Greetings on this snowy Christmas Eve! I think we may actually have a white Christmas this year, and I am so excited about that! I’m sitting here in the quiet by the Christmas tree while Paul is at the grocery store and the kids are sleeping in, so I thought I’d share a few photos from our home this holiday season. That’s right, I’ve decided to bring back the Holiday House Tour this year. Won’t you please come in!?!
Vince turtleneck (M) // MOTHER Weekender (29) // Marc Fisher boots (8) // Pottery Barn Dawson Pedestal Table, Weathered Black // table decor by Laurelane Homes
This was a thing many years ago in the blogosphere. Sophie Hudson, aka Boomama started it. (We didn’t use our real names back then. We thought the Internet was a big, bad, scary place!) She held a Linky Party and invited us to join her—who remembers those!?!
Other bloggers, including yours truly, would take pictures of our holiday decor and publish a blog post about it, and we would all link up and then visit each other and comment. That was back when there was no differentiation between creators and consumers. We were all one in the same because only bloggers read blogs… No one else knew what they were!
Tell me you’ve been blogging since 2006 without telling me you’ve been blogging from 2006…
All that to say, when Alison stopped over yesterday to take our family pictures, I also had her snap a few of my holiday decor, and I’m excited to share them with you!
As you walk into my foyer, I have this pedestal table which is always a challenge to decorate. My friend Laura of Laurelane Homes created that gorgeous centerpiece from scratch with a few things I had and a few other items she brought along.
She also created the centerpiece on the dining room table and hung that wreath on the mirror over the buffet. (We left the buffet pretty much empty for serving dishes and things, as I was hosting a Christmas Tea the next day.)
Joan from Risher Van Horn did my living room tree and the garland on the banister in the foyer. (As you can see, my holiday decorating is a group effort!)
Home decor is not really my strong suit. I feel about it like many of you probably feel about fashion. I know what I like, but I have a hard time putting it all together. For that reason, I’m happy to employ those who are more talented to help me make my home as festive and inviting as I envision it to be! I’ve been having Joan out to decorate the tree and do my banister for the past 5 years or so, and she does an amazing job.
Here’s a better shot of this front room. I love sitting in here in the mornings with my coffee while it’s still dark out, enjoying the tree and the quiet house.
Scents of Blue Art botanical prints // Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Throw // pillow covers are from Pottery Barn, last year
Then in the back of the house, we have the kitchen and family room. My family room mantle was confounding me a bit, so Laura worked on it and ended up with this. (She attached two pieces of garland to make one big one.) The silver angels came a little shop in Williamsburg many years ago.
I always put this pillow on the family room couch during the holiday season. I feel like it honors our tradition of cutting down a live tree and bringing it home atop our family car every year, plus I like how it ties in the blues from my home decor with the red and green Christmas colors. (The textured white pillow cover is also from Pottery Barn a few years ago.)
I went outside in our yard and cut some live greens to add to the ornaments in this big glass vase that sits on the woven tray on my upholstered ottoman, and Laura put this wreath around the bottom, which I thought was a fun touch!
Our live tree sits in the corner of our family room, and it holds many special ornaments from over the years—gifts, mementos from our travels, and the painted wooden ornaments that Paul’s dad made every year.
And I also have this little pencil tree in the corner of the eating area in our kitchen that I got from QVC a few years ago. Laura helped me zhuzh that up with some bows and berries.
This simple arrangement from Home Goods sits on my kitchen table, anchored by a stack of red beaded placements (also from Home Goods, I believe) I use when we set the table for dinner.
And that’s about it! I didn’t put up my Snow Village houses this year. I just wasn’t feeling it.
In closing, I just want to say that I’m so grateful to you for being here, for supporting my business, and for making this such a fun, encouraging community. I laugh every time I hear or read someone say, “Blogs are dead.” I always want to reply, “Not mine!”
All that to say, I know how blessed I am to have you all here, and I realize I could not do this without you. Merry Christmas and happy holidays from our family to yours!
photo credit: Alison Cornell Photography
Joy to the Word, the Lord is Come! Let Earth receive her King!
31 Responses
Merry Christmas, thank you for all that you do! And thank you for ending the post appropriately, “Joy to the world, the Lord has come”!
Beautiful decorations! Merry Christmas!
