Page 145 - South Mississippi Living - November, 2022

and one for the one you love. Look for simple but thoughtful personal items this year. A pretty bar of soap, a beautiful corkscrew, or a unique picture frame always trumps a grandiose gift that requires electricity!
When it comes to decorating your home, again, keep it simple. Thanksgiving tends to revolve around one large meal, so it is always nice to spruce up the table. Fruit or greens laid down
the center of the table with candles is a traditional favorite but consider adding framed pictures of those that are no longer with the family. Say a blessing for each one and share stories the youngest at the table may not have ever heard. Focus on being grateful for those around the table. Invest in a new yard game for the after-meal exercise. Corn hole, croquet, and horseshoes have been family favorites for generations for a reason. There’s nothing like good-hearted competition.
Christmas tends to be a bigger ordeal. Whether you start decorating the day after Thanksgiving or wait until a couple
of weeks before Santa’s arrival, you have a routine. Shake it
up a little bit. Decorating doesn’t have to take days and days to complete. Maybe this is the year you don’t have to use all the Christmas decorations. We agree there are some must-haves like a wreath, a tree, stockings, and sentimental favorites, but they don’t have to look the same year after year.
Only put half of the decorations on the tree or just the ornaments in one color palette. Buy a new tree topper or create a new one with branches from the yard – add ribbon and a red bird or two. Tie more branches and greenery on a chandelier
in the foyer or over the table and move your stockings to the staircase with yet more greenery and you are almost done. If you have a creche that is part of your tradition, try making a new “stable” from grapevine and nestle your traditional figures in a
natural setting for the arrival of the baby king.
We love keeping the decorations natural and simple but
doing something unexpected like adding a little touch in the powder
room or hanging
a few ornaments
in a window.
Strategically placing
photographs from
Christmases past
around your home
is a lovely way to hold our loved ones close during this most special time of the year.
A beautiful home decorated for Christmas provides the backdrop for making lifelong memories. But leave room for you and your guests to feel comfortable, not crowed with stuff in every corner. Do the same for your mind. Don’t overcrowd it with things to do that take too much time away from what really matters. Keep it simple and enjoy every moment of the holiday season with a grateful heart. Don’t waste any time.
Holly Harrison has been a licensed interior designer for over 35 years. Shannon Stage has spent nearly 20 years in the giftware industry. Together they own Sassy Bird Interiors in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net November 2022 | 145