It’s been pretty cold lately but these last few days have gotten weirdly warm. However, I just adore the days when I get to dress up in my warmest scarves and coats. This one was from my grandma who hand made this really awesome alpaca wool scarf. I think it may just be my new favorite!

I’m huge fan of the hand-made, home sweet home kind of Christmas. Last Christmas I made this wreath and I’m happy it survived to hang on the door this year too! All thanks to my trusted local Hobby Lobby.

One tradition we borrowed from my family is always getting a live Christmas tree. Growing up, we always cut down a live tree from the same tree farm. So, Matt and I decided to get a live tree every year too. It’s always fun to go scout out the “perfect” tree and then figure out how to bring it home on top of our car. Last year, our tree leaked all over the apartment floor haha. So, we’re hoping we picked out a better tree stand this time! ;)

I really like using natural things to decorate the house for Christmas, like pine cones and extra bits of tree branches. At Home Depot, they’ll just let you take the extra Christmas tree limbs, so I’m always sure to take advantage of that.

Last year, my mom divided up a lot our Christmas decorations and gave them to my sister and I. This little tree was one of them! And these little ornaments have been on this little tree since I was a baby.

I actually bought these last year from Pottery Barn. If you’re in need of stockings, that’s a great place to get them because they’ll do the monogramming and everything. Since we don’t have a mantle, we just hang our stockings from the kitchen bar haha.

Okay, so this candle literally has our apartment smelling amazing for days after the candle has been snuffed out. It was another one of those sweet teacher gifts. Find it here. Also, I spy a Matty and a Starbucks in the background haha. I love quiet weekend mornings with him.

Matt’s “just because” flowers to me AND they even match all the Christmas decorations. :)

I’m too embarrassed to tell you how many cookies I’ve eaten in December, but these were some of my favorites-sugar cookies with peppermint sprinkles. This was after a batch of failed butterscotch cookies. (Apparently, I shouldn’t take too much liberty with cookie recipes).

I love this coffee table so much, because my dad built it for my mom when they were first married. And all those Christmas books on the table were mine when I was a kid.

Last Christmas, I made this fabric garland, much like the one I made earlier this fall. Also, our tree turned out pretty amazing this year!

This blanket and pillow were something my parents always had in our house growing up at Christmastime and they handed it down to me last year.

One tradition Matt and I started this year was to buy an ornament from every place we visit together, so this was our Italy ornament. We bought it in Florence at a museum. Also, the little red paper chain behind the ornament is made of folded paper gum wrappers. My mom made it when she was around my age and she made enough so that my sister and I now have some for own family trees.

We were given some really sweet “1st married Christmas” ornaments this year.

Let me just say that one of my favorite things about Christmas is finding, buying, wrapping and giving gifts to loved ones. I spend hours and hours watching sappy Christmas movies (yup) and wrapping presents by the tree.

We’ve had busy weekends so far in December with Christmas parties and fun get-togethers with friends.

Have I mentioned how much I love this time of year? Well, one reason is because I get to break out my dresses and tights and faux fur. ;)

At the wedding we went to this weekend, they had a hot coco bar. A pretty cute idea for a Christmas wedding. And the location of this wedding was probably one of the prettiest I’ve seen in a long time. It was this really gorgeous plantation sort of property south of Atlanta and just had the most beautiful views.

Gosh, he’s a great date. I think I’ll keep him! ;)