I’ve been aching to get into the swing of Christmas things and this weekend we finally did!
We had some business to attend to in Charlotte on Saturday morning, so we made the drive worth it with a stop by Atherton Mill Market in South End.
The indoor market is incredible and features a wide variety of local and organic products. Heirloom, non GMO grains, fresh vegetables, local honey, fresh breads, a ridiculous amount of samples… and antlers.
We bought Koda some to chew on, though she has been less than enamored with them so far.
Once back in our neck of the woods, we finally went to go pick out a Christmas tree at Josh’s Farmers Market. The trees they had on the lot were so fresh- cut within the past 3 days. It makes a big difference with how many needles fall all over the house. After a solid 30 minutes of searching, we found the one!
It just keeps getting bigger! (The tree each year, not my belly. Though that is getting bigger, too. In fact, I got my first are you sure there aren’t TWO in there comment this weekend. I didn’t think people really said that. I was wrong).
Hailey was pretty excited to get the tree home and while she napped and Auburn and Missouri played a fun game, David got to work. I mostly stayed in a ball on the couch sipping apple cider vinegar cocktails thanks to a cold I felt creeping up on me all day.
By the end of the night the tree was up!
And judging by our ribbons, it is a few feet taller than last year. I have a Christmas tree problem…
So yes, it isn’t decorated perfectly, but it has some of my favorite keepsakes hanging from it.
Sunday brought cold, dreary weather, grocery shopping and more home projects. David is in the middle of sanding and painting furniture white for Hailey’s big girl room!
I felt bad leaving him for a party, but a mom’s gotta do what a mom’s gotta do.
Our neighborhood kids’ Christmas party was a hit. Mrs. Claus was there giving tattoos. Yes, she’s quite good at them- who knew?!
There were crafts and stations to write letters to Santa, but the big hit again was Zootastic and their animals!
It was pure chaos between the kangaroo, tiger, snake, possum and more, but we managed to snag a quick picture with the alligator.
The weekend was full of Christmas cheer and was just what I needed to get into the holiday spirit!
And on the menu this week…
Sunday– David’s Famous Chili
Monday– Slow Cooker Chana Masala over Brown Rice
Tuesday– Broiled BBQ Salmon, Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Sweet Potatoes
Wednesday– Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup & Salads
Thursday– Gyro Burgers with Vegetables & Tzatziki dip
Friday– Veggie Pizza
By the way, have I mentioned that the amount of chili I’ve eaten this fall season is outrageous? Someone take away the Fritos! My vice.
I devoured my bowl while snuggled with David watching Love Actually, a Christmas tradition around here. It’s my favorite!
I’m curious…
for Christmas trees…
Do you prefer all coordinated decorations? Or a mix-n-match?
What about lights- colorful or white?
I think my ideal tree uses colorful lights and is loaded with special, meaningful decorations. David and I pick up a new ornament each year to symbolize a big event that occurred during that year. In 2009, it was our wedding ornament. In 2010, it was an Oktoberfest ornament. In 2011, it was Hailey’s first Christmas ornament, this year, it is a shell ornament from the British Virgin Islands. Seeing them all hand from our tree brings back great memories and makes me so happy!
Katie D. says
This year I finally have 2 trees! One has the big white lights and all my sparkly, snowflake ornaments. Our main tree has white lights and is mostly “memory” ornaments. Trinkets from trips, our first Christmas, etc. I get teary every year pulling the ornaments out and remembering all the good times. We even have an angel ornament for the baby we lost.
Lauren K says
Seeing trees that are all coordinated and classy makes me want one, but I don’t have it in me. I prefer personal ornaments mixed in with some coordinated ones! The personal ornaments are what make me happy when I see the tree–we are using a pre-lit fake one so white lights it is. I imagine we will do some color when kiddos come along!
Heather says
I’d love a great big tree like the one you got! We’re still using our artificial tree that we bought a few years ago full of colored lights and mismatched ornaments. We try to pick a new ornament every year and starting last year, we let our son start choosing, so this year we ended up with a Hot Wheels car. :p Love this time of year!
Maureen says
Colored lights and lots of personal ornaments. Each year we get our children a new ornament based on their interests at that time plus we get a new family ornament from a place we went that year or something special we’d like to remember. It’s fun to pull out all the ornaments and talk about them with our daughter who is 5 now reminding her of the year she was obsessed with penguins or the year she loved winnie the pooh. Truthfully I always get a little emotional putting up our tree and looking at all the ornaments together.
Elizabeth says
How fun! Will you share you chili recipe(s)?
