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(You can also see our family Christmas tree HERE if you'd like a peek.)Â
Ready for a L.O.N.G. post? Grab a cup of hot chocolate. 😉
Goodness, can I just tell you I feel like I am never going to catch my breath? (I'm betting you feel the same way too right now!) I've been so wanting to share my fun little (updated) Dollar Tree Christmas Tree with you, but just haven't had time to get there.
Well, today I snapped a few pics finally to share, and wanted to share a little bit of our new home this Christmas too. Since we've moved to Ohio, I am just in love with the home we have here (seriously folks, I would never have dreamed eighteen years ago in our early-penny-pinching days we would ever be here!) I do have a little guilt some days about living here ~ because I know we are just plain-ole-ridiculously-crazy-blessed, but am just so very thankful for it.
However, as I've been busy fluffing things up for Christmas, it's been a little bittersweet because there's really not anyone here to share it with. (Anyone else love sharing your fluffed up home too?)
So, I decided today not to be so sad about that (I really do know that day will come!), but instead just to ask you to come on in and take a peek. I really don't know the first thing about decorating or design, but I do just love home, and home's so much more fun when you share it with a friend. (Which is why I'm inviting you!)
So, wanna come hang out for a minute? 😉
Here's my Dollar Store Tree . . . it stands in the corner of our breakfast nook . . .
(we're going tomorrow to pick up a fresh tree that will have our family ornaments on it ~ don't worry, we have those too!)
We are loving the view to our backyard from there ~ with huge windows where every so often we see deer roaming around.
On the tree I just used exactly 163 ornaments from the Dollar Tree (most of them were sold in several packs for $1 – I loved that!)
As well as some old berries I'd had from our last tree 
And burlap garland I made using less than $10 in fabric. 
And these silver berries? Also from the Dollar Tree ~ I bought 3 bunches of $1 berries and separated them out to spread out the wealth. 😉
Back in the corner of the breakfast area is my fun $7 Pom Pom pillow. (Gracious, I just love that little thing!)
Remember my $2.50 Goodwill chair? Well it still sits in the corner, next to some Christmas pillows in our window box that I found last year at Target on clearance in the $1 bins. (Can you tell I'm a little stuck on things I can buy for a dollar? Or maybe $2?)
I found this little guy at the Pottery Barn Outlet a few weeks ago and my daughter decided he needed to be a birthday gift for me from the kids . . .
(See who really loves him) 😉
And the twig Christmas trees on the mantle were just $12.99 at TJMaxx (my biggest splurge!)
Since my birthday's in November I asked for these JOY wreaths from Ballard Designs ~ I would n.e.v.e.r. (seriously, EVER) have bought them for myself, but all of my in-laws went in so I could have them. I'm in love!
Outside we have wreaths on our windows that we've moved through four houses now, so to update them a bit I used some sprigs from Michaels ~ I think they're a little more fun than plain old wreaths?
And out on our front door is this fun wreath I found at TJMaxx too, which meant our old front door wreath got moved to a rocking chair.
Since we just had our fun first family pictures made (ever), here's a peek at one of those too.
(and, here's what we really look like most of the time (well, minus the matching clothes. . . )
I promise you can have pretty things even on a budget, though it may take a little patience to get there. And, if you're in a place where you feel like you'll never get there, trust me. We've been at this awhile (eighteen-and-a-half years to be exact!), but it really is worth the wait. Thanks so much for taking a look around!
I'd love for you to join me over on Pinterest (I love that place!) If you have a blog and have done a little fluffing in your home, I’d love to see it, so leave your link in the comments section. Also, if there’s a craft you’ve seen on a website that you’re hoping to make, feel free to share that link as well (I’m always looking for new ideas!)
 (See our family Christmas tree HERE if you'd like a peek.)Â
UPDATES 2015 ~ I couldn't wait to share!
The tree in my new office
Starting to decorate our live tree
And our live tree all done this year.
See previous Friday Fluff Up projects and ideas . . . and Happy Fluffing!
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One thing I have been doing for the last couple of years is using empty cereal, pop tarts, Nilla or crackers and fruit snack boxes to wrap my xmas gifts. Its not also savings but everyone gets a good laugh.
What a good idea Oralia – that’s right up my husband’s alley (he’s always mad because we never have enough boxes to wrap in!) 🙂
We live up near Lake Erie 🙂 I do love my burlap tree this year courtesy of seeing your blog! Have a Merry Christmas!
Yayyyy Erin – so glad it worked for you (that makes my day!)
We are just 30 miles East of Columbus. Love your blog
Thanks so much for sharing Brandie – we’re just a few miles North so not that far at all!
Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures. Your home looks out of a magazine!
You’re so sweet Kathleen – thank you!
Your tree is beautiful! Sorry if this is a repeat question. Where did you get the burlap garland that wraps around the tree? Thnx!
Here you go Lori – thanks so much! 🙂 https://passionatepennypincher.com/2014/12/how-to-make-burlap-garland/
WOW love all that you did! You got some great deals and really made them "stand" out beautifully!
Thanks Adriana – I appreciate that so much!
Thanks so much Demetria Walton Lampkin!
Thanks so much Karen! And Merry Christmas to you in Texas too!! 🙂
Hi Erin Greener Walleman! We're just North of Columbus 🙂 I hate that your store didn't have any of the ornaments ~ they're such a good deal (I wonder if Walmart would carry something similar?) So glad you found PPP!
Thanks so much Susan – it is such a good reminder that God does have a purpose in everything (even when we're not so sure!) Hope your family has a wonderful Christmas too 🙂
Lovely! Lovely home, lovely thoughts, lovely decorating. lovely family . . . just lovely! (And I recognize that things aren’t always lovely, but you’ve done a great job capturing them here.) Merry Christmas to you all!
Very nice!
You have a beautiful home….MERRY CHRISTMAS from Texas!
love love love!!!!! I’m in northeast Ohio! I hope you enjoy it here and meet many new friends! With a home decorate like that, I’m sure your home will be bustling with neighbors eager to learn and copy a few ideas! I’m very inspired, I moved into a larger home last year, and was excited to decorate. This year I realized my hand me downs are all mismatched and now I have some ideas!!
I so understand struggling with the hand me downs and mismatched decorations Susan – it’s so hard to be willing not to use everything (I really pared things down this year!) Love that you’re in Northeast Ohio – so excited for you to start fluffing too!
Where in Ohio do you live? I'm from Ohio, too 🙂 Your house is lovely! I'm so glad I found your site recently! I went to our Dollar Tree today and sadly there are few ornaments and no snowflakes! (I wanted to make one of those wreaths you posted earlier).
Everything looks beautiful. Glad to hear that your family is settling in your new home. Holidays are the hardest being away from family and old friends,But God had a purpose for everything, new friends included. Have a wonderful Christmas.
I like the way you fluff up for the Holidays. Beautiful. 🙂
Thanks so much Helen – it’s so fun! 🙂
Beautiful!
Thanks so much Lydia!