh greenery for their entryways, mantels and even outside on their front doors.  Some are simple additions for their family's enjoyment while others are more elaborate decorations for hosting Christmas parties during the season.
For me, this type of thing is simply another form of styling the home, and I LOVE it. 

First up for the season, I was invited to participate in Christmas Count Down.  This is held every year at Covenant Presbyterian Church where lots of very talented people create Christmas displays for a ladies night full of ideas on how to decorate your home for the season.  My display was entitled "Entryways and Side boards" and was intended to give you ideas on how to make a great first impression as visitors enter your home during the holidays.  Here's the finished arrangement.

I took pictures of the entire process, and my plan is to show you step by step how to create one for your entryway. So stay tuned . . . I'll try to post it next week.

In the meantime, here are lots of the other displays at the event.
This cute table was entitled, "A few of our favorite things," and it included all kinds of handmade gifts (AND not a single cookie, which is just my thing!).  

This was such a cute idea - handmade mulling spices to make your home smell wonderful!

Yes, that is a daffodil bulb in a tin can!  Amazing how something that simple looks so great with the burlap, boxwood, and holly.  

Here's a spice rub for grilled meats.  Also love the wooden spoon on the container.

You could even take it a bit farther and put together a basket for the griller of the family.  This is really a simple gift in that all the items are easily available these days.

This is a basket for a "Game Night."  This would make a really cute Teacher's gift.  Sometimes this is just the thing to help someone pause and enjoy the season.

This was my favorite of the entire night.  It's entitled "12 days Ring & Run" and each gift is a "tongue & cheek" take on the 12 days of Christmas.   The idea here is to pick a special friend and each night starting on December 13th you drop off your gift without getting caught!  Here are few of the days.

The tag reads: "On the Fifth Day of Christmas, your true love gave to you . . .five golden rings, but sorry, we're too poor for golden rings, but will some golden pineapple rings do?"  

Some Ben Gay for the Lords of Leaping - they'll need it!

For an entire list, click here or use your imagination to come up with takes of your own.

This is the perfect gift for your children to give their classmates!  Simple red M&M's, in case, Rudolph needs an extra.  

Here are few others . . .

The entire night was very inspiring and the totally put me in the spirit (ok, I was already there, but it was still a ton of fun).

If you are still not quite in the spirit and live in the Birmingham area, here are two really special events to totally put you in the mood - Birmingham Home and Garden Inspiration Home and IPC Holiday House Tour.  We are so fortunate here in Birmingham to have such talented decorators and floral designers and both of these events are simply a feast for the eyes.  Grab a girl friend and make a date to check them out!!  Happy Weekend. M.