holiday glow, and random things about me....

Every year I think that autumn is my favorite time of year, but then autumn passes, and think maybe Christmas is actually my favorite time of year.  It's so magical, so cozy and warm.  I've taken a few pictures of the living room, but also added a couple of dining room pictures because Heather asked to see more of it.  And lastly, I'll share 7 random things as requested by Nancy, and what I was doing 10/20/30 years ago as requested by Joyce.

This is our fireplace mantel in the living room.  This glow made me feel warm against the outside snow that is mounting by the minute here in Minnesota.

This is the tree we cut down in our back yard.  It was in a bad spot, one that would have eventually pushed out some of our stone retaining wall.  We didn't want that to happen so we decided to use it as a Christmas tree this year.  I don't normally like to cut down trees from our yard, but in this case it had just gotten too big and was going to start causing damage.  As I mentioned in my last post, it's a bit of a free spirit.  It has bald spots and isn't uniform, but I like it.  It's just doing its own thing, perfectly imperfect.

   

My morning coffee.

"Greetings" banner from Bayberry Cove.

Heather had asked about the dining room.  Here are a couple of pictures.

Sorry that the picture is a bit grainy.  I was having some issues with it and had to switch to our other camera that allows for additional settings.  At any rate, you get the general idea about the dining room at least.

 

And for Nancy, 7 random facts about me:

1.) I organize my underwear by color, they are folded like a little package, and lined up within an organizing container in one of my drawers.  I do the same with my bras.  My closet is also color coordinated from lightest to darkest.  I also use all the same kind of hangers - they are wooden and are the same color.  Does this random fact make you want to run screaming from my blog?  Now that I've typed it out, it does sound rather...obsessive.  All my handbags are in cloth bags and sit on a shelf in the closet.  That didn't sound any less weird did it?  Okay, moving on.

2.) I'd like to own a mystery book store - all mysteries, all the time.  I'd have antiques in the shop, overstuffed chairs, and a fireplace.  It would be called "Creaky Door Mystery Bookstore". I'd have coffee and tea, and cookies available too.

3.) When I get home from work at night I practically run to our bedroom to put on my comfy clothes.  I usually wear a black Adidas track suit, or a brown velour pants and jacket outfit.  I must be comfortable.

4.) I had lasic surgery three years ago - IT IS SO GREAT!

5.) I love the show "Psych" - love, love, love it.  It's hilarious, and it is a mystery show: win-win for me.

6.)I moved from Idaho to Kansas City, MO when I was 18 for college.  After college I moved to Minneapolis, MN for work.  I bought my first house when I was 22 -was the best investment I ever made.

7.) When I met my future husband and I found out he loved old music, old movies, antiques, kids, and talking about feelings - well, I thought I had hit the jackpot.  As it turns out I did hit the jackpot and have been happily married for over nine years.

10/20/30 - Is a request from Joyce to share what we were doing 10, 20, and 30 years ago.

10 years ago: I was 24 and engaged to be married to Steve and we were planning our wedding, which would occur on 8/1/98. 

20 years ago: I was 14 and was in 9th grade at Lakeland Junior Highschool in Rathdrum, ID.  I was looking forward to my 15th birthday, which is on Dec. 5th.  We were about to have a school dance on Dec. 18th, which is when I started going out with a boy named John - we dated for about two years. And no, I'm not guessing about the date. That was the actual date of the dance and when I started dating John.  The things we remember even years later.

30 years ago: I was 4 and was about to turn 5.  I remember that one of the birthday presents I received was a Little House on the Prairie book.  My presents were wrapped and sitting on the floor next to an antique ice box that was in our dining room.  I remember them sitting there and I remember that morning when I opened the presents.  My mom still has that ice box in her kitchen.  We had recently moved to Rathdrum, ID from North Dakota after my dad died in a car accident.  We lived on a mountain - a beautiful mountain in Idaho.  I loved that home and my years there.  My uncle now lives in that house, which is nice to visit when I go back to Idaho.

Sorry for the very long post, but I wanted to accomplish a few things in this one. I hope you are all doing very well and enjoying your weekend.  The snow here is beautiful and I'm enjoying some relaxation in our cozy home.  Until next time my friends.

Comments

[L]

I envy your organizational skills - would love for you to do my closets! An old mistery bookshop sounds so inviting! I'd like the one Kellie Martin owned in Mistery Woman series.

[Becca]

I love your tree that is from your yard. As you said, "perfectly imperfect". How special!!
I enjoyed learning more about you by the things you shared.
Your home is lovely!
:)

[Christine]

Thanks for sharing; it was nice to hear that someone else organizes as obsessively as myself. One difference is that I organize my clothes into suits, pants, skirts and tops. Each section is then further divided into color and length. LOL!

[Rose @Classic Charm]

Allison -
Love that Christmas tree! Yep you're right, it's perfect! All decor lookin good, can't wait to see more...Enjoyed your long post too ha!
Rose

[Kathleen Grace]

I love the imperfect tree, a real tree should have some character don't you think? our home does look cozy and very pretty for the holidays:>)

[Janet]

Allison,

Let me know when that bookstore opens and I will fly in for the Grand Opening with a platinum card.

