Home - Christmas
Decorating our home for Christmas is one of my favorite things. Decking the halls in anticipation of Christ’s birth is a joy!
Welcome!
I found all of our real wreaths and garlands at Trader Joe’s this year. I added a few other greens from our yard. I found the bells at Vinterest Hixson a few years ago. All of my satin ribbons are from Hobby Lobby.
Battery-operated lights are a game-changer. I found these on Amazon last year.
I love to use our red and brown transfer ware plates on this cutie hutch. The adorable vintage Santa mugs and tea cup are from my aunt and the Mason Cash red bowl was found at Good Kinsman. The brass candlesticks, given to me by my parents, hold cheery red candles from Sophie’s (which do not drip!). The little boxwood tree adds a touch of green and looks enough like a Christmas tree. ;)
before
after
We’ve always had a real tree. We love the scent of a Fraser fir. We found this one at Ace Hardware this year. Ornaments the girls have made over the years, ones from our travels and others that have special meaning adorn our tree every year. It’s always a warm, sentimental feeling when unwrapping these treasures at the beginning of the Christmas season. Memories of loved ones, adventures and chapters from our lives cover the tree to remind us of happy times.
“The stockings were hung by the chimney with care…” - Clement C. Moore “Twas the Night Before Christmas”
The polka dot stockings are from Ballard Designs, which we’ve had for years, and the quilted stocking is a treasure I found in a Dunlap antique shop years ago. We always have an extra stocking for our pet or friend staying with us for Christmas.
This sweet “Willow Tree” nativity was given to me by my parents, David and the girls over the years.
Christmas morning finds our Spode Christmas china (wedding gifts) on the kitchen table. We began a new tradition after our trip to England a couple of years ago…the elf crackers are from Meri Meri. The bamboo utensils are from Amazon, placemats and salt & pepper shakers from Target. The wooden bowl from Sophie’s holds our advent wreath, which I made from a round foam circle and candles from Hobby Lobby and greens and pinecones from our yard.
This Christmas nativity pyramid is fairly new to our home. When I was a little girl, my piano teacher had a similar one in her home at Christmastime and I loved it. I ordered this one from Amazon a couple of years ago.
The boxwood wreath lives above our bed every day but is dressed up a little bit for Christmas with this beautiful, blue satin ribbon. I found the wreath at Target years ago and the ribbon is from Hobby Lobby.
We added these tiny, battery-operated fairy lights from Amazon to our small trees on the deck this year.
I love to place a little Christmasy touch to the girls’ bedrooms. I hope it’s a “welcome home” pretty addition for them. The scent of the real wreath makes their rooms smell so good. Trader Joe’s comes through again with the small wreaths and I’ve had the ribbon for years, found at Hobby Lobby.
tiny trees
I like to scatter festive bottle brush trees around the house. I’ve collected them over the years at vintage and local shops.
pretty in pink
I have an alter ego that likes aluminum trees, as well as real trees. I found this one at Target years ago. My granny had a large one in her living room when I was a little girl, so it reminds me of her house. The pink glass ornaments are vintage from my parents.
items in conversation
I love it when small items “talk” to one another. This little vignette is in our guest bedroom/art studio. I picked up the books and crumb catcher at a local vintage shop. To me, the “gold” on the black book speaks to the silver of the tree….reminding me of the song “Silver and Gold” from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” movie from my childhood. It’s a stretch, I know, but that’s how my mind works. I love how the pink rose on the mint green catcher talks to the pink ornaments.
green on green
I love tone on tone color. This little wreath adorned our antique armoire in our family room. After the girls left after Christmas, I simply moved their bedroom door wreaths downstairs to enjoy them for a few more days.
memory on memory
So many memories living in one spot. The pine armoire was given to me by my parents when I was a teenager and has lived in my bedrooms, dining room and family rooms over the decades. We think it has Swedish origins. The Fortnum and Mason hamper was a surprise Christmas gift from David a few years ago. It is so very special to me because it’s a permanent reminder of our amazing trip to England and the iconic store from 2022. It was filled with their teas, biscuits, jams and chocolates. I fell in love with London and England and hope to live there one day.
why we celebrate
This precious nativity is extremely special to me. It’s the one I remember from my childhood home. This year, it sat atop an antique chest, which belonged to my daddy, and has lived in my bedrooms, Hannah’s bedroom and now in our foyer. The mirror above the chest was originally an inexpensive frame I found at a local antique mall. I had a glass company make it into a mirror. I like how the reflection of the garland bannister lights show in the mirror.
This is another wreath I moved from the girls’ doors downstairs to the living room. I love how it looks on the antique mirror. This mirror was found decades ago at a local shop (now closed) and was one of the first purchases we made for our first house. I love the vine and leaf carvings on this pine beauty with the beveled glass.
I have a large collection of Byer’s Carolers, given to us by my parents, David and the girls over the years. This is one of my favorites because sheep is my favorite animal. I display some of my carolers every year and they remind me, especially, of my parents. I inherited many of their carolers. They make me smile every year when I open the box.
I also love getting any kind of Christmasy china/ceramics out in December. This cutie mug is from Target from years ago. Who doesn’t love a hot cocoa topped with whipped cream?!
Ho Ho Ho!
I LOVE this Santa! I found him at a local vintage mall a few years ago. He’s just the right size for my kitchen counter and adds such a warm, friendly glow in the evenings. The Fortnum and Mason teas were a gift from David and are sooooo good! The Christmas tea tastes like it sounds…cinnamon, cloves, chocolate…and the round tin behind it is the Rose and tastes like a summer day. The HT green tin holds the best peppermint tea we’ve tried and is from Target.
Oh, Christmas Tree!
I took a close-up of this vintage ceramic tree because I just love the bright, happy colors of the bulbs. I never had one growing up but my friend did and I always wanted one. I won this one on eBay a few years ago. It’s small but so charming, sitting on our kitchen counter. You can find them everywhere now. Some are vintage and some are new but I love this original one.
After the fun, busyness of the Christmas season, I love to curl up under a cozy blanket with a snuggly cat at my feet, a cup of hot tea, and relax in the quiet to reflect on the the new memories made and the blessing and miracle of a baby born in a manger who shows His love for us every day.