Welcome, internets!
I’m oh-so-glad that you’re here for this year’s Christmas Tour of Homes. I hope you have big fun clicking around, seeing everyone’s decorations, finding some great recipes, and pretty much being glued to the computer until your eyes cross and your family is begging you for food.
Which is totally the spirit of the season, now isn’t it?
And seriously, I figured out last year that this deal seems to work best if you only look at 20 or 25 houses at a time, take a computer break, and then come back for another round. It’s a marathon, people, not a sprint, so don’t overexert yourself. And for heaven’s sake, drink plenty of water. You have to stay hydrated or your mouse hand will cramp up and all your interweb training will go totally to waste. So tour carefully. Pace yourself.
One more thing: I think it would be ever-so-wonderful if you would make a point to leave a comment at every blog you visit. Don’t feel like there’s pressure to tell your life story or elaborate on the time that YOU MADE PEPPERMINT MOCHAS FOR A CHRISTMAS PARTY, TOO! Even if you keep your comment short and sweet – saying something as simple as “lovely” – you can still make a blogger’s day.
Just looking out for the interpeep posse, y’all.
So. Am I supposed to show you some pictures or something?
THAT’S A GREAT IDEA!
Here’s what you would see if you walked in our house, after you looked down to see the four pairs of shoes that you stumbled over trying to get in the front door.
I think it’s a real touch of Christmas klass.
However, on the table next to the Xbox stuff, there’s a star-shaped serving bowl that I picked up on clearance at Target last year, and I just love it – it is one of my favorite things.
Our tree is tucked in a corner next to the fireplace, and it looks pretty much identical to last year. Probably because Mama decorated it for the second year in a row.
Our fireplace doesn’t have a mantle, so last year I decided that I’d decorate the bar in our living room instead (yes, I said “bar in our living room” – welcome to home construction circa 1974), and I did same thing this year. Since I normally blog from the bar, I’ve had to relocate the BooMama, Inc. International Headquarters until Christmas is over, but that is perfectly fine because, well, sometimes decorating requires sacrifices, my friends.
I actually have two new additions to the little display on the bar this year:
Unless that combination arrives in the form of old shoes. In which case I am not at all tempted to make any sort of purchase.
Hey! Would you like to see my dining room?
OKAY!
This first picture of the dining room cracks me up, mainly because it seems to indicate that we have some sort of disco theme going on. Which might not be completely out of the question, what with that BAR in our LIVING ROOM and all.
Our nativity scene is on a table in the corner of our dining room, and the little man loves to move around all the pieces.
Either that or we’re dealing with a guard cow and a guard donkey.
Not to mention a completely apathetic lamb.
I’ve mentioned before that I love (LURVE) to decorate my dining room table with china and crystal at Christmastime. And I really like to mix and match, using bits and pieces of whatever happens to strike my fancy. This year I used some charger plates that Sister and I found at Old Time Pottery for a whopping one dollar each, and then I used dinner plates from my wedding china, topped off with smaller plates from my holiday china.
I like to pick up the smaller plates before we eat Christmas dinner, set them aside and then use them for dessert – that way everybody can get an assortment of their favorite treats. No little dessert plates for us. No ma’am.
Finally (yes! the end is near! mercifully near!), last year I put a Christmas tree in our little boy’s playroom (the tree was free after a Home Depot rebate), and I used that tree to display all our Christmas cards. By the time Christmas day gets here the tree will be chock-full-o-cards, and it is absolutely a tradition that I will continue for the rest of my life. So fun.
It takes so little, really.
Merry Christmas, everybody! Happy Touring!
Please make sure to link to your SPECIFIC POST for the Tour of Homes – not just your general URL. Thanks!
Powered by… Mister Linky’s Magical Widgets.
Number 351! ☺ I hope it is a marathan! You house is lovely… Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you for this tour! I love the decorations!! I did one today, but will do a much better one next year!!
Jessica
Thanks for hosting this! I think we will all be busy into July visiting everyone’s Christmas houses. Merry Christmas!
Thanks for sharing!!
