How was your Thanksgiving? For us, it was nice to have our daughter in the same hemisphere as us for a holiday…something that hasn’t happened in three years. We spent Thanksgiving at her future in-laws house, and I have to say I had the best turkey I’ve ever eaten. Her future brother-in-law recently went to Peru where he operated on dozens of children with cleft palettes and ventured into the Amazon, and we had the pleasure of seeing some of the photos. Tarantulas, poisonous snakes and frogs were among the highlights!
Are you all in full blown Holiday mode yet? Unlike many of you, it takes me a while to get my mojo going for Christmas. Usually I never start decorating until after Thanksgiving, and this year is no different.
We got a few things accomplished in preparation for her wedding, but I still haven’t decided on a dress yet. It’s funny how when I got married my choice was clear. Now, my head says ‘yes, yes, yes’ but my body says ‘no, no, no’.
On Saturday we met my cousins Billy and Dyan in Manhattan for dinner in Little Italy (where else?).In case you haven’t been reading along, Billy is the cousin who wrote ‘Two Brothers From Bari’ which I’ve been posting these last few weeks. If you missed it, start with the first installment here. It’s the story of our grandfather and his brother and their struggles when they came to America in the early 1900’s.
After a lovely dinner, we went next door to a shop called ‘Christmas in New York’, which truly has something for everyone.
Isn’t this a perfect tree for the dancer or dancer at heart in your family?
Or how about something with a traditional religious theme?
And here’s a modern day NY tree sharing space with a couple of carolers from the Victorian era.
Do tell, are you a Coke or Pepsi person?
Or how about something that’s just too darn cute??
A little humor never hurts…
How can Christmas be complete without Santa’s elves?
Here’s a cool ornament for all you Elvis fans out there!
You might be wondering what that black object is next to Marilyn…
A mini-tv, circa 1950’s! How cool is that?
As awesome as all these trees are, my tastes lean more toward traditional when it comes to trees, and I love an all white tree like this one!
I love white almost as much as I love gold, all blinged up for the holidays.
New York is truly magical this time of year. The glistening lights amid the hustle and bustle of shoppers are something everyone should experience at least once!
Well, our daughter is on her way back to Singapore right now, and we won’t see her again until March. I’ll be going up to the cabin a little early this week to put together some centerpieces for a fundraiser with a couple of friends on Thursday and maybe I’ll have a chance to start on that dresser I told you about in this post.
Brenda Callis says
How great to be with your daughter! And I thought my daughter was too far off in FL. I’ll remind myself that it could be Singapore. I can’t imagine trying to get ready for a wedding with that distance between you but I bet you both are very organized and will pull it of beautifully.
I hope you told your cousin that your readers are enjoying the family story. I’ll go back now and read the last one.
I would love to spend a few days in NY in December!
Brenda Callis says
P.S, And oh, yes, your holiday header is charming! You are so smart!
Doreen@househoneys says
Thank you Brenda, but don’t for one minute think that I did the CSS for the header! All I did was tell my graphic designer what I wanted and she did the work.
Now that things have settled down a bit I hope to catch up on my blog visits!
Denise says
The holiday header looks great! I am not at all ready for Christmas yet this year. Friday I’ll head into Manhattan for my husband’s holiday party and our annual tradition is to walk past the Rockefeller Center tree then on to the holiday shops at Bryant Park. Last year my tree was up already by now. This year, I haven’t felt the fanciful mood of the holidays coming on yet. xxD
Jane says
I’m so glad you had a good Thanksgiving and got to see your daughter. And a quick visit to New York! lol! How people long for something like that. I feel a little spoiled living so close to Chi Town! Loved the pictures of the trees, I’ve always wanted to do a “themed” tree. Diet Pepsi drinker through and through!
Happy Monday!
XO,
Jane
Cecilia says
We got to spend Thanksgiving with our daughter too ( and son but he lives in same city). Special times…your daughter is a lot further away so I know that made your time together way precious! Love your header and those trees are something else, Doreen. Oh my! I just started decorating too. After Thanksgiving is my rule!
Cynthia says
Thanks for sharing these great pictures with us Doreen. I am with y ou as beautiful as the trees are I am a traditional at heart for Christmas. I love your banner with the twinkling lights. Cute!!!
Cynthia
Doreen Sargente says
Hi Cynthia! How are you? I tried to find your email but couldn’t. I was thinking about you the other day because I was in Ridgewood NJ. Not sure where you are in relation to that but I may be going back that way so why don’t you email me and let me know where you are?
Andi says
I will drink mud before I drink Pepsi!! I’m a Coke girl all the way…I did our old basement bathroom in Coca-Cola! I LOVE all those trees…they are gorgeous! I want to see pictures of the tarantulas, poisonous snakes, and frogs. I like creepy stuff like that. 🙂
And I LOVE your Christmas header! I’m too clueless to do something like that. :/
-andi
Doreen Sargente says
Clueless is my middle name Andi. It’s called ‘hiring a graphic designer’. 😉
Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse says
Your header is great, very Christmasy and snowy, love it. The little ballerina ornaments are the cutest thing!
Julie says
Hi Doreen, thanks so much for stopping by my blog and leaving that nice compliment on my mini wreaths that I made! I love eating in Little Italy and it seems like it becomes smaller & smaller each year. I love this Christmas store that you went to also, such pretty ornaments. I have been to Singapore 3 times and I love it there so pretty and clean but it’s very very hot and a very long flight! Does your daughter live there? Take care and thanks for the tour of the ornament store. Julie
Doreen Sargente says
You are so right Julie! Little Italy is definitely living up to its name these days. Arthur Avenue in the Bronx has held its own, but Little Italy is falling victim to the expansion of Chinatown it seems. Too bad, because it’s a much nicer, more pleasant place to be and I’m not just saying that because I’m Italian.
You’ve been to Singapore more than me! I’ve been twice, and don’t wish to visit again. The flight is way too long and frankly, I don’t think there’s much culture there. My daughter has lived there for 2.5 years, and probably will be there for a bit longer, then it will most likely be somewhere else equally as far.
Thank you for stopping by! It’s always great to hear from you.
Poppy says
New York City has everything anybody could possibly want, but not necessarily need, nevertheless, it lives up to its famous alias, as ‘the big apple’, for it is the ‘core of decor’, (feeling quite poetic, today!), and so many other countless passions, aesthetic, academic, athletic, you name it!! In the case of this pretty post today, any Christmas theme one’s little heart desires!
Doreen, if the head says ”yes, yes, yes,”, then you buy the dress! There are many creative ways to customize it to your shape, whether accompanied by a soft, silky shawl, or a tailored bolero jacket, if that’s what is required to make the body say, ”okay, yeah, yes!”.
So enjoyed catching up with you and glad you had special quality time with your daughter! I hope to see mine, who is living all the way across the pond, in the new year, God willing!
Have a wonderful week, my friend!
xo
Poppy
Doreen Sargente says
Ahhh Poppy, you are a wise woman :). If the spirit moves you, check out my pinterest board. Some dresses I pinned because of color, others style, but you will see I’m all over the place! lol http://www.pinterest.com/househoneys/mother-of-the-bride/