Christmas is Coming...

This was my favorite new little nook to decorate this year. Our kitchen "entrance" is always a hard spot for me because it's not much of an entrance. So if I'm not careful it just looks cluttered and junky. Then again, maybe you're looking at this thinking it looks cluttered and junky...haha. I like it though. ;)

I started decorating our house for Christmas promptly on November 3rd. It's been an interesting week with a couple extra house guests, a mobile one-year-old, busy weekends, plus a month filled with LOTS of events...but I've squeezed in some time to write a little Christmas bloggy for you.

These are my top five can't-live-without-when-decorating-for-Christmas...items? things? products?

It's just stuff I'm thinking of that might be helpful to someone. Yourwelks.

DAVE BARNES PANDORA RADIO
Stop what you're doing and go make this station right now. It is the literal best Christmas music station I've ever heard, and it's all thanks to my buddie KatieK for the stellar recommendation. A station that gives me Justin Beiber and Chris Tomlin? Bing Crosby and Relient K? Point of Grace and Kelly Clarkson? JUST YAS. It's what keeps me in the mood to decorate when it's 75 degrees outside.

LITTLE WREATHS + TINY TREES
I knew it would be hard to squeeze 10 big trees in our house once we had kiddos, so I've simplified without sacraficing too much of the decor I love. Instead I've fallen in love with the 'Tiny Tree' section at HobLob. They fit easily in small spaces, on desks, dressers, table tops...and they're just 'sdarncute. Don't even get me started on the tiny wreaths...I have six and could probably use four more. They're the perfect addition to windows around the house, and my new favorite...tied with red velvet ribbon to the backs of our new dining room chairs!

COMMAND STRIPS + HOOKS
One might have thought I would've made this discovery MUCH sooner than I did...since I spent all of college decorating my dorm rooms and apartments with Command strips and hooks...but it honestly didn't come to me until a couple years ago. I keep these on hand now at all times for switching out decor in a much less permanent way than nail holes...though pounding 13 nails into a wall doesn't scare me, it's not something I want to do just to hang a garland. My recommendation is to start the season with a couple of fresh boxes. ;)

BERRIES
Target sells these berries for $6 a box. SIX DOLLARS. I think I've picked up a box of these goodies each of the past three years and I'm telling you...I can never have enough! I stick them in those tiny wreaths I just mentioned. I place them on our pretty shelves for some texture. I even stuck them in my cotton wreath for a subtle pop of color. One of the best finds I've ever had at blessed Tar-shay.

They can be tricky to find unless you know what you're looking for, so I've included a picture of the asile where you can find them. Third shelf up in a clear plastic box tied with red velvet ribbon. You can thank me later.

PLAID
It took me a few years to realize this one too, but three Christmas's ago I became full-on obsessed with plaid. Something about it is so classic. So traditional. It's can be really bold and busy, so balancing it out with solids and different textures is important, but once I found that balance I started sticking it everywhere. Wrapped under a tree as a skirt, sheets on the beds, and onesies for the boys are my personal favorites places to deck the halls with plaid (and you may have noticed I've even been wearing a buffalo plaid DRESS recently). I could be wrong, but I don't think it's a phase I'll be leaving aaaaanytime soon.

I've tried not to bombard your Insta feeds with Christmas pictures since it's the beginning of November and everything, but it will likely be happening sooner than later. I am pretty in love with how our house turned out this year (though I ask Josh what he thinks after I finish something and he goes, "Needs more garland. Needs more lights." And you WONDER why I go so overboard...it's not even me!).

Happy decorating!

MmB