Oh come let us adore BooMama’s china and crystal … oh come let us adore …
hookey doodle! there’s a lot of names on that list! impressive! I know I’m late, but I’ll add my name to the list tomorrow! :) (So I can upload the pictures after the kids go to bed tonight).
First of all, why is your blog the only one in which pictures will show up on my school computer. And HOLY COW!! It’ll be next Christmas before I get through all of these.
Did you get the addresses I sent?
Thanks for all the giggles!
I totally love the tree you put all your cards on. I may have to steal that idea from you for next year.
Your home lookes beautiful.
I love the wreaths hanging from your window! And the card tree! How creative! And love the picture of Alex. Too cute!
Thanks for hosting again this year!
Merry Christmas!
~Jada
Loved the Christmas Tour of Homes idea! Found you through a friend’s site.
Very lovely home!! Thanks for hosting…this is my first year..what a great idea! I love looking at peoples Christmas treasures. I LOVE LOVE LOVE and have been waiting for the feather trees to go on sale…I want a bunch of them but haven’t decided a color! Its all so nice…sometimes I feel there should be a rent it store of xmas stuff cuz my taste vary year to year in the color department…this year I really wanted to have a white tree with black boas and black ornaments… oh well!! Happy holidays!!
So gonna copy the card tree!
Merry Christmas!
I know I’m a day late but I only just got my blog entry written. The linky still seems to work. Thanks for a great idea – and for your photos too. Your home looks lovely.
I love your decorations! Your house is beautiful and cozy. Love the card tree. I think I am going to have to try that next year!
I can’t beleive you started this blog only 2 years ago. You are much loved. I would say famous but I just think you would like “much loved” lots better. That is something. I wish I had the time to go back and read your early days /writings. It would be better than a novel, but not so easy as just opening up a little book and putting in the book mark when you needed to, you know. Anyway, Congratulations on 2 years. Wow. – Jen P. (until yesterday just an interpeep without a comment) hee hee
Thanks for doing this! I have gotten some great decorating ideas. May you and your family have a blessed Christmas!
Kelly
Hi Boo,
Thanks for hosting this tour!
okie dokie, managed to get them up! btw, I’m with Liz! Lovely china!!!
Merry Christmas!!
Love, love, love the card tree! Great idea!
A big thank you, Sophie, for hosting this big party again this year.
Your house looks wonderful!
I absolutely adore your living room. The windows are incredibly beautiful!!
Thank you for hosting the tour of homes. What fun. I enjoy your blog. It has provided me with many a laugh when laughes were hard to come by. Your Christmas decorations are beautiful.
Thank you so much for introducing me to this phenomenon!!! I am so enjoying seeing how so many people decorate! Yours is beautiful!
Merry Christmas!
Davedda
Very beautifully decorated!!
Your decorations are so pretty… Have a good day… I’m going to skip around some of the other sites!!
She’s 13. That explains everything at my house right now – including why I forgot yesterday was the 17th and why I didn’t post any pictures. I will spare you the boring details of the drama that ensued yesterday, but you know it will be made into a blog…your house is beautiful!
Since I wasn’t even close to being first – I thought I might have a shot at being last! This is fun..love your Christmasy sassy cheer – but I have to say, you might have a difficult time competing with the festivness that is my home this year!
I love the pics – very fun and festive!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!! My tour is up…although my animals are allowed to look at the Baby Jesus.
Thanks for hosting this great tour! I love your Christmas china and I love your Christmas card tree… what great ideas!
“Day Late and a Dollar Short” – we’re having technical ussues in the form of spilt gingerale on laptop. So I couldn’t post yesterday. But we’re up an runnin’ today.
Merry Christmas!
Oh my! Can we come to your house for vacation? Beautiful! Just beautiful! Love that you can’t put candy in your new Target plate. Of course not!
Oh dear, BooMama I have messed up my URL!! Mercy me!! I’m listed twice so feel free to delete me once if you want—the one that doesn’t work is #375!! Sorry!
