Hello and welcome, friends!
Today I’m honored to join an amazing group of bloggers to bring some cheer to the internet with a virtual Christmas open house – the 12 Days of Holiday Homes, hosted by Jenny from Evolution of Style and Amy and Christy of 11 Magnolia Lane!
It’s been such fun to take a peek into different homes and see how everyone else celebrates the Christmas season!
If you’re new to Shine Your Light, I’m Lisa and I live in a little town in Massachusetts with my husband Mark and our three kids, who have somehow managed to become 18, 16 and 14 without my consent :). Next year my oldest will be off in college and so I am really treasuring this Christmas season with everyone around the house.
I keep it really simple and decorate with fresh greens everywhere, starting with our front steps.
Our house is surrounded by abundant pine trees that I clip from, along with my rhododendrons, cedar trees, and wildly overgrown boxwoods, and use all the clippings from the Christmas tree as well.
Lynch Creek Farm so generously offered to sponsor the 12 Days of Holiday Homes tours this year and from them I chose the “Three Cedars” wreath. It is gorgeous!!
I have always bought standard inexpensive evergreen wreaths and I had NO idea what I was missing out on!! This wreath is so lush and full! I love how the cedar has movement and a natural drape to it. I opted for the largest size – 32″ – and keep admiring how simple and beautiful it is when I drive up to the house every day.
I don’t think I’ll ever go back to the standard wreath again!
Fresh greens are my go-to for Christmas decor inside the house too and I tuck them here, there and everywhere, along with twinkling white lights and lots of candles.
My oldest, Peter, is feeling like we need to do ALL the family traditions before he goes away to college (even though he’ll be home for Christmas next year – but I’m with him! We’re both feeling a bit like we have to pack a lot into this year.)
I thought it was sweet that Peter texted everyone in the family to find a time when we would all be home to decorate the tree together. When we figured out everyone would be around this past Saturday morning, I picked up some things for brunch (Trader Joe’s chocolate croissants!), put some old school Christmas music on (Pandora’s “Christmas Magic” station!) and set the table.
Since the moment we hung our new light in the dining room, I couldn’t wait to put fresh greens on it for Christmastime!
I found these beaded snowflake ornaments for $2.99 at The Christmas Tree Shop and used vinyl coated picture hanging wire to hang them (they don’t have these exact ones online but have a lot of inexpensive alternatives.)
I also hung little crystal pendants around the perimeter of the light (they’re actually acrylic but you can’t tell.) The sun streams into this room all day and I LOVE how the crystals catch the light like icicles!
I hung the crystals and ornaments first and then used green, coated floral wire to attach branches of pine and cedar, covering up the wire with little sprigs along the way.
Over a simple white cotton runner (bleachability is huge in this house!!) I laid a piece of an evergreen garland and then added the hurricanes filled with epsom salt “snow” and candles, and a couple itty bitty evergreen trees from Trader Joes. There’s a battery operated strand of lights threaded through the garland too and I put it on every night at dinner.
I tucked little crystal picks into the evergreens too for a little more sparkle.
Fresh greens can last for weeks if you spritz them with water every few days.
I found these mini copper mule mugs at Marshalls on clearance, and bought them to use as place cards at Christmas (more on that soon!) but my kids thought it was hilarious to drink their orange juice out of them and then say “hit me” for a second round.
These little things are the big things and I know someday this is what my kids are going to remember about growing up here….not a perfectly decorated house, but all of us together eating, laughing, arguing about how to put the lights on the tree and making a complete mess….and mom lighting all the candles and making chocolate croissants and getting all misty eyed looking at everyone.
Even if your life at the moment is hectic and messy, I hope you find a few moments in this season of light to enjoy the ones you love and make some happy memories together!
Today is the last day of the 12 Days of Holiday Homes and you won’t want to miss the lovely abodes of Erin of Sunny Side Up and Heather of The Heathered Nest today also!
Tomorrow is the day to link up your own holiday home! I can’t wait to see how you bring a little Christmas joy into your space.
Catch up on all the 12 Days of Holiday Homes right here!
