In the words of Snooki… the party’s here!
Woop woop—the tree is up. This year, now that Clara is older and we feel comfortable with most of the ornaments (we did buy a few shatter-proof ones for the very bottom), we decided on a gradient theme from white to hot pink to red. Boom goes the dynamite.
We’ve kept a collection of meaningful ornaments that we love, but those live on our tabletop tree—a tradition we started last year when we fell in love with a small live tree. We’ll share that one once we get it set up (trying not to buy it too early so it stays fresh through the holidays).
For the big tree, we wanted the color to deepen toward the floor. We already had white ornaments from our old silver tree and soft pinks from past years, plus the homemade pieces we made during last year’s Pinterest challenge, so we only needed to pick up a few hot pink and red ornaments. Between sales at Michael’s and Hobby Lobby, the extras cost around twelve dollars total.
My husband preferred a simpler white-to-red transition with some silvery-pink pieces mixed in, but I talked him into adding hot pink for more contrast. We placed the ornaments in horizontal bands—white at the top, followed by light pink, then hot pink, and bright red at the bottom. We even tossed in a few inexpensive candy canes that matched the palette.
As usual, we used faux sheepskins from Ikea as a tree skirt, and we added a cute bicycle ornament we found at Target. We skipped a tree topper this year—waiting for one that feels just right.
Here she is from the hallway near the kitchen.
And here she is at night—Glowy Glowerson, as I’ve named her.
I love lists, so here’s what’s still on my holiday to-do list. I don’t stress about it, but crossing things off gives me a real rush. Full disclosure: sometimes I’ll cross things off just for the satisfaction if time runs out—call it my little quirk.
set up the big tree (gradient, baby!)- get a live tabletop tree again (we did one last year—planning new ornaments this time)
- decorate the mantel, the built-ins, and the entryway console
- hang outdoor lights and decorate the front porch
- shoot a Christmas photo of Clara & Burger for our annual holiday card
- make an advent calendar for Clara (I’m already behind!)
- shop for and/or make gifts on our Christmas list (about half done)
Speaking of trees, here are a few past looks we’ve loved. In 2007 and 2008 we had a white-and-silver scheme:
In 2009 we went citrus-crazy and even made dried fruit ornaments:
In 2010 we mixed green, pink, and silver for a shimmery look:
Last year’s tabletop tree featured homemade ornaments from a Pinterest challenge, which became a fun little tradition:
And last year’s big tree had paint-chip ornaments and colorful ribbons—no breakables, since Clara was still very little:
Feels festive, right? How are you getting into the holiday spirit—are you decorating early, holding out for a specific date, making lists just to cross things off, or crafting homemade gifts and decorations? I’d love to hear what you’re up to.
Psst—if you want more holiday projects and photos, check the holiday gallery for a range of seasonal ideas.
Update: You can also browse favorite holiday decor finds—many budget-friendly options under $15.