Christmas at Carmen's

Alysa says:
When we were in school, we adopted our dear friend Carmen to be our California Grammy. She needed us and we needed her.

Carmen loves to decorate for the holidays. Visiting her house is always a treat. She makes everything very festive and full of the season. (She even had special shelving built-in to display her decor.)


In the kitchen she decided to go more playful and fun.




She makes it a little dressier for the living room.


Love the gold trees.

Carmen decorates for the seasons because it makes her happy.

She suggested that if you don't want to decorate the whole place, just make one spot in your home the "holiday or seasonal spot." When I was first married, she helped me (and handed down to me) decorations to use in "my spot" which was a table by my front door.

Carmen also says "you usually know inside of you what looks good or not." I know what looks good but not always how to "get" that look. Maybe I'll figure it out this year.

Thanks Carmen for your tour of all things Christmasy. Next time, you'll have to see her garden. It's amazing!

Christmas at Alysa's

Welcome to my home.


Upon entering my home, our front table (which really is a dresser) houses this huge Nativity scene. (Excuse the flash in the mirror). I love nativities or better yet, creches. When I was growing up, my mom had them all through our house and our church use to have 100s displayed at Christmas time. I knew I wanted a good variety of them when I grew up.


This Holy Family scene is placed in the middle of my home to remind my family that Christ should be the center of our lives. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this piece. I actually have this up all year-round. It's a great reminder of what the quote reads.


I take everything out of my china hutch and fill it with a variety of creches. Here are just a few. Top one my in-laws brought from the Philippines, middle is Scandinavian (from a garage sale), and the bottom one is Lladro-esque. (I really need some greenery around these.)


I love this one. Can you believe my friend gave it to me years ago from Wally World? One of my favorites.


African nativity. Again, a garage sale purchase. Isn't it beautiful? I just love the long and lean pieces.




My parents purchased this for me in Jerusalem. It's made from the Olive Tree. Have you noticed in some of these that we are missing the Baby Jesus? Remember, He doesn't come until Christmas morning. (A Mexican tradition we've added to our traditions.)


When you come in my house, you'll see the staircase off to the right. Notice the wreaths match the one on the front door? (Excuse my son doing some sort of gymnastics on the staircase.)


Here are some decorations that my children really love. When I was growing up, my mom decorated her mantle with nutcrackers. I've done the same. Each nutcracker represents our family members with their stocking hanging below (I noticed I'm looking sort of man-ish.) My children enjoy playing with these (naughty children) so hot glue has been a staple with these crackers.


Guess who made this fun name tree for me? You guessed it. Rachelle. I'm so lucky to have a wonderful AND creative friend. Let her know if you want her to do a tutorial.


We've got to have a bit of Santa in our decor. Here is my collection of Santas that I've collected through the years. Check out the Santa picture in the middle. Yes, Rachelle water-colored that for me one year. Am I lucky or what??


My brother-in-law carved this as a Christmas gift for me one year. It came with a whole story that talked about how this kitchen gnome will help my food taste good if I keep it close to where I am cooking. (Let's not ask my family if this is true or not.) Even though my brother-in-law has passed on, I think of him every time I look at this precious gift of time and love.


Thank you for stopping by my home. Be sure to check out Rachelle's home by clicking here. Come back again to the attic soon, will you? Merry Christmas.

"I Want to Tell You of An Empty Christmas Stocking...

"Once upon a midnight clear, a child was born, a blazing star stood over the stable where the birth took place, and wise men came bearing birthday gifts for the child. We haven't forgotten that wonderful night through the centuries.

"We celebrate that night by hanging stars representing the nativity star on the Christmas tree, and we give gifts just as the wise men did. We spend money and time, and put much thought into the purchasing of these gifts. Then we wrap them and put them under the tree, or in stockings lovingly hung on the mantle. You give me a tie, I give you a book, Aunt Martha always wanted a red sweater, Uncle Harry could use a new robe, and little Ann asked for a doll that talks. We are careful to forget no adult or child.

"Finally everything seems ready. All the stocking are filled. All, that is, except one, and we haven't even hung it! We forgot to hang the stocking for that child who was born upon that star-filled night centuries ago, the very child whose birth we are celebrating. We can not forget to include our wonderful Savior in our gift giving.

"Let us each hang a white stocking for Him -- white to represent the purity of His life -- that it may be a reminder that He needs to be included in our celebrations. We need to give time and thought into which gift the Savior would want from us, then write it down, and place it in the stocking. We must let that stocking overflow with the gift that we have decided to give, whether it is more a more loving heart, more tolerance, or more kindness and patience with our fellow men. All of these gifts will bring about...

Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward Men."

(If you don't want to make your own, we sell these stockings made from vintage linens with the story in our Etsy shop for $18 -- or just leave us a message in the comment section if you are interested in one. This is a great tradition to start with your family.)