This is our family room and I love this room because we gather our family and friends in here often.

I also dislike this room because it has a few quirky things innit that make it difficult to decorate. 

1. There are two very large openings into the room. One from the hallway and the other from the kitchen.

2. The fireplace is in the corner of the room. 

3. The windows are not centered on the wall 

4. A large bump out that is the back wall of my kitchen pantry. 🥴

I have rearranged the furniture in this room many times to try and get in plenty of seating and also have a good view of the TV without blocking the kitchen entry and allowing for a open feel. It has been such a trick. You can see from my pics above that I am trying 3 different layouts and need a coffee table. Anneke from Coastal Interiors suggested I get a round coffee table so I can have more space. So I am looking at these ottomans from Wayfair and I think I have made my decision to do the tufted one. I’ll post again to show you how it looks once I receive it. Wish me luck! 

You can still order today and get it by Christmas!

As a kid I remember lots and lots of snow and my brother and I walking in it up to our thighs! It was a wet snow and would stick to the tops of our boots, hats, scarves and inside our gloves right by our wrists because back in the day the gloves were not so great at keeping the snow out! 

We were constantly having to pull off the little nuggets of snow that would cling to the inside of our furry lined gloves and boots so we could stay a little warmer.  It also seems to me that the snow would harden overnight and you could always hear a crunch as your boots would break through the snow. I remember my brother and I would try to walk ever so carefully as to try and not leave a foot print in the snow but it never worked haha. He and I would play outside for what seemed like forever maybe even until mom called us in for dinner even though we were absolutely freezing to death! Our hands and feet would be ice cold but we didn’t care... we just loved trying to build igloos, having snowball fights and pulling each other on sleds...REAL wooden sleds not plastic ones like we have today. 

When we would finally come in we would whip off our snow clothes and sit on the heater vents in our beige waffle print long johns. The best thing was....mom would always have a cup of hot chocolate and hot buttered toast cut into triangles for us to dip into our hot chocolate! Ahhh I can almost taste it now! I miss those days and I really miss my brother... it’s been nine years since he passed away but I will always treasure these sweet memories forever. 

I want to share with you this amazing dark, rich, thick hot chocolate recipe that my daughter Madeline makes! This hot chocolate is like something you would get in Europe. 

I saw this idea in one of my old magazines from Matthew Mead and I absolutely loved it!

I took a fishbowl (brand new) and added the face on the punch bowl by melting chocolate and using my fingers made circles for the eyes and mouth. I then used white chocolate and tinted it with gel food coloring to make it orange for the nose. I placed the punch bowl on a tray and put tons of mini marshmallows all around the base of it! So precious! For the glasses I used clean rootbeer bottles and added a powdered donut hole on the top with the straw going through it to hold it in place. I used mini chocolate chips for the eyes and a jelly bean...cut in half for the nose.

Then I decorated the necks of the root beer bottles with some left over orange fluffy trim for a scarf.

We served Eggnog in the punch bowl because it was cold and wouldn't melt the face off the snowman. You could try different a punch to serve in there for a festive look.

Can't wait to see what has been the centerpiece of your week!

I am so excited to show you my Christmas Tablescape idea! 
First up the napkins- My cute mom made these napkins for me years ago. They are made from painters drop cloth and she used Laser transfer paper that you print from your printer and then simply iron it on. I've used them over and over and washed them a million times and they have held up perfectly! Are you seeing the cute silverware paper? More about that in a minute.

I am in love with this silverware paper! I used it for my Thanksgiving table as a runner but this time I cut 6 pieces to use as placemats and I still have lots left over! I bought it from a darling shop called Nest Boutique...see link below.

Over in the corner is my Hot chocolate Bar...if you missed that post you can see it here. I just noticed the fabric on my chairs flow really well with the color scheme. I might need to change out the turquoise artwork in the white frames...remember last year I did pastels in this room.

I. Love. this.

I bought my roll of paper at my friend Brittany's shop called Nest Boutique that is right by my house but you can find similar papers as well as super cute clothes and lots of other fabulous home decor in her online shop at Nestboutique Tell Brittany Hi for me :)

What are you doing for your Christmas Tablescape this year?

linking to

DIY Dreamer CedarHillFarmHouse Savvysouthernstyle

Frugal Friday tatertotsandjello

betweennapsontheporch

thededicatedhouse thepinjunkie justusfour

what-about findingfabulous tidymom prototypemama

21 random aconqueredmess thegunnysack

knick of time boogieboardcottage

Not just a housewife Inspiration Exchange party cuisine kathleen,stonegableblog

Seasoned homaker Ivy and elephants CommonGround

Uncommon sliceofsuburbia Coastal Charm Crystelle Boutique

Lambertslately DIY showoff Show and Tell