O Christmas Tree

When I was growing up,

we would always travel with my extended family on my Dad's side

to a certain location in the mountains

where we would find & chop down our own Christmas Trees.

My Gramma would bring a giant thermos full of hot chocolate to warm us up

& we would all enjoy each other's company.

It was a wonderful tradition & I love the memories that we shared.

After we moved away we started going to a tree lot & picking one out.

Still fun, but definitely not the same.

Eventually we switched to an artificial tree.
I wasn't too fond of the idea at first because of all the nostalgia I had associated with real trees,
but after going back to a real tree for my first married Christmas
I realized that artificial trees aren't all that bad.
Real trees are meant to stay outside.
So in the words of the Lorax,
"Let it grow"

Here are some things I've grown to love about artificial trees:
With an artificial tree I don't have to mess with needles or sap.
I don't have to climb underneath to water it since it doesn't need water.
It stays green longer.
By longer, I mean forever.
Unless you get one of those white ones.
Then it would stay white forever.
But that's besides the point.
I don't have to balance the tree.
I don't get poked by 3419 needles when setting up
or taking down the decorations.
I don't have to buy a new tree every year.
Although nothing compares to the smell of a real tree,
there are scent sticks that you can hang so that it smells real.
We tried them out last year & were very pleased.
I think my husband's favorite thing about artificial trees is that you can buy them pre-lit.
Stringing the lights was something he definitely didn't look forward to each year.

While I'm on the topic of artificial trees...

King of Christmas sells both lit & unlit artificial Christmas trees
& they are hosting a giveaway right now!
There are two prizes:
-- Their Cypress Spruce 7 foot artificial Christmas tree w/ LED lights --
-- $100 giftcard for kingofchristmas.com --

Pretty awesome, right?
Definitely worth checking out!

We usually try to set our tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving & I can't wait!

When do you start decorating for Christmas?
Do you prefer artificial trees or real ones?

xoxo

This is a sponsored post for those of you that care to know,

but all thoughts are my own.

Promise.

minted.

Can you believe that Christmas is less than 8 weeks away?

I've already started my shopping

& have been trying to decide on Christmas cards.

I know that if I don't start now, they may not get done.

In my opinion, seeing Christmas cards in the mailbox brings extra joy to the season.

I always love getting cards & letters in the mail

so why wouldn't everyone else, right?

Really though, a card beats junk mail any day! (;

I don't know if you've ever checked out minted.com,

but they have some super cute holiday photo cards right now
in addition to the other stationary, art, fabric & other things on the site!

I love that everything they sell is from independent designers & artists from around the world.

Like I said, super cute!

Here's my problem...

I never know what to do with all of the cards at the end of the season.

I hate throwing them away,

especially if they're photo cards.
So I end up holding on to them.
I'm determined to find a better solution someday.

Anywho...

I was checking out Minted & came across these ornament cards:

Adorable right?

This totally solves my problem!

I can keep the cards & hang them on my tree every year!

I love the idea (:

But really though,
what do you do with cards when you get them?

xoxo

This is a sponsored post for those of you that care to know,

but all thoughts are my own.

Promise.