Christmas Eve and the Nutcracker

This year, because I had to work Christmas, Chase and I decided to celebrate Christmas together on Christmas Eve. We had a wonderful day together. Chase took me to see the Nutcracker Ballet this year because I had mentioned wanting to see it in the past. It was a spectacular show with a great symphony.

In front of the tree at Symphony Hall

After the afternoon showing of the Nutcracker, we went to the early evening Christmas Eve service at our church, Redemption Arcadia. We celebrated the first coming of Christ and rejoice that He fulfilled his purpose then and will come again.

We when returned home, we opened our stockings that we made for each other. We opened gifts from under the tree, and then we had the most delicious dinner of breakfast casserole (a Christmas favorite at the Murphy house), fruit, and mimosas. Such a wonderful night!

Our cozy living room with plenty of candles and Christmas decorations!

(our TV is in our bedroom for a movie!)

What a wonderful night!

Desk is FINALLY done!

Chase very graciously allowed me to pick up this vintage writer's desk in Flagstaff back in September. I really wanted to refinish it as I loved the beautiful structure and brass pulls.

This is the "before shot," and yes we did manage to fit it in Chase's car -but not without difficulty...or an audience.

Chase sanded it down for me.

After priming it and painting it with several layers of "heirloom white," I began to distress it with a sander, on the edges.

After several attempts at a polycryclic finish, I just sanded it off and used a wax

All finished! Had to move the desk to another wall to make room for the Christmas tree. I prefer the white desk against a brown wall, though.

The wooden thing originally had 3 hooks and a mirror attached to it. Chase took off the mirror and hooks for me and sanded it down. Then I stained it with a walnut stain. I love the authentic look to the wood that the stain gave to it. And the silver pitcher is a gift from Chase:)