Zassy's Treasures & Design : December 2011

It's my favorite time of year to decorate! I am so passionate about creating a warm inviting space all year long, but I can't even tell you how much I enjoy creating a winter wonderland in my house this time of year!

I am on a budget, so when it comes to decorating, I get thrifty. I have been collecting Christmas decor since the day I moved out of my parents house at 19... so let's just say I've been collecting for a decade! I try to add something new every year. Some of my favorite Christmas pieces are hand-me-downs from my grandparents. Grandma was always coming up with new ideas and Grandpa would put them to life in his wood shop. They made everything from the Santa, Sleigh and Reindeer, Toy Soldiers (that I have pictured below), and much, much more! I could do an entire blog of the things they've made!

I do have a quick, sweet story about the things they have made though.....Growing up we didn't have a ton of money. My Grandpa worked for many years and hurt his back on the job many, many years ago. He had to have major back surgery and has been disabled ever since. Since he couldn't return to work he enjoyed making things out of miscellaneous wood around the farm or if a family member or friend brought up spare wood from a project. My Mom knew how much he loved to create things and with funds being limited, she did something very sweet. Have you heard of Sunny 95's Christmas Wish? It's a local radio station that would grant someone's Christmas wish once a week during the month of December. She wrote to them about my Grandpa and everything he had gone through with his surgery. Now that he was home and disabled, she told them about him loving woodworking and that funds were limited and that she wished he could have more tools and supplies to work with. One evening my mom received a phone call from Sunny 95 and they decided to grant her wish for him! I've never seen my Mom cry so hard with excitement when they called and told her... I'm actually crying now just thinking about it... I remember when my Mom was on the phone with them, she was trying to be quiet and hide but my Grandpa could hear her crying and was getting upset and wanted to know who was on the phone making her cry!

With that being said, my Christmas decorations are not just decorations, they are years of wonderful memories that I cherish. Hope you enjoy!

This is my snowman tree... if you couldn't already tell..lol. Growing up I thought that blowmolds were so ugly and now I LOVE them and can't collect enough!

I topped my snowman tree with a top hat and filled in the empty space with glass ornaments hung with Christmas plaid ribbon from the ceiling.

This is my Santa Corner. I know most people put their blowmolds outside, but I love to fill the inside of the house with them!

I have them stuck everywhere!

I took a break from decorating and decided to decorate our dog Max... He was thrilled :)

I NEVER throw away a burnt out bulb... throw them in a jar and they make a perfect Christmas display.

Vintage Santa

To add to your everyday decor, take your extra bulbs and stick them around the house.

I like to use candle pillar holders for other things besides candles. It adds height to your decor and makes a lovely display.

Santa Boot and Greenery

Bathroom Christmas Decor

More bathroom.. Add greenery from your bathroom lighting fixture, then take extra bulbs, hang them from ribbon and attach.

This is my dining room tree with the theme of wine and martinis!

I used my corks I've collected, stuck toothpicks in the bottom them and then stuck them all around the tree.

This is my bedroom. White, Sliver and Black Theme. That's a photograph of my grandparents on their wedding day.

Bedroom Tree

This is my Vintage Tree, filled with pixie elves, vintage ornaments and vintage lights! I LOVE Bubble Lights!

The Buckeye Tree in the basement and our Max :)

Instead of storing away my flower hanging baskets for outside, I decide to go to my Grandparents farm and cut down greenery to fill them and added a few bulbs here and there.