All I Want For Christmas…

Can you believe it’s November 1? Hard to imagine. Just a week ago it was super hot and still summer and then yesterday it was September 1 and now today it’s November.

I’m scared to go to bed tonight in case I wake up and find out I missed Christmas!

That said, Emily and I decided to start slowly sharing our plans for our winter and Christmas decor starting today and then we will start sharing some fun crafts and DIY’s!

First let’s take a look back at last years decor.

After a wind storm brought down a huge chunk of my maple tree in the back yard, I started salvaging some of the branches and using them for various things inside….

Like these rustic ornaments…

Or these candleholders that I made after seeing some similar ones that Emily made.

This little vintage table has been a favorite from the moment I first saw it on Facebook Marketplace and it’s still a favorite today.

After wanting “my own” tree for years (I lost the ability to have trees decorated artistically when I had kids. It became a mish-mash of all their favorite ornaments, some of which are lacking in the style department) I finally broke down and got this white vintage-inspired tree at a thrift store. I didn’t even consider getting a white tree. I’m all about the green trees with possibly some flocked snow on them but not white trees.

Something about this one grabbed my eye though and I ended up leaving the store with it after putting back a traditional green one I had put in my shopping cart.

This one just seemed like it would work really well to showcase my very tiny “collection” of vintage ornaments and give me the space and opportunity to collect many more. It’s very thin, minimal branches seemed like the perfect thing to let the ornaments be the star of the show instead of the tree.

This was possibly my favorite Christmas tablescape I’ve ever done. I don’t know what it is about it exactly but the splashes of red mixed with the crisp whites and the rustic touches just really spoke to me last year and still are again this year.

Another slight variation on the same basic tablescape.

This is where I decided to put “my tree” last year and it will be in my dining room again this year but not in the same spot. You’ll see why later.

This bookcase that I used for my hutch for a number of years no longer has to bear the weight of that job thanks to Aurora. This will be my first Christmas with Aurora! I can’t wait.

The living room felt super cozy last year and was my favorite it’s ever been in this house. I will be doing a lot of the same things this year….

This SureFit slipcover made possibly the biggest difference to the entire living room of any one thing and I’m still very happy with it a year later. It cleans up so well and always makes the living room look so much better.

Even the bathrooms get seasonal decor in my house.

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home and we do spend an awful lot of time in this space and that’s for sure!

I used mostly white and gold wrapping paper last year and had such a fun time making some of the parcels all pretty. I want to wrap fancy presents again this year.

For more pictures and details you can check out my full 2020 Christmas Home Tour blog post.

This Years Inspiration

First, I plan to do a lot of things the same as last year and by the same I don’t mean putting the same pieces in the same spots – I never do that. I simply mean using pretty much all the same pieces somewhere in my home which will largely create the same overall look.

I’d like to add in some more natural rustic touches. Let me show you what I mean….

Pinecones, pinecones, pinecones.

I need more of them in my life this year. I have been looking for places I can pick some up out on walks and have found some good sources. I want to try bleaching some pinecones too because I’m loving that look this year!

In the post there are actually links for 10 different porch decor inspirational designs but this one (above) is my favorite not only of those but in general I really like this look. Sort of a little tree forest. I want to do something along these lines on my front porch this year IF I can find really good prices on little trees at thrift stores and such.

At least this is the general direction I will head.

I’m definitely going to go with neutral papers again on the gifts. Loving this “champagne & linen” color combination but I really liked the white and gold I used last year too so…..

Something in that vein.

I’m all about the dried citrus this year. I’ve never tried drying citrus before but it doesn’t look like it’s rocket science or anything. I’m loving it added to garland, to tree, to wreaths…..

I can just imagine the fresh smell that it likely creates in the house.

I’m considering buying a dehydrator since the color of the citrus dried in that manner are so much prettier and brighter than the ones done in the oven. I will have to see how the budget looks.

I mean……..

I can even put both pinecones AND dried orange slices together for this unique window decor! Win/win!

The last thing that I want to share are these amazing glittered and painted nuts that Emily made a while back. I love how they look scattered here and there and I’ve been buying little bags of mixed nuts in the shell the last couple times I got groceries so I can make some.

Other than that you will just have to wait and see what happens in my home this year. I have so many ideas of things I want to make but time will tell if I get around to them or can get the supplies I need for some of them.

I can’t share all my secrets ahead of time, after all.