Wed Dec 23 2015
Christmas Tour 2015

I went back and forth with this blog post.  I could have showed you my pictures and wrote a little post on how wonderful everything is and how it appeared, however, that would be lying.  I almost didn’t post the pictures at all…I just couldn’t find the words to accompany the pictures that portrayed a […]

I went back and forth with this blog post.  I could have showed you my pictures and wrote a little post on how wonderful everything is and how it appeared, however, that would be lying.  I almost didn’t post the pictures at all…I just couldn’t find the words to accompany the pictures that portrayed a joyous holiday.   I’ve contemplated how to approach this for several days.  I don’t want to burden anyone with my problems…I want my blog to be happy and uplifting!  Then after some thought, I thought it was best to just tell you the truth.

*Warning*  I’ve heard that some people do not like bloggers to post anything about their personal lives (this can be a pet peeve for some people).  If this is the case, feel free to skip and scroll down to the pictures.

I’ve had one heck of a November and December, to put it mildly.

I posted on Facebook in early November that I was having our staff Christmas party at my house.  Well, that never happened.  Unfortunately, I have had some medical issues for the past couple years and I’ve been putting off surgery for quite some time.  Deciding that I suffered enough, I made the decision to have surgery right before Thanksgiving.

I was determined to make sure that the surgery would NOT keep me from having my Christmas party!  I started decorating in early November with the plan that I would be finished before I went to the hospital.

AFTER SURGERY…

As you can probably guess, I couldn’t host a Christmas party.   I ended up having some complications that I never anticipated and recovery wasn’t as easy as I thought.  In addition, I ended up with another medical condition that I’m currently dealing with.  Needless to say, I’ve been back and forth to doctor’s appointments and also have had a home nurse make regular visits to my house.  Ugh.  Not fun.  (In case you are wondering, I will be totally fine to head back to school on January 4th and looking forward to it!)

FAST FORWARD TO A WEEK LATER…

I decided that I should take advantage of my six weeks off and visit my grandmother as much as I could.  My grandma was moved to a nursing home the day of my surgery.  My family couldn’t be with me while I was in the hospital because everyone had to help her move (talk about bad timing), however,  I was fine with that.  I knew that my grandma needed them more than I did.  I was anxious to get out of the hospital and see my grandma’s new home.  I couldn’t drive for a couple weeks, but when I started to feel better, my plan was to spend my days off with her, keeping her company.  With working so much, I often felt guilty that I didn’t see her enough.  I was excited to have this time off to be able to spend it with her.

To make a long story short, I was finally able to see my grandmother last Sunday.  I spent a couple hours with her, told her I loved her before I left, and said that I would be back the next day to see her.

She ended up dying that night.

My heart is broken.  I actually feel my heart hurting.

My grandmother was a huge part of my life and was like a second mom to me.  The pain almost seems unbearable right now and getting through Christmas feels like a struggle.  We’ve spent the last week planning a funeral and saying goodbye to a woman that I loved more than anything.

CHRISTMAS PHOTO SHOOT…

As you can imagine, it is very difficult for me to write a blog post.  My inspiration for the room and the decor seems so insignificant right now.  I can’t even begin to find the words.  Every time I try to write something, I start to cry. Christmas was my grandmother’s favorite holiday and everything reminds me of her.

I know that some of you have been waiting for this post, so I don’t want to disappoint anyone and I know that “the show must go on.”  I made the decision to go ahead and post them.  I hope my pictures can bring joy and inspiration to all of you this season.  Please remember to hold your family close this Christmas! xoxo

Merry Christmas and Best Wishes
for a Happy New Year!

