I've only been able to decorate the family room this year, since the rest of the house is completely discombobulated  by the ongoing renovation project.  It made it a little easier this year (I kept telling myself that)-- only one room to decorate. 

So...here is Christmas in our family room.  I wasn't able to share anything about Christmas last year, so I was especially determined to post something this year, even if it was just a little bit... 





This is my chance to really break out all the red.  So cheery and Christmasy!  I don't think I could ever go with a 'blue' or 'green' color scheme. 













I went with a small Christmas tree this year.   And even at only about one week old, it's already dried out and drooping, thanks to the heat and winds that have plagued southern California over the past few weeks.  

Since we are so fortunate that we were not affected by the terrible fires that have raged (and still are as I write this) across the southern half of the state, I certainly won't complain about this very minor and inconsequential side effect of the horrible Santa Ana winds that just won't go away.



This year it was all about nostalgia and things that spoke to the little kid inside.  All my favorite little Christmas creatures and whimsical ornaments remind me of that magical, excited feeling I got every Christmas morning when I was little.  That feeling that impelled me to jump out of bed at around 5 am and wake everyone up!  (I'm happy to sleep in these days, no need to get up that early to open presents). 







Update:  Is this a Blogging No-No?  I don't care-- I was in such a hurry when I wrote this post that I forgot to include my favorite Christmas doggy (after, of course, my real, live doggies). So here he is...






I always bring out Teddy Bear Angel from his box every year, no matter what.  My mom gave him to me, so he is especially dear to me.




Mr. Foxy demanded that I take him home last year, and I agreed wholeheartedly.  I can never resist a cute animal of any sort and I loved this little guy's dapper outfit.  

Although it is risky to put him within reach of the dogs.  Especially right now: I had to hide their chew toys since Rosie must not play and romp about because of recent surgery, and she may be tempted by Mr. Foxy.  Sometimes they have a hard time distinguishing between their toys and mine ;-)

What is it that makes decorating so fun, so satisfying...when you get it right?  It's all about the details, the elements big and small, that is used in furnishings, fabrics, silver, books, hardware, dishes and server ware, art, crafty pieces, colors, patterns, collectibles... Using the same details and motifs over and over pulls a room or an entire home together... gives it life...makes it interesting... and makes it personal, if you use something that has a lot of meaning for you.  This post is the first of what I hope will be many posts about lovely, fun, pretty, beautiful, quirky, interesting details of all sorts used in decor that catch my eye and my heart---not just in my own home, but places I visit, as well as inspiring photos on the Internet.

Today, it's all about roses for me, thanks to a recent visit to the Huntington Library tea room and rose garden, not to mention the roses from my own garden.  



Rather than use a lot of words to explain each photo, I thought I'd let each image speak for itself and show how my favorite flower has made its way into the details of my home.  

Go ahead and look at each photo and see if you can find all the roses in each one.  Look beyond the obvious....there are real roses from my garden in almost every photo, but the rose is also repeated both literally and stylistically as a pattern, as decorative embellishments and flourishes, as a theme, or as a color in the things in almost every image.

There is nothing like fresh flowers and greenery to add life and loveliness to your home.  The scent, the color, the texture... all these things add that special element that makes a room come alive.  You can create a beautiful flower arrangement easily using what you have in your garden or by supplementing store-bought blooms by following a few simple steps.  Today I'm providing a quick tutorial for 'building' a pretty flower bouquet.

What you will need....

1. a pretty vase or container
2. foliage to create a framework
3. flowers for supporting color
4. starring blooms




Additionally, using 'wet' floral foam placed in your vase or container gives you more control over the placement and arrangement of your flowers and greenery-- this is handy for shorter, broader vases like the one I've used here.  You poke the stem into the foam and the flower stays put instead of flopping over or falling out of the vase all together.  Floral foam is available at craft stores such as Michaels or JoAnn  (this is not a sponsored post) and can be used multiple times.

For this flower arrangement, I used roses from my garden to supplement foliage and flowers I purchased from the floral section of a local grocery store.  I've let my garden go in recent years and only my roses seem to be flourishing with the minimal care that they get.... so this is a great way for me to create a fantastic looking arrangement without having to maintain a cutting garden.




First step... create a framework using a variety of greenery. The framework should include a mix of dense, fine/feathery, and tall/spiky foliage that adds that varied and textural backdrop that will showcase and complement the supporting and starring flowers.




Second step....add the supporting color that complements the starring flowers that will be the focal point of your arrangement.  I'm using purple and lavender colored flowers.. spider mums (I think), chrysanthemum, and statice.




Last step... add those special flowers that will have the starring role in your arrangement. In this case I used a mix of my favorite roses from my garden (all David Austin): 'Evelyn', 'Tamora', and 'English Garden'.... all in varying shades of peach and peachy-pink, which looks beautiful with the purples and lavenders of the supporting flowers, and the varying deep greens and chartreuse colors of the foliage.




And of course, once you are all done, set your arrangement where you can enjoy it.  In this case my flower arrangement sits happily in our front hall where we can enjoy its color and scent when we come and go throughout the day or go up and down the stairs.