Tablescapes, Home Decor, Thrifting, Cooking

Saturday, December 13, 2008

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.

16 comments:

southerninspiration said...

She is soooo lucky to have you help her out! And her condo looks fabulous. Ya'll make a great team!

Hope the party was loads of fun!
Suzanne

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Daughter no 2 Emily, is so fortunate that you and Mr. Brown Socks can take off and go to help. I think it turned out great.. I'll be anxious to hear what her guests have to say..thanks for sharing..
hugs ~lynne~

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Lucky Emily to have such a talented and energetic mother to come help her! I'm sure her party was a huge success. Her decorations certainly are. laurie

Tardevil said...

A lovely mantel, an awesome mirror, but penguins on an ice bucket....PRICELESS!!! Hope she has a rockin party!

Stacy said...

Hee hee hee. Nice shower curtain.

Thanks so much for your sweet comment! The jammies came from Target. They are nick and Nora brand. I LOVE them.

Have a great day!

~Stacy

Bo said...

Hi Donna...it looks like daughter #2 has a great start on her Christmas collection of decor... It all looked classy & some unusual pieces too. That sauce really did look yummy! ;-) Bo

Miss Janice said...

Her decorations are so cute! I also love that bicycle on your header:)

Nancy Rosalina said...

Oh her decorations are beautiful! The bicycle in the header is too cute! Nancy

Cathy said...

Donna, Emily's decorations are beautiful and the food looks delicious. My parents had an icebucket like the one you found. :)

Cathy

Salmagundi said...

Enjoyed the tour. It is encouraging that as a young person, she is taking her time in decorating and finding just the right things (with the help of Mom!) Thanks for stopping by my blog. Enjoyed yours! Sally

Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity said...

Emily's Christmas decor is adorable. It was so nice that you could help her.

lvroftiques said...

I did I did!! Love seeing her decorations! And what a wonderful loving mama and daddy she has! *winks* That little chandy was darling! And I too have the penguin ice bucket!! How fun!! Ok could you pass me some lasagne? It looks scrumptious!! Vanna

Lynette said...

Loved your daughter's decor and that you and her daddy went to help!! My DD is 18 (soon to be 19) and does not care (yet) about decorating anything!!
Thanks for stopping by and visitng my Christmas post - my dishes are by Pfaltzgraff (sp?). I've only had them a couple of years and have ordered most online!!
Enjoy your season ~

Tardevil said...

See what we do to each other...we make our friends want to start collecting what each other has. It's a lot of fun though, isn't it?! And, sadly, that was only about 1/2 of my Santas! Have a great week!

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Ohhh! The condo looks wonderful! Such good decorating ideas! And the food looks yummy! We want to hear how it all turned out...a huge success, I'm sure!...Debbie

The Muse said...

little tiny touches...spread about...the candy for the eye, during the festive season...nicely done1