As I write this, I am wrapped up in a blanket {we’ve yet to turn on the heat}, sipping some hot chocolate with a giant marshmallow, and staring at this view.

Ahhh, Christmas.

I was so excited to decorate for our first Christmas! The only problem – our move fell on December 4, so we had to wait until after our move was complete to purchase our tree and decorations.  Booooo.  Imagine me feeling like a scrooge when our house had nothing but a wreath on the door for the first 9 days of December.

As it turns out though, it was worth waiting a few extra days because we got some beautiful things – and memories – to begin our Christmas collection!

The Monday after our move, we ventured out for some lights, ornaments, wrapping paper, and a tree.

We found a local tree stand less than a mile from our house and brought home our first Christmas tree! 

As for tree decorations, we kept it pretty simple for the colors – golds, silvers, whites – and used just a little over 50 ornaments.  Our tree topper is actually an ornament that G carefully placed and made it look like a topper.

I also made one ornament, which has still yet to be placed on our tree.  So far its my favorite.

It’s a basic glass ornament with one of our wedding invitations inside.  I cut up one of our wedding invitations {white} and envelopes {gold}, “curled” them, and placed them inside the ornament.  Now I just have to find some string to hang it.

Another favorite? Our stockings!

Finding stockings that we both liked, weren’t too expensive, and are somewhat neutral was alot harder than I expected. But when I found these and showed them to G after he got home from work last week – we made an order!  I’m thinking of getting our monograms in white, but may wait until next year to see if I really like the idea {but let’s be honest, when do I NOT like a monogram;)}.

Speaking of white, you may see some white peeking out of the base of our tree.  We still haven’t found a tree skirt that we love so right now, we just have one of our white quilt underneath, which actually kind of works and G says looks like snow:)

I love to look at our tree all lit up – especially at night.  I only wish we had a pullout sofa so we could sleep by it!

Merry Christmas from our new home to yours!

ps – that’s one more off my 101 in 1001: decorate for Christmas!