Brittany Dixon says
Chili is one thing I leave to David, but I’ll track him next time and mark down his ingredients and amounts! 😉
Jackie says
We buy a Christmas ornament every place we travel to. It makes putting up the tree like a walk through a vacation history.
Ideally I’d have two trees, one with the special ornaments and one all color coordinated with white lights and ribbons
Brittany Dixon says
Oh, I totally agree- one day I’ll have two trees- the wild, family tree and a pretty one! Someone will just have to teach me how to decorate it- haha 🙂
Elizabeth @ my neon running shoes says
What an amazing weekend! I’ve never made gyro burgers. Thanks for the idea! And I also feel like I’m majorly starting to pop out haha 🙂 It’s fun!
Alison @ Daily Moves and Grooves says
How fun! The tree looks great and you guys have some fabulous decor under way! We won’t be decorating our house much this year since we’ll be traveling this Christmas, but I do love matching Christmas decor and the classic white lights. 🙂
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries says
Wow – that is one big Christmas tree! I love it though! If we could manage to do that, I totally would. Looks like a fun and festive weekend! I’m all about mix and matching Christmas decor – as long as it all somewhat “goes together”. And I prefer white lights on the tree, but I could go either way for outdoor lights, as long as it doesn’t look tacky. 🙂
Mike @ Midwestern Bite says
I’m a classic white Christmas light kind of guy. The colored lights remind me too much of the fraternity house porch we’d “decorate” all year long. If I can talk Jo into a festive case of Natty and a ratty porch couch, maybe I’ll change my mind on light colors.
And I passed along that Indian slow cooker recipe you linked. We love eating Indian but don’t cook it at home enough. Unfortunately the preggo wife didn’t mesh well with Indian spices when we treated ourselves to the local lunch buffet last week, so this one might be waiting for awhile.
Bethany says
Your tree is so beautiful! We’ve actually never done a tree because we used to live in an apartment that was too small for a tree. Now that we’re in a townhouse we could put one up, but with a toddler into everything I’m afraid I’d only spend my days keeping her off it…haha.
But we do do other decorations. I’m a fan of white lights and coordinated decor…always classy! I decorate with lanterns filled with Christmas balls, wreaths, and a wood carved nativity.
liz says
Try putting peanut butter on the antler, our dogs weren’t’t impressed with them at first either but after adding an extra treat they like them. They last a LONG time too, still have small ones from last Christmas, and I have two labs who can destroy a huge rawhide in 20 min.
Brittany Dixon says
Great idea with the peanut butter! I’ll definitely be trying that. Thanks!
Ali says
I like the sentimental ornaments too! I need to do a handprint of Aiden this year. Thanks for reminding me.
Kristen @ notsodomesticated says
That Christmas tree is HUGE! Wow, very impressive! 🙂
And I typically prefer the white lights. But I’ve seen colored lights done beautifully, as well!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
Your tree is GIANT…and GORGEOUS! I am so jealous!! All I have is a little 4 1/2 foot fake tree in my apartment ;).
Lauren B. says
On our tree we do white lights with a mix of ornaments that we’ve kept from childhood and collected throughout our marriage. I love the look of soley color- coordinated trees though! Maybe if we ever have more than one tree… We just need a bigger house!
Dominique @ Eat, Pray, Lift says
That is the hugest Christmas tree I’ve ever seen in someone’s home! And, um, your windows/ceilings/house?? What?? So gorgeous! I dream of having super-tall ceilings in my house…when I’m, you know, “all grown up.” 😉
Courtney @ Don't Blink. Just Run. says
That sounds like an awesome weekend! I absolutely love that picture of the party where Hailey is turned and looking back at you smiling. Gorgeous photo!
I like colorful lights, but we have white ones right now. And our ornaments are all a hodge podge of the most meaningful ones to us.
Ashlee@HisnHers says
I love your tree! It is ginormous, ha!
I prefer either all white or all colored. I’m not a fan of mixing them…we always drive around and look at lights and judge them. It’s a fun tradition!
And someone really asked you that??? Come on people.
nik says
Sounds like such a wonderful weekend! I can’t help but break out into a huge smile when I see Hailey’s smile! It’s so infectious and she just gets cuter all the time!
I LOVE the Mill! My sis lives in Charlotte and every time I visit the mill and Lunas for brunch are mandatory! By the way, try the turkey jerky (for dogs haha) at the same stall the antlers are sold! My sister (and I whenever I visit) make it! My sis has a dog daycare/boarding business and she makes organic turkey jerky and sells it to that woman at the mill! all her clients and our own dogs love it! What a small world haha!
Kim says
Fun! Love Actually is a Christmas tradition at our house too.