Another Christmas is finishedand before I forget what worked and what I'd like to do differentlyI thought I'd make some notesA kind of end of the season report.
I truly enjoyed my abundant use of fresh elements.My cranberries made it easily through the entire season.
My vintage Santaonce again happily claimed the center stage focal point when hung over my chalk board.
My flea market cardinalsthat I found over a decade agoand have been the color inspiration every sincestill have a place of prominence.
By Christmas DayI ended up very happy about the overallbalance of colors and items in my decor.This year I was very intentionalabout what I did to decorateso as to honor my time ...
And it still seemed to take to the very end to finish.(because i can always see how just one more thing ...)By the time everything is done it seems to be over. ..So next year I am starting earlier.
My tree will be up by Thanksgivingpre lit but undecorated.I will be using an artificial treefor the first time ever.The romantic notions of picking out a live treeare no longer viable as our kids are grown and live trees are so much harder to decorate...and then begin to fade almost immediately.
Next year ...I want my wrapping done the week before.Shopping for me is always quickas I never shop without a pre made list in hand.But the wrapping the last week in the season ...was one of my only humbug moments.What I Will redo next year ...
Setting up a wrapping station in my studioon the floor in front of the TVwith a perfect low table from Ikea.I bought everything I needed ahead of timeso wrapping was quick and productive.
Next yearI will once again do Christmas shopping with my husband in Old Town Orange.It is always a perfectly Christmasy night out!
Using the citrus I harvested from my gardenadded the perfect punch of SoCal regionalism that I have always been wanting to incorporate into my families Christmas decor.I enjoyed the abundant luxury of simply stepping out into the backyardto get the items I needed!It made all the time in the garden even more worthwhileand has me eager to go love on my trees some morein preparation for next year's crop.
I realized this year ...that deciding to do Christmas crafts sounds charmingbut layering crafts in the busiest time of the year ...not really the best idea.Ellis and I did finally get to our candle makingbut it seemed to put us 'behind'and layer in some stress we were trying to avoid.
Next year...any crafts will be scheduled to begin after Halloween.I was smart this year and just picked a couple to do.Next yearI want to try candles againas well as some Christmas bunting,
I am so happy with my use of living treesNot only did they garnish with a breezewith simple glass ornamentsbutwith baubles removedthey will transitionquickly and easily to myJanuary decor.
The floating candles I tried this yearare definitely on my list to repeat.They not only easily melded into my design schemebut lasted weeks!
They assemble with just a few ingredientsI chose to use recycled jam jarsand found out most of all of my candles float.
My courtyard came together perfectly this year.The small intimate space in our front yardonly takes a little effort to really pop.I didn't use it as much as I had hopebut it was the perfect space to have a family talk with the four of usone sunny SoCal morningand I was happy every time I saw itfrom inside the house or coming home ...
And it was myhuge bowl of paper whitesthat made each day so special in the courtyard.Repeating this planting is on the top of my list for next year...although I can't imagine to have the final bloom perfectly timed for Christmas again...It was a little Christmas miracle it was!If you haven't done paper white bulbsI highly suggest it!For under 50 dollars, including the reindeer bowl from Target(bulbs out here go for around a dollar each)I got to see Mother Nature in action up close...each day was a new art piece!
I will be redoing paper whitesin a huge silver or white bowlfor my January courtyard decor.
Another to repeat ...I kept some vases of various greenery I bought at the grocery storeso I could add the perfect touch of green garnishin a flash to anything whether it was a present for a dear friend,a holiday treat or the perfect finish for a vignette.The vases of greens themselves looked festive as welland lasted weeks! 
I will be redoing simmering potpourri but without cranberries.Cranberries do look festive ... for a while ...but all too soon turned the simmer an unpleasant color.I will be reverting to my usual mixturethat had red apples instead of cranberriesThe apples don't discolor the mixtureso I can use that one for several days instead of one.
I will be repeating my cranberry use but probably not the artichokes.They did dry finebut for the cost of 4dollars eachthey didn't give me enough lasting bang for my buck.They discolored within a week to a shade that wasn't working for a dining room table.I move them to a shelf vignettewhere they did add some textural interest.
I think my final recommendation to myselfas far as decorating for the seasonwould be to try to get everything donethe week before Christmasso there would be more time to slow downand savor and enjoy.I came the closest this year than I ever havebecause I had an intentional plan.With a few simple tweaksNext year I can come even closer ...
So I can have more time for this!
as always my friends
I wish you love and joyas you style your life
