OK, so I have a confession to make and I hope you don’t judge me too harshly.
You see, this weekend I started playing with Christmas decor.
I know, I know for the last 10 years I’ve said it over and over again.
No Christmas decorations until after the last Thanksgiving plate has been cleared away.
Whoops.
Well, it’s not my fault.
You see, everything changed when I saw a rustic fireplace mantel, so much like my own, dressed in this lush Royal Fir evergreen set.
It was exactly what I’d been dreaming about for years…but I always procrastinated and by the time I was ready to make a purchase, it was either sold out or I’d missed the sales.
So when I placed my order in September, I was just being proactive.
And I was well behaved when the box arrived, I didn’t even open it. I tried to have willpower, really I did.

However, this weekend we took a trip out east to go pumpkin picking and in between the corn mazes and cinnamon cider donuts, we stopped at the sweetest Christmas shop and all restraint went right out the window.
Along with my silly holiday decorating rules.
As soon as we arrived home, I literally tore open the box and decided to see how my new set would look if I gave it a quick test drive.

Of course, there was no stopping me once I got started. Big surprise.
My set came with two mini trees, a garland and a wreath, all of which I began fluffing immediately.
Turning this…

Into this, in minutes.

Then I cleared all the spooky spiders and pumpkins off the mantel and began playing.

Thankfully each piece came with warm white LED lights, which was fabulous, because at the moment, my sets are buried behind a crate full of turkeys and cornucopias.
The wreath was battery operated and had a timer switch in addition to the on and off.

The trees and the garland could be either plugged in or used with a remote battery boxes.
I used the plugs since I had outlets nearby, but I do love options, especially if I want to move them around or outside.

Having everything set up and looking lovely was almost enough to quell my Christmas fire.
I was actually getting ready to put everything back in the box for a few more weeks of hibernation, until I saw the red roses I’d purchased recently on one of our evening village walks.

I was suddenly compelled to add them to the garland.

And the wreath.

I think that was the point when I lost all control and decided to decorate for Christmas with abandon.
I added ribbon to the garland and candles to the mantel.
I even unboxed my grandmother’s vintage Santa Claus.

I mean how beautiful.

But, my friends, the decorating didn’t stop there.
Oh no. That charming evergreen set just kept inspiring me and I decided to add even more roses to the mix using red rose napkins to cover the large candles.

I think they were the perfect accent for my floral themed, cottage Christmas mantel.
A little bit of whimsy and romance to soften the hard edges of that floor to ceiling stone fireplace.

And such a dramatic pop of my beloved red, against the gorgeous evergreen and those twinkling lights.
Magical.

And way too dreamy to put back in the box now.
With a mere 77 days until Christmas.
It’s practically time to decorate anyway.
And besides, I had a turkey sandwich and a yam yesterday.
So basically, I’m right on schedule.
😉
Would you have been able to wait?
Happy Decorating, Friends!
