We don’t have big plans, just spending time at our local Freedom Festival, hopefully catching sight of the bigger fireworks shows, and of course, lighting fireworks of our own. I had high hopes of making something tasty, but I think we will call it good with our annual Tigers Blood shaved ice. There might be a little home improvement project thrown in, with a big emphasis on the word might. It is a holiday after all!

Also, I wanted to send a special shout out to all of you readers who have sewing skills. My friend Kelli has started a project that I think is just wonderful and I hope that you will visit her blog and read all about it. It’s called Babies for Brazil, and she is helping to collect handmade dolls for children in Brazil who really don’t have much. If you have the skills, I hope you will consider contributing.

Enjoy your holiday!

Enjoy your holidays!

When you first come into our home, you will see our North Pole village on top of our bookshelf.

Then you will likely notice our tree. It’s the white, sparkling, colorful thing in the corner between the two couches. A photo doesn’t do it justice though, so of course you would sit and watch the “show” for a bit (video at the end of post).

Of course a Christmas visit to our home wouldn’t be complete without watching a fun Christmas movie! So, as we go down to the family room you will pass the garland on our banister. The garland which has little Leg Lamp lights on it! Let’s all watch A Christmas Story!

And last but not least, you would see our stockings hung on the mantle. But what you would probably notice more than our stockings, is the Charlie Brown tree that graces our mantle.

Here is our Christmas tree in action:

Thanks for visiting! And a very Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Here is a photo of our North Pole village. I think that putting up our village(s) is one of my favorite things. I have three of them, but I don’t use them all each year. One day if we have enough space to put them all out we will do it, but for now we rotate. This year, North Pole and Santa’s workshops!!

Are you decking your halls?

I am so in love with this bedding! It’s called Casablanca, and it comes from Gaiam. The color, and especially the pattern, both remind me of far away places. Dreamy places. It also really speaks to the bellydancer in me, with gorgeous details and intricate stitching (a lot like my costumes).

Another thing that I really like about it is that it is 100% organic cotton. It’s also machine washable (a big must in my book). Oh, and did I mention that it is so pretty? At least, I think it’s really pretty.

I can totally imagine this in our room, except that there is a big price tag attached to it. Yet again, to get organic, high quality cotton, it will cost an arm and a leg. And, it’s just the duvet cover, not a comforter (not a problem as long as you have something to put in it of course).

We are in the market for a winter comforter, as the night grow more and more chilly, we know winter isn’t far off. We have loved our summer weight comforter from NaturaWorld, and will likely get a winter weight version as well. It’s always nice to be able to freshen up the bedding during the changes of season. I always wash our duvet when I switch the inside.