Christmas at the Thomberg's!

Welcome to our house this holiday season. I thought I would show you around a bit while everything is decorated. The tree and additional decorations covers the areas where a piece of furniture should be placed, or a wall hanging should be hung! It's only been 6 months, right!

Here is our tree in the red and white theme. We have remembered to water it every day so far!

We were excited to hang the snowflakes and angels made by Grandma Elna for my mom's tree. They look lovely and are loved and cherished items.

Loving our IKEA throw pillow covers on the couch. (I know, I know... we need to find somewhere else to place our giant cactus on the left and ficas tree on the far right.)

The giant poinsetta in the right hand corner is available at Costco. I picked up the little terra cotta pots (sitting on our thrift store buffet) on a nearby street from a FREE pile this summer. After purchasing the 3 little ponsiettas, I dusted them off the shelf in the garage and slapped some white paint on them. The red candle holders on the table are from IKEA. Mark just couldn't leave the store with out them several weeks back. He did discover the table runner wasn't the most kid friendly decoration/embellishment. I didn't even bother to tell him, "I could have told you so."

The kitchen door to the patio with IKEA rug. Yup, we will be applying for the engery efficiency tax credit! Is anyone else addicted to those 3M Command hooks? I use them EVERYHWERE, including on the door to hold the wreath!

Our split level entry and staircase. Since we moved in, I have been looking for an affordable bench to place at the landing. It needs something LESS THEN 30 inches. One day at Good Will I saw an organ bench for $4. I didn't buy it, and I don't know why. I am still kicking myself for leaving it there! I could have tightened the screws and thrown on a few cool coats of paint in just the right accent shade. Even if it had not worked.... it was $4! (the cost of a large latte for goodness sake!) In my head, I even have a secondary spot (in the living room below the window) choosen for the item I LEFT BEHIND. Yes I did look for it when I returned at a later date. Yes it was long gone.

Anyway, we finally settled on this bench, baskets, and mirror from Target. It cost a few more lattes. Marly and Dean each have their own basket for their hats and mittens. Dean gets very aggrivated and upset if his basket gets moved from the far left position.

Garland with LED battery lights.

Here they are, the orange stripes in our lower level bathroom. I have mentioned them before, but never showed a photo. When I asked the paint guy at Lowe's in Maple Grove to mix these shades, he told me he had NEVER heard of anyone painting their bathroom orange, and gave me a look of general distain for our choices, but we like it. You can't see it, but on the floor there are orange (as in the true color of the fruit) IKEA rugs on the floor. The towels are white.

Mark and I changed out the traditional/standard flush to wall, mounted mirrors for framed ones in both our bathrooms. It makes for an easy decorating upgrade.

Our fireplace and Charlie Brown tree (which has served me well since my St. Paul apartment days) with fun ornaments for the kids. The lower level family room paint job is complete. Mark plans to paint the fireplace framing around the doors (or whatever you call it), but we haven't gotten that far. In case you are curious, I often visit the website/blog Young House Love for affordable home improvement ideas, inspiration, techniques and do-able tutorials.

From our house to yours - MANY HOLIDAY BLESSINGS TO YOU!