Our new house decorated for Christmas 🥺

So excited to share these photos with you! ♥️

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Um wow. Mid December? Where did you come from?

Every year I swear to myself, “I’m going to savor this holiday season. I’m not going to let myself run around like a stressed out squirrel again this year.”

Well. Guess who has felt like a LOT like a stressed out squirrel lately?

Do you ever feel like sometimes life is a series of coming up for air only to realize that you’ve been under water for WAY LONGER THAN YOUR LUNGS ARE CAPABLE OF? And you kind of forgot how long you weren’t actually breathing?

You too? If so, take a long inhale and exhale with me, will you?

*Ahhhhhh*

I am currently finding myself often teetering between two camps:

Camp #1: I would like to make more of a collective effort to *slow my life down*

Camp #2: I would like to make more of a collective effort to accept that this phase of life is always going to be a bit chaotic (due to many things that are out of my control) and I need to just surrender to that fact, and let a lot of things go. I am not in control of a lot of things, but I CAN control how I react to those things.

(These are both easier said than done. But I’m working on them.)

Anyway–in the spirit of Camp #1–slowing down–I am excited to share with you one way I’ve really leaned into my creativity lately (aka, one of my favorite ways to slow down):

Decorating our house for Christmas. 🥺

We just hosted our first ever party in our new house. My best friend Kate started a tradition of hosting a White Elephant party for our group of friends many years ago (I think this was our eighth year someone figured out!?) She has since moved to Montana, so the hosting torch has been passed on, but she and her husband still fly in for it. This was our first year hosting–and very fitting that it was our first party in our house.

It was just the best. I had so many pinch-me moments, feeling so grateful for our friends all being together, disbelief that we are lucky enough to live in the most special house–SO thrilled that with all the work we’ve put into it over the past SEVEN months (omg can you believe we moved seven months ago!?!) that it’s all coming together and it’s even better than we could’ve imaged. (Thanks to you, Meg. ♥️)

You guys, this house was MADE for Christmas. 🥺

Keep scrolling for some photos I’ve snapped this past week (many right before the party, thus why there are two tables in the dining room!)

Also, highlighting some of my favorite little touches I’ve added over the past couple of weeks, in case you’d like to do the same!

Item sources: Dining room light fixture (If you order it through Megmade though, she can get you a discount! Text her team at (312) 636-3583!) Plaid heart napkins + plaid tablecloth (sold out but they still have a runner!) Green plates Amazon red and green taper candles, Amazon glass candle holders (the gold ones are vintage) Amazon linen tablecloth. Artwork is all vintage. World market upholstered linen dining chairs (other chairs are vintage). Silverware is vintage. PJ’s above are Hanna Andersson (I’m OBSESSED.)

Paint colors: Dining room ceiling is F&B Eating Room Red, Walls are SW Shoji White, Entryway beadboard is Behr Stone Creek (closest color match to F&B’s Old White) and entryway walls are BM Lancaster White

Sources: Rug (TBH its’ FINE but I’m not wild about it, it looks cheap up close and it’s very low-pile, no cushion, BUT it’s affordable, looks good from afar, and fine to beat up! Just depends on what you’re wanting! As an alternative I HIGHLY recommend THIS ONE which we have in the Living Room. Softest cushiest rug EVER and so beautiful), Pottery Barn York Sofa (reviewed here), vintage coffee table from Megmade (my first Megmade piece many years ago), TV console is also vintage from Megmade, block print pillow covers and pillow inserts (tip: buy the size bigger than the pillow cover. So for an 18” pillow cover, buy a 20” pillow insert for the full “choppable” look) Floor lamp: Kohls

Paint colors: Brick fireplace painted with Romabio lime wash paint colormatched to SW Roycroft Bronze Green, walls are SW Shoji White.

Item sources: Dining room light fixture (If you order it through Megmade though, she can get you a discount! Text her team at (312) 636-3583!) Plaid heart napkins + plaid tablecloth (sold out but they still have a runner!) Green plates Amazon red and green taper candles, Amazon glass candle holders (the gold ones are vintage) Amazon linen tablecloth. World market upholstered linen dining chairs (other chairs are vintage). Artwork is all vintage. Corner bar cart is vintage, lamp on bar cart is Target.

Paper chains:

It would’ve never crossed my mind to make cute paper chains for Christmas decor before I stumbled upon a few photos on Pinterest. (Specifically the ones here and here–below!) All at once, I could not get paper chains out of my head. I HAD to make some.

Upon some sleuthing, it seemed like the deep red paper chain in the first photo was actually made out of–crepe paper, maybe? I also loved the lighter colors of the second photo but wanted to do something with pattern, so I did what any millennial would do and ordered some cute wrapping paper and crepe streamers from Amazon. Along with a mini stapler (do most people still own staplers? I did not. But I am FAR to impatient to make paper chains with tape.)