Wouldn't that be fun, to own a bookstore and make it beautiful and kinda funky and serve French Roast coffee maybe scones in the morning. I am so there.
Janet

Stop by and see me sometime.

[Janeen]

A very fun bog today - thanks for sharing all about your home and yourself! :)

[Rosemary]

Allison,
I knew I really liked you!! I love, love psych too!! It cracks my husband and I up. Can't wait til January when it comes back on.
Your tree is so cute. Your home looks so cozy and charming. I would love to go to a bookstore like that.
I love your banner!!
Have a great weekend,
Rosemary

[Angela (Cottage Magpie)]

Oooh, I want to have that closet! I love that kind of organizational stuff, organization stores make me giddy. But, alas, my family will not allow such flights of fancy. Your living and dining room are lovely and your decorations are gorgeous!
~Angela :-)

[Bristol @ Cottage by the River]

Allison- You have been busy! Love the tree. We had one like that in our yard. At least you were able to enjoy its beauty this Christmas~~
Bristol

[Robin~Thrifty Miss Priss]

Oh you'd fall over if you walked in my closet! I WISH I could be more organized! It was nice finding out the random things about you. PS I have the Baileys cups too - they are too cute!!

[carolyn]

Love your morning coffee cup and saucer and hey I'll be your partner in the "Creaky Door Mystery Bookstore" sounds like just my type of place. In fact just listed 3 mysteries that might be new to you on my latest post over at Willow House.

[Priscilla]

Hi Allison,
How interesting to read all about you, its nice to know about the person writing such a lovley blog. Your living room looks very cozy indead! I love the stockings, one for each of you, how sweet they look on the fireplace.

Have a wonderful week, enjoy your decorating

Priscilla x

[Katie at Harrington House]

Hi, Allison! I am loving your "perfectly imperfect" Christmas tree! And what exactly is your morning coffee sitting on? A coffee table? A trunk? Whatever it is.....the wood is gooooorgeousss! I have been a regular reader of your blog for some time, and this is my first time to comment. It's nice to finally say "Hi!"

[Kirsten]

That's a great name for a mystery bookshop! I am a mystery book lover myself - I am reading The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly right now and it's fabulous. It starts out in London in 1888 where there is a murderer on the loose and eventually moves to NYC where the main character Fiona finds success in the tea trade after several devastating losses back in London. It's the perfect read for a cold, winter night - murder, revenge, and betrayal against a Victorian backdrop!

[Julie]

Your decorations are beautiful. Your tree is perfect just like Charlie Brown's tree. And your facts are fun. But I'm sorry to hear that you lost your dad at such a young age.

Love,
Julie

[nannykim]

Love the warmth your fireplace area generates (sp?)!!

[Kim]

Allie, everything looks so cozy! I like your tree because it is unique. And, I enjoyed reading what you were doing 10,20,& 30 years ago...it got me thinking about what I was doing, especially since I realized that we are the same age!

[joyce]

At first I thought I'd have to disown you as a blog friend for all that organization...but then I realized that's just the type of person I'm drawn to. Watch out cause have lifelong research project on organizing going on...share any tips you can!

I love your tree! I think slightly imperfect makes it better!

[melissa @ the inspired room]

Your home is lovely! So fun to see all the holiday decorations going up around blogland. My house is almost all festive, I'll post pictures after this week. Now I feel like I can really enjoy the holidays!

You are an obsessively neat one, aren't you? LOL! I just stuff my things in a drawer. Different drawers and sections, but not neatly folded or color coordinated! Wish I was that organized. You are amazing! I do like the nice matching hangers though. That I can relate to, it is disturbing to have a tangled mess of unrelated plastic ones!

Thanks for sharing, so much fun!

[Katy]

I love your perfectly imperfect tree!!! It looks great :) Your organization with your undies made me laugh!!!! Organization (even of underwear) is a wonderful thing! :) I Hope you have a wonderful week!

[Karla]

Hi Allison!
Your organization does not make me want to run screaming - quite the contrary we sound like two peas in a pod - though I envy your make-up drawer organization you posted about a while back! Love the free spirit tree - looks great and how wonderful that you didn't just chop it down and dispose of it. Perfectly imperfect is one of my favorite sayings!

I agree that Christmas is magical. We put our tree up yesterday and are just about done with all the decorating. It is so cozy and warm - it makes me so sad to take everything down and see the "empty" house. But I am not going to dwell on that from now!

Hugs,
Karla

[Karin (creativechaos)]

Hi Allison! I loved that post! I remember getting "Little House on the Prarie" for Christmas also. They were my all time favorites.... I LOVE that mug for you coffee!!! Love it....and your house looks so nice and cozy.....Talk to you soon!

[Daisy Bouquet]

I love youe coffee cup and the tree is so awesome. Mary

[Mary]

Everything looks wonderful Allie - I love imperfect trees, they have much more character than the tree farm groomed ones.

You are so cute sharing organizational secrets for your 'smalls'(Brit for undies) - and I will be waiting to enter your bookshop as soon as you open for business. I'll even bring you some special cookies!!

Happy snow days!