Do you have your Christmas decorations up yet? I usually put mine up the weekend before Thanksgiving. Sometimes it’s because we're traveling that weekend, and other times—like this year—it’s because we're hosting and I want the house to feel twinkly and cozy.

This is actually the first year I can remember that we won’t be traveling over Thanksgiving. We’ve always lived away from both my husband’s family and mine, so the holidays have traditionally meant either a flight to California or a long road trip (dogs in tow) down to Missouri.

I’m really looking forward to slowing down this season. We’ll have two of the three boys here, along with my daughter-in-law and a neighbor, and I’m so excited for good food and easy company around the table.

Since we’re usually away for the holidays, I’ve never invested much in a tablescape. I wanted something simple but beautiful without spending a lot, so I headed to Goodwill—and I couldn’t believe what I found. Brand new Bloomingdale’s gold chargers (tags still on!) marked $19.99 originally… I grabbed them for $1.99 each. I also found a few pretty gold vases for just 99 cents apiece.

And do you remember this summer when I shared that I dried the hydrangeas from my garden? I spray-painted them gold and tucked them into the tablescape—and even into my Christmas tree. Add a few fairy lights to the small vases and voilà… my cozy holiday table came to life.

I also came across two red wooden candlestick holders that I spray-painted gold, and scored a large wooden Lazy-Susan I plan to use for my charcuterie boards.

What are your plans for this week? I would love to know! I hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday!

Home for the Holidays