If you want to start at the beginning of my tour with Part I, click here
http://www.jenniferrizzo.com
Happy December! I’m so excited about today’s tour because I’m joined by some dear friends of mine who also happen to be some of the best home designers I know. I love these women and their homes and I know you will too. Please take a minute to check out their tours, you can find the links at the end of this post.
Okay! Back to my little house of books…
Welcome! This is our front door and I had so much fun decorating this space. If you follow me on Instagram or saw Part I of my holiday tour you know I’m a neutral gal and I didn’t do red for Christmas this year, but the front porch? That’s a whole different Christmas universe!
Our street is very social and we spend a lot of time out here so it’s important to keep this space cozy and fun. At least a couple of times a week we’re out here with the neighbors watching the kids play and having a drink after a long week.
For the sitting porch I added a gorgeous, real boxwood wreath from Trader Joe’s. These are a yearly favorite of mine and they’re a steal at $9.99. I also brought out a cute little chalkboard sign, some cozy blankets and filled my galvanized pieces with fresh clippings from our rosemary bushes.
The showstopper here is our fresh garland, also from Trader Joe’s. I added a fresh, fir wreath, small poinsettia, my vintage fruit crate and another one of my favorite holiday traditions: a cinnamon broom. These brooms are also from Trader Joe’s (seriously, these people should pay me…but they don’t. I just love their store that much).
I get a cinnamon broom every year and usually put them inside, but the scent on this one is so strong I put it outside so when you walk up to our home that holiday smell welcomes you in. And it definitely does, they smell fantastic and last forever!
The next stop on this tour is the dining room. I shared this space in Part I, but I wanted to give y’all an idea of what our Christmas tablescape will look like.
I took most of these photos in the evening to show off a little bit of golden hour. I love how the soft streams of sunlight compliment the glow of the Christmas lights. I only wish it lasted a little longer every day…
I’ve hosted Thanksgiving quite a few times, but this is my first year hosting Christmas and I’m psyched. The grandparents are coming to us and this is the first year my daughter will be able to wake up in her own home on Christmas morning with Santa presents under the tree. Y’all, I’m so excited I’m genuinely crying right now just thinking about it.
Okay! Back to business…the business of Christmas dinner. I want to do a little bit more of a formal dinner this year (normally we eat Christmas lunch, buffet style) and that starts with the table.
My Christmas theme this year is frosted, bright and cozy, but I just couldn’t help putting some of my fresh garland on the table. The aroma is incredible (I wouldn’t lie to you, I’m currently sitting here as I type;)) and it just brings a coziness to the space. I also think it blends in nicely with the frosted and flocked pieces in the space because of my light runner and natural table.
All I did here was loop the garland on top of a white table runner from Ikea and place candles in between. Easy as that! The china is our wedding china and I’m super proud of my 23 year-old self for making a good decision;)
The grand finale of my little tour is Queen Sheba herself. The most beautiful, magical, sparkly, snowy, lovely, intoxicating tree you ever did see…the end. Whew! But seriously, I’m in love with this tree. I would marry it in a second.
At this point I’m sure you’re thinking, “Wow, brag much?” and I get that, but I’m not talking about my decorations on the tree, I’m talking about the tree itself. Holy perfection.
We always have a fresh tree because I grew up with them and I can’t imagine Christmas without one. I understand it’s not for everyone, but my goodness…the smell, the tradition of picking one out…I love it all.
This year, I knew I wanted a flocked tree and I also knew they’re more expensive than we normally spend on a tree so I asked for that as my Christmas present. Best. Present. Ever.
I have gotten a ton of questions already about this tree so I’ve decided to do a totally separate post answering all of them (that will also include care tips for fresh trees). The short story is we bought it from a local nursery chain here in North Texas called Calloway’s and they flocked it before we even purchased it. It’s gorgeous, smells fantastic and was worth every penny.
Thanks to the tree our living room is now Christmas complete. Because we spend 90% of our time here I wanted this room to feel like a cozy, snowy space and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.
As I mentioned earlier these are mostly evening shots of our home, but it’s so brilliant in here at night I have to share these as well…
The holidays are full of magic. It fills my soul and somehow surprises me every single year. I’m so grateful every time I walk in this room and see the home we’ve created for our daughter. She’s always running around, looking at ‘her trees’ and telling us to turn on the lights. It truly is the most wonderful time of year…
I hope your Christmas is a wonderful one and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting my blog this year. It means so much, xoxo.
Don’t forget to tour the homes of my incredible friends…
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Hayley! That tree is amazing!! It is so beautiful. Your whole home is so welcoming right from the start of your front porch. I love it! I’m so happy to be a part of this blog hop with you <3
You’re too sweet Lindsay! Thank you:):)
Hayley, I cannot get enough of your Christmas porch! Totally perfection, as is the rest of your house! And Queen Sheba!! What a stunner!
Thanks, love! I really appreciate it:)
Hayley, everything is so gorgeous girl! Love your front porch and your tablescape, and good heavens I am so obsessed with that tree! You are so talented my sweet friend.
Thank you so much Steph! Glad we could do this together:)
Lovely
It’s like a winter wonderland!! Just beautiful! Loved reading this, friend! So glad we did this hop together! Oh and your porch is darling!
Wow, can’t wait to enjoy the tree with you all. Beautiful write up and as always everything looks so wonderful. You make us feel were part of your story, or at least I do when I read them. Thanks for sharing and being a great writer. Love Ya
Thank you so much!❤️ Love you!
Your tree is so Beautiful It makes me want to cry. Stunning!
You’re too sweet! Thank you❤️