Good morning (afternoon/evening) friends! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. We kicked ours off on Friday on a festive note. We’ve made it our annual family tradition to drive up the mountains (roughly 2 hours) and find a tree farm (which isn’t hard once you make it to Ashe county; there are tons).
It keeps getting a little more fun each year as the girls get a little bit older. This year after spending some time at a playground in Boone, we ended up at Frosty’s Choose and Cut.
There was a great chill in the air that required coats and hats- the best. The stick they gave us measured 10 feet and I believe Hailey and David were determined to bring home any tree that out-measured the stick.
The above was a contender, but we ended up finding a bigger, fuller one to claim as our own. In fact, it wouldn’t fit through the baler so the Frosty’s team got creative and made it work. Long story short, somehow by that evening the tree was in our living room.
True to tradition, after the girls went down we put on Christmas Vacation and got to work on the lights. I almost tumbled into the tree, but I was determined to be the one that put the star on top, and I did.
We saved the ornaments for the next morning so they girls could help.
Then the four of us snuggled up to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which Star the Elf had brought us back from the North Pole.
With our tree now dressed up in all its glory, I’m really feeling the Christmas spirit! I love hearing about others’ traditions and seeing decorations, so I thought a little Christmas home decor tour would be fun, starting with our “village.”
Village is quite a bold way to put it, considering it’s a cottage and a bridge with snow at the moment, but this scene and the train set up on top of our piano is a household favorite. The girls’ princess dolls take rides on the train on the regular.
I’ve been on an etsy kick lately and found this adorable store that is somewhat local (Winston Salem) and makes a plethora of really cute pillows among other things. I just had to snag this pillow representing one of my favorite Christmas songs.
You can see my new nativity in the background too. I finally found a large one that I had been looking for (thank you Hobby Lobby!).
One of my favorite shelves is this one. Each year I frame our family Christmas card. I pack them away and pull them out again when it’s time to decorate. I love seeing how our family changes so much each year.
I should mention that I’m not sharing this home tour as a how-to. I lack the decorator gene. I just fill my house with what makes my heart happy. And what makes my heart happy is homemade touches, sweet memories and sentiment.
Translation: if it was made with a foot or hand print, I have it on display.
As for the tree, I’ll confess, I did scour pinterest for beautiful tree designs. I love the coordination and white glowing lights. Then Hailey squealed that she couldn’t wait for the rainbow lights on the tree and it was done. Rainbow lights it was!
One day I’ll have a department store worthy tree, but I’m not sure it will ever beat a big ‘ol tree of rainbow lights covered with family memories. We buy an ornament each year of something we did together. This year was our Disney Cruise.
Since we forgot to buy one on the ship, I ordered this one from, where else? Etsy.
I love our countdown Santa and already have this year’s Christmas card framed and set up. (We love Minted because they print all your addresses on your envelopes for FREE! Also, all holiday cards are 15% with code SNOW15, but it expires today!)
My mom used this blue little reindeer as a doorstop at Christmas when I was growing up and every time I look at it it reminds me of holidays in my childhood home. It’s just a bonus that it matches our powder room too!
And finally, the mantle!
David’s stocking (far left) was made by his grandmother and my stocking (far right) was made by my Nannie. Both the girls’ stockings were made by Mema (David’s mom). So while my decorating skills in general may leave a lot to be desired, I see family and love everywhere I look. I don’t think you can get much better than that!
Share with me- what is your favorite item/piece of holiday decor?
Why is it special to you?
John J. says
Beautiful warm Christmas home. Feelin’ it!
Heather @Lunging Through Life says
Aww I love it! What a gorgeous tree. We have the colored lights on our tree too. I wanted to cut one down so badly but we don’t have many tree farms around and the one we did had such baby trees 🙁 Home Depot it was! haha
sherry says
Your home looks so Christmassy, warm, and inviting! The tree is spectacular! Love the idea of framing your Christmas cards each year–but then we would have to have one made to do that:) I also love your idea of getting an ornament each year from somewhere you went or something you did–brings back great memories!
Helen says
So pretty! This is exactly how i like to decorate too. I LOVE the idea of framing the Christmas cards. I am going to start that today. I am also very excited to have discovered lights that change from white to colored – finally!
Brittany Dixon says
Oh my gosh those sound BRILLIANT!! I need to google them for next year!
Heather says
I love that our house is a crazy eclectic blend of Holiday decorations. Our tree will never win any prizes, but I love our mishmash of ornaments (we all pick a new one each year) and I love seeing our kids’ personalities in the ornaments they pick. I’m also proud of the stockings I made for each of us… it was one of my first crafts on the sewing machine I got from my husband’s grandmother. One day I’d love to have more white lights, but my kids and husband prefer a plethora of colors, so there you have it. 😉
Brittany Dixon says
Heather, tat is amazing that you made your stockings! I have had learn to sew on my list of things to do forever… one day!
EmilyS says
I am totally stealing the idea around framing holiday cards! And we also do the travel ornaments – so much fun going down memory lane when decorating the tree!
Brittany Dixon says
Yes the travel ornaments are so much fun, right?! So many memories hanging on our tree 🙂
Karen says
It looks beautiful, great idea on framing the yearly card!
Lauren @ Oh Hey! I Like That! says
Omg I love the idea of the framed Christmas card shelf! I’m definitely going to have to do that, too!
Jen says
Your house looks beautiful! I also frame our holiday cards each year and love now that my kids are getting a little older that our collection is growing. Like you, I prefer a lot of handmade decorations that the kids love but they also love our village and take it a part every night to play with the little pieces.
Brittany Dixon says
How many village pieces do you have? I get antsy to buy new ones to have more of a village! Love that your kids disassemble to play with it- so sweet!
Cindy says
LOVE the BE MERRY! sign….where did you get that/have that made? Cindy xx
Brittany Dixon says
Wish I could make something that cool myself, but I picked it up at Homegoods!
Bailey says
Love that “be merry” sign on your mantle! Where did you get that? My finance and I have a hilarious picture from a wedding photo booth and I put it inside of a clear ornament with fake snow. It’s small but we joke that we look like we’re on the cover of a Simon and Garfunkle album and it’s a perfect way to preserve the memory.
Brittany Dixon says
Oh that is hilarious- love it!! Oh and the Be Merry sign is from Homegoods 🙂
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Beautiful! And your girls are so precious.💖 I love the mantle sign too…so cute!
Katie @ Live Half Full says
What a cute idea to frame your Christmas cards! Now I need to look back and see if I have the cards from each year we’ve been married. If so, I’m totally doing it!
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
I love your idea of framing the christmas cards. I’ve never done that & David and I have been sending them out for 6 years. ha! I think I might wait till we have kids but I love the idea!
Chantal says
I’m a bit bummed this year we won’t be decorating for Christmas as we are in the process of moving. In fact, it’s been a few years since we’ve had a proper Christmas! Next year I’m going ALL OUT because seeing photos like yours makes me want to!!
Kim says
Your decor is wonderful! I also love minted…my fave item that I purchase yearly is the photo wrapping paper. 2-3 cute photos from the year of my little one, upload to a holiday designs and customize the wrap to have my family name printed on it: Merry Christmas, Love the ___Family. The order has 5 huge sheets which mostly gets my immediately family covered and they always LOVE it.
Brittany Dixon says
I haven’t seen the photo wrapping paper but I LOVE the sound of it! I will definitely look into that- thanks!