2024 Christmas Inspirations!!

last year

Our custom has been to share our holiday decorations and inspire each other. So this is the 2024 posting! I am just getting things together with a brand new tree for our family room! This is from last year and will be adding more ice blue/greens for this new flocked tree! Just a few items to excite your creativity! Going to be fun!!

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JAN MOYER

last year

last modified: last year

I love that Douglas Fir! ........

Reminds me of two things.... tinsel, and how that openness was what allowed the "tinsel screams" back in about 1966. My mother had a thing..."straight and shimmering, please!!" and the big fight transition from big lights in colors to small white lights favored by the oh so stylish eldest daughter ( uh, yea, that would be me ) and also.....?

"How the Christmas Tree Launched a Career". Mine, actually. Picture a snowy Saturday morning. My tree, cut down by me on Friday afternoon is finally finished. I am a picture to behold.....pajamas, bunny slippers pink, a red Buffalo Bills sweatshirt over, yesterday hair, yesterday eye make up, swig of mouthwash teeth.

My masterpiece tree has left a wake of needles on stair and hallway out my door, and in here. The rest of "here" isn't great, my bed is unmade, shams on the floor. But the tree IS a masterpiece and the ultimate challenge was the little wax candles in their little gold clip onto the branch holders, all beautifully spaced and none leaning askew.. The vacuum is blasting, I've got the door propped and I buzz right out into the hallway........

My neighbors door opens and out comes Justine and a woman who makes me look as if I was scraped up from a bad sidewalk. Stunning. Red double breasted blazer, perfect blonde page boy, cashmere sweater, .....

She blows right past me and my Hoover, into my living room with "your tree is absolutely GORGEOUS!! MIND IF I COME IN?!" In she came and kept right on going. She's gazing into the bedroom with the glazed walls, Iron bed shabby chic thing.....turns.....and announces: "I want you to do my daughters bedroom!"

My mouth agape, and given I'd just recently finished making roman shades for a friends new kitchen for nada but "love" in a 3:00 am finish....? Given I'd also helped another reinvent a bedroom in a week which included hours at the sewing machine and a few gallons of paint?

Jan blurts....I'm happy to do that, but I'm not doing it for FREE!"

wth wth wth wth wth .....MORON....when did the beautiful woman say FREE?

LONG story short? That woman unwittingly and mercifully "ended" my die from boredom/travel/loathed it sales career, launched THIS endeavor of what is now 33 years.

She was a real estate broker. I did do the daughters bedroom, much to her dance for joy glee, and it led to her office, the owners office , his house,....and , and , and. yup....from the tiny "tree seed"..........here I am.

We remained friends and "my decorator" all these years. Sadly, the beautiful woman now has Alzheimers, she a mere ten years my senior. She remembers me on sight and on the phone, remembers none of the tree story, none of the laughs we had in Longboat Key doing their second home and a third lake side home after that. But she is still as beautiful, ageless, as that December morning 34 years ago. ....

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Comments (550)

Molly
last year
Very pretty Mary! Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to you and everyone on this thread!
cubby14
last year
So special Mary!
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Aphaea
last year
Colorful, indeed! And so pretty.
Kris Bruesehoff
last year
Thank you Jan. Today was tough!
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Flo Mangan
Original Author
last year
Finished my office today. It’s so inviting and pretty and calming to me. Calm is what I need these days. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah 🕎.
Aphaea
last year
What a glorious office, Flo! And it's exceptionally lovely now. Can you tell me where you got those trees? I've seen lots of lighted one but those two are really pretty.
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Flo Mangan
Original Author
last year
I found these on good ole Amazon. This looks like mine. They come in warm lights and bright white. I like the warm better but I have both! These might go on sale after Christmas. https://www.amazon.com/Birchlitland-Lighted-Thanksgiving-Christmas-Decoration/dp/B094QM7GC3/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?adgrpid=170588266475&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.rwpNQwgBeccmlDxWRQsGYNbKLx-lpxcd0psI2wyIHzqen7sLWJsUyUlmSN5IVXb-3_UIEQOOeEbfQUNIB1qBRxLt737u_ff2HcgH9hr6v0xuOpNVYzpT9bwrU5LZqIrjgFsTmY9gpTD81mb9tIZEzs6Uzahxzefqb9Ybme3zX14NS2bU_S0SEoLm8DCFHCsKOyEOAIx0eW0lYzydAVY6SA.5LxIgyir9muc9N0Ye4W9a9dooq1MhMRPn3Qj71Ndom8&dib_tag=se&hvadid=719780923847&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9027782&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=6608653865032371775&hvtargid=kwd-1651976951752&hydadcr=13514_13366563&keywords=christmas+light+up+birch+trees&qid=1735022983&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1
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Home Interiors with Ease
last year
Merry Christmas Eve everyone!
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JAN MOYER
last year
Looks AMAZING @ HIWE!
Parker Murphy
last year
Absolutely beautiful Julie!! Did you make the floral arrangement? So pretty!!!
PRO
Home Interiors with Ease
last year
Jan Thank you! Hope you and your sister are doing better and healing from your loss…and can enjoy this blessed time of year year….Ihave my sweet baby Olivia (3 months) here for Christmas it was a surprise they were coming home a couple weeks ago..so had to do it up for them! feeling so blessed…was up before the sun this morning feeding her..she is so precious..trying to spend as much time with her as possible.
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Home Interiors with Ease
last year
Morning Parker☕️….yes I sure did….I love florals
Parker Murphy
last year
What a wonderful present Maggie gave you this Christmas! Olivia home for the holidays with you and your family! Can't get any better. Enjoy every minute!!

