Valentine Decorations

Valentine's day is a fun time to decorate for me because I love the color red. I often mix hearts with snowflakes, since where I've lived, February is often the snowiest month of the year.

I bought the "tree" in the picture below at Pier 1 last year for an Easter decoration, but I've found uses for it during other times of the year, too. I always have something hanging from the light fixture over the dining room table, changing it for the holiday or season.

This is my dining room hutch.

This is my entry table, just inside the front door.

I bought this metal heart at TaiPan trading in Utah at Christmas time, and I really regret not getting two! Then I could have put one on either side of my front door.

I saw this display in a shop and thought it would be fun to recreate at home.

Winter Decorations

I save all my snowflake and snowmen decorations for January, since I have TONS of other decorations for Christmas. As soon as the 1st of January comes, the Christmas is gone (okay, except for a few nativity sets that I leave out all year) and out come the snowflakes.

In recent years I've found that I'm not as excited about my snowman collection as I was ten years ago, and I use more snowflakes than snowmen. I find the snowflakes more formal and elegant than snowmen. Has anyone ever seen an elegant snowman? I didn't think so.
Please note the white "tree" and white organza underneath it. You'll be seeing them used in my decorations for the next few months, changing every month.

I have a nutcracker collection (we lived in Germany three times for a total of 13 years, so many of my decorations are German) that I put out at Christmas, but this guy only goes on display for the month of January.

I love the clear balls with snowflakes on the outside, and display them in glass jars or crystal bowls

I like variety and I like decorating, so I change my decorations almost every month.

Lovely Sights Seen while Shopping

I went to a town with some fun shops last week. I took my camera with me and took pictures of some of the things I thought were pretty. I look for decorating ideas everywhere I go.

Winter Wedding

My oldest son got married on January 2nd, and I volunteered to decorate for the reception even though it's customarily the family of the bride who does it. I live near Washington, DC, and the reception was held in Washington state, so I filled a suitcase with decorations from home and bought more things once I was there. It turned out well, I think, though there were several additional things I wish I'd brought with me from home.