Hi, everyone, how was your Christmas? We had a busy but pretty mellow one with my family in town. I can’t remember the last time I did so much cooking. I enjoy cooking but only every now and then so I don’t need to see my kitchen again for a good while!

Here’s what the dining table looked like before we made a mess of it.

I went with a gold and white scheme this year. My mom did the flowers – aren’t they gorgeous? We used diffusers for the little bouquets and interspersed votives in different heights and white ceramic fruit. The block print tablecloth was part of my haul from my recent trip to India.

With Christmas now behind me, I’m doing a big closet purge today because I want to start the new year with a organized and streamlined closet. Well, as streamlined as much as a closet like mine can be anyway. Get ready, Goodwill, huge donation coming your way!

(Photos: FROM THE RIGHT BANK)

I’m feeling better enough to at least move around so yesterday, I started on the Christmas decorations. Here are a few shots of what I’ve done so far in the family room. Nothing major but enough to get a holiday vibe going. Really it doesn’t take much. Some pillows, string lights and a few sparkly bits …..

My mom put this cute bouquet together for the living room using cuttings from our yard:

That’s all that’s happening in the living room until we get the tree.

I’m leaving for a little adventure in 2 days so my goal is to 1) completely recover and 2) get the tree and rest of the the decorations done by then! It’s going to be close!

*Update on the Houzz Contest*

I was told yesterday that I’m in third place! Thank you so much to all of you who voted so far!

It’s close between second and third places but the first place entry is way out ahead so I’m going to need your support if I’m going to catch up. To recap, my entry is here and  if I win, here is what you can win:

1^st place: $250 gift certificate to any online retailer of your choice
2^nd place: $100 gift certificate to any online retailer of your choice
3^rd place: $50 gift certificate to any online retailer of your choice

To vote, you just have to leave a comment on my Ideabook. Voting closes this Friday. If you want to get the word out via Facebook, Twitter, blog, etc. to get more votes, that would be great too. Thanks so much for your support!