I love all your trees, especially the real tree with family ornaments. That’s how we do our tree, including ornaments my son made in school years ago. Your blue room is lovely! Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas! Thank you for your posts and sharing your home with us! Wonderful family pic!🎄
Merry Christmas to you!! Your blog has been my favorite for many years now. Thank you for being authentic and working so hard to bring us quality content.
Merry Christmas! Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures!
Your home is simply lovely. Thanks for sharing.
What a beautiful, welcoming home for the holidays! Christmas is everywhere without overwhelming a visitor. That can be so difficult to achieve. It’s lovely. Merry Christmas Eve – a child is born in Bethlehem!
Merry Christmas, Jo-Lynne! Thank you for creating such a fun community! We love coming here for inspiration, deals and just plain fun! 🎄🎅🏼🎁
Beautifully decorated for Christmas! Thank you for sharing. Snow falling here again today!
Merry Christmas to you and your family 🎄
Merry Christmas! Lovely home and family!
Thank you for inviting us into your home for Christmas! I love all three of your trees, especially the personal one in the family room. That one looks like ours with photos of the children and grands and homemade ornaments. If they didn’t make an appearance, I would certainly hear about it! HAHA! I also enjoy clipping greens and holly berries from our wooded backyard for decorations. Since we don’t have a fireplace, I light candles and use flameless candles a lot. Adds such a beautiful glow. Merry and happy to you. And God bless!
Love your decorations, red and gold is one of my favorite Christmas color combos, and I love that you combine traditional and modern details! Love seeing your sweet family and hope you have a great time with your kids being home for the holidays! Thanks for all you do to make your blog such a fun place – I think the reason yours is still going strong but others haven’t is that you truly cultivate community! And thanks most of all for recognizing the Reason for the season! Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Jo-Lynne.
Thanks for all you do for all of us!
Merry Christmas to all the Shane! Your home looks beautiful 🎄
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Your blog is one of the very few that I actually read! I look forward to it every day. You are so personable, real, and it’s like have a conversation with a friend. Thank you for everything you do to bring us such great content. I’m so glad you brought back the holiday home tour too! Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family! Wishing you a blessed 2025 as well!
Thank you Jo-Lynne for continuing to do your blog postings! I look forward to it every single day. In fact, your blog was one of the first blogs I started reading. If I remember correctly I think I learned about your blog from a collaboration did with Cyndi Spivey a number of years ago. In addition, your fashion sense for the season is helpful as I live maybe 30-45 minutes in Bensalem, Pennsylvania which is right outside of Northeast Philadelphia. So close! Please don’t stop doing your blog! Wishing you and your family a happy and blessed holiday season.
I love the soft lightness of your home colors, and the way Christmas is woven through it. The round foyer table is beautiful.
Your family photo is an amazing keepsake.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you and your family…. I love your blog, it’s really the only one I read… Great info right up my alley..
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Jo-Lynne🎄🎄🎄 Your Christmas decorations look lovely. Thank you for sharing with us.
Unto to us a Savior is born……
What a great family picture! I think I spotted a slight smile on David’s face. Your home looks so pretty! I really like the ribbons on the one tree. One tree is all that I manage to decorate. I have one for the front porch, but I did not mess with it this year. Hobby Lobby has become my go-to store for decorating throughout the year, but especially at Christmas. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family! May you feel God’s presence as you celebrate the season!
I hope your holiday season is filled with joy.
Katie
Spokane, WA
Have a very happy Christmas, JoLynne. I love your blog and your fashion sense. You always find a way to keep it current and relatable! Your family picture is precious.
Merry Christmas to you and your family Jolynne!!
I still love blogs lol! Thank you for showing your beautiful home. Christmas home tours are my absolute favorites. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Merry Christmas to you and your family! Your decorations are beautiful. I appreciate your hard work and truly enjoy reading your posts.
Merry Christmas! Thank you for still blogging! I would rather read a “blog”, than watch a “vlog”. 🙂 Showing my age I guess. 😜 You have built a great community here and I think we all appreciate the time and effort you put into growing your business. Have a blessed holiday!
Your home is beautifully decorated and looks amazing.
Thank you for sharing and all you do.
Beautiful family as well
God bless and have a merry Christmas!
Beautiful family and pictures. Thank you for sharing. I enjoy your blogs alot. Thank you for all the hard work you do.
Merry Christmas! What a beautiful home and family. Loved the tour. You should definitely do that every year.