Holiday Linky Party

If you missed yesterday's post, be sure to check out part 1 of our holiday decorating!  I'll mention again that in between all my grad school papers & projects and work, I still have a few finishing touches to make... But here are the second half of our decorations! 

Be sure to join the Holiday Linky Party at the bottom of this post to share yours too!

Amy and I each got a $5 wreath from Home Depot, and both decided it needed a little something more. I found bunches of glitter pine cones on sale at Michael's for $0.29 and a package of red holly berries at the 'Everything's A Dollar' store. It ended up being a really cheap way to change up the wreath!

A new way to display our Christmas cards, and those unused Christmas lights...

And finally... The Christmas tree!  We don't have a themed or color-coordinated tree.  We received almost all of our ornaments at an ornament shower during our engagement.  I absolutely love putting each one on our tree, and thinking about all the family & friends that gifted them to us!

Now let's all share in our first ever Holiday Linky Party!  It's easy... Just click below to enter, select a photo as your thumbnail, and link to your own holiday decorations on your blog!

Can't wait to see all the great ideas for the holidays!

Christmas Decorating

Jeff & I did a little holiday decorating last weekend, motivated by all our holiday inspiration images.  I will admit that in between papers, projects and work, I still have a few finishing touches to make... But I wanted to share some today and tomorrow, so that we all have time to inspire each other's decorating too!  Remember to get your pictures ready for our Friday Linky Party!

Last Saturday, my sister came over and helped me get started with our mantel... I noticed that my favorite mantel inspirations had groupings of similar items and/or colors (must go back to my love of symmetry?)  So I went with a red and silver ornament-theme...

I found garland at Wal-Mart for only $2, and battery-powered white lights at Michael's for less than $3, which ended up being much cheaper than purchasing pre-lite garland. 

Most of the other items we already had, with the exception of a few more red ornaments (also found at Wal-Mart for $2.50 for a set of 12)

For our entry table, I found a pretty runner at Home Goods and decided to stick with the gold color-scheme on this table... Adding my 12 Days of Christmas ornaments and gold ornament tree (a yard sale find).

Are you almost done with your decorating?  I have an easy wreath project and a few more decorations for tomorrow (then we can all share in a Linky Party!)  Only 15 days to go... Can you believe it?

Holiday Inspiration: Trees & Dining Rooms

On our last day of holiday inspiration week, I'm sharing some great ideas for trees and dining rooms!  In other words, all of the amazing but kind of random images I have left.

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Wouldn't this make a beautiful, simple centerpiece?  Or even 2 on either side of a buffet table?

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I absolutely love the fake tree in the dining room in the first photo, but what about using a fake as your main tree?  I'm usually all about getting a real one, but if you're going to go with a fake, why not make a statement?  Bonus: you don't even need ornaments on this gorgeous gold tree!

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How about this pine cone tree... You could have it up for Thanksgiving even!

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Lastly, I'm in love with trees in containers (instead of a tree skirt)... Check out these great ideas!

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Hope that you found even a few images to get your own holiday ideas going!  My to-do list is extraordinarily long for this weekend, but I'm hoping that we can get lots of decorating done tonight.  Do you have any decorating plans?

Happy Friday!

Holiday Inspiration: Outdoor Decor

I love Christmas tree lights peaking out of the front window of a house a night, but I think decorating for the holidays isn't complete without adding a little something extra to your front door too.

Here is a great example... I love the use of thousands of colored lights, giant snowmen, and Santa on the roof.

Just kidding!!  Santa's Village in your front yard is definitely not the look I will be going for... But then again, the holidays are all about spreading cheer, and the cars that were lined up down the street to look at this house certainly felt that!  (unless, of course, you're their neighbor)

These houses, on the other hand, are definitely my style...

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And, yes, I realize this is another mantel, but I think the topiaries in burlap sacks tied up with Christmas ribbon would be gorgeous on either side of a front door.

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Do you have any plans to decorate outside for the holidays?  I have a few ideas, but there is always a good chance they'll be vetoed by the hubs... 

We're going to wrap up the week tomorrow with Christmas trees and dining rooms!  Then hopefully have our indoor and outdoor decor to share on Monday!

Holiday Inspiration: Wreaths

Just like those ornaments off the tree, wreaths spread so much holiday cheer... even off of your front door.  I love these ideas for hanging them inside on walls, over mirrors, or even over a bookshelf. 

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Amy and I purchased the same $5 wreaths from Home Depot this week, and just like she spruced her's up, I love these ideas for adding a little something extra...

{via Eddie Ross}

{via The Newlywed Diaries}

{image via A Life's Design}

While I'm making the trip to Michael's to add some cheer to the $5 wreath, I think I'll also pick up some reindeer moss.  I can't wait to make this moss wreath from Bellissimo and Bella.  A perfect cheery addition to our kitchen!

Stay tuned for a little outdoor inspiration tomorrow...

Holiday Inspiration: Ornament Displays

Using unique, beautiful ornaments in unexpected ways make the rooms below.  Quite a few of the mantels from yesterday used ornaments, and they always have a place on the tree... But I really love how cheery or glam they can be just out on display... 

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How much do you adore this?  Seriously... If our sunroom was complete, these branches would definitely have a home there!  Considering a smaller version as a table centerpiece for now...

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And although not exactly ornaments, I had to include this seasonal and cheery display...

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Up next... Wreaths!

Holiday Inspiration: Christmas Mantels

So far, the week here has been a little cold and rainy... And strangely enough, it is putting me in the perfect mood to decorate for Christmas!  I just want to cuddle up with my hubby, sweet puppy, sweatpants, and a cup of hot chocolate... put some Christmas music on the radio... and decorate!

Unfortunately, all that will have to wait until this weekend.  But in the meantime, I've been scouring my favorite blogs and sites for inspiration!  I'll be the first to admit that my decorations were lacking last year, so time to get the ideas flowing...

Other than the Christmas tree, I think the most important holiday decoration is the mantel.  Here are some of my inspiration images...

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Stay tuned for a few more installments of holiday inspiration this week!