Real Trees... Win.

I grew up with fake trees. (Alan is too classy to say 'fake' and says they are Artificial trees.) This year, we wanted a pre-lit artificial tree, but they are sooo expensive. So I thought, 'hey, why don't we just put up a real tree this year and we'll hit up the after Christmas sales on the pre lit after!' That is just what we did. The problem is, I think I fell in love with Real Trees!!! We found the most beautiful tree that fits so perfectly in our house, and as a matter of fact, I have yet to remove it because it is just so beautiful. Also, I never went to the after Christmas sales because I'm sold that for at least one more year we can get a real one...
I will say, however, the problem with picking the perfect tree is that I honestly felt bad leaving others behind. Pathetic, right? I really did. Darn near teared up as we left the others that "weren't good enough"... maybe were a little too short, or not full enough, or too skinny or .... Man, I felt so guilty. All that grief that doesn't exist when you pull the thing out of a box! Well, the guilt was short lived because that tree has lit up our downstairs for a good month, and I have enjoyed every second of it. I love Christmas trees. I love the glowing elegance and the peace it brings to a home. I love the beauty and grace, and yes, I discovered I love the smell.  So, here's to our first real tree... Sniff. (We try not to name things we have intentions of throwing away. So she has no name. But I LOVE her all the same!)

I love my lumberjack husband.

Yea, the house may be a mess, but we were busy having FUN!

 Warm and fuzzy inside. Come on, you know you feel it, too!

Home for the Holidays part I

Wow. Finally a chance to breathe, right? Christmas and New Years were a blast with so much family here to share with us, but wow, what a busy couple of weeks! We finally  finished with the kitchen (aside from painting the ceiling and the drapes I have yet to make.ahem.), and were able to enjoy using it during the holidays. We LOVE our home. I love everything about it and can't believe how lucky we are to have it. Of course, it has been so tempting to buy everything under the sun/sale signs in order for it to look 'just so', but we try to remind ourselves we will be here a while and want to take our time furnishing it with items we love. It was so awesome for our first Christmas here, to fill our house with lots of voices and children playing. We had such a blast! First the kitchen:

 under the cabinet lighting... LOVE!

 Fixtures for the lights and the knobs and handles all placed. 

Our freshly painted walls... It's a gray with greenish undertones. MUCH better than that awful brown, I would say... It really makes the space look huge! 

I know it isn't incredibly decorated yet, but I am sure I will take more pictures later. There are so many neat features to this kitchen, and I sure feel like the luckiest girl alive to get to call it Mine.  

Like I said, I am sure more pictures will follow, especially when I put up my drapes. I am really excited for the splash of personality and color it will add to my already favorite room in the house. But for now... Welcome to my Home!