The Not So Stylish Christmas Home Tour 2018

Last year I focused on getting a few new pieces for outdoors.  I still want to add some details but it'll have to wait until next year.  

A new post, FINALLY.  You may have noticed, or maybe not, but it's been a good two plus weeks since I've posted anything.  Truthfully, I've had a break from IG, Facebook, texting, blogging, etc.  Why?  No it wasn't a technology cleanse.  It wasn't to see if my life would transform in some way if I spent less time on my phone.  It was.....LIFE!  Yep, that's it.  Life happened and I just decided that I just couldn't juggle it all.  Some of you follow me on IG and you might have seen that my youngest had a tonsillectomy.  The procedure was successful and recovery was as hard as they said it would be.  We didn't sleep much for 2 weeks, work was insane, I joined a running challenge, birthday planning, Christmas was upon us, and LIFE.  I just gave myself permission to step away and survive.  I survived and now I feel happy to re-enter and re-engage.  I feel energized and thankful that I have so many things to share with both my family in the right here and now, but also with all of you.  

I want to share my home with you all.  I was going to do a home tour with my friend Ada from Elegence and Mommyhood but it just didn't happen.  My home is not a show home.  Rather its lived in.  It has touches of modern and decor but mostly it's lived in.  My tree is not one that you will find on display, but it holds a mix of delicate ornaments that some may worry will be broken by little hands, but not me.  It's the ones that can't be replaced that I most worry about, the ones that my children made with their little hands that are crocked, uneven, missing a googly eye, somewhat misplaced on a pretty tree. 

Our tree is full of mismatched ornaments but we love it just the way it is. 

Halie's first Christmas ornament.

Anya's first Christmas ornament.

Reading our favorite holiday picture book is one of our traditions.  The Gingerbread Baby, Polar Express, The Christmas Wish, and many more.

My home has a few modern decor touches such as the decorative tray in the middle of our coffee table.  Not far sits this old and unique looking Santa Clause that was gifted to us years ago by a family we knew for a short time, but nevertheless each and every year when I unpack this Santa they come to my mind and I think of them with warmth and joy.  Right by him sit the gingerbread creations that have become tradition for our family.  They've become more sophisticated and less sloppy as the girls themselves have grown up and their artistic skills, not to mention their attention span, has grown.

Fresh flowers are my absolute favorite hostess gift.  Give me all the flowers!

But my favorite is the wall and the booklets of Christmas pasts that display the pictures of our friends and family.  This year I decided to print pictures from each of the Christmas since our oldest was born to now. I am compiling them into an old school photo album (not completed yet) to treasure and look back upon to see how we have all changed, grown and to remind myself  to PAUSE.  As I write this, music gently playing, the cracking of the fake youtube fireplace in the background, a warm cup of tea beside me, tears sting my eyes.  They are happy ones because I am so grateful for this home.  This perfectly imperfect home, with a perfectly imperfect family.  So my wish for everyone is to be happy with exactly where you are and know how to embrace the changes as they occur.  

Booklets full of Christmas cards from years past.  I love looking through them and watching our friends grow and change in front of my eyes.  It truly does warm my heart.

Halie and Tanner, Christmas 2018.

Anya & Oreo, Christmas 2018

XOXO, sweet friends.