Christmas Cards!

This is our first Christmas in our home together and it was SO exciting to receive Christmas cards this year! Last year, we were still getting into the swing of things; I remember the holidays came so fast after our summer wedding!  We figured people might have been sick of getting mail from us since we just had our wedding, showers before that, thank you cards…you get the idea. So, this is the first year that we’ve sent Christmas cards out as a married couple (and Tiger, too!) and this is the first year that we’ve received them at our home! Even though it seems that paper mail is becoming more and more extinct in this technologically advanced day and age, there is still something so special about receiving a card in the mail. You really feel thought of and loved when you know someone took the time to send you something! At least that’s how I feel!

As the cards started rolling in, I was thinking “hmm..what do I do with them now?” I wanted to look at them and have my guests be able to see the beautiful Christmas artwork or the adorable most recent pictures of family and friends. 

So, as you have heard me say before, the first place I go is Pinterest for some inspiration! I found a couple of ideas that I thought might work for us, but ultimately decided on this.

I took some ribbon, tape, and paper clips(I picked out the red, green, and white ones to be festive) and got started. I cut the ribbon, attached the ribbon to my cabinets on the inside.

 Then took my Christmas cards and fastened them to the ribbon on the outside of my cabinets. I love the way it turned out and I think it will be something I do every Christmas, so keep the cards coming! I love them! It is an inexpensive way to incorporate Christmas décor in your kitchen and it adds a flair of personalization in seeing all of your family and friends cards every year! 

Merry Christmas to everyone! 

***Stay tuned to read about the wonderful Christmas activities we will do with the family tomorrow to center our thoughts on the real reason for Christmas- Jesus! ***

Who doesn't love Christmas decorations?!

 I’m SO thankful for the Christmas season to finally be here!!! Bryan and I have been decorating, watching Christmas movies, and Christmas music since last Thursday. I don’t know about you, but something about this season just makes me happy. I suppose one could find negatives to the attitudes and behaviors that come out during this time of year, but if those are avoided it really is a beautiful time. It is a time of year where Christ is probably most talked about and recognized. Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

Which brings me to my #27: Christmas décor. Our goal for this month, as far as décor goes, is to transform our house into a Christmas wonderland, lol. I wish I was joking, but Bryan and I seriously LOVE decorating. When we were engaged, we were given an engagement party and the guests all brought us a Christmas ornament to decorate our tree. This was the most amazing idea, because every time we decorate our tree  we are reminisce about each ornament. They each hold so much sentimental value. 

Us with all the ornaments we received at our Engagement Party 2010

We had two very special additions this year: 1.) a mini replica of Tiger! Tiger definitely needed a spot on our tree. When we visited Amish country for our one year anniversary in July, we visited Ohio’s largest Christmas store called ‘Tis the Season. 

It was amazing! We wanted to buy everything in it; however, we restrained ourselves and walked away with a lil’ Tiger for our  Christmas tree. We can’t wait to go back!

2.) An August Wendell hammered ornament to symbolize Amish country. Again, we got this on our anniversary trip to Amish Country, which was beautiful by the way. We stayed at Donna’s Premier Lodging in Berlin, Ohio. Donna gave us a coupon for a free gift with purchase for the Wendell August store. Who doesn’t love free stuff?! Naturally, we went to the store and sought out to find something to purchase. We ended up finding a hammered plate of a picture of the place we were engaged, McConnell’s Mills! 

McConnell's Mills- Where Bryan proposed!

We were so surprised to see it there considering this place is in PA. Well, we came to find out that this store originates from PA! Ah ha! Either way, we thought we had to have it considering it was our anniversary and it was the place we were engaged! We got that and our Amish country Wendell August ornament!

We did get a few other new things and repurposed others. New tree skirt from TJ Maxx. A new star to top our tree from Target. Some new stocking hangers from Target. We are still on a hunt for a choo-choo train. Bryan REALLY wants a train that will run on a track around our tree and I’m all about new Christmas décor! It certainly is beginning to look a lot like Christmas and we LOVE it!