It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

confession, I LOVE Christmas!

this season is so magical to me 

the decorations, lights, smells, cheer, music and everything that makes this season so wonderful 

this year I am super excited because we have an adorable house to decorate 

so...I we went all out 

I got this cute little winter tree from Walgreens for $10! 

it fits perfectly in the mercury glass vase and looks wonderful next to our distressed frames 

added some ornaments to match the ones in the tree...I didn't really like the ornaments

but the husband did and he was so cute putting them on that I didn't want to take them off 

 another confession 

I am obsessed with our mantel

I love decorating it! 

break down of the Christmas decor 

we got the mercury glass candle holders as a wedding gift from Pottery Barn 

the birch tree candles were on sale at World Market for a steal and much cheaper than the ones I was swooning over at PB 

the silver deer are from Walgreens for $4 + 25% Black Friday coupon :)

the stumps are from when we picked up our tree--they smell amazing--and they were free 

originally had real branches on the mantel but my mom mentioned something about a fire hazard...

so I took those suckers down since I didn't want the house to end up in Christmas flames...

replaced with fake garland from Lowes, wrapped with mini white lights and hung that baby 

the ornament garland is my favorite--the neutral colors and little sparkle are so pretty

picked that up from Lowes and wrapped it in mini lights for an extra pop...i kind of love lights... 

 the poinsettias were on sale at Lowes for $0.99! 

hello, we love a good pop of red in our house!  

 one of my favorite ornaments added this year 

given to us from our newlywed friends, The Smiths, so sweet and thoughtful 

the centerpiece for our coffee table is my favorite--and all real! 

made from clipped branches (again, free from Lowes) 

and cinnamon scented pinecones from Lowes

this thing smells amazing and so simple

I made this wreath earlier in November and decided to add and little Christmas cheer to it with the balls that match our garland on the mantle 

the plain wreath is from AC Moore and then I just wrapped it with burlap and added the tan R 

super easy and inexpensive

another festive chalkboard! 

 surely this will change between now and Christmas 

 the centerpiece for our breakfast table 

again, just fresh clipping from the tree, matching ornaments, and of course, a burlap bow! 

here it is all together, with Beau :) 

we decided to go with a silver and red theme for Christmas..as if my husband would let me put any colors up around the house.

 real trees are a holiday must for me...my mother would allow nothing but live trees growing up 

this is Jared's first live tree that he can remember 

we almost killed each other getting those lights on there...

I am so excited to be able to share this family tradition with him 

and our house smells amazing! 

we are just missing a topper and skirt... 

my husband gave me one of the best gifts 

he hung lights on the house! 

to many this is not a big deal...for me, it means a whole lot 

Christmas lights are one of my favorite parts of this holiday 

my father would never hang lights for my mom, even though she was as big of sucker for lights as me so she always hung them all alone

when I asked Jared if we could hang lights all over the house, his only hesitation was finding a ladder big enough to reach the top of the house and obviously the safety issue of being that high

but, he did it and he is the best. ever.

originally we wanted to have lights all the way up, but there was this whole thing about height and Jared possibly falling and hurting himself...so I decided less lights and an alive husband was the best compromise

we got the globes lights for the back deck 

alternated every other one red and white 

he was quite happy with the outcome--I think he might love lights as much as me now:)

will be perfect for the Christmas party we are having in two weeks

I love getting home from a long day of work and seeing this beautiful house all decorated 

makes my heart so happy 

and even happier that I get to share such a special time with a great man 

beyond thankful for my many blessings 

this week is my first week off orientation. EEK. 

yesterday was my first solo shift 

it went ok...it was super busy even though I was only in fast track. 

I still have SO much to learn 

pray this week goes smooth and all my patients make it out alive ;) 

Thanksgiving!

our Thanksgiving was super special this year for many reasons

it was our 6th Thanksgiving together 

it was our 2 month wedding anniversary 

it was our first time hosting Thanksgiving in our new home 

our family traveled to us to spend the weekend eating and shopping 

so much fun

I did a little decorating to make the house look festive for one of my favorite holidays

I got those cool little pumpkins from the local Farmers Market 

fell in love with the green/grey one on the left

the leaf garland is straight from the yard...dead leaves on some twine...how festive?

this was the chalkboard platter that was used as our bar sign at the wedding 

it now sits in our kitchen and gets filled with fun holiday sayings :) 

Jared fried the turkey and Beau was drooling the whole time per usual... 

here are some fun throwbacks of Beau's true love of raw turkey 

we ate and drank..a lot

fun was had by all 

of course a tripod picture with my siblings was a must 

and an awkward family prom pose 

Thanksgiving is a really special holiday for us 

2010 we got Beau the weekend before Thanksgiving 

2011 we picked out my engagement ring the day after Thanksgiving 

2012 bought my wedding dress the day after Thanksgiving 

2013 we hosted our first married Thanksgiving

can't wait to see what the next Thanksgivings hold for us

now on to CHRISTMAS SEASON!! 

my favorite time of year!!