Christmas in a Condo

I really didn't mind leaving my list of things to do behind. It didn't bother me that the packages are still left in bags unwrapped. Who really cares that the Christmas letter hasn't been written. It will all get done........RIGHT?? I can be a very last minute person if need be. Mr. Brown Socks and I have been trying to get to Chicago for sometime now. You see one of our daughters lives in an old refurbished condo that has been totally gutted and brought from old to new. She purchased it about a year ago. The furniture and decor has been slow in coming, but that's okay. She is taking her time, saving her money and trying to make sure she does it the way she wants. She and several friends formed a dinner club a few months back and as luck would have it, December turned out to be her month to host it. We felt it would be a small group being in December but the calls turned into yeses and she was up to 16. I told her it would make ME nervous to have 16 for dinner. Mr. Brown Socks has been wanting to go and make sure his little darling's car was ready for the harsh Chicago winter and it seemed the perfect time to go and let him to that while I helped daughter number two with food with maybe a little decorating on the side. We found this gorgeous, lucious antique mirror off Craigslist in August. It has been propped up against the fireplace since then waiting to be hung. Thank goodness for Mr. Brown Socks. She had these fun white lights from a Pottery Barn clearance a few years back, along with the glass tree topper, oh...and also the little white Christmas tree candles. Can you see them tucked in behind some little red berries? The little chandelier was found by me at a nice children's store in my mom's hometown. It was going out of business. The sweet little light was on a final clearance for around $20. I think it was meant to be hung above a crib, but isn't it just as fun on a mantle?

Daughter #2 had already strung these vintage robin's egg blue ornaments with brown ribbon in her brown and blue bathroom by the time I got there.

We found this sweet little mistletoe hand towel at TJ Maxx and a silver votive holder at another store to finish up on some little touches.

The menu needed to be simple with so many so D#2 decided on lasagne. Two pans of traditional hamburger.......and......

one pan of spinach lasange. She isn't sure if there are vegetarians. The sauce was so good. I wish I could be there tonight to taste it! Last of all, the start of the beverage table. My mother had given her this vintage red tablecloth which worked over a patio table to hold drinks. Do any of you recognize this old ice bucket? Mr. Brown Socks and I received one like it as a wedding gift and years ago I got rid of it. :( I saw this same bucket in an antique store one day for close to $30. I was really sad I parted with it. Well, lo and behold there was "the bucket" at Goodwill last week. I decided Emily was probably in need of an ice bucket, so it went into my carry on and off to Chicago.

I'm sure the bag checkers at the airport were wondering why I was carring all these decorations. I am sad I didn't get a picture of her table and the rest of the condo. Maybe I can show you that another time.

I hope you enjoyed this little tour of Emily's Christmas decorations.