Holiday Juggling

EVERY YEAR, I HAVE A GREAT DEBATE WITH MYSELF WHEN I PULL DOWN THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS: How many sentimental ornaments should I add to the Christmas tree? The problem with sentimental ornaments is that while they’re special and bring on all the nostalgia, they often don’t contribute to a beautiful (dare I say magazine-worthy?) tree. The collection of American Girl doll ornaments I started when I was little, or my husband’s snowboarding Coca Cola polar bear, really don’t go with my vision of a cohesive design that serves as the centerpiece of our Christmas home.

But on the other hand, I still want to pull them out and smile over each one and the memories they bring. If I don’t dust them off and put them on the tree, there’s not much point in keeping (ahem, storing) them.

So this year, I’ve come up with a solution. I’m dedicating a smaller faux tree to the nostalgic ornaments so I can keep the larger live tree for the beautiful vintage and handmade ornaments I’ve collected and created. We can still enjoy and reminisce over the nostalgic ones, but they won’t detract from my décor design.

For so many holiday traditions, from decorating and baking to events and gatherings, we have to juggle the ideal with the practical. Like what to do with the nostalgic ornaments, or wanting to send out Christmas cards to every person in your contacts list, but then remembering that stamps alone now cost 58 cents (!) each.

But the holidays are also a time to dream big for how you’ll make the season magical for you and your family. And it helps to have plenty of ideas on hand, as we do in this issue of American Farmhouse Style. We have vintage Christmas style (pages 32 and 46), neutral spaces (pages 62 and 90) and homes full of traditional reds and greens (page 78). We have recipes for you to bake (page 122), DIYs to craft (pages 12 and 18) and gifts to give (page 26).

So take a moment to sit down with us, flip through the inspiration in these pages, and write a list (check it twice) of the plans you have for this Christmas season.

Here’s to you, friends, and merry Christmas!