Christmas is...home.

This afternoon is my dear friend who got me into blogging, Kristy from Sosobella.

Kristy is the creator of Sosobella hand stamped jewelry and the happy place called Sweet Loveliness.

I admire her creative gifts, her love for her family and her zest for life.

i am so happy to be a quest blogger on one of my most favorite girls in the worlds blog, nancy.


i am kristy, from sosobella designs. i am married to a wonderful guy and we have 2 girls who i adore. 

today i am sharing my home with you during this wonderful holiday season. it’s my most favorite times of the year. 

the chill in the air. the gift of giving. the christmas music. the decorations. i love it all. 

a celebration for sure.

so, come thanksgiving, we break out the decorations. i’ve heard a lot of people dreading it this year. as they put it up, all they can think of is how they’ll have to take it all down. not me, love putting it out, love watching our girls help bring the bins in from the garage with their dad. they love looking through all of it. we broke down a couple years ago and bought a fake tree. 

i know, i  know, but i had to. having a real tree was so hard for me. every time i walked by, i would feel a branch and see how many pine needles fell off. it drove me nuts. and the maintenance, just couldn’t do it any longer. and although i miss that wonderful smell of pine, i am a much happier girl not worrying about how dry it is each day.

our tree is full of icicle pine cones, berries, glittered candy and crystal garland.

i'm pretty sure, if my family would let me, i'd leave it up all year round. 

i love lights. little sparkly lights. you'll often see them in my home, even when it's not he holidays. so when i am home and see my tree all lit up with them, even in the day, it makes me smile.

and around our home we have snowmen. they also make me smile.

and our gingerbread family

fresh flowers during the holiday are a favorite of mine. 

trader joes has the best!

the outside of our home is decorated with garland, red bows and christmas lights. my husband has it down. he knows what strand goes where. it looks wonderful.  

it's obvious that i can not photograph at night, but here is an idea. 

those of glittered candies hanging. 

l.o.v.e. them

***i woke up this morning to much surprise my hubby wrote his own tid bit about decorating for the holidays.

This year I felt like I was resisting Christmas.  It was unintentional but I was resisting.  Maybe it was because when I went to buy Halloween candy, Target already had Christmas trees up for sale.  Maybe it was because no store had any mention of my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving (it would be yours too if you were able to taste my aunts turkey).  Maybe it was because work is kicking my butt and I am so busy that I can’t think straight.  Never-the-less, Christmas was coming and I was not feeling jolly, festive, warm, or cuddly.

However as I write this, I look around my house and see our many snowmen, our Elf on the Shelf sitting on our mantle with his arms around a Barbie doll, my dog Dakota laying under the Christmas tree, and enough lights on my roof to overload the San Onofre Power Plant (I can’t wait for our January Edison bill:  it’s Kristy’s tradition to tell me that I had the lights on too long each night, and it is my tradition to say I’ll cut back next year:)

I am definitely in the mood now and all that it took was the excitement of two little girls who were so fired up to see me hang our lights.  I had to fight to keep them from climbing on the roof this year.  They practically ripped open all our boxes of decorations and had them strewn all over the living room floor in micro-minutes.  It is amazing what two little girls can do to your heart.  They love Christmas soooo much and are so excited every year to celebrate.  It brings so much joy to my heart to see their passion and love for the season.  

It just goes with out saying that no matter how young or how old, if you truly believe then the Christmas spirit will always find its way into your heart.  .  . even during the times when you may not be ready for it.

***

so whether you are decorating, creating, baking or wrapping

find pandora on your computer

type in she and him holiday

press play

and enjoy

************************************************

Christmas music always adds so much to a home and Kristy's home is so sparkly and fun.

Thanks for the tour, my friend. 

Now, have you seen Kristy's goods? I always do Christmas shopping here.

Personal. One of a kind. Super prices. Always brings a smile. 

  sosobella

 Today, she is giving away my gift this season.

I just bought 4 of these yesterday.

Personalized Hand Stamped Ornaments

Guess what? It is your lucky day. 

 Kristy is giving one of these personalized ornaments away.

You know the drill. Enter as many times as you would like.

1. Comment on your favorite happy-inducing decor at your home.

2. Follow Kristy or moi.

3. Blog about this little week long party.

4. Grab my button for your blog.

5. Sing Deck the Halls as loud as you can. For real.  Do it. 

Tomorrow is the grand finale. Be ready to join the party.

Don't be tardy for this party.