Today, Holly  from West Pear Avenue is here to wrap up the holiday tradition series!   Holly started blogging in May, and found my blog soon after, I’m so happy she did.  Holly is honestly one of the sweetest blogger’s I’ve met and her blog is fabulous too…a catalog of fun interior design inspiration.  This fall, she began taking interior design classes, and I always enjoy reading up on what she is learning and reminiscing about my design school days.  Thank you for being here today to wrap up the series Holly, take it away…

Hello to the all of Elizabeth’s readers here at The Mustard Ceiling! Elizabeth is one of the first bloggers I connected with back when I started my blog earlier this year, so I’m very excited to have the opportunity to visit with you here today for A Holiday Tradition.

This is such a fun way to share what makes the holidays special for each of us, and a great way to get to know other bloggers as well.

Although a tradition can be started at any time (and my family continues to create new traditions with the addition of our daughter to the family last year), I’m going to share an old tradition with you today.

My old tradition…
My brother is six years older than me, so this tradition actually started with him. My Mom started to collect an ornament each year for both of us, so that when we have a home or a family of our own we have our ornament collection to take with us. I always look forward to opening my box of ornaments each year to reminisce on where I grew up and remember all of those good times. And now I have them to share with my own family. Take a look at my collection of ornaments…

My Mom also kept a card in the box and would write a description of the ornament she was adding each year. Here is my very first Christmas ornament…

Anybody else have this one? I’ve spotted it on a few of my friends tree’s as well as I believe it was the Hallmark ornament that year I was born.

Here’s another oldie but goodie…

My Mom got this one at a craft fair (I’m glad I confirmed with her because I thought my Grandmother made it – oops!) I love that this one is painted onto an unexpected piece of slate. And still looks good as new for being created in 1983!

And then when I started to get older, I was able to pick out my own ornament each year. Here are two of my favorites…

Both of these were also picked up at craft fairs. The star ornament is ceramic and I can remember that artist having all different types of ceramic goods. I like how it has a hand-crafted look and also looks a bit aged even though it’s probably only 10 years old if that.

And here is the list of ornaments that my Mom kept for me. The list on the bottom is the collection I’ve started for our daughter, Sheila.

Here is the start of Sheila’s collection…I love that piece of candy ornament. My Mom (aka Mimi) got Sheila that one.

And I couldn’t exclude my husband’s contribution…

He loves that Homer ornament. I do not love the Homer ornament, but I love the one on the bottom that looks sort of vintage. And the pear of course too in the top right corner, so those make-up for Homer.

I’m sure some of you may also have a similar tradition as well. This is such a special way to create memories, and to also have a collection of ornaments to take with you once you leave the nest. I’m so happy my Mom started this tradition for my brother and me. I wish I had some photos of my Mom’s ornaments to share with you. She has some really beautiful, delicate old ornaments on her tree.

 

A big thank you to Elizabeth for having me here today to share this special story of tradition. This is such a fun time of year and I think as you get older the holidays become even more meaningful. I wish all of you a very Happy Holiday season this year filled with everything that brings you joy!

 
I’d like to thank all of the fabulous ladies who stopped by this week to share their traditions Shelli, Natasha, Mary Ann, Carmel and Holly and my reader’s who linked up at the linky party.  I enjoyed reading them all.  Holiday tradition’s are one of my favorite part’s of season, they have always been big in our family, but especially around the holiday’s. 

I’m excited to be kicking off today with another lovely lady, Carmel of Our Fifth House!  Carmel’s blog is always a  favorite of mine.  With an incredible sense of  humor and bold sense of style, you never know what to expect when you visit, but it always leaves me wanting more.  I am sure you have seen her fabulous dining room floating around blogland, but be sure to head over and check out the rest of her DIY projects after the post….take it away Carmel.

Hello, I’m Carmel from Our Fifth House.

I’m such a huge fan of The Mustard Ceiling so you can imagine how excited I was when Elizabeth asked me to participate in her Holiday Tradition series!  I’m honored to be guest posting and to have been included in such great company!

The holidays are filled with many traditions that I enjoy very much.  I love listening to Christmas music (my favorite song is I’ll Be Home for Christmas), watching Christmas movies (Elf, Love Actually, Fred Claus, and The Family Stone are a few my personal favs), and driving around the neighborhood looking at the beautiful lights.

I also very much love to decorate my mantel.

We live in Kentucky surrounded by horse farms so White Beauty feels right at home.  ;)

I also love to decorate the tree.

We went with a white tree this year and we’re all in love!

But while all of those traditions are fun, my favorite holiday tradition is Christmas crafting with my little elves.  Even before they could do crafts for themselves I would find ways to get them involved.  I’d stamp or dip those little feet in paint and create ornaments and special keepsakes for the grandparents.  It has become our own little family tradition that the kids hand craft a gift for their grandparents every year.  It’s something the kids really look forward to doing.  It’s been a great way to get them involved in giving and it’s a special tradition that I hope continues for years to come.

This year, I decided that we would try glass painting.

It was so fun and easy for the my kids to do.  Each coffee mug is a special work of art that I know the grandparents will truly enjoy.  I plan to wrap up a set of 2 with bag of hot chocolate.

One of the main reasons why I love Christmas crafting with the kids so much is because you never know what is going to happen during craft time.  They say and do the funniest and most memorable things.  This year I looked over at my son and said, “Wow, Collin, what a great design you’ve painted!”  This was his response.

I promise you those words actually passed through my 7 year old’s lips!!!  He is wise beyond his years!  Now you have a much better understanding as to why I love love love this special family tradition.

Thanks Elizabeth for having me over to share!  It’s been so wonderful to hear about every ones holiday traditions!

Thank you Carmel for stopping by to share your sweet holiday tradition.  I know you and your children will always cherish and remember the times you spent together working on crafts for the holiday’s.  I love Collin’s quote, too funny.

Click here to join in the fun and link up your favorite holiday tradition!

Tomorrow, to wrap up A Holiday Tradition, Holly will be here from West Pear Avenue

Today, I would like to welcome Mary Ann from Classic Casual Home.  I met Mary Ann when she emailed me to help her with a new design for her blog.  I stopped by, looking for inspiration, and immediately fell in love with her style.  She and her husband, remodeled a 1950′s beach cottage in CA.  Check out her before and after’s….after the post of course…take it away Mary Ann…  

little bags of chocolates.Or in the past, I have wrapped  fun vintage games,

or

small picture frames with sentimental photos…

Different ornaments are festive keepsakes like these from Pottery Barn.

I have used Christmas Poppers from Home Goods or from here…

and I have made my own out of wrapping paper and paper towel rolls.

I like to include funny fortunes, jingle bells and candy.

This year’s place setting gift is a secret

until after Christmas… but the French themed wrapping is a hint about the brunch menu.

Thank you Elizabeth and

Merry Christmas!

Mary Ann

classic • casual • home

Thanks Mary Ann, what a fun tradition.  I want to know what little french surprise is awaiting your guest’s this year!

You still have time to link up your favorite tradition here.

Tomorrow’s guest…Carmel from Our Fifth House