Friday, December 24, 2010

A Simple Christmas Tree~


Hello Everyone!
I wanted to share a few pictures of our Christmas tree with you....before Christmas is over...
I haven't had a lot of time to decorate for Christmas this year...
So be warned there isn't a lot to see.....
WE decorated our tree last weekend,  I was going to add a few more of our ornaments to the tree and then decided to leave it a little more simple this year....
I strung twine with little pompoms around the tree... I bought a couple spools of this twine at Anthropologie...
My kids loved adding the candy canes to the tree...
We put the left over candy canes in a sap bucket and left them in the window...


The house we live in has 9ft tall ceilings... which I LOVE...
However a normal size tree looks kind of funny in here....
This year we bought a shorter tree....
 To add a little height to the tree I put it in a metal basket on a farm table (that was cut down into a coffee table) behind the couch.  
I love this basket...
I was told that these antique french baskets were used in France to hold wine jugs...
They would stuff them with straw to protect the wine jugs....



Inside the basket is a bucket to hold the water for the tree....
I covered the bucket up with an antique sheet....
I actually had a grain sack around it at first...
I ended up liking the pretty sheet against the rustic metal basket better then the grain sack.


I put a couple of french canning jars on the table.
The jars helped bring the same blue color from the ornaments into the middle of the room..
At least I think they helped : ) 




The blue mirror is against the wall on the other side of the room...
I like how it reflects the image of the tree and the blue ornaments.


On another note....
My daughters made sugar cookies the other day.
I wanted to share a picture of the cookies they made with you.
I think they did a great job.
The elves are my favorite.
We have used Martha Stewart's Sugar Cookie recipe for years...
It is our favorite sugar cookie recipe...


On a final note....
I didn't want you to miss out.....





I hope you get a chance to visit Melanie's beautiful blog, Pretties and Posies....
These are just a few of the images you will see while visiting her blog.
 You can see Melanie's how to post for this pear arrangement by clicking here~


I love the arrangements she made with branches....


You will find lots of inspiration over at


I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas!!

Take Care,
Maria


55 comments:

  1. Hi Maria,

    How are you?
    This is th epillow I was talking about..
    Wishing you and your family a merry and blessed christmas.

    Love,
    Rozmeen

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  2. Your Christmas tree is so beautiful Maria! I just love those aqua ornaments...my favorite color! Merry Christmas to you and your family! ~Deb~

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  3. Your tree. (we were living in a small house.) And loved it. This year we have high ceilings and are enjoying a tall tree.

    Merry Christmas, Maria.
    Fondly,
    Glenda

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  4. I love your blog, the name suits it perfectly!

    Your Christmas decorations are absolutely dreamy...I want to put on a pair of fat, warm socks and curl up on your sofa with a book. Beautiful and cozy.

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  5. Hi Maria the tree is divine and not overdone, I love the simplicity of it all. Well its Christmas Eve here in Australia and we have lit the candles and the are enjoying a quite glass of wine while its absoultely pouring rain outside. I want to wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas and I look forward to catching up with your blog in the New Year. You continue to inspire we with your wonderful decorating not to mention the gorgeous photography. I have just purchased my own SLR and are totally addicted. Have a good one and take care. Sandy xx

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  6. What a lovely tree...it will be so cozy during the next days!

    ♫•*¨*•.¸¸ Merry * Christmas ¸¸.•*¨*•♫

    Warm regards, Ingrid

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  7. I love Your tree, it is simple and gorgeous!
    Greetings from Poland!
    Merry Christmas

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  8. Your tree is so pretty, love the ornaments too... and those sugar cookies look so yummy!!!
    Merry Christmas~~ Daphne

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  9. Love the simplicity of your tree and that lovely blue....it's unexpected and perfect! I hope you have a very merry Christmas with your family- and enjoy those cookies! ;-)
    ~michelle~

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  10. I am so glad I just found you via Houzz; I am in love with your home! Hope you have warm and cosy holidays.
    Best regards from The Netherlands,
    Iris

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  11. Hi Maria,
    your tree looks perfect. I absolutely love the simple decor.
    Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas,
    ~Sam x

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  12. What a beautiful Christmas house you have; I love the bleu mirror and your christmas tree.

    Merry Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

    x Anita

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  13. You continue to amaze and inspire me, my friend! I l.o.v.e the fact that everything you touch is so simply...elegant. You have mastered the art of knowing when to say "when." Absolutely Gorgeous!!!

    Speaking of gorgeous...ummm... your new profile picture...Hello Gorgeous!!:))))

    Bless your heart for thinking of me and my little ole' blog. I Thank Heaven everyday for the gift of your friendship.

    Have a very Merry Christmas and the Happiest 2011. I'll keep those prayers coming.

    Love you!
    Melanie

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  14. ♫•*¨*•.¸¸ Merry * Christmas And Happy New Year¸¸.•*¨*•♫

    Gorgeous make overs .They can jolly well compete with Christmas Tree
    from Christmas Tree shops
    .

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  15. Pretty tree Maria, the only thing more perfect would be a snowfall behind it in the windows!

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  16. your tree is beautiful. i like the simple look. may be visiting that next year. love the ornaments. i wish you and your family a very blessed christmas maria.

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  17. you've struck a chord with me ... a.g.a.i.n.

    merry merry christmas !

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  18. Very Merry Christmas to you!

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  19. Maria- The beautiful simplicity of your tree and decorating is inspiring and beautiful~ xxoo Diana

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  20. ∗J∗O∗Y∗E∗U∗X∗ ∗N∗O∗E∗L∗

    Anne♥

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  21. Merry Christmas, Maria!
    I hope you have a wonderful and blessed Christmas with your family....the cookies are gorgeous and your tree is absolutely beautiful!

