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I actually got it together this year to decorate rooms outside of my front porch and my Christmas tree! And I wrote a blog post about it! LOL. Jokes aside, this does feel like a momentous occasion, as I used to share entire blogs about my Christmas décor in my former homes…and hadn’t in this home yet. Life has been life-ing for us all these days, and clearly, taking photos of your holiday décor does not NEED to be a priority, but for some reason this year it just felt right to make the vibes immortal. I’m proud!
The kids announced this year that our Christmas tree is the best one we’ve ever had. I don’t disagree, but I was really surprised to hear them say this, as they weren’t even the ones to pick it out! A little backstory: We normally (religiously) go to get our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. It’s a family tradition, and one we’ve always loved because it means we get our Christmas Spirit ablaze while it’s still November. We’re serious, OK?! Typically in recent years, we’ve been going to a local farm to cut down our tree ourselves, and this has also turned into a whole tradition– with a lot of hunting through the hills to find the perfect one, and Ian sawing it down with a hand saw and making me fall in love with him all over again. It’s kewt.
This year, however, Ian and I took the kids to Mexico for Thanksgiving, and needless to say we were not traipsing through the pine hills of Cancun finding the perfect tree the following day. So, our Christmas Spirit had to hold her horses, and hold her horses she did. For a few additional weeks! The way our custody schedule worked out, the only time for us to grab a tree was on a weekend when Kyle had the kids, so we went without them this year to pick it. For those of you wondering, we didn’t chop one down this year. It felt a little sad to do that tradition without them. But! We did find an excellent tree, and we had it all set up with lights and ready to decorate when they got home to us on Sunday evening. Decorating the Christmas Tree is my favorite and most cherished holiday tradition, and we had a great time with it this year. We always collect special, new ornaments throughout the year (from our travels, or special events), and it’s so fun to add them into the mix when we decorate!
In terms of the rest of the house, a lot of the decor is repurposed from years past, with some new elements mixed in. The fresh wreath and Christmas sled planter in the kitchen are sparking so much joy for me this year! It’s also the first time I’ve ever set up my tin Christmas houses in our entryway, and that has been really special. I love the whimsy and romance they add to the vibe. We added a washable area rug in our dining room recently, as well as a couple of new runners in our entryway and kitchen, and they have been so wonderful in making the spaces feel much cozier.
Overall, I’m a firm believer that Christmas décor should consist of pieces that you introduce into rotation and become much-loved memories with special meaning. I love that so much of our decorations stay the same, but my kids get a little older each year. It’s the most bittersweet aspect of the holidays, in my opinion. It’s my plan and wish one day to divide up the decorations that my kids grew up with amongst them, to use with their own families. I still have a few ornaments from our childhood collection that we use year after year, and it makes the traditions that much more special.
Whichever holidays you celebrate, I sincerely hope they’re gentle, warm, and bright this year– and that you find yourself enveloped in love. Wishing you a fantastic one!
