Christmastime at The Queen’s Quarters!

Christmastime at The Queen’s Quarters is pretty much in line with what I normally do; frugality and personal style considered… greenery, silver, ornaments and a little, or maybe a lot of bling.

Christmases Past

I didn’t go all out last year because the family decided to do Christmas in Vegas. And I didn’t even do a blog post on it. It was my first Christmas in The Queen’s Quarters, and even though I wouldn’t be there, I still wanted a little bit of the holiday displayed around the house for me to enjoy leading up to and after the big day. So I just did a tablescape with a sprinkling of Christmas decor in the home office area, the coffee table, and of course my traditional “ornaments on doorknobs”. Here are a few pics capturing my home decor last season, and my family time in Vegas.

I know… it was a little sad, han? Haha!

And just in case you want to see/read posts of a couple of my Christmases past, here are links to… A Minimalist Christmas, and Christmas! My Favorite Time of Year.

Moving on to 2020…

Since our 2019 Christmas in Vegas celebration wasn’t as festive for me, I immediately started looking forward to Christmas 2020. But one pandemic and 10 months later, a gathering at my home of family from out of town is definitely a “no-go”. I’d rather look forward to yet another Christmas, than risking the possibility of one of us not being here for the next one. So… it’s a solo celebration for me this year. Feeling a little depressed, I was adamant about not putting up any decorations. But after wrestling with the thought of not having even one ornament adorned doorknob, I decided to venture out to the stores for a little inspiration. And there went my weekend, haha!!! I spent Saturday afternoon looking at holiday decor items in HomeGoods, Michaels, At Home and Hobby Lobby, determined to spend only a small amount on a few enhancements to what I already had. Christmas decor is so expensive when you add it all up. And while the holiday is my favorite, I’m not a fan of spending a lot of money for decorations to be displayed only for a few weeks. I love how the gorgeously decorated trees, tabletops and bannisters look, fully packed with beautiful ornaments, ribbon, and lush garlands, like in the pics I found below, compliments of Pinterest…

I mean, how fantastically beautiful are those??? Long ago, when I realized just how much money it costs to even come close to displays like this, I just let it go. It’s lovely to “ooh” and “ahh” at the pictures, but I’m truly happy with what I can whip up using what I have for my home, to conjure wonderful memories, and warm, fuzzy holiday feels, with only a few new expenditures to enhance it. That said, I present to you, Christmastime at The Queen’s Quarters 2020!

Christmas Present

Maybe because I knew this was solely for “pretty” purposes only, I decided on a diagonal centerpiece and a fuller table display than usual.

The Buffet Nook…

The kitchen Island… My dueling Charlie Brown-ish trees are back! I love them, so they’ll be featured every year 🙂

My little coffee table set up…

The entertainment center…

When I’m snuggled up after dark, watching one of my favorite Christmas movies, with a hot cup of eggnog chai tee, and my candles lit, this setting feels yummy.

I can’t forget this little guy! He was a gift and has been with me since 2011.

And finally, the inside / outside of my front door…

In Conclusion…

So that’s it. Compared to what I see on Instagram, it doesn’t seem like much, but it’s enough for me, and I LOVE it! I also love hosting my family in my home for the Christmas holidays, and this is the second year I’m not able to do it. (insert sad face emoji) But these days I’ve learned to find the good in every situation I’m confronted with, and roll with it. So that’s what I’ll do this Christmas; focus on the reason for the season, with gratitude count my blessings, and indulge in things that bring me joy here at my home. I hope you’ll do the same, to get the most out of this special holiday this year!