...because home doesn't happen overnight.
12.02.10 / Round The Tree

Handy Hubby and I packed the boys into his teeny truck cab and picked up our live Christmas tree tonight.  We didn’t have time to start decorating before bedtime so that’s on the list for the weekend. Handy Hubby set it up in the tree stand and untied it.  It made him dizzy.

{Don’t mind the blank picture frame.  It’s getting Christmas-fied this weekend, too.}  Layne read Everett a book {all by himself!} on the couch while Dada got the tree ready.  It was too cute.  For the first time ever, I bought a live pine swag and garland for the front door.  They smell dee-lish.

Before we went shopping, I had visions of a white winter wonderland scene for the front of our house…lots of tiny white lights in the trees and bushes.  Then we got to the store and realized it would have cost well over $200!!!  I wasn’t willing to throw out that kind of money on something I can only use for a few weeks out of the year.  So, the front door is all that I gussied up.  It kind of reminds me of a hippie-ish Santa…the windows as eyes, the pine cones as a nose, the swag as a beard and the garland as messy Santa hair.  Do you see it?  {Handy Hubby said I was looking at it too long.}  I particularly like the swag.  It has real berries in it.

On another Christmas note, I’ve been busy crafting up inexpensive holiday decor to share with you next week.  Can’t wait!  I still have some to do but I’m hoping to crank it all out this weekend…along with the tree.  Aaaah!  My weekend just went from open to busy.  That’s okay though.  At least, I get to spend it with my boys listening to some holiday tunes and maybe drinking a cup of cheer.  What are you doing this weekend? Decorating?  Shopping?  Wrapping?  Maybe just staying inside where it’s warm?  Whatever you do, I hope it involves lots of happiness with those closest to you.

And just to let you know, House*Tweaking will be down over the weekend for technical updates. I’m attempting to back up my database and then install the newest version of my WordPress template.  Wish me luck…I’m not totally comfortable with the whole technical aspect of blogging yet.

Happy weekending!

images:  all Dana Miller for House*Tweaking

12 COMMENTS
budget decor, DIY, kid-friendly

12 Comments

Danae
02.December.2010

Dana,

Did you diy those windows in the top your front door? We have a similar builders home with a window-less metal door that I hate. Our front entry is so dark. I’m looking for options other than buying a new (expensive) door.

Megan
03.December.2010

Your front door looks so welcoming and wonderful! It makes me smile {and want to invite myself over} :)

Liz
03.December.2010

Hi Dana, I just found your site yesterday and it’s been a blast going through almost all your posts :) You are so talented and have a great eye for style and design all with a DIY budget in mind (love that)! Happy Friday to you as well.

jane
03.December.2010

Love it…and now I have to ask, what color is your front door? I think mine would look nice that same color. We recently bought a 1940’s house and it has a white wood door right now. The house is a brick (lighter colors) with dark grey shutters.

Jen @ The Decor Scene
03.December.2010

Gorgeous! Love the front door. I think I might do something like that next year. Simple, but elegant. Love it. Can’t wait to see you tree finished and whatever other decor craft ideas you came up with. Hopefully I will finish up this weekend with all of our Christmas decorating. I have a Triplets Baby Shower on Saturday and then Sunday we have to work hard to finish up the inside of the house. Should be a wonderful weekend, busy, but wonderful.

Oona
03.December.2010

The door-as-Santa concept cracked me up! My fiance and I always see faces in everything and our families think we’re nuts! At least we’re nuts together, eh?

housetweaking
04.December.2010

Oona – Good! So glad I’m not the only one who saw it!

housetweaking
04.December.2010

Jen – A triplets baby shower?! Wow, that sounds intense. Good luck with your busy wonderful weekend!

housetweaking
04.December.2010

Jane – The front door is Tricorn Black from Sherwin Williams. Our shutters are the same. When we bought the house, the front door and shutters were burgundy! Ew.

housetweaking
04.December.2010

Danae – Hey, your name is my name with an ‘e’ on the end! Cool. No, we didn’t DIY the windows. They came with the house. I’ve always wanted to paint the trim around them black like the rest of the door but Handy Hubby likes ’em white. You win some, you lose some.

Carole
05.December.2010

looking forward to seeing what you do with your tree–I’m sure it will be fabulous! I have always liked the idea of a fresh tree, but they make us all a little sneezy! what’s your take on faux trees?

we have slowly started to decorate for the holidays this weekend…the light dusting of snow is helping to inspire us to get our act together!

housetweaking
05.December.2010

Carole – We’ve had a faux tree before…I have nothing against them. Ours was prelit and after 5 years, none of the lights worked anymore. We donated it and just never bought another one. Growing up, my parents always had real trees so we started that tradition with our boys. They make me sneezy for the first few days but after that it doesn’t bother me. Good luck Christmas decorating! Slow decorating is good…I could never do it all in one day.