Looks great! Little full, lotta sap.

This is part 2 of a series on how I decorate for Christmas.

I. LOVE. HOLIDAYS. Naturally, Christmas is my grand finale! Its the prettiest outfit I own and I wear it every day from December 1st to January 1st. 2017 was our first full Christmas season in the cottage. We bought our home on December 16th, 2016. That first Christmas saw a few Santas on the mantle and a handful of pine scented candles. That was all I could manage during a major move. When Christmas 2017 arrived I was READY. Our current home is double the square footage of the house we rented previously and I was thrilled to fill up the space with new decorations! I bought lights, Christmas trees, Santas, stockings, and hundreds of ornaments. My Mom, who is a lifelong Christmas collector, brought me treasures she had found throughout the year and even some of my childhood decorations. I have had so much fun building out our Christmas display over the last two years and I would love to share with you how its coming along.

Part 2: Christmas Trees

The home I grew up in had 5 full-size Christmas trees and multiple tabletop trees. Each one was decorated with its own theme, and so full it could have been a department store display. Growing up in a Christmas wonderland had a significant impact on me. I loved Christmas and all the magic of the decorations from an early age.

It's no surprise that I started collecting Christmas decorations as soon as I lived on my own. Each college rental got a sprinkling of holiday cheer. Roommates had their own stockings on the TV stand, and a 3-foot tree would show up in the corner of whatever tiny living room I had access to. I couldn't help myself!

I got married in December, two weeks before Christmas. At one of my bridal showers, my mom presented me with a 6-foot pre-lit and flocked Christmas tree. My sweet Mom filled a red basket with hand-sewn burlap ornaments and tied a bow on top. Three years later we started house hunting. We bought our first home in the Winter. Can you guess what month we closed? YUP. We bought a house in December. Two weeks before Christmas. My wonderful Mom knew I would never be able to decorate the new home in time for the holidays. She showed up on moving day with little Santa Claus figurines and scented candles. I had no furniture, and all my belongings were packed in cardboard - but I had a Christmas mantle!

Each year the collection has grown. We now have four Christmas trees each with their own theme. Each mantle has a collection to display, and each table has a Christmas setting that just begs to serve you a holiday meal. The little cottage on Belvoir transforms into the North Pole, and I am Mrs. Claus!