These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

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Just a little blogpost here to share some of my favorite Christmas decorations with you!

Decorating is not my strength. You wouldn’t look at my living room and instantly know my “vibe.” Unless “eclectic” is a vibe? Sometimes I feel a little inadequate when I look at magazine spreads or instagram accounts of rooms that are all pulled together and cohesive. But then I remember that my house is home to 6 people whose most important needs are food and love and not perfectly coordinating throw pillows. If interior design or decorating is your jam, enjoy your gift! I do not fault you for it.

We call this “Dad’s Tree”. It (and the mini glass balls) belonged to Tom’s grandparents. I still keep the balls in their box inside the same bread bag his grandmother used.

We call this “Dad’s Tree”. It (and the mini glass balls) belonged to Tom’s grandparents. I still keep the balls in their box inside the same bread bag his grandmother used.

All 4 girls were given these cowboy boot ornaments for the year we all traveled to Texas for my brother’s wedding. It was a memorable and wonderful adventure!

All 4 girls were given these cowboy boot ornaments for the year we all traveled to Texas for my brother’s wedding. It was a memorable and wonderful adventure!

I love these dioramas made by Modulation Designs. We often set up at the same crafts shows and a few years ago I finally bought myself one.

I love these dioramas made by Modulation Designs. We often set up at the same crafts shows and a few years ago I finally bought myself one.

This is Ellen’s ornament from the year she played “Maria” in The Sound of Music. Those are pieces of the script inside the ball. I found this on Etsy.

This is Ellen’s ornament from the year she played “Maria” in The Sound of Music. Those are pieces of the script inside the ball. I found this on Etsy.

Which brings me to Christmas decor. I’m a firm believer in nostalgia. Scratch that—I’m a supporter of nostalgia, but not married to it! I find joy in pulling the ornaments out of the boxes each year and greeting them as old friends. Every year I give an ornament to each of the girls that represents something significant about the past year. My intention is to give each girl her set of ornaments when someday they leave our home to create their own. Admittedly our tree is quite full of ornaments that technically belong to the girls. And the girls now ask me if they will indeed take their ornaments with them when they move out. They’ve become so much a part of our Christmas nostalgia that it will take some adjustment not to see them on our tree every year. But that provides an opportunity for new traditions. Maybe when I’m a Grandma I’ll give ornaments to the grandchildren and hang them on my tree every year.

Eden spent a meaningful week in Philadelphia on a missions trip. Another Etsy find.

Eden spent a meaningful week in Philadelphia on a missions trip. Another Etsy find.

I definitely lean towards the vintage in my Christmas decor preference. I love vintage Christmas balls and last year I bought a box at a craft show I was part of. I also love Christmas trees, particularly bottle brush trees and feather trees (or feather tree look-a-likes).

How about you? What are some of your favorite Christmas decorations or ornaments? Share them in the comments!

This commemorates the year Lily took an interest in photography. I got it at a craft show but I don’t remember the name of the shop.

This commemorates the year Lily took an interest in photography. I got it at a craft show but I don’t remember the name of the shop.

We gave this to Hayley the year she was on the World Race Gap Year. She spent that Christmas in Nepal!

We gave this to Hayley the year she was on the World Race Gap Year. She spent that Christmas in Nepal!