Melanie

2015-12-20_0006

Curtains:  Wayfair, Rug:  Zulily, Candleabra:  Dot and Bo, Black Sign:  House of Belonging, Coffee table:  Ballard Designs, Black cabinet:  garage sale  Birch candles on table:  Save-on-Crafts, White furniture:  Pottery Barn, Lamps:  Pottery Barn, Black and White picture above fireplace:  Pottery Barn, Pillows/throws:  Pottery Barn, Curtain Rods:  Meijer, Merry Christmas banner:  Carriage House Designs, Howell, Michigan

2015-12-20_0001

Mirror:  Pottery Barn, Lamps:  Pottery Barn, 3-tiered metal stand:  Joss and Main, Bows:  Target

2015-12-20_0002

Black tables:  The Iron Grate, Fenton, Michigan,  Vase:  The Weed Lady, Grand Blanc, Michigan

2015-12-20_0003

2015-12-20_0004

Flower arrangements created from fresh greenery from The Weed Lady (Grand Blanc, Michigan) and Save-on-crafts, Books:  flea market

2015-12-20_0005

Candles:  Pottery Barn Outlet, Star:  The Weed Lady (Grand Blanc, Michigan), tree slices:  Michaels, glass jars and candlestick:  Pottery Barn Outlet, Black cabinet:  garage sale, Crystal:  flea markets
2015-12-20_0007

Bench:  Joss and Main, Baskets:  Pottery Barn Outlet, Rug:  Ballard Designs, Fern pictures:  collected over years, Pillows:  Pottery Barn

2015-12-20_0008

2015-12-20_0009

2015-12-20_0010

Clarisa chandelier from Pottery Barn

2015-12-20_0011

2015-12-20_0012

Glitter initials on tree:  Walmart

2015-12-20_0013

Plates:  Pottery Barn, wicker charger:  Target, Center stone urn:  The Weed Lady (Grand Blanc, Michigan)

2015-12-20_0014

Bark vases:  Joann Fabrics, tree slices:  Michaels,  Shutters:  Ebay, White shelf:  Pottery Barn Outlet

2015-12-20_0015

2015-12-20_0016

Old Barnwood shelves:  Ebay, Metal brackets:  Hobby Lobby, McCoy Vases:  Etsy, Books:  flea markets

2015-12-20_0017

2015-12-20_0018

Curtains:  Pottery Barn (discontinued), Merry Christmas Banner:  Pottery Barn Kids, Chandelier:  Pottery Barn

2015-12-20_0019

Chalkboard:  Etsy, Initials:  Hobby Lobby, Skis:  someone’s garbage, jars on coffee table:  Maria Manore’s wedding (Kinder-craze blog)

2015-12-20_0020

Chairs:  Pottery Barn (discontinued), Table:  Ballard Designs

2015-12-20_0021

Lamp:  Magnolia Market, black table:  from my son’s nursery almost 19 years ago (painted and changed knobs)

2015-12-20_0022

Black buffet:  Pottery Barn, Pinecones:  The Weed Lady (Grand Blanc, Michigan)

2015-12-20_0023

Bells:  Target, Plates:  Pottery Barn, Pillows:  Pottery Barn, Coffee Table:  Ballard Designs

2015-12-20_0024

2015-12-20_0025

Table – Two Birds (no longer in business), Black sign:  House of Belonging

2015-12-20_0026

Christmas 1972

IMG_0696

(Melanie’s first Christmas with her grandma and grandpa)

Merry Christmas in Heaven, Grandma.  I love you.

Photos by E’lisa Campbell from E.C. Campbell Photography in Clarkston, Michigan

 

 

 

 

Share the Style!


Read 
The 
Latest
27 must have classroom decor ideas for 2024!
27 must have classroom decor ideas for 2024!
St. Patrick’s Day Classroom Decorations
St. Patrick’s Day Classroom Decorations
Reading and Library classroom decor for 2024
Reading and Library classroom decor for 2024
Self Love Club for Teachers
Self Love Club for Teachers
100th Day of School Ideas!
100th Day of School Ideas!
Valentine’s Day Shop for Teachers
Valentine’s Day Shop for Teachers
10 tips to help teachers stay organized in their classroom.
10 tips to help teachers stay organized in their classroom.
Schoolgirl Style 2023 Holiday Home Tour
Schoolgirl Style 2023 Holiday Home Tour
The magic of editable, digital and printable classroom decor!
The magic of editable, digital and printable classroom decor!
Send me the latest on Schoolgirl Style!
Connect with @schoolgirlstyle
© 2023 SCHOOLGIRL STYLE • PRIVACY POLICY • TERMS • ACCESSIBILITY