I just love the holidays. Not just because I get to give people gifts and make them smile and get to spend time with family and friends. I really love it because it gives me the excuse to decorate, even though I always think of reasons to do so. Now that Dan and I have the house and a new addition to the family, this Christmas is even more special. We have our little family now which makes so happy.

I wanted to create a warm feeling throughout the house but mostly in the spaces we spend a lot of time in. This would be the living room and dining room. So the weekend after Thanksgiving, I took out our Christmas bin and got started. Boy, was I excited!

I started with all the knick knacks which I have collected throughout the years or have received as gifts. I bought 2 poinsettia plants to add some color and to bring a festive look to the stairwell, I wrapped green garland around the banisters.

Then, for the first time, I hung real garland around our doorway between the living room and the dining room which brought a whole lot of holiday cheer to the space.

Then I hung our stockings, which I bought new this year. I love the white fur faux ones I bought from Pottery Barn for Dan and I. They look so nice, especially with our names on them. The dogs each have their own little stocking as well. I purchased this cute train stocking holder from Bed Bath & Beyond for only $20, which was a great deal. I had been looking for weeks for the perfect holder and I was so happy I found it.

Usually, we put up our little fake tree we have had for years but this year we went and bought a real little tree since its the first holiday in the house. I love it so much. It is decorated with a combination of ornaments that I have had for years growing up as well as Dan’s with some tinsel and silver beads. We sat it on our media cabinet and surrounded it with all our gifts.

In the dining room I kept it simple with a poinsettia plant and the white ceramic tree my Grandmother made for me years ago. There are little hints of the holiday throughout the space.

Our kitchen does’t have much space for much decoration so I just added a little bit of bling and found a perfect spot for a santa doll my Grandmother gave to me.

I hope you all had fun decorating your homes. Don’t you love the holidays!