I love a big city Christmas just as much the charm of a small town Christmas.  We are having the most amazing weather this week in Northern California which makes for a spectacular day spent in downtown San Francisco.  With out-of-town family staying with us again over the Thanksgiving holiday, we couldn’t resist playing tour guide in the City by the Bay. 

Amidst blue skies, the bustling Union Square was aglow with window displays, holiday decorations, and lights from all the big retailers and the grand hotels. 

We even had a celebrity sighting – we caught Mrs. Claus as she was hailing a cab.

Come on along on our tour through Union Square and Chinatown.

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Whenever the Christmas closet is opened, the first place I always begin with my seasonal decorating is with the three mantels in my home.   This year, I used a combination of fresh garland, faux greenery, yard clippings, and other baubles to add a little holiday flair to my home with three very different, yet very merry mantelscapes.   

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The kids beg me all November to open the Christmas closet.  It’s a big deal because the Christmas closet is hidden in a secret hiding place where no one else can see it, and it’s a little tricky to access. 

When we remodeled our house three years ago, we insisted on claiming every inch of storage possible.  Under the staircase was yet another place for us to incorporate a storage space dedicated solely to Christmas. 

Mr. CG calls it ‘the vault’ and it’s secretly hidden behind the dining room hutch.  Inside is 42 x 120 inches of great storage.  Every January I stuff it full of all of our decorations, and every year after Thanksgiving, we open it up again. 

Take a peek:

When I said I liked Christmas, I kind of meant it. 

This is only half of my collection – just the interior decor. 

Another eight boxes of the outdoor decor are sitting in the garage. 

Now if I can only convince my hub to climb up on our second story roof

and hang those lights.

Happy Friday friends.  I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!  I’m finishing up some holiday décor around my house, and will be giving a tour very soon.  I am also putting the final finishing touches on my new office space in anticipation of the big reveal – I just can’t wait to show you the before and after. 

Today, I’m wrapping up Guest Blogger Week with this compilation of decorating ideas from a few more friends across blogland. 

Stephanie wrote to me with this idea for an elegant centerpiece for a small table.

“With husband and I living in an apartment in our first year though, we don’t have a whole lot of room to store such things. So, this year I wanted to make something that could be easily stored or even discarded and remade for next year.

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Sending you wishes for a very Happy Thanksgiving.  

 © Charles M. Schulz