christmas

Last year I wouldn't let Christmas in the house. It was one of the darkest periods of my life, things were dire and there was no Christmas spirit inside of me anywhere.

I usually love the holiday season and start decorating right after Thanksgiving but last year I stubbornly kept all the decorations in the garage and wouldn't even look at them.

 3 days before Christmas, Mr. T decided to take matters into his own hands and set up our little Christmas tree while I was at work to surprise me. It was a pleasant surprise and I was happy to see it although I never would have put it up myself. I had mixed feelings about having it up. Part of me was glad and part of me felt sad because I couldn't truly appreciate it. It was a complicated time. I let the tree stay up through Christmas day but I had it stripped and out of my sight the day after Christmas. Usually I reluctantly de-Christmas the house in January. Once I kept our tree up until April and hung Valentines and Easter decorations on it.

This year things are different and I can't wait to put up a few things and decorate the house. I am thankful that things are better, although if the rumors at Mr. French's company prove to be true things could go south very quickly, but I am determined to enjoy Christmas this year no matter what.

This brings me to a dilemma, however. 

My normal Christmas decorations are very pastel. We have a white tree with pink, blue and lavender ornaments. It's beautiful but this year I find myself gravitating towards something more rustic.

I blame the Dollar aisle at Target. 

Last week I walked in to Target and saw lots of rustic Christmas things - bold red plaid baskets, napkins and dish towels with woodsy themes and pine cones everywhere. Now all I can think of is decorating with a mountain cabin theme.

Of course I don't have any mountain cabin Christmas decorations and I can't go out and buy all new so I'm going to have to get creative.

Here's my start. I pulled out our little Christmas tree which has a burlap base. We bought this thing at Walgreens a million years ago and it's still my favorite.

I decided to put it in an old green bucket that I bought months ago at the thrift store and hadn't gotten around to painting yet. I'm so glad I was too lazy to do it because the green is perfect for now.

Luckily we live in the pine cone capital of the world so I'm always picking them up and bringing them home in hopes I can use them for a craft project...which is kind of silly because I really don't do crafts but at least now they're being put to good use. I'll get some more and fill up one of those red plaid baskets I saw at Target. Hopefully they still have some in stock by the time I get there later today or tomorrow.

As for decorations, I'm going to turn to my old friend - The Dollar Tree - to see what they have to complete my theme. Or maybe I'll take a page out of the Little House books and string popcorn and cranberries.

So this year I'm especially grateful for Christmas spirit. I know what it's like to not have any which makes it even more special when it comes back.