christmas house 2014

Truth: I started decorating for Christmas mid-November. Super truth: it was more like early November. I really tried to hold off and wait because Mr. F likes to decorated until after Thanksgiving, but I couldn't do it. Weakness, thy name is Christmas decor!
The real turning point came when I found red tartan table linens at TJ Maxx. Our table is used more as countertop, so using them for rtheir original purposed seemed silly. The napkins, however, were the perfect size for throw pillows and the table cloth, with the addition of some friendly DIY pom poms, was a perfect throw for our bed. So I came home with four napkins and a tablecloth for a whopping $15. Mixed in with a hodgepodge of leftover hoarder fabric I had on hand, I made a fat pile of pillows and it may always be Christmas in our house because I love them so much.

Aside from a small stash of decorative items we brought home with us from Cyprus and the great pillow explosion of 2014, the rest of the decorations were handmade and fresh. And free. I made garland this year, following inspiration from Tessa over at Nine & Sixteen, out of the FREE clippings from the tree booth at Home Depot. Once the garland was done, I loaded up our window boxes, vases, and tops of cabinets with the fresh greens and red winter berries picked from our parking lot. Paying no monies for things really makes me happy. Paying no money and having my tiny little apartment feeling like a winter wonderland makes me giddy and never want to leave the house.

It's been really nice this year to have Christmas be simpler. Our nativities are on a shelf where I can see them regularly, nestled with family photos. Twinkle lights adorn most surfaces and candles glimmer on the rest. The tiny apartment smells of pine and positively glows at night. It's pure magic.

For the past few days, our home has been relatively clean. I've been able to catch up on orders for cards and calendars, put away cranberries and baked salmon, and hidden away bowls full of unanswered mail. With the busy elements of daily life tucked away, this little space has become more of an oasis than I had ever imagined possible. We've been able to soak in the Spirit of Christmas and bask in the magic of Mr. F's birthday.
I'm so grateful for our home. For the memories abounding in it. The treasures we've collected hanging on the walls. I'm grateful for friends and family who fill it with love. For the space to create, to relax. It's a place to ponder, to feel welcome, and especially this time of year, to dream.