Saturday, November 7, 2009

Christmas Inspiration

IMGP0223      To prepare for my all time favorite holiday season of the year- and the many Christmas parties I have given- both large and small, I have always relied on my library of Christmas books and magazines for inspiration.

      Both of my collections (magazines and books) has grown each year.

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     I have favorites I re-read every year.

IMGP0230  IMGP0231       This year, however, I have been bothered by the fact that some magazines are $10.99! I even saw one for $12.99. Yikes!

        So prompted by Barb at Bella Vista, I have looked for Christmas books at my favorite stores: Ross, Marshalls, and TJ Maxx.

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     None of these were over $5.99.   I also added one from my favorite designer Mary Carol Garrity, O Christmas Tree, by ordering it from Amazon. I order her books as soon as they are published. I know many of you do too.

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     This goes along with another favorite that I have enjoyed.

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     And finally, I also add to my Christmas CD collection every year, and this year I added-

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     Right about now my friend Anna is wondering where I found the Luis Miguel CD.  Answer?  WalMart of course.

     Please don’t think I am ignoring Thanksgiving because I am not.  I am preparing for that as well, although that is more about recipes- old standards with comforting, historical tastes, and an occasional new one added as well- like acorn squash with cinnamon, butter, and Splenda- that we added a couple of years ago.  It is amazing.

20 comments:

Domestic Designer said...

I am impressed with your collection and with your new additions! I am sure you will be full of inspiration that you can share with all of us. Have a great weekend!

Lee said...

Good morning Laura,
I too have been pondering Christmas, I want to have a luncheon with my Church girlfriends and I am looking for inspirational ideas. Magazines are pricey so I am relying on bloggers and the INTERNET. I need to have this party in November so I will need to get the lead out now.
Lee
PS. The 700 Club has a Christmas radio broadcast that is beautiful and I enjoy during the holidays.

Designs on 47th Street said...

Hi Laura,

We have some of the same Christmas books! I don't, however have Mary Carol's newest Christmas one. I may look into ordering that today! She has great ideas, doesn't she?

Because of my business I am having to jump ahead to Christmas, but certainly love keeping Thanksgiving in my heart at the same time.

Love this post (all of yours actually!) :)

Donna

Designs on 47th Street said...

Laura, I went to Amazon to order MCG book and it doesn't come with great reviews. Do you think it's worth it? I have her other books.
Thanks for your input.

Donna

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh I love all of the wonderful Christmas idea books, however my family feels cheated if things aren't just about the same every year. They say that's what makes it feel like home. Hugs, Marty

From the Old InkWell said...

Hi Laura, quite a collection. I haven't been as good at keeping all my magazines in the past. I've just about stopped buying magazines since I've been hooked on blogs. Love "real people" decor and ideas like yours for instance. :)

Glenda/MidSouth said...

I went to the GW bookstore yesterday and they had several of the Christmas with Southern Living books mainly from the late 90's, and 2001 & 2002. I was tempted as they were only $3.99 ea., but left them there.

Simple Home said...

Oh Christmas magazines, I can't get rid of mine either. I keep them in an old trunk and get them out and go through them each year. Thanks for the heads up about the better prices at a few stores.
Blessings,
Marcia

Kathryn @ Bonafide Southern said...

Thanks for stopping by my "Favorite Things" post today. You and I have another thing in common, we both LOVE Christmas books! I never tire of looking at them. Perhaps we really are twins! Be sure to post pictures of all of your Christmas parties.

Barb said...

Laura, this was so sweet of you to mention my blog. Thank you! I am so glad I inspired you...aren't those books wonderful?

I must say I just paid $12.00 for a magazine and I am astounded....I have never done this before. I picked it up and put it down three times...but I really wanted it and it will serve me well for years.

Your books look wonderful!

Barb ♥

Pam @ Frippery said...

Thanks for the tip on finding more yummy Christmas inspiration. I have to admit I sometimes (often ) pay 14.99 for some of the Somerset magazines and it makes me feel guilty. Lately it is my only really expensive indulgence so I am justifying. Inspiration is hard to pass by!

Theresa said...

Great collection of books! Christmas will be here before you know it:) Doesn't hurt to start early. Have a blessed day!

Michelle said...

I love the Southern Living Cookbooks.

Leave a Legacy said...

Hi Laura, I just got out my Thanksgiving and Christmas magazines today. I save them for 2 to 3 years and go through them every year. I don't have as many hard back books, though. I also love this time of year. I just wish we didn't have so many things planned already. I like to stay home more during the holidays.
Thanks for commenting on my last post. Believe me, I find it very hard to disengage. I have to really talk myself through it. I get very frustrated by the decisions my DIL makes and even more frustrated on how un-domestic (don't know if that's a word, but you get it) she is. Now to have another baby, they worry me. I just got home from their house and I'm a nervous wreck. It's a constant battle for me.

Blondie's Journal said...

I am in awe of your collection!! The magazines especially, because I am a 'Ripper Outer'!! My decorating books have grown too. My husband insists that they just take the same ideas and give it a facelift. How do you feel about that? My family is like Marty's~they want the same thing...Decorating, I love new ideas. And I love the blog ideas as much as the magazines and books.

Have you tried the Splenda brown sugar? We love that on squash with butter. Happy days are here again!

xoxo
Jane

Kathy @ Sweet Up-North Mornings... said...

Excuse me Laura...Are we related!!! I think I own every Christmas book you've shown and Musically we match...Just GOOD taste I guess!!!xoxo~Kathy @ Sweet Up-North Mornings...

Debra@CommonGround said...

Hi Laura, I have saved magazines for years, especially fall and Christmas ones, But I don't have alot of hardbound Holiday books. I need to check TJM, and Marshalls to see what's available. I bought two mags the other day and it was almost $20. yipes!
I always love hearing from you on aditl!)Hope things are well for you guys.
love ya,
Debra

Debra@CommonGround said...

Get your little Texas self up here! I've got a spare bedroom and bathroom. Anne's coming up, let's make it a threesome!!! We're going to drive to Kansas City and go to Curious Sofa, so come on! no kidding!

June said...

Laura, I do love that CD so much, but then I love anything Andrea does! I have some of these books as well and my only problem is that I spend so much time looking at them that I run out of time recreating the beauty in them. Sigh!
Hugs,
June

donna baker said...

Laura, have you purchased Josh Groban's Christmas CD? I swear his version of Silent Night will make your hair stand up. As for mags, I recently started going through stacks of mags (the oldest so far 1995) to see why I kept them in the first place. Each one is like I have never seen it before, and you can certainly tell the different decorating styles from then to now. My only problem now is pitching them. I need a special place for all that stuff I put away for future reference.

 

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