I love, love, love decorating for Christmas in my home….at least now I do! But when the kids were just babies, sometimes it could be really overwhelming! In fact, one of the last years that we were in our previous house, I was overwhelmed with teaching, mom-ing, being a good wife, and pretty much anything holiday related! It was a total Scrooge moment! I didn’t want to put up any decorations and not even a tree! But then I felt super bad because I know how much my sweet husband really loves the season (and I could remember the time before when I did, too….when it didn’t seem like a job to get done and check off my list!).

There seem to be two teams when it comes to Christmas trees. Either you are team “real” or team “artificial.” It just depends on what better fits your lifestyle…or your allergies! 🙂 We have always been “real” tree people! BUT…if I tell you that picking out a “real” tree with my guy can actually suck the joy out of the process, it really can! (His mom and sister are welcome to comment here on what shoe shopping was like when he was a kid……I hear it involved visiting several stores to find the PERFECT shoes! And at the end of the day he might have just picked the original ones…..too many choices! Haha!) He always wants to find the PERFECT tree every year, and it is usually cold. There is usually a line of people waiting for assistance. And in the past years, there were crying children as part of the process….and by that I mean my children….just. over. it. Love them and him! Mean it! 🙂

So, back to the year when we were basically going to SKIP CHRISTMAS…feel like there should a Hallmark gasp here!! I started feeling horrible for making Adam miss out…and since we did have kids that would have ended up as a total #momfail moment….so I wondered if we could dip our toe into the artificial tree world! Y’all….I’m telling you that I am team both now! My co-teacher at the time scored an 8 ft Frontgate tree for me off of a local Facebook sale group for a great deal. In fact, it ended up being the tree of another teacher at our same school! It was totally meant to be! 🙂 And it was in perfect condition! AND it went together in five minutes! LOVE!

So, my kiddos and I surprised their dad with this tree purchase….but he still had to go pick it up….it is heavy! Hah! HE was so happy, and we had that tree up and dressed lickety split! And the missing Christmas tree smell….no worries! I replaced it with amazing candles! Done and done!

So, now we have two trees in our home…well, actually three if you count the little one for the kids. One real. One artificial. And one baby one. The artificial one has since become mine to decorate because I like white lights and my husband likes colored lights!

I’ve come up with a quick, simple, easy, and cost effective way to decorate this tree! Let me show you! First, here is my beautiful tree! It is a Frontgate tree, but let me tell you, I have been loving all of the King of Christmas Trees lately! Y’all! Soooo much more affordable and such a great value!

We have linked all the items you will need to recreate this Christmas tree on a budget in your own home!

I always start by adding lights! I love these pearl lights. I’m a southern girl, and we always have our pearls….so why not have them for Christmas lights?!

 

Then I add ribbon and cotton stems! Burlap has long been one of my favorite fabrics! Be sure to use the wide kind with or without wiring in it! I start at the top and loosely wrap the tree “tucking” in the ribbon every so often, but mostly I kind of let it organically find its spot in the tree.

Cotton is so pretty to me, and I love how much it is used in decor these days! I only had five stems (it really doesn’t take much!) and just tucked them in to staggered areas on the front of the tree! You could use more if your tree can be viewed from all sides, but I tucked mine in a corner.

 

 

Lastly, the star is the topper, and this one happens to be copper! Look at that…I made a rhyme…and just in time!! 🙂 It is so pretty, and I love the Country French feel that the copper adds!

 

 

 

A few add on’s to think about!

 

 

 

And there you have it!

An easy decorated tree with just a few steps!!

 

AND…how cute would this same idea be as a Christmas wreath on your front door…or hanging off a mirror….or over a doorway?! So, so cute, fast, and easy!! Here are a few gorgeous wreaths that can be to your door in just a couple of days! These would also make amazing Christmas gifts!

And for my favorite Christmas candle, I usually turn to Thyme brand “Frasier Fir,” and Chan is a huge fan of the Nest “Holiday” candle! Nothing will make your home feel like Christmas faster than these candles!

 

add a little holiday scent!

 

And for the more “natural” decorator, essential oils + a great diffuser is perfect for creating the scent of the holidays! A bottle of Christmas Spirit essential oil will do it all in one bottle, but one of my favorite diffuser recipes involves Thieves + Orange oil. It creates this super cozy, warm scent diffusing in your home! And diffusers really have come a long way! They can easily blend right in to your home’s decor! Check out these fun ones!

HAPPY DECORATING!!

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– XOXO, Kate & Chan