Ok real talk: I put alllllll of our Christmas decorations up in Casa Toscana the day after the Election. I barely need to explain this to you but between 2020, a truly insane Presidential election cycle, pandemic life and moving into our new house we needed a little Christmas RIGHT NOW. RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE. Luckily, it started to get cold the week of the election so it legitimately started to feel like Christmas. The Wednesday after the election I turned the fireplace on, dragged all of the Christmas decor boxes out of the garage and set up the Christmas tree. Over the course of about six hours with CNN playing CONSTANTLY in the background (because 2020 election insanity) I put everything up. Our kids were so so so so happy watching it all come together. The six of us were pretty keyed up about the election results (spoiler: we are NOT a Trump supporting family) and so we needed a happy distraction from life. Christmas in our home is always super colorful with an emphasis on sparkle, texture and handmade nostalgic pieces. Here’s a little bit of how we are doing Christmas at Casa Toscana for our first year in Auburn.

Because of the layout of our first floor, we decided that the best place for our Christmas tree was just off the foyer. Having it here allows the sparkle to be seen from our bedroom, kitchen, living room and my office.

This is the first time EVER that I have had to decorate the “back” of the Christmas tree. Due to where it is positioned in the house it is visible on all sides. It’s a good thing I have plenty of ornaments. Wait. Have I ever talked about that on here? How I have a literal obsession with awesome Christmas ornaments and have entirely too many? Have I not covered that? Well…just know that it is a bit out of control and I’m trying to reign it in…sort of. It’s a losing battle every.single.year.

Our tree skirt is a Moroccan wedding blanket handira style that I picked up on clearance at the end of the season last year from World Market. You know that I love all things Morocco so this felt especially sweet. Also, it was regularly priced at $50 and I got it for $12!

Sebastian wanted to display all of our nutcrackers on our hearth this Christmas so this is for him. The baking nutcracker is a gift from my parents years ago and it is my favorite one.

This happy banner is from Target this year. It hangs over our red hand painted cabinet that displays all of our nativities.

This is a little tree that is in my office, surrounded by my collection of bottle brush trees.

Bottle brush trees are my FAVORITE. I have to reign myself in from getting too many of them. The main Christmas tree in this display is just white lights and white or gold ornaments.

I am planning a more comprehensive post on these hand painted but the one pictured here is my favorite. Painting ornaments has been like therapy for me during this challenging time. Creating a bit of beauty always makes me feel better and keeping my hands occupied does a lot for my brain. I highly recommend finding an activity that can both bring you joy and offer a respite to your worry about 2020.

I really hope that you are able to find joy and beauty and light and love during this Christmas season. I hope that there is warmth around you. I know we are all in the same situation of uncertainty and pandemic fatigue and worry. Sending you lots of love and light this Christmas season :).