a christmas eve house tour


i don't think i've ever spent so little time getting my house ready for christmas.
and yet i love the way everything looks.
our fake tree escaped the donation bin again and is decorated with my old christmas postcards and fresh magnolia leaves from the garden. 

santa dropped by and left me this ottoman.
thank you santa.
turns out he shops here.

if you've been reading my blog for awhile, you know how long i've been bemoaning my big leather ottoman.  i bought it back when i was clueless to the cruelty inflicted on animals to create fashionable goods for us.  i actually had no idea that cows were raised just for their hides. 
i thought they used the hides from cows slaughtered for food.
when i became a vegan and learned the truth it just made me sad as it sat in my living room.

it was snatched up on craigslist in a day.
i don't know if you can tell by the picture, but the new ottoman has casters!
  so english, so delightful.











 a view from the front door




total decorating time, 10 minutes flat.


as this season of high expectations comes to a peak tonight,
i hope you all have the best christmas you can.
some of us are missing loved ones, some are facing financial problems or health problems.  if you need it, you have my permission to be kind to yourself.
as with all holidays i will try to be on my best behavior and not kill anyone.
no one has a perfect life.
and as a very good friend always reminds me...nobody has it all.
it's just one day for goodness sakes and we will all live through it.
tonight i will go to midnight mass and express my deepest gratitude for all i have and all i don't have.



see you next year.

xo
janet

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delivering jam clothes



in case you were wondering,
this is what i wore to deliver my jam today.



 
that's a lot of ralph lauren ruffles there.


my friend steve just won a contest for best christmas tree.
those judges were smart b/c his tree is awesome.
go see the whole contest at



i went to payless to pick up my red satin vegan kitten heels and they were too big.
so now i've got to start the whole ordering thing all over again and i'm not sure i'm up to that.

i'll be back as soon as i have something good to say.

xo
janet


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christmas goodies



tomorrow i will be delivering my Christmas gifts to my neighbors.
assorted jams...fig, peach, apricot and strawberry.
i made them during the summer while you were probably having fun at the beach.

i'm linking to


MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

xo
janet





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a corner of christmas





my charming neighbor dropped this beautiful poinsettia off today and i thought, holy cow, it's getting close to christmas.





actually i still have 9 days left.





seriously, i've been enjoying myself by being a bystander and reading all the posts on
my
 beautiful bloggers list.

  it's been nice watching you all decorate and bake and go a little nuts.
you guys are good.

i could get used to this though.
it's way easier reading blogs than writing one.


i'm so excited to see just what is in store for me this weekend.

aren't you?

xo
janet
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things this vegan would love for christmas...hint, hint






payless - under $20
i love everything about these red satin pumps
can you just imagine all the fun outfits they would go with?










ok, i have to admit, i already bought these!
when they first arrived i thought they looked a bit el cheapo but i've since changed my mind.
they are so soft and comfy and go with practically everything i own.
under $30















aren't these adorable?
payless - under $20












i've been wanting this white ruffle blouse for some time now.
i would wear it with jeans and those oxfords and leopard wedges.
or how about skinny black pants and the red satin pumps?





$65

i tried this cape on in the store and fell in love with it.
i can't decide which i like better, the red one pictured here
or the navy blue one.
both are warm and absolutely adorable on.
perfect for a chilly stroll.




$28

this american apparel 100% cotton flannel scarf is incredibly soft.
i got one for larry but plan to steal it on a regular basis.




so there you go, isn't this list so cute? 

i continue to wish you the most happy, healthy and compassionate
christmas ever.

xo
janet


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the vegan stoner




this is quite possibily the coolest, easiest vegan cooking site i've ever seen.
thanks for hooking me up steve.
these people prove that being vegan is easy and they do it in a truly delightful and fresh way.

do something wonderful for yourself, the animals and the earth this christmas!

check out the vegan stoner here.




xo
janet


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an ivy league makeover


this is karen's dining room when i started.  very beautiful but it just needed a few things to help tie it into the rest of the house.




this is a shot from midway up the stairs to show the relationship between the entry, living room and dining room.




this was the dining room on thanksgiving.
you can see the small changes that were made.
a seagrass rug, new chandelier and i had a print framed that they purchased while visiting their sons on the east coast.





coral and blue and white





i set the table using karen's french countryside dinnerware, linen napkins and fresh magnolia leaves scattered.  the candlesticks were hers, i just painted them all black.



standing in the entry - looking left



the view from the dining room.



working on this house has been such a joy to me.
karen is an amazing woman and so fun to work with.
this was not a big decorating job, really just clearing clutter and moving things around.




 
this is the family room.
again, a beautiful room that just need decluttering and a few extra touches.
the large sofa sectional is from crate and barrel.




all i did was organize the bookcase and switch things around a little.















i created this little reading corner for karen with things she already had.
all i purchased was the lamp, throw and had a large mat cut for the frame she already had to fit any 8x10 photo she wanted.
she chose a darling christmas photo of her sons when they were little boys.
she can easily switch the photo out seasonally or whenever she feels like it.




and finally her bedroom.
this bedroom had so much potential because the view of the golf course and mountains is just spectacular.
we squeaked out a makeover of the room with barely any money left in the budget.
but i just love the results.



 
the duvet cover was found at an estate sale for $20.
the lamps are from target and i believe they were $50 or $60 each.
the pillow shams were on clearance at pottery barn.
the nightstands were found at an estate sale.






the nightstands had been in a fire but they were made really well so def worth saving.
they cleaned up just fine so i painted the outsides white and the insides a deep marine blue.
the mirror is from marshalls.









 
this is the little sitting area off the bedroom





 
karen's husband bruce painted all the walls to match the blue that karen loves.
an ikea loveseat, throw and yardsale table and basket tray make the room useable.
the floorlamp is from target.


i also helped pull 2 guest rooms together but lost the before pictures when i lost my hardrive.
in those rooms i used what she had and just fluffed them up with new shams and lamps.


so that is it.  karen's house is done.
i hope you all have enjoyed seeing the progress as much as i had making it.

like i said it was a joy.

thank you all for your amazing comments regarding the sequins and chambray shirt.
i promise to wear it every which way you suggested!
thanks so much, i am truly blessed to have the best commenters in the world!

xo
janet
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