Your home is FABULOUS!! Such pretty decorations…I LOVE LOVE LOVE the wreaths in the windows! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
This was so fun! You have a beautiful home!
Merry Christmas! Everything is beautiful in your home, but I particularly love the wreaths! I bet your Mama is proud of your decorating!!=)
You were not kidding about looking at a couple of dozen houses at a time….My cramped hand and buggy eyes are a testament.
Thanks for being a wonderful hostess.
Wonderful peek into your home!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea of hanging the cards on a tree. Now I need to figure out how this Jewish gal can incorporate the idea into her Hanukkah traditions . . .
wow, what a tour! thanks for hosting!
So pretty. Merry Christmas to all!
I just found this from my friends Rhoda at Southern Hospitaliy, and Andrea, Southern Heart. Fabulous list…how many days will it take to visit? LOL What fun!
Merry, Merry Christmas!
This is so fun, hopefully doing it two days late is alright!
Wow!!this is great!!so many entries that I’m #400.
Thank you,Boomama for hosting.
Drop by and have Merry Christmas!
Hey, let the decking continue!!
Check out mine! (please.)
I just LOVE this idea! I’m now #404. Wow, what fun.
Thanks so much for making this happen and letting us all include ourselves! Merry christmas!
Merry christmas!
I’m late to the party, but I still wanted to show you my trees. Maybe, just maybe, (if you’re nice) I’ll show you my outdoor lights, too!
Wow!! I am amazed to see how many people signed up for your open house tour. What a party! I wasn’t going to do it because I already did another one, but figured, why not. Thanks for organizing this. Love your decor by the way.
I love your China…Friendly Village, right? Or Christmas Village (couldn’t tell which one)? My aunt and grandmother both have Friendly Village China, and I wanted it when I got married, but it’s hard to find in a store where you can register. And I guess that it is no longer made in England, like it used to be. But I might buy one of those huge sets off Amazon sometime, just to have it because I love it so much!
First, thank you for being such a wonderful and fun host! Can your son be my favorite decoration in your home? I wanted to pinch his cheeks but don’t tell him that. I’m sure he’d hate it. Your home looks beautiful and inviting. What would be do without Target….and Marshals…..and the Dollar Tree??? Thank you for sharing it with us!
Blessings,
Lallee
I love the Card tree…such a great idea. And..I have to say…I’m not sure what I enjoyed more…the pictures of your decorations? Or the commentary?…ok…I love the commentary…you’re a hoot!!
Love, love, love your home and your humor. You inspired me and even though I wasn’t ready when the “holiday home tour” started, I am now. So I get to be #413!! Wow, what a successful party. So many guest and so much fun!!! Blessings, Renee
http://www.ReneeSwope.com
How fun, I spent hours browsing throuh all the beautiful houses. Thanks for hosting such a fun event. Mine was actually late but I posted it anyways. Have a good one.
Aw, I’m glad I’m not the only latecomer! I had the dang button up for about a month and STILL managed to forget to post on the 17th. But mine is up now!
I’m so nosy….this is perfect. You crack me up, by the way!
Thank you for doing this!
Hey Boomama!
This has been so much fun looking at everybody’s decorations. Thanks for hosting!
What an awesome idea- I’m going to snap a few photos and come back to link my page after my tour is posted. Beautiful photos and I love your Christmas Card Tree. I’m seeing an eighth Christmas Tree in my future.
What a fun idea, thanks for inviting us over for a tour!
Just visiting for the first time courtesy of sites on both yours and the Cottage Industry tour–you’re fun to read! My four-year-old is an active one, too, though he certainly doesn’t *mean* to be destructive. Heh.
~Angela :-)
I’m probably the very last person to sign up for the tour. This is such a great idea, I didn’t want to miss out even though I’m a few days behind. Thanks for hosting:)
OH!MERCY!ME!
This is OBVIOUSLY one of the best ideas EVAH!
I just popped back in to say thank you for all the wonderful peeps you’ve sent my way. I’m slowly visiting others…daggum holiday RESPONSIBILITIES keep draggin’ me away.