Jenny from Evolution of Style
Amanda from Dixie Delights
Christy from 11 Magnolia Lane
Brenna from Domestic Charm
Amy from 11 Magnolia Lane
Amanda from The Tale of an Ugly House
Kelly Elko
Jen from Stylehouse Interiors
Cyndy from The Creativity Exchange
Cassie Bustamante
Rachael from This is Our Bliss
Heather from Southern State of Mind
Erin & Tricia from The Suburban B’s
Paige from The Pink Clutch
Becky from This Is Happiness
Vel from Life & Home at 2102
Pam from Simple Details
Sarah from Thrifty Decor Chick
Julie from Less Than Perfect Life of Bliss
Cindy from Rough Luxe Lifestyle
Kris from Driven by Decor
Heidi from Home by Heidi
Shirley from Housepitality Designs
Today
Erin from Sunny Side Up
Heather from The Heathered Nest
Lisa from Shine Your Light
Tomorrow 12/13
HOLIDAY HOME LINK UP
A special thank you to Jenny from Evolution of Style and Amy and Christy of 11 Magnolia Lane for hosting this fantastic group of bloggers
and
many, many thanks to Lynch Creek Farm for sponsoring the 12 Days of Holiday Homes this year!
Wishing you a very merry Christmas season!
Affiliate links were included in this post for your convenience. Read about affiliate links here.
classic•casual•home says
Lisa, you are such a wonderful mom and I know your kids appreciate all you do…especially Peter.
Your home is just beautiful and I bet it smells great, too!
Merry Christmas!
Mary Ann
Lisa says
Deep down, really deep down, they are so appreciative 🙂 The evergreens do smell so nice, that is for sure. Hope you are enjoying the Christmas season in sunny California Mary Ann!
Vel says
Your home is such a beauty Lisa! I love all the fresh greens and your Christmas chandelier is just perfect! So honored to share this tour with you dear! Cheers!
Lisa says
Thank you Vel! I love this tour every year – it’s a great way to get motivated isn’t it? Wishing you and your family a very happy Christmas season and wonderful trip! xo
cicndy hattersley says
I love the simple elegance all the fresh greens bring to your home. I love that your kids enjoy family times at Christmas. I was tempted to leave my tree bare with only lights this year but I know my kids (33 & 36) would miss seeing all of the treasured ornaments. Enjoy your familyt. Your home is gorgeous!!
Lisa says
I was thinking about getting two trees next year and having just lights on one of them, Cindy! I love that simplicity, so pretty! Clearly you need two also 🙂
Cassie Bustamante says
your dining room looks so pretty! i adore your entry with the greens in the urns and the wreath!
Lisa says
Thank you my kind friend! I can never get over how many evergreen clippings it takes to fill up those urns!! Our yard is going to be bare soon 🙂
Shelley | Crazy Wonderful says
It’s absolutely beautiful, Lisa! I’m so involve with how you’ve decorated your chandelier with the greens and snowflakes!!!
Lisa says
Thank you Shelley! That’s basically the very reason I bought that light, so I could bling it out a bit at the holidays 🙂
Christy @ 11 Magnolia Lane says
Enjoy your family time this Christmas, Lisa! I have a high school junior and understand that bittersweet feeling. Merry Christmas! XO, Christy
Lisa says
It all goes by way too fast Christy doesn’t it?! Wishing you and your family a very happy Christmas!
Shelley @ Calypso in the Country says
Oh Lisa, your home looks beautiful! Now I wish I did more fresh greens! And you have snow!!!
Shelley
Lisa says
The snow was fleeting Shelley but you know it’s coming our way! Hope you and your family are enjoying the Christmas season!
Becky says
Beautiful Lisa! Simple and perfect! We are wreath twins…I choose the same one and love it so much!! Love all the snow and your light fixture is gorgeous with the greenery. I hope you enjoy the special times with your family.
Lisa says
Becky your tour was so so pretty. It must have been fun to decorate your new house! Enjoy the Christmas season my sweet friend!
Pam @ Simple Details says
Perfect from the get go ~ I always love your classic front porch and covered with snow it’s just beautiful! And, oh my goodness, how sweet is Peter! So happy you all enjoyed a fun morning of tree trimming! Your home and heart couldn’t be more special sweet friend!
Lisa says
Next year I think I need my own tree 🙂 Hope you are enjoying the season and YOUR senior as well! XO
Cristina says
That’s a gorgeous wreath! The perfect addition to your front porch. Nothing like evergreens to decorate around the house too. You have done it so well.
Lisa says
Thank you Cristina! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
Carol @ CAD INTERIORS says
Your wreath is gorgeous, Lisa! I love all the natural greenery you infused throughout your home. Must smell so good! So awesome that you can just head outside for all the fresh greens. Living in So Cal means I have to go to HD for “fresh” clippings. 🙂 Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas!!
Lisa says
Carol thank you! I actually supplemented some of my fresh greens with bunches I bought this year too. Hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying a break this week!