decking the {new} halls...

Since our new home was definitely our second biggest and best gift this year (our sweet Charlie bug being our BEST, of course) I thought I would share a few snapshots of it decorated for Christmas. Well, decorated the best we could this year I should say.

We always had a real tree at our old house, but I knew we needed a slim tree in the new and wanted to go ahead and invest in an artificial. I should have done this when they were on sale after Christmas LAST year, but I didn't so womp womp. I got this 9ft flocked slim tree at Wal Mart and loved!

The bow on top is a little crooked after looking at this pic and it may sound crazy that we put the tree in our foyer, but we have so much baby stuff (jumparoo in corner, walker, etc...) that we didn't put it where we had originally thought this year. I kinda liked it in the foyer. It was out of the way, yet being right there at our living room we could still enjoy it. We could actually see it from four rooms in our house: living room, kitchen, dining room, and our master bedroom! Small house perks ;)

Little pops of red and green in the kitchen. Next year I'll have to work on this mantle a little more. This year I just ran out of time (and $). Hope to score some things on sale now after Christmas!

This wine glass is a fun craft we made at girls night one night! I also got a few pieces of the Lenox "12 Days of Christmas" that I'd like to continue to collect. 

I don't know if you remember me saying our buffet table we ordered came in a lot more green and a lot less blue that anticipated, BUT it has grown on me and especially here at Christmas I. LOVE. IT!

The chalkboard was another Ballard Designs Outlet steal. The boxwood wreaths were a set from Zulily years ago and that little creamer and sugar set was something my mom bought for me way back in high school to put in my hope chest. Did any of you have one of those? This was the first year I actually pulled it out and displayed/used. Such a keepsake.

Our breakfast nook...

Love these fun MudPie plates from several years ago...

We didn't do too much outside. Our wreath is always purchased and sent to us by Chad's sweet (and amazing!) aunt Sallie. It started as a tradition by her husband, Brian (Chad's mom's brother) who for years brought fresh trees and wreaths for everyone all the way from the Appalachian mountains (they live in Boone, NC). He passed away from cancer a few years ago, but Sallie so graciously keeps this tradition going. The amazing smell of this wreath just instantly puts you in the Christmas spirit.

The pre-lit topiaries were a major score years ago from Home Decorator's Collection. There's sooo much more I want to do on our front porch for Christmas's to come! You know, when I don't have a 5 month old and a brand new store to also purchase new decor for and decorate. Whew. 

My mom brought over her large nativity scene for our foyer table and it is gorgeous, but I couldn't help but to put out our tiny nativity scene that I purchased the first year we were married.

I thought I would hang our stockings with stocking hooks sitting on the entertainment center, but it didn't look quite right so I hung them with command hooks just randomly all over. I also thought I would be able to monogram said stockings AFTER I purchased them from Ballard, but I was wrong. I haven't found anyone that could do it, so I plan to order small wooden monograms and spraypaint them gold for everyone's stocking. That'll work!

real life view while taking these photos...

The wooden monograms on everyone's stockings would mimic these I have had for years...

We had interior french doors in our old home, from the living room to sunroom that I hung these monogrammed wreaths and displayed our Christmas cards on every year. I am glad we had more doors to do the same thing because it's seriously my favorite! We've gotten so many cards now (hooray!) that I have displayed them all over our entertainment center too.

I used gold/brown/leopard ornaments from our old tree that we paired with light blue and just replaced the blue with light green to go with the decor of the new house (well, especially foyer and dining room). That's what thing I did stock up on end of season last year...ornaments! I love how it turned out...

We've enjoyed our Christmas decor for weeks now and I can't believe it's already time to take it all down. Out of all the decorations, this may be my favorite because it showcases our BEST presents under our tree...our boys!

"But the angel said to them: do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people" -
Luke 2:10

I'll share the boys' tree and playroom next!