Monday, December 3, 2012

christmas begins in corona del mar, california

Since I began blogging, I read a lot of home blogs. Around this time of year, the "shelter" bloggers break out their Christmas posts. Immediately after Thanksgiving, there is post after post of beautiful Christmas homes. It seems like they snap their fingers and voila! It's Christmas.

Natural Christmas Wreath

I have to ease into it and I can't be the only one. (Yes, we really do have a dolphin door knocker. It came with the house.)

What follows is my sure-fire formula for how I get motivated for Christmas, every single year:


1) Buy a few real wreaths from the grocery store. 

Hang on gates and front door.

Mid-century modern Christmas front gate



2) Get a couple dozen Poinsettias (all sizes) from local nursery. 


I group them by the front gates, the front door and, well, everywhere. I use old pots I have bought, saved, and stored just for this purpose. Those of you who know me well, know I don't store anything. My exception being Christmas.

Mid-century modern Christmas front gate


Mid-century modern Christmas front door


I like to use my old Bauer pottery near the front door. And yes, I buy pots on eBay just for this purpose.

Mid-century modern Christmas front door


Christmas Poinsettas


The wrought iron behind the bench used to be a divider between the garage and the front door, forcing you to walk to a back side door from the garage door rather than walking right into the house. Albert moved the wrought iron, re-painted it black and put it against the garage wall as a decorative element. Cool, huh?

Christmas Poinsettas


Close up of a big turquoise Bauer pot. I got it super cheap in a Thrift store. It has a huge crack, but perfect for once a year use at Christmas. More of our wrought iron.




3) Purchase peppermint candles from Candlessence on Balboa Island.  


 Annie loves Christmas.



These two candles are sitting on a Target tray. Target. Best place on earth. Next to Costco.

Christmas Candles


Isn't the light fixture fantastic? It's a real mid-century. Getting it to hang at the proper height has been a chore but zip ties seem to have finally done the trick.

Mid-century modern lighting


Christmas candles mid-century modern

Christmas candles mid-century modern


Bauer dish used for Christmas napkins. I have a thing for chartruese Bauer.

Bauer pottery chartreuse pottery


4) Go on the Corona del Mar Christmas Walk. 

Every year, our little beach town has a Christmas Walk on the first Sunday of December (12/2/2012 this year). It is a chance for the merchants to get a head start on the season. And a chance for the best and the brightest of Newport Beach to strut their stuff. It has turned into kind of a Christmas pub crawl. Not that I am complaining -- the people watching is unbelievable.


Corona del Mar Christmas Walk 2012


I enjoy seeing the dolphins decorated for Christmas in the center of the Pacific Coast Highway median.

Corona del Mar Christmas Walk 2012

Corona del Mar Christmas Walk 2012

Corona del Mar Christmas Walk 2012


You can see the Beer and Wine Garden tent in the background. **Sigh**

Corona del Mar Christmas Walk 2012


Within 24 hours, I am in the mood for Christmas. All that's left are lights, tree, cards and gifts. Maybe a party or two. Attending and having

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14 comments:

  1. I have a friend who started decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving, but I have to ease into it too. So far, I'm not easing very fast. :) I love your pots and poinsettias and candles. They're helping get me into the mood.

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    1. Just a little something to get going. Cards next, then the tree. Hopefully the presents will purchase and wrap themselves.

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  2. Your way ahead of me, an excellent start! Love the plants :)

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    1. At least it is slight cooler and rainy here. How do you do Christmas in the summer????

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  3. Love it! Thank you for sharing the beautiful photos. Love the idea of the peppermint candles....if they smell as good as they look, I'll have to make a trip out! Love the light fixture & painting. Gorgeous.

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  4. The decorated dolphins are such a hoot. Every time I see them I have to smile--original owners of your house must have liked them too since they incorporated a dolphin door-knocker.
    And poinsettias create instant decor. Your front gate really says "Christmas."

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    1. I never thought about the connection between the dolphin door knocker and the dolphins in Corona del Mar (about a mile away). I wonder if that is indeed why we have a dolphin door knocker. The knocker looks to be an after thought ... but it appears to be old. House is 60 years old.

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  5. Your decorations look great and I LOVE that light fixture! I love how Annie always gets in the photos!I need to get my butt in gear. We've been debating getting a real tree because our crazy Maine Coon will probably attempt to climb it...

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    1. I have to get off my butt and do the tree. We do fake. It will be our third fake Christmas. One of the reasons is the crazy cats (there are two). I detail out all the reasons in this post. http://www.midcenturymodernremodel.com/2011/12/great-fake-debate.html

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  6. We don't decorate until 12 days before the big day at our house.
    Rebecca I have to say how much I love your dolphin door knocker (I want one!), that awesome painting in your dining room (I'd like one of those too. Father Christmas, can you hear me?) and your lovely mid-century light shade. Beautiful.

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    1. Hi Kylie!!!! I haven't ever shown the dolphin door knocker. I sort of forget all about it until I bang my head on it (seriously have when putting in the key, in the dark), or when hanging a wreath. I saw the awesome painting at a hair salon in red. They put me in touch with the artist and I said I wanted a BIG green one. He did it, for not much money. Got to love those talented starving artists.

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  7. Nice one Rebecca, i also lov poinsettias all about in december, they are so festive.

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    1. Hi Auntie Sally (from Gibraltar)! Aren't they festive? They are dangerous to put out so early here because the weather can warm up... they like cold weather. If you wait too long, all the good ones get sold. We will see how it goes.

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