With Christmas just a few days away (Where did December go?!), I decided to take a break from my usual book chat here at Cover to Cover to share with you how my family is preparing for the holiday. Today, in honor of Jen and Melissa’s awesome blogfest Be Jolly By Golly, I’m excited to show you what my house looks like right now, all decked out for Christmas.
Christmas is a BIG. DEAL. in the Lawlor household. Traditions are upheld, year after year, and it wouldn’t be Christmas without shopping galore, a shiny tree, Hallmark Christmas movies and my dad’s famous cookies. But perhaps the biggest staple of Christmas in my house, is the massive amount of decorations my mom has acquired over the years. Every room in our house is decked out for the holiday. Don’t believe me? Check it out below!
Beautiful Christmas tree. This year, all of the balls on the tree were gold and red. Very classy.
Christmas tree with the flash on…easier to see some of the cute ornaments now.
My mom’s Nativity that she made in ceramics class a few years before I was born. Still looks awesome!
The stocking were hung by the chimney umm…staircase with care…The stockings each have a photo of me, my brother and sister when we were little on Santa’s lap. I’m at the very tippy top.
Photos of my siblings and I sitting on Santa’s lap from years past. The one of the very left is actually from last year. My mom begged and begged and told us all she wanted for Christmas was a photo of her grown children sitting on Santa’s lap.
The gingerbread themed kitchen. Super cute.
Countdown to Christmas! When I was little, my siblings and I always argued over who got to move Santa to the next day.
This guy watches over our living room.
Cookies! In those jars are: butter cookies, potato chip cookies and snickerdoodles (see recipe for these below!)
Phillies pride, always!
Even our bathroom is decked out!
And now, I’ll share with you my absolute favorite cookie recipe on earth…sorry no photos! I made some the other night and they are almost all gone! Quite popular in my house.
Snickerdoodles (from an ancient Pampered Chef recipe my mom had, with some adjustments made by me)
1 3/4 cups of all purpose flour
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
1/8 teaspoon of salt
1/2 cup of butter, softened
1 cup of sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
Also have some cinnamon and extra sugar on hand
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Mix well and set aside. In a bigger bowl, mix butter and 1 cup of sugar until well blended and creamy. Stir in egg and vanilla. Add flour mixture, stirring until soft dough forms. Do not refrigerate.
2. Roll mixture into balls. Place cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl and roll balls of dough into the cinnamon and sugar mixture.
3. Bake 9-11 minutes or until cookies are set.
*Makes about 3 dozen cookies*
Be sure to check out the other participants of the Be Jolly By Golly blogfest here.
How do you celebrate the holidays? Any special traditions? Share in the comments below!
Yum! Snickerdoodles! I’ll have to try that recipe out 🙂
Everything looks so festive! I think my favorite thing was the Santa toilet seat cover and rug. It’s pretty awesome 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing those lovely and extravagent decorations. Your house looks beautiful.
We pretty much do the same thing, but not to the same extent. One thing I always do every though is make my mother in law a Santa Claus doll.
Have a very Merry Christmas!
Beautiful home.
Merry Christmas!
Awwww, I loved seeing these pictures of your family’s Christmas!! Enjoy your holidays 🙂
The Christmas tree is very beautiful as for the chair backs – they are soo cute.
The bathroom set is the funnies thing I’ve seen – I’m going to check out Ebay 😉
Merry Christmas.
I’ll be posting my christmas decorations later tonight. I love how Christmasy your house is, though!! My mom has that same Santa with the yarn beard.
Your tree is so pretty!!! Have a happy holiday!
Oh, how fun! We always go a little overboard with the decorating, but it’s a good time. Our Christmas tree crowded with ornaments collected since my parents were married in 1980 is the crowning glory in our living room, and those snickerdoodles sound delicious!
Headbonks and purrrrrs from a soon-to-be-famous cat!
Lovely tree, flash or without! Love the nativity scene too. Merry Christmas!
Your pictures are just awesome. I love the Nativity set! Merry Christmas! 🙂
I like the gingerbread peeps around the world.
aw your house is so darn cute and festive, i love it!!
Thanks for the snickernoodle recipe. Your home is lovely.
I think the gingerbread kitchen is so cute and such a great idea!
Ha ha, love your fireplace. And I think that nativity your mom made is awesome. Never thought about making my own before. Merry Christmas!
I love all your decorations! I love the idea of decorating every room in the house… a tree, a few lights, a mantle and a wreath wore me out though. :p
What great pics! Merry Christmas!!
Snickerdoodles are my fav. Love your tree and your decorations. Oh and I like your backsplash. 🙂 HAve a wonderful holiday!
Your tree and decorations all look great! Merry Christmas!
@Susanne Drazic, Thanks! Same to you!
Love the santa commode. So festive. All your decorations look GREAT!
Happy Christmas to you and your family.
Michael
@Michael Di Gesu, LOL, thanks Michael. It’s a big hit around here! Merry Christmas to you too!
Your tree is breathtaking! I love your decorations – that Santa Toilet seat cover and mat are killing me. I can’t stop laughing. And now I will be obsessed that I MUST find one for next year!! Have a Merry Christmas!
@Jennie, Hahaha, I have no idea where my mom got it, but it’s always a huge hit! Merry Christmas!
What great decorations! The snickerdoodle recipe sounds fantastic!!!
Have a Merry Christmas!
@Renae Mercado, Thank you! You too! The cookies are amazing, for sure…try them out sometime!
I freaking LOVE the Santa toilet mat and cover. It’s so awesome. I showed my mom and she agreed.
I can’t believe your mom made those ceramic nativity set. That’s so amazing, honestly!
Love your decorations and snickerdoodles sound delicious.
@Melissa Wideen, LOL, thanks 🙂 The Santa toilet is always a hit! Haha. Hope you have an awesome Christmas!
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