The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear

OMG you guys, Christmas is around the corner!! Let's reminisce about where we were last year just before Christmas.


I was about to graduate, quit my student job, finish my internship, move out of our home and away from our roommate into our first apartment together. I was hunting for full time jobs. I was about to be engaged. I mean...we're talking teetering on the edge of nervous breakdown! Needless to say, while all that was going down, getting in the Christmas spirit was not at the top of my list of things to do. 


This year, however. THIS YEAR. We are newlyweds. I have a full time AND a part time job. Ryan is in law school. We can afford to eat things other than Ramen. We're stable in our apartment and are finally not in a state of constant flux. 


Logical next step? Use wedding gift card money to order a GIANT CHRISTMAS TREE!!!! Specifically a 6 and a half foot tall prelit Colorado spruce, from Target. 

I should take this opportunity to remind you that we live in a 1 bedroom apartment. It's small. There's hardly enough room for Ryan's limbs.


Ryan: "Babe, maybe you should order a 4.5 foot tall one instead? So it will actually fit in our living room?"


Kara: "NONSENSE, POOPY PANTS!" *places order*


And that's how it was :) Stay tuned for photos of the Christmas tree that will surely take up 80% of our living room.





While we're at it, let's zip on over to DownEast Home and order some seasonal home goodies from their new line!!

I've shopped at DownEast Basics before for clothing, but when I heard that they are launching a home decor part of the line I was thrilled! Trendy yet classic? Check. Seasonal goodies? Check. Perfect for a new wife who's consumed with nesting for the holidays? Check, check and check. 


I picked up this pinecone garland and Ryan had the brilliant idea to turn it into a wreath for our front door. 

I also snagged a cream colored leaf pillow for our bedroom. It's great because it's reminiscent of a snowy winter scene, but since we live in the Valley of the Sun, this is about as close as we're gonna get to a winter wonderland.

DownEast Home is running a "Spruce Up Your Home for the Holidays" sweeps right now where you can win a home makeover worth $500, and you can sign up on Facebook here: www.facebook.com/downeasthome. It's super easy...I did it a few days ago :) Can you imagine what you'd do with $500 extra bones to decorate your house? So fantastic.


Check out my peeps at DownEast on Facebook AND Twitter. They have some seriously great holiday stuff and it's super duper affordable! 


Peep the blog in a few days for some photos of our enormo artificial Christmas tree and some of our new ornaments!! How are you styling your home for the holidays? Do you think it's too early to decorate?


**Many thanks to the kind folks at DownEast Home, who sweetly gifted us our pretty new holiday decorations!**