12.21.2010

on the inside...

Christmas looks like this under our tree right now...

That's how I like it - orderly and neat.  We are hosting a dinner party on Thursday night, close friends for breakfast Christmas morning and family over for dinner Christmas afternoon.  I haven't planned the menus let alone done the grocery shopping - this is unusual for me. 

I'm a planner, usually have the entire menu and theme done before an invitation even goes out.  Not so much this year.  Saturday, Andrew Henry and the daughter started prep work - he was cleaning baseboards (don't even ask how bad they were, I feel much shame) and she was, as you know from yesterday, polishing the silver.  I was finishing up the last of the jewelry orders (next year I'll enforce earlier deadlines).    When I woke up Sunday morning and walked around the house, I was a bit alarmed at the state of things.  Somehow I hadn't really noticed what was going on.  THIS is what Christams looked like on the inside of my house Sunday morning...

the living room, no big deal just our respective shoes left out and my props from shooting jewelry but it is kind of a symbol for what's coming...


let's saunter into the kitchen shall we...


Seriously, look at that disaster.  I have no words.  Want to do some of those dishes?  Sorry, sink is a bit crowded at the moment...


Perhaps I should go through the mail that is piling up...


or check on my shop orders?  Oh, gotta move some stuff out of the way to even get to my keyboard...


I'm just trying to keep it real here.  It's a little better today, but unless I get to the grocery store my party guests will be having tortillas and clementines for dinner, I could maybe even muster up some brownish bananas for dessert! 

Andrew Henry has promised me next year we can go away somewhere.

34 comments:

Diana Mieczan said...

I have a huge pile of mail waiting for me too...Its so busy this week:) Ohh I really adore your sofa:) Its so cool! Wish you a great day planning your menu and food shopping. Kisses

Maria said...

Haaaaaa! I LOVE it! It's like the section in those magazines I see at the salon - "Stars are Just Like Us"! You DO have a mess on your counter, and you can't clean those dishes because can't get to your sink EITHER! SO nice to know that you really are still one of us - well, sort of :-D

AH - you guys KNOW you guys have a standing invitation. It's not the Waldorf, but there's a whole lot of love :-)

Decor To Adore said...

I feel you! My house looks much the same. I have guests coming every day this week to visit so it will probably remain much the same but with added laughter and happiness.

Jude said...

Heehee, somehow in just one week of work, travel and other holiday mania, the rooms in our seemingly-empty space went from empty to...well, looking really close to this! I sighed wearily this morning, then realized it finally looks lived in :) Sending lots of lucky, good vibes for your guest and food prep!

Jude said...

P.S. Just saw your comment - would *love* to see your night photos anytime you felt like sharing! :)

lisaroy said...

Don't feel badly - we all have spots like that - mine happens to be my studio right now since everything is being plunked in there and the doors closed (like, out of sight out of mind!). God forbid should someone open that door! :)

bronwyn said...

Well, as long as we're keeping it real..that is my house on a good day. :)I have no doubts that you will pull off a fabulous party!

quintessence said...

Thanks for keeping it real - glad I'm not the only one with the ever mounting paper pile!!

KR said...

Oh! life does get a mite busy sometimes!
I know all will be ready, the food scrumptious, and your guests, as always, will have a wonderful time!

Jillian said...

I love how all of your gifts match!!! I am forever using scraps of lefvt over wrapping paper resulting in about five different types under the tree

Nicole said...

Don't worry, I had a pipe bust in our house this weekend and flooded our living room and office. We are finally getting everything put back together :) You have plenty of time!

vintch said...

whoa! that sofa! your house is by no means untidy..i LOVE its style:) and that sofa...seriously amazing. it looks very snuggly..like you could just sink right down into it!

jeanette from everton terrace said...

I was a bit confused by the comments about the sofa because you can't see our sofa in the photo but now I realize our two orange chairs are situated in such a way that it looks like a sofa - funny.

pamela said...

as stressful as travel is, i don't miss the housework! i may stay home next year, however.
looks like some BIG presents under the tree! santa must have come early.

Andrew H. said...

I was thinking the same thing. What sofa? Then I looked at the photo again. Those 2 chairs do look like they could form a rally cool sofa.

Tonight's agenda: stainless steel cleaning...

Maria said...

heh, heh...was wondering when you would catch that "sofa" thing. Now - get back in there and start cooking! ....ahem - we will all be awaiting the glorious photos of the results that we know will defy reason and astound us all.

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

Our mail pile looks JUST like that!

Beatnheart said...

Ohh you bad! I can’t imagine what the rest of the house looks like...shame and pox on you bad housewife lady...

Unknown said...

My house is in complete disarray right now. So much baking and cooking and present wrapping and I can't seem to keep it clean even though I've tried. Le sigh.

Brenda Pruitt said...

I'm not cooking this year. My husband will be out of state visiting his grown children. I will be with the furbabies. (I'm so glad to be off the hook!) Here's what my neighbor's doing for her big family: she's having a baked potato bar! I love that idea. Just bring in some barbecue and such and bake some potatoes and room left over in the oven.
Brenda

Krysten @ Why Girls Are Weird said...

Ugh, I have lots of cleaning to do between now and Friday. Not looking forward to it.

ag. said...

I love that you've shared this all with us! My house is a disaster right now and we're getting set to leave it for a few days but I HATE coming home to a messy house so guess what's on the to-do list tonight?! :)

jeanette from everton terrace said...

I'm the same. We even put fresh sheets on the bed before we go away so when we get back it feels even more sweet to be home. Safe travels.

Unknown said...

Okay, good! This makes me feel so much better about my house! Merry Christmas, Jeanette! XX!

Carol {Everyday Delights} said...

I love that wrapping paper. And I only saw a tiny bit of your kitchen in that picture, but I am green wit envy - I bet you get a lot of cooking done in there!

OneCraftyFox said...

You have a beautiful home, Jeanette. And quite honestly, that's pretty much how it's looking over here these days ;)

Merry Christmas my sweet friend!! I wish you lots of love and smiles over the holidays!

Ren- Lady Of The Arts said...

Thanks for sharing your reality- I find it really hard to keep up when the monkeys are home!

Brandywine said...

I'm so glad its not just me....
My quick cleaning tip - throw it all into laundry baskets and store them in the garage until company leaves.
Have a great holiday!!!

Punctuation Mark said...

i can't even imagine what's going to happen when i get back to my house after so many days away...

jeanette from everton terrace said...

Ha Brandywine that's funny. I did fill bins with dirty dishes and put them in the garage one year because I didn't have time to do them before the company arrived for dinner! I cleaned the mess from the post today but have created an entirely new one while cooking all day.

French Basketeer.com said...

oH YEAH; I am not alone. I am still digging out, and I don't mean snow. Please, Santa, bring me a little down time....haha it will all be fine. I am hosting dinner Friday eve and I hope I will be ready. I am putting up swag today, that I got at 50% off. Maybe there is a benefit to last minute....

sarah said...

i love this post! i adore all the comments... i have known more than one person who has had their home burn down at Christmas time and i even wondered at the time if it was an accident... hmmmm maybe we should just burn the house down...! ok fine maybe not... very very merry! (;

Cashon&Co said...

I am laughing but also because it is hitting too close to home. My dining room table a.k.a. wrapping central is a DISASTER and I still have tons to do and i am just procastinating. oy!

Stacey said...

I noticed the pulls on your kitchen cabinets right away. I have the same ones in the new home(i need to post pics of the progress)Your place looks really neat compared to the chaos that surrounds me:-) XX