The Halls are decked! Connecticut Gal's holiday best.....

Welcome to my holiday home dressed in its finest! Our Living Room decked out in its finest. Being from Connecticut and seeing how we spend every Christmas there, I couldn't resist this picture above the mantel.

View from the front door.....

Close ups of the tree...used a hydrangea, white pointsettia and pale blue theme - along with a faded brown zebra stripe ribbon.









Close ups of the mantel...

My Byers Choice Caroler collection - I have about 25 now I think....The factory where they are made are close by to me in Pennsylvania, its really a fun thing to go visit during the holiday season!














Our family room with the more "fun" holiday stuff.....




Close up of the tree, yes its missing its star! Looking for a new one to top it!

Nighttime View

Photo of us on our first Christmas 9 years ago

as well as a photo of my husband playing Santa at work!

My wall of autographs from "A Christmas Story". We roadtripped to Cleveland, OH a few years ago to visit the "real" Ralphie house where the movie was filmed and we got to meet many castmates!

Dining Room - this room is next to be re-decorated. Hopefully going to start after the holidays!



Kitchen - Everyone needs a copy of Paula Deen's Christmas! Also, a great book on the left called "The Gingerbread Architect" - its blueprints to make a fabulous gingerbread house - which I have yet to do!

Hot cocoa station - I just recently saw something similar posted on another blog

- I guess great minds think alike!

Front Hallway with Santa Greeting - LOVE his green toile coat!

Bannister going upstairs - ribbon done in a brown zebra stripe -

same ribbon used on the living room tree.

Halloween Soiree

A little late to the game, but better late than never, I guess? Just wanted to share a few pictures from our Halloween Soiree we had back in October....

Part 3: Rehoboth Beach - The Bellmoor Inn

We had never been to Rehoboth Beach before and what a lovely surprise it was! After receiving some hints from a fellow blogger, I took her suggestions and booked a room at The Bellmoor Inn. It was pure luxury. We were booked on the 4th floor, where there are no children allowed, and its private card key access to get into.
We had a well stocked library with a roaring fireplace right across the hall from our suite and you could help yourself to snacks and drinks.
They served a great complimentary hot breakfast the next morning in the sunroom and common room areas. We enjoyed walking the town and walking the boardwalk, even though it was October, it was quite busy probably because it was such a beautiful day.
We finished our evening at the "Cultured Pearl" restaurant. All I can say is Best. Sushi. Ever. Actually, every single thing we ordered down to the carrot cake with ginger cream cheese frosting was some of the best food we have ever had.
Luckily Rehoboth is only about an hour and half way from us, so I see us making frequent trips down there in our future!

This bed was so comfortable, and check out the size of that pine armoire! Entrance inside our suite - I was in love with the grasscloth wallpaper!

This was the other side of the hotel room. The gas fireplace made is so cozy!

Part 2 - The Virginia Hotel - Common areas

For being a fairly small hotel with only 24 rooms, they have truly created some wonderful living spaces. Cape May.com has described this hotel as walking into a F.Scott Fitgerald novel because of the 1930's feel that it reflects. The Virginia was recently renovated in the past few years and decorated by NYC's Colleen Bashaw, whom I just recently read that her brother owns The Virginia and also their much larger sister property a block away, Congress Hall.
This is the room to the left side of the lobby that houses a small bar in the corner. The hotel is in a great location where people shopping or dining can stop in for a drink and enjoy it out on the front porch.

This is the area right off the front desk. There is a piano in the right corner that they have a pianist playing most nights, with the fire going and all the candles lit on the mantel, it is a truly relaxing space.

This little nook was new this time around for us. It was in the far corner of the inside porch. I finally found it empty so I could snap a photo - most people were using it for coffee and Sunday newspaper reading.

Here is a view from the porch looking back towards the lobby. Love that starburst mirror with the sconces over the piano and also that tufted ottoman. The same style of Osborne and Little wallpaper that covers the downstairs was also continued in the guest rooms.

Halloween Mantel

I started decorating & cleaning today for our Halloween Soiree that we are having next Saturday. Today I spent a little time working on our living room Mantel. Thought I would take a quick break to share a photo of the finished product.....

Linking up with The Stories of A to Z for her fabulous Fall Mantel Party.

Living Room Part Deux

I am linking up with http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/ for Show Us your Life Friday. I am a little late in the game, but I figured why not. This past week she was showcasing Living Rooms. Here are a few photos of mine:

Eye Candy

How would you like this in your master bedroom closet?
I know I would!

photo from here

Little Houses, Big Curb Appeal

I recently came across some homes on the smaller side, and while they are certainly not "McMansions", they sometimes have more curb appeal than your large stately homes. One thing you will find with a small home, is that that it can have alot more charm. Take this home for example, simple touches like the starfish in the window sashes and the tiny white picket fence make this home look so inviting.

This home is a home I found recently in Cape Cod Magazine. It can't be more than 2 rooms with most likely a galley kitchen. My family owns a home on the beach in Old Saybrook, CT which could one day use some major upgrades. I think the above fabulous cottage could easily be swapped out for our family cottage:

This simple South Carolina bugalow is the perfect picture of low country.

Another simple beach cottage that they keep simple looking with white paint, black shutters and for a little pop of color, purple front door with matching adirondack chairs.

Its beginning to look alot like Christmas.....

I decided to jump on the bandwagon a little late, and join the Nester's Christmas Tour of Homes. Here are some photos from our humble abode decked out in its holiday best!

Here are some exterior shots that we took before our Christmas Party a few weeks ago.



Our Family Room with our beloved C-9 huge Christmas Lights.

My Byers Choice Carolers Collection. I have about 30 of them now and have been collecting them for the last 10 years. If you are ever in the Philadelphia area and are a lover of Byers Choice, make sure to go visit their plant. Its amazing to see how they are made and how much work goes into each one!

Possibly my favorite decoration, my wall of Autographed pictures from "A Christmas Story". We drove all the way to Cleveland last year for the 25th Anniversary weekend. I could go on and on but thats another post for another time soon.

Our Living Room, with a "Christmas in Connecticut" Theme.

Other view of the Living Room

Living Room Tree. I picked out this one and Joey picked out the Family Room Tree.

Decorations in our Theater Downstairs

Hope you have enjoyed my Christmas decorations! Enjoy the rest of the Tour of Homes!