It’s December 1st, which means the calendar has officially given us permission to start celebrating the season. We kicked things off last Sunday by setting up our artificial Christmas tree. It’s not completely ornamented yet, but we wanted to share the first steps of the process and a little bit of the festive atmosphere with you.
Here Come the Holidays!
We filmed a short video of the tree setup—complete with a broken strand of lights and a lot of holiday cheer—but for anyone who prefers to read, here’s the story in words. The setup was straightforward, if somewhat comical. After a couple of false starts trying to figure out which section was the bottom, the tree finally stood upright. We placed two sheepskin rugs around the base to act as a soft, cozy tree skirt, then plugged the lights in only to realize a section wasn’t working. Sigh. That’s holiday decorating in a nutshell: equal parts joy and tiny inconveniences.
Even with the lighting hiccup, the video captures the fun of the moment—sped up with some seasonal music to keep the mood bright. And for those who’ve been following along, Sherry’s baby bump is visible in the footage, which we know will be a happy detail for anyone tracking the pregnancy. Small personal touches like that make the process feel homey and real.
In the good news department: we tracked down and fixed the faulty lights. The better news: the tree will be fully decorated soon, and we’ll share more photos and a sequel video once it’s been “ornamentified.” Sherry is planning a fresh, punchy color scheme this year, which means we’re on the hunt for a few more ornaments in a specific, slightly hard-to-find shade. If you’re into holiday trends, we’ll show how a bold color palette can transform a familiar tree into something modern and energized.
We noticed a lot of homes were already fully decorated the day after Thanksgiving—houses with rooflines outlined in lights, porches wrapped in garlands, and giant trees glowing in windows. That level of readiness is impressive, but this year we’re taking a gentler pace. We like building momentum over the month: a little decorating at a time, with plenty of opportunities to pause and enjoy the lights, music, and holiday rituals. Expect steady updates as we add ornaments, garlands, and finishing touches.
If you’re just getting started, here are a few simple tips we used during our setup: test all lights before fluffing branches, place a soft rug or skirt to hide the base and add warmth, and plan your color scheme in advance so your ornament choices feel cohesive. These small steps cut down on last-minute scavenger hunts and help the finished tree look intentional rather than thrown together.
We’ll be sharing more photos and a follow-up video once the tree is fully decorated. For anyone curious about our holiday styling or looking for affordable decorating ideas, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite holiday decor finds elsewhere on the site—many budget-friendly and under $15. Those picks are great if you want to update your scheme without breaking the bank.
How about you? Have you started decorating yet, or are you waiting until closer to the holidays? Whether you’re all-in early or prefer a slow-build approach, we’d love to hear how you tackle your seasonal decorating. We’re excited to keep decorating, filming, and sharing the whole journey. After all, ’tis the season to make a little extra warmth and sparkle at home.