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  22. How do you do it? So beautiful and romantic...love your style and your blog...Merry Christmas...Dawn Suitcase Vignettes

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  23. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
    I am always in awe of all your posts! Thank you so much for sharing!
    Your tree is stunning!

    Happy Holidays!
    Brenda

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  24. thank you so much Maria for all your beautiful posts and inspiration. wish you a merry Christmas with your loved ones! xo Caroline

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  25. Maria... YOUR Tree Display is "Just Stunning"!*!*! LoVe the French Metal Basket... AND how you tied in the "shades of light aqua-blue with the white!!! Merry Christmas...
    Jeanine, ChiPPy!-SHaBBy!

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  26. ooh That Melanie's so sweet and thoughtful. Merry Christmas to you and your family and all your followers.
    Take care
    Jenny

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  27. Merry Christmas Maria!!
    I wish you and your gorgeous family memories to cherish a lifetime!
    Love
    Kristin

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  28. Beautiful pictures Maria and decorating!
    I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas!
    <3
    Shannon

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  29. Beautiful! Soft Magic!
    Wishing a Merry Christmas to beautiful, inspirational, Maria and her family!
    ~*L*~

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  30. Your tree is absolutely beautiful, and so is the rest of the room! Merry Christmas!

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  31. Hello Maria,
    I just love visiting your beautiful blog. Your tree and your livingroom looks so dreamy and peaceful.

    Merry Christmas.

    hugs
    Sissie

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  32. Joyeux noël à vous et aux vôtres... Bisous

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  33. Your tree would look perfect in my cottage! I love it. I did the same with ours...used a lace trimmed white sheet to tuck around it in a clay pot. Do you have your french stockings hanging anywhere(the ones your sister made for the giveaway?) Joyeux Noel.

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  34. ~*~*Absolutely beautiful!!~*~*Merry Christmas wishes to you and your family!!~*~*Hugs,Rachel*~

    *French Farmhouse 425*

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  35. I just had to stop by and say Happy Holidays to you and yours.. I so enjoy your blog..
    hugggsss
    Sandy

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  36. Hi Maria - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family...I think your Christmas decor is so gorgeous and perfect! Usually Christmas is so stressful for me but I think if I was sitting in a lovely living room like yours I would definitely be stress free - eating those yummy cookies of course! And I love your new profile photo too - you look quite the artist in black! Enjoy the holiday and here's to a great 2011.

    Warm wishes to all, Gina

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  37. Less is more... it is a beautiful tree!
    Wishing you a happy Christmas Eve...
    desiree

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  38. I wish you MERRY CHRISTMAS, filled with love, family, friends, contemplation, light, shine and Gloria!

    Love hugs

    Tine

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  39. Merry Christmas........


    x
    xxx
    xxxxx
    xxxxxxx
    xxxxxxxxx
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    ||
    ||




    Love Ria.......

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  40. Pretty, pretty, pretty, Girl! You always mean business. :)

    And thank you for your sweet comment. It really touched me today.

    xxoo

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  41. Love the tree, Maria. I think simple is better, we've done the same here too.

    Love the big French baskets, really pretty and the sugar cookies are very festive looking too. Merry Christmas!
    ~Tracie

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  42. Your tree is gorgeous, Maria. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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  43. Maria, I can't begin to tell you how THRILLED I was with my gorgeous gifts!!! I got my knitted cowl earlier this week and it is so pretty. I love to knit, so I was so excited with a handmade item. I will love wearing it on these cold days! And your package came on Christmas eve. What a treat!!! The smell of all that lavender is divine! The pillows are so beautiful. They will always remind me of you! I'm so excited that I won your giveaway. Thank you again, so very much. Merry Christmas to you and yours! Your tree is my favorite. I love blue and those turquoise ornaments are so pretty. You always have pictures that are worthy of being in a magazine, for sure. You made my Christmas extra-special with your kindness. Love & blessings from NC!

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  44. Merry Christmas from Sweden!
    I found your blogg through Me&Alice. What a beautiful blogg your have! I will definately look in here later!
    Snowy wintergards from
    Anna T in Sweden

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  45. So beautiful, as always ;)
    Hope you have a wonderful christmas :)
    Best wishes Grete

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  46. Hi Maria
    Lovely Photos and a
    MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS
    It is cold here in Sweden now, and a lot of snow :)
    Do not miss the

    C
    H
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    I
    S
    T
    M
    A
    S

    P
    A
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    Welcome to Join it :)
    Håkan

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  47. as always i'm so inspired visiting here! beautiful photos. beautiful spirit. love it.

    wanted you to know i have a new blog also. stop by when you can.:)

    merry mErRy christmas~

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  48. Merry Christmas Maria!
    I love the Christmas tree with the candy cane!! :-)
    Kisses
    Etta

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  49. Your home, your style is so beautiful, simple and what I strive for some time in the future. I love the whites so much. It took my breath away to see the blue Ball jars-they are my favorite and I do have a few!
    I wish I was blessed with the ability to 'style' my house but I don't. Maybe I can learn. I definitely have the desire to learn!
    Thank you for sharing the beauty of your home with all of us.

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  50. gosh, maria, i just adore your simple style. so beautiful. i'm sorry if i seem to leave the same comment each visit but it's all true and sincere! so glad you will be in fifi's book!

    warmest wishes for a continued season of merry, healthy & yummy!

    xo
    elyse

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  51. Gorgeous pics, beautiful blog!
    Lots of hugs and kisses from New Zealand :-))))
    Christine

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  52. Absolutely gorgeous! I'm addicted to aqua...I can't get away from it! I love your simple, BEAUTUIFUL tree!

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  53. Your tree looks gorgeous! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Happy New Year!

    ~ Clare x

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  54. Beautiful! I'm glad I got a chance to stop by! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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