Jingle All the Way

My husband and I are dedicated to having a live tree at Christmas -- The fragrance, the texture, the not-having-to-assemble-a-box-of-smooshed-branches-on-a-metal-pole. What's not to love? Oh, I guess that would be the needles all over the floor and the fact that we have to shell out cash for a new tree every. single. year. But it's our one Christmas splurge (and a 6-7 ft. tree doesn't put that much of a dent in ye olde bank account!). 

Plus, I feel like we get a bit extra for our money. Each time we buy a tree, I raid the bin of free trimmings like a bandit. Free trimmings = free live wreath! A live wreath always seems like a luxury to me, because it's the kind of thing I'd never buy.

The first few times I wired my trimmings to a grapevine wreath, but the process of un-wiring the wreath after Christmas was both tedious and painful! So now my super-secret, super-professional method is to shove trimmings into the grapevine wreath, and pin down any straggling branches with old-fashioned v-shaped bobby pins. Turns out they're good for more than just stray tresses!

As for the rest -- the pinecones-on-sticks came from a floral arrangement we received when Little Man was born, the berry clusters were pillaged from a strand of fake garland that we were trashing, and the jingle bells are part of my stash (via Dollar Tree -- they come nine in a box, and are delightfully vintage looking). I did pay for red burlap ribbon this year, but I also used that for part of our tree topper. 

It's quite festive to get a whiff of evergreen and a cheerful jingle every time we open our front door!

I'm still not done assembling Christmas gifts, but I'm getting close -- the handcrafted part of Rosa's gift is done, and I can't wait to show you! For now it's waiting under the tree (probably collecting some of the aforementioned needles).

May you all have a peaceful time of worship and reflection as the Christmas bustle comes to a close!