joyeux noel...

I hope you all enjoyed your weekend!  Mine was spent making my nest merry and bright for the holidays!  As I opened each tote full of decorations I realized how much my style has changed in the last year.  I also realized that I can not and do not want to keep everything that is not me any more.  I am not going to save it either just in case the kids might want it.  A few of their favorites have already been saved for their first nest so I did a major purge.  Less is more.  Of course after looking through the Jeanne d'Arc Living Christmas special edition over and over again and not wanting to spend a lot of money at this time of the year I think I did pretty good.  So today I am going to share with you my Paris Hotel Suite.  I started by going outside and gathering some pine branches and making a few small vignettes...

I simply put a few sprigs in this sweet little shoe and added one of my Nana's vintage pins.  For the table next to my big comfy white chair I went through a few tries before I ended up with this...

I picked up a couple of these petite baskets at the shop.  I keep the heart ornament on the lamp year round so I just added a little pine sprig...

This next vignette holds a little something special...

Remember my Dad's certificat de bapteme that I shared with you?  Well I found another special piece with it...

My Nana's rosary beads which I thought would be perfect with my little french catechism book.  It is so pretty ~ just look at the detail...

I also filled my little french etched glass with some petite sparkly ornaments...

This next vignette holds two little wrapped balsam sachets that were my Mom's.  You know, they still smell wonderful...

A few years ago I bought some teal bottle brush wreaths that I put on my mirrors.  I would prefer the vintage white ones but these are fine for now...

I also have a sparkly "Noel" from Wendy Addison...

The patina gets better every year with age.  I also have a pre-lit tree that I do not decorate.  I love sitting in my big comfy white chair at night, relaxing with a book and just enjoy the glowing lights...

Now I am sure there will be a few small changes here and there.  I need to find a little skirt for my tree (hopefully burlap) and I would like to fill the little basket next to it with some brown paper packages tied up with string as well as a bit more greenery.  I hope you enjoyed this first peek at the holidays in my home (as well as the song I just left in your head for the day)!!  It was during the holiday season last year, looking at every one's beautiful photos they were sharing of their homes that sealed the deal for me to start blogging myself.  I know my photography skills need....who am I kidding I don't have any photography skills...I hope to work on taking better photos this year.  Thanks so much for visiting today!  I will be sharing more of my holiday nest all week and hope you can come again!!  Joyeux Noel!!

P.S.  I forgot to mention that I am having a little sale in my Etsy shop today and tomorrow ~ 15% off everything!