Christmas Decorations with a Toddler

Decorating for Christmas this year had a few extra considerations thanks to the most adorable 14 month old who pretty much rules the house.

There were very few things that I put out this year that were breakable because one of her new favorite things it to try and reach things that are on tables. She has been remarkably good about not touching previous season's decorations so I was hopeful that this would hold true for Christmas too.  

This little display on our bar cabinet is well out of her reach so I was comfortable putting a glass jar here.

She can technically reach this table I think but so far she hasn't really tried to grab anything off of it.

She can definitely reach our TV stand so I only put things she could't hurt by touching. Her toy bins are right in front of this so she generally is more focused on her toys than my decorations which is just fine with me.

This is the only display of breakable things that she gets near and that is only because sometimes I am getting something off the table with her in my arms.

I had heard the most about toddlers wreaking havoc on Christmas trees so I was a little bit worried. Fortunately it has not been an issue. After we got the tree I put lights on it and left it that way overnight to see how she would react. She looked at the lights but didn't really show any interest in trying to pull them off so I put non-breakable ornaments on the to half of the tree and called it a day. Even now after being up for a few weeks she has only touched the branches a couple of times to see what they feel like and once she tried to hug the tree skirt because it looks like a blanket. I am calling that a success!

 This limited decorations is going to be part of my future for a while so I guess I better get used to it!

Fall Decorations

Happy Fall! I actually managed to get my house all dressed up for Fall.

Since I use part of my dining room table as a desk during the week (thanks COVID) I had to make sure I had decorations that could easily be moved if I needed more space to spread something out.  I haven't had to move my centerpiece but it is nice to have the option.

I made sure when decorating my side table that I pushed everything away from the edge because little fingers are just learning how (and are just tall enough) to pull things off of table.

Overall she is pretty good about not touching things after I have said no but she is very curious about what is on table since she is too short to see over them.

This little piece on my TV stand was the one I was most worried about her bothering but really she has her toys in front of the TV stand and is content to play with them. I don't even think she has noticed the decorations other than the orange pumpkin off to the side.

I didn't get any new decorations this year since I am really not spending much time in stores at the moment but I am looking forward to burning the fall candle I have from last year. Now if the weather would just cooperate with my desire to burn a candle.

 I have said this before and failed but I am hoping this is the start of getting back into blogging...

Fall Decorations

This year rather than decorating for Fall in September and then putting some Halloween touches in October and Thanksgiving touches in November I just left up my fall decorations for the whole 3 months because baby.

I am about to take them all down to put up at least some of my Christmas decorations so I figured better late than never with the photos.

Nothing was new this year but I enjoyed having the decorations up because due to a cute little baby I have spent a lot of time in my living room this fall giving me plenty of time to admire them!

Some 4th of July Decorations!

We have been gone for the last couple weekends so I got my 4th of July decorations up just in time for July this year.

Nothing new this year but I did put out some little red white and blue star lights that I got on sale at then end of last 4th of July season.  I didn't realize they needed batteries and I didn't have any so they are just decorative shapes instead of lights... oh well!

After the 4th of July is over there really aren't any holidays/seasons to decorate for until Fall so I am going to put up something more generic because come Fall I am not sure how high decorating for holidays is going to be on my priority list with a newborn.  This may be my last season I decorate for for a while!

St Patrick's Day Deorations

Since St Patrick's Day is only a week away I figured it was time to post about my decorations.  I put them up a couple of weeks ago but am only now getting around to taking pictures of them.

The only new thing I added this year was the little shamrock sprigs coming out of my glass container on my bar.  They are really meant to go in a flower arrangement but they work for my purposes too.

Not sure we are really having a proper St. Patrick's Day dinner next weekend but I will definitely be making a batch of Irish Soda Bread at some point since it is my favorite.

Valentine's Day Decorations

Now that it is officially just about February it is time for Valentine's Day decorations.  Pink and red aren't necessarily my favorite colors but after having no holiday decorations up for most of the month of January after taking my Christmas decorations down I am glad to have some color back.

I didn't get much new this year but I did pick up some heart vase fillers a few weeks ago when I was out to dinner and shopping with a friend.

Happy February!

Christmas Decorations

It is the most wonderful time of the year again! I love Christmas and pretty much everything about it so I was very excited to decorate my house for Christmas this year. 

I went to Hobby Lobby a couple of weeks ago to get wrapping supplies and decided to look around while I was there.  As one does.  I saw some really cute centerpieces and arrangements but when I looked at the price my first thought was I can make those for about half that price and I did just that.  I bought a basket, some oasis and a whole bunch of sparkly things to put in and this was the result. I was very happy with the way it turned out!

I took down the painting that normally hangs above our bar and put up a big wreath.  At a charity function earlier this year I got a couple of strands battery operated floral lights from the winning the centerpiece so I added a strand to my wreath.

I took the other strand of lights and put them in the garland that I made last year.  I love that the little side table we have kind of serves as a mantel.  We don't have a fireplace and actually because we celebrate Christmas at my parents house we don't have stockings at our house it doesn't really matter for Christmas.

I put couple little decorations on our TV stand.  The Santa is one of the many Santas that I have from my grandparents.  Every year from the time I was 1 until I turned 18 my grandparents gave me some sort of Santa Clause for my birthday.  I got everything from pillows to figurines to ornaments.

I love how Christmas ornaments look just scattered in a bowl so I tend to use them in multiple places in my house at Christmas time.  This red, green and silver assortment is my favorite combination.

Since my table is not in its extended positions most of the time I put my new centerpiece on our china cabinet for the time being.  I will put it out on the table for entertaining but it looks nice where it is too.

My tree is a mix mash of childhood ornaments, gifts from friends, Disney ornaments and purple and silver balls.   I love my mix mash tree but someday when I have the room for two tree (and I will) one tree will be like this and another one will be all fancy and matching.

This year I finally found a tree topper that I liked.  It plugs into my string lights and is actually less gold and more silver than it looks in this picture.

I don't have any decorations in our bedroom (though I have been very tempted) because there isn't any good places to put them since I have a bunch of stuff on dresser than needs to be dealt with.  While my dresser is occupied I put this little tree and Santa on the shelf of our guest room so anyone staying with us has a little Christmas to enjoy.

I meant to decorate and put lights outside again this year but again I got busy and didn't get around to it so maybe next year. Ok in reality don't hold your breath for next year either because I have grand plans to have a small baby next Christmas.

Thanksgiving Decorations

A couple of weeks ago I took down my Halloween decorations and put up some Thanksgiving decorations. A lot of my fall decorations are also my Thanksgiving decorations so I will let most of the photos speak for themselves.

There is a nail in the wall over my kitchen window so this season I finally got something to hand up there.  The cord is a little long but but the time I realized it I had already put my step stool away so long it was going to stay.

We are hosting Thanksgiving dinner for my husband's siblings and their families so some of these decorations will be moving this week to accommodate that. I am excited to do a fancy Thanksgiving table scape and use all my fun entertaining dishes.