PS I knew you had to have done the floral! So lovely!!
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Flo Mangan
Original Author
last year
Everything is gorgeous and topped off with Granddaughter visit!! The best gift of all.
glschisler
last year
Flo, I love your office!🥰🎄
HIWE, Your home is so festive! And how perfect that you get to celebrate with Olivia!🎄❤️
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE 🎄🎄🎉
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Flo Mangan
Original Author
last year
Merry Christmas to all and your posts have really boosted me up with your talents, traditions and joyful posts. Best aspect of Houzz!! Enjoy however you celebrate!!
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Flo Mangan
Original Author
last year
Someone asked for a close up of my John Roberts Naughty or Nice Santa Elf. This is best I could do. This Armoire is about 10.5’ tall. 🎄 just went to grocery store for last min things for tomorrow. Curbside! Oh boy! No Curbside parking spots available so required massive patience. Got it though! Yay!!
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Flo Mangan
Original Author
last year
I just love him!!
Aphaea
last year
Your mantel and tree are absolutely stunning, HIWE.
liasch
last year
Beautiful decorations! Thanks for doing this Flo… it’s always lovely to see what everybody comes up with. Merry Christmas Eve!
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Flo Mangan
Original Author
last year
Oh love your arrangement and book!!
kjoy1
last year
Merry Christmas Flo 🌲
PRO
Flo Mangan
Original Author
last year
That is so sweet!! I haven’t found my cardinals yet! Since our out of town family comes in Jan. 16th so I still have time! You have inspired me! ♥️
liasch
last year
I thought I’d post a completely different kind of Christmas tree… This is called the Christmas tree of hope. It’s a local fundraiser for spay day, for trap, spay, and release of feral cats. Here is the story and a photo of the tree. I purchased an ornament this year for a beloved tabby I had for many years. “Snorky”. Ornaments are $10 and they send you a photograph of your handmade ornament when they hang it on the tree. This year they sold 175 ornaments and raised $1700 for the spay program.
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Flo Mangan
Original Author
last year
Such a good idea!! And wonderful way to raise awareness and funds! Thanks!
Aphaea
last year
What a brilliant idea! Pretty tree, money raised, cats taken care of.
DD Deco
last year
Merry Christmas Houzzers! 🥰
melindas1977
last year
What a great idea, liasch! We have a large population of homeless cats in my neighborhood, too.

Thank you again, Flo, for starting this thread in celebration of Christmas 2024. Wishing you a wonderful January Christmas with your family! And many blessings in the upcoming year for all the Houzzers!
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Flo Mangan
Original Author
last year
Thanks melindas1977! It’s fun and different every year! Appreciate everyone’s wonderful posts and stories!! That’s the best. Wishing all a very healthy, prosperous and loving New Year!!
pink_peony
last year
The quick switch over to baby shower!
pink_peony
last year
Pink!
pink_peony
last year
🩷
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Flo Mangan
Original Author
last year
That is really darling Pink. You are the best. This little girl is soooo lucky to have you!! The best transition ever!!
kculbers
last year
Pink_peony: Beautiful!! I adore anything “Pink”!
Molly
last year
I love the tassel ornaments, what a fun idea! 💗
Alice
last year
Double wowzer! That is adorable Pink! That looks amazing 💗 this little girl is lucky to have you!
kcooz07
last year
So pretty, pink!! 😍
glschisler
last year
I love it pink! So festive and creative!😍
pink_peony
last year
Thank you ! Hope my TX gals are all safe. My son was getting the lineman reports yesterday and that was some nasty weather/tornadoes !
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Flo Mangan
Original Author
last year
Happy to report no issues with bad storms at our place. When the weather people say Texas, that covers a very big territory! We had heavy bursts of rain and wind but other than one flower pot getting knocked over, no problems. Going to try to have a peaceful day.
pink_peony
last year
His reports come specifically to the Houston area. Tornado in Katy. Etc. He has been getting call outs since yesterday. A lot of people with downed lines and no power. Glad you had no issues Flo!
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Flo Mangan
Original Author
last year
Yeah! Katy is an hour north west of us. My sister is west of us and she was without power for a couple hours yesterday. We had a blink but back ups picked up so we had no issues. Quiet here right now.
PRO
Flo Mangan
Original Author
last year
It’s funny how an area that seems close to us will get hit hard and we might not get anything. It’s usually west and north that get the worst of weather. Not sure why that is. Pretty flat land here but it differs greatly even 20 miles away. When they say “Houston” that is a huge geographical footprint and can vary widely so generalized weather statements aren’t useful here. We all know to look at radar and know how to interpret potential impacts. Well, maybe not all but many! Have a great Sunday everyone!
melindas1977
last year
Dallas area had gobs of rain and fog but no severe weather yesterday. Today the weather and blue sky were amazing!
liasch
last year
Flo, Nova Scotia is very much the same. It’s not a very big area…21,000 Square miles but it stretches southwest to northeast and it’s long and narrow. Weather is very localized. Happy new year everyone! Christmas trees are starting to come down. :(
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Flo Mangan
Original Author
last year
Let us know when you will be getting mail again! I have your card ready to go!! Might get it next year!! Lol
liasch
last year
I’ve been getting domestic mail for a week or two at least now. They should be OK with accepting international mail at this point.
PRO
Flo Mangan
Original Author
last year
Ok great! I will get in mail soon. You know I am going crazy right now! But things are moving in the right direction, I think!
liasch
last year
Yes I’ve been following your adventures on other threads! I got another card today from the USA so it’s definitely going through. No rush!
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Flo Mangan
Original Author
last year
Adventures for sure! Hope you have a smooth 2025!!