Can I tell you–I might be addicted? There have been several instances where I’ve been so busy with work and I’ve thought to myself, “All I want to be doing right now is watching a Hallmark movie and making paper chains.” It’s so simple, but so cathartic. And at the end, you have the most whimsical decorations that make you smile each time you walk past them!

I’ve made them for a few of our doorways and one to go across our big window in the family room. I also bought some pretty chiffon ribbon (so much ribbon. I’ve also been using it to tie bows on my tree!) to string along with them for something extra. (I don’t know. More is more?)

Sources: the best fake cedar garland ever. And it’s affordable AND still available AND Prime shipping. I’m obsessed. I ordered so many for all over the house! Definitely the most real looking that I’ve found! These flameless taper candles are also really great (the flicker is very realistic!) put in these vintage-inspired glass candle holders (a total Amazon score!) Minted silhouette art (my code JESSHOLIDAY24 is still live for 20% off + free shipping!)

Garland, ribbons and bows:

I discovered the best garland on Amazon by accident, because I didn’t want to spend an arm and a leg, and almost everything was going to take forever to arrive, I ordered this garland on a whim (I honestly have no clue why all the reviews aren’t five stars. It’s so great.) It looks so great on the mantel and the stair banister.

I also ordered a bunch of ribbon this year for all different kinds of bows–all linked right here in my Amazon shop.

I’ve been loving putting them on a lot of our artwork, on candlesticks, tying them on garland, on the Christmas tree, basically everywhere. I have yet to find the “how many bows is too many bows?” limit. I’ll let you know if I do. Such an easy way to create a festive, cozy feel with very little money and effort!

Ottoman from Megmade (not available on her website, you’ll have to call or email to inquire–easiest way is to text her team at her store at 312-636-3583!) Wooden tray from Target, Frame TV gold frame, glass candlestick holders (I like to mix and match them), taper candles, garland, bows/ribbon, and mini lamps!

ALL THE CANDLES + little lamps for ambient lighting:

As you probably know, I am an avid hater of The Big Lights. If I walk into a house with lots of bright overhead lights on, I want to cower like a rat into the corner. 😂 (I’ve read this is an ADHD thing?)

During our party this weekend, my friend Liz did compliment me on the lighting and said she thought it really was the key to setting the perfect mood. (Thanks Liz!)

When we moved in and discovered the absolutely delightful previous owners had installed dimmer switches in EVERY ROOM OF THE HOUSE, it may have been one of the best moments of the year. (This is not an exaggeration. My mom rolls her eyes at how dramatic I am over things like this.) But truly, what a luxury.

Also.

Lamps! Candles! The more the better! I have amassed a very large collection of taper candles and miniature tap-on battery powered lamps, which I light as often as possible to transform my mood from “boo it’s winter” to “ahhh, I love winter.”

Sources: Dickens Christmas Village (pieces gifted from my Granny and also pieces passed down from my mom. You can still buy them though!) and Flickering flameless window candles (FYI you need a LOT of batteries, each candlestick takes four AA batteries).

Candles in the windows:

We decided in lieu of Christmas lights on the outside of our house (which are wildly expensive to have someone else install, and we didn’t have the energy or time or frankly desire to hang them ourselves) instead, we put up some wreaths on the house and got some flameless window candles to put in each of the windows!

It looks so beautiful and inviting, festive, but classic and vintage-inspired. They bring me so much joy! You can set them on a timer, which I would say works like 70% of the time, but sometimes they have a mind of their own. 😂

If you haven’t gotten around to hanging lights this year (or just don’t want to) this is such an easy, affordable, and cozy thing you can do to ensure your house still looks festive!

I also love how they look set behind the Christmas village. 🥺

This little village is so special to me, and the first year I’ve had it to set up in my house. My Granny gifted my sister and I several pieces over the years, and my mom has been storing them at her her house.

She also decided it was time for her pieces to move on, so she divided them between my sister and I, and they arrived a few weeks ago (along with my own pieces) in THE SAME BOXES THAT HAVE LIVED IN OUR ATTIC SINCE I WAS BORN. 😩

I am so sentimental and was NOT prepared for those boxes to show up on my doorstep.

Seeing June’s little face light up as she saw it set up for the first time and seeing how enthralled she is with it is just the absolute best. I know my Granny is with us whenever I look at it. ♥️

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You may be wondering, “where are the photos of the bar!?!?” and that is a two part answer. The first is, I ran out of time to take photos of the bar before the party. 😂 And the second answer is, Meg and I did a whole SHOOT of just the bar (now that it’s finished!!) decorated for Christmas, and that is coming to you soon! Stay tuned!

Still editing the photos from the bar shoot, but here’s a sneak peek!! 😍 More coming soon! I will never get over the tile!!

Hope this gave you some fun and easy holiday decor inspo. ♥️

Thank you for being on this new home journey with me! So grateful to have you along for the ride!

Love love love,

Jess

P.S. If I missed a link/source somewhere, feel free to hit “reply” to this email and let me know what you need! 🥰