Bringing the outside in

Before I start to fill you in on the exciting facelift Tara is getting (Heaven knows she needs it!) I wanted to share some pictures of some of our Christmas decor. Yes, it's past Valentine's Day, but this might inspire you for next holiday season (or simply remind me of things to do once Christmas 2012 approaches).

I struggle with bringing the outdoors inside in wintertime. It's easy to do in the summer with fresh flowers, but the colder temperatures and depressing lack of color in the wintertime make decorating with live plants difficult.

Fortunately, we have a holly tree! I love magnolia leaves too...but using those would have required black clothing and a flashlight as I would have had to scurry down the street in the dark and steal branches from an unsuspecting neighbor. Rhett and I don't condone stealing, so if you're not going to pay for it, at least ask someone before you approach their landscaping with scissors.

Our back deck served as a staging area:

And after a few clever snippings, holly brightened up our home!

Easy, simple, and done in 30 minutes. Now that's something to make merry about!