J Cooper Photography

First off….THANK YOU for the many many votes over the past week!!  We are back to our regularly scheduled program here on the blog (can I get an AMEN!)  I did NOT make the final round in the Matilda Jane Photo Love contest.  And you know what?  I’m ok with that.  I appreciate the great outpouring of CYBER LOVE from all of you though   And although my ego is slightly battered (just kidding…I’ll be fine) I’m ready to move on!

So how are your Holidays going?  Here are a few sneak peaks at some of the festivities at the Cooper house.  We didn’t go “all out” this year as I am desperately trying to keep the holidays “simple”.  But we did put up a couple of trees, gathered some nature for our mantel, and unpacked a few of my most favorite things (I could almost break out into song here).

This is a glimpse at our main tree.  It is flocked with little pine cones and berries and full of handmade ornaments.  Someday I would love a big, gorgeous, fancy tree.  Except that I’m not really gorgeous or fancy so this tree really probably just suits our family perfectly.

Our dining room buffet….a bit of greenery and a canvas greeting (I’ve since added some cute ceramic doves…a STEAL at Good JuJu last week!)  Scroll down for a photo of the cute little birds!

A tree fit for 2 little princesses.  During Black Friday my SIL and I drove all around Colorado Springs looking for a tiny pink tree.  I’m not sure what it is about Colorado ladies but there was a RUN on pink trees this season.  Not one left in ANY store anywhere!!  It was pretty comical.  The night we got home from our long drive, I made a quick late-night trip to Walmart to grab some groceries.  And LO and BEHOLD what did I find??  My pink tree!  I guess the Kansas City folks haven’t quite caught on to the latest trends in colored trees this year!

This little tree just makes me so happy in their playroom.  Over the years I plan to collect tiny, sweet ornaments for it.  For now we’ve got it covered in tiny balls and pom pom trim from the dollar store

On the other side of my dining room is an old dresser-turned-buffet.  I made a little snowy scene inside this cloche using a branch dusted in faux snow, a vintage postcard, and a tiny bird

A scrawny little tree in our entryway.  This used to be our main tree when we lived in our little Rancher in Prairie Village.  It has a bird theme…natural elements, little damask tin birds, birdhouses, etc.  I have a serious obsession with all things bird.  Except that in real life I don’t really care for them much

My little doves.  Which cost me exactly $6 at Good JuJu this month.  I also bought a vintage tree skirt that is wrapped nicely around our “tacky tree”  (see yesterday’s post).  I HEART GOOD JUJU.  If you are a Kansas Citian you must go there and peruse all the fun things they have to offer!

A bowl full of festive odds and ends on my sofa table (out of the reach of little hands who might try to eat things!)  I saw an arrangement on a coffee table at Pottery Barn similar to this.  I LOVED the mercury glass ornaments but at $20 a piece I wasn’t willing to commit to them.  I found these replicas at Hobby Lobby 50% off which made them $3 a piece…ah the thrill of a bargain

That’s it for now!  I hope you are enjoying these weeks leading up to Christmas with your family and friends!!!