Anywayzzzzzzzz…THANKS FOR HOSTING, SUGAH! I’ve gotten squillions of great ideas :).
Merry Merry!
:)
Thanks for putting this together! it has been so much fun to look around at all the wonderful homes. I have gotten so many great ideas for next year. Have a Merry Christmas.
Thanks BooMama! I put a video on my site and my son said, “Welcome to Booby Momma’s Tour of Homes!” I deleted it and then thought what did I do? That was halarious!
What beautiful home! I love the cards on the tree. That’s a wonderful idea.
Love your house! I’ve lurked on your blog for quite some time and I have to say, your sense of humor about makes me pee my pants. I feel like I personally know you!
Merry Christmas!
Very pretty. I especially like your china and the wreaths in front of your windows. :-)
I found your entry through a friend’s blog and decided to put up my pictures, too. :-) I haven’t had much time yet to visit all the entries, but hopefully I’ll be able to do a lot of touring over the weekend. :-)
Your home looks beautiful and I love the bar! And I’m sorry your mom had to suffer, but your tree looks amazing.
I just added myself to your tour…with my very first post ever. I’m so nervous!
Thanks for doing this!
Love the card tree and the beautiful table settings. I might try the card tree, but can’t do the cool table – only have our regular table settings – boring, huh? Merry Christmas!
Thank you for hosting this!
Please come by and check out our home too!
I fell in love with your house last year and I still just absolutely adore it. Your comments about the nativity animals just cracked me up. Thank you so much for the tour, have a very merry Christmas with your family! God Bless!
Mine is up, finally! Better late than never. Merry Christmas!
BooMama-
I just found you and I’m already hooked! Love love love your house! My dining room table actually has about 9 of those little feather trees from Target on it (heaven help us if we actually want to EAT there) and it looks BEAUTIFUL! I’ve also picked up a few at Marshall’s-do y’all have Marshall’s? Love it. Anyway, like others, I’m blown away by your Christmas card tree idea and will definitely be using that one in the future. Thanks so much for hosting this and spreading the good cheer. And baby boy Boo is such a cutie-pie! Have a blessed Christmas! Proverbs 22:6
I’m coming out of lurker-ville only because I love love love decorating for Christmas. And I goofed on the first link so I’m sorry – I’m in here twice.
What fun! Thanks for hosting this. I enjoyed your narrative.
Thanks for hosting this fun event…I really enjoyed it.
I just love your blog and the bigboo casts! Merry Christmas!
Hope you have a Very Merry Christmas!!
Lovely!
Now let’s hope I manage to do this right.
Thanks so much for hosting this Christmas tour. Your decorations are beautiful and I’ve really enjoyed looking at all of the others too. Merry Christmas BooMama!
What a wonderful idea! I’m sorry I’m so late, but better late than never, right? You have a beautiful home!
Have a very Merry Christmas,
Amy
I’m late for this, but oh well! Thank you for hosting this…your home is beautiful!
Thanks for hosting! Merry Christmas and GO DAWGS!!! Liberty Bowl Bound – I heard Santa is leaving tickets in all the stockings around here!
YOur home is so beautiful. Thanks for the tour!!
Okay, I’ll play! This is really a fun idea! While my husband is out snowblowing many inches of drifting snow, I’ll be warm and cozy and on the computer. No, really, I’m going to go help him right after I post on my blog
I found you a little late in the game but I joined in anyway! Think of it as a Christmas Eve tour!!
I loved looking at your beautiful home and lots of the homes in your list too! Even if it takes me a week, I plan on checking them all out. Have a wonderful, blessed Christmas!!
Erin
Had to chuckle at the explanation of arrangement of the nativity set. I’ll never look at one the same. Ever. Again.
:0) Lovely home. Thanks for the inspiration
Thanks for doing this tour! I love it!
I am soooo late to this party it’s not even funny.I’m still working my way through the sites and pitures and even went ahead and added my own. Who knows, maybe someone will start at the end of the list. Thanks for hosting such a fun affair. At this point I guess I should just say “Happy New Year”!