Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Yes, its beginning to look a lot like Christmas, even in my house.  We've got the decor up the earliest ever.  The kids are thrilled.  Im pretty happy it is done.  This is our second Christmas in our new home. Last year we decided to purchase a large Christmas tree for our great room.  Anything smaller would be dwarfed by the room.  I chose to do my "fun" decor in this area.  One new Christmas tree was enough for my husband.  We threw out our last tree as the "pre-lit" didn't light well anymore!  So I didn't get to put up my adult tree.  After going through the decorating process again this year, its confirmed in my mind - I just don't love the kids stuff in my main living area.  So next year Im doing the pretty adult decor in the great room, and the kids can go crazy with Christmas in the basement.
Here is a picture of our tree:

This is the adult decor that makes me happy:

I decorating multiple homes a year.  I have to say, Im not super anxious to do it.  I feel like I could do it with my eyes closed.  But I usually hire some fun talented women, and with Starbucks in hand we go to work and make it fun.  I recently got a request from someone close to me to decorate their home for Christmas - starting from scratch.  I found myself really excited!  I stopped and wondered why this excited me so much!  I realized that it is the designing that I love.  The dreaming up the scheme.  The challenge.  Here are some schemes I am thinking of:

The classic gold and silver.  I may try and add some crystal and mirror to the scheme.

Black, white silver and red.  Of course I would do my own take on this.  Could be quite stunning!

Ive always wanted to do a peacock coloured Christmas tree.  Love this colour!

Would love to hear your thoughts!  What colour are your decorations?

Over the years so many of my favorite ornaments have been hand made.  I feel like, for the most part, my crafting days are over.  Yet at Christmas my glue gun always comes out!  Advent Calendars are a great DIY.  Here is one that I made:

Here are some others I love:

Just a Girl Blog

The ever popular wreath!  Another easy and effective DIY.  Here are some of mine:

Hmmm.... I like feathers!

One year I must make this  I think it is simply gorg!

A trend this year is "the dip".  And why not your wreath?  The November issue of Style at Home featured this beauty!

Another trend that I am loving this year is the silhouette.  I can't get enough!  I just have to make sure I don't overdo it!  These stockings by Le Papier Studio are just too gorgeous.  You really should pop over to their site - all their stuff is gorgeous!

Get out of town!  These are too cute too:

In the end what matters most is making memories with our family, and celebration our Saviours birth.  Creating a beautiful atmosphere to do this in is a wonderful thing.  Just don't loose sight of why we do it.

I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas (a little early this year)

Lisa