Christmas table decor...That won't break the bank!!

Now I must begin this post with stating that I had FULL intentions of getting this posted BEFORE Christmas, so it would be of some help and inspiration to you all for this year...however LIFE got in the way ha! And that clearly did not happen!! Soooo...just think of this post as a REALLY early start, in planning for NEXT Christmas! Ha! YOUR WELCOME!! 

This year we were hosting Christmas dinner, so I did what every person on this planet does when they are hosting a party these days...I searched Pinterest for ideas!! I found a TON of beautiful and very extravagant table settings all over Pinterest...however I did not have the time, nor the budget to make those types of table settings happen! Thus I headed to some of my favourite local stores searching for some inspiration and good deals. 

And I found exactly that!! I present to you....

Christmas Table Decor...that won't break the bank!

My first find were these paper place mats from Target! They were $4 for a package of 12. I loved the colours and pattern, and it served as the inspiration for the rest of my table items! I decided to stick with green, black, and gold, as well as the red cranberries.

Next, I found these charge plates at the Dollar Tree for $1.25 each!

 I knew they would look great with our black dishes.

Then I found these chalkboard tags at Michael's. They were $1.50 for a package of 2! I knew they would make the perfect 'placecards' for each place setting! Plus we all know my love for chalk art...AND they can be reused over and over again!!

I found these cranberry 'picks' at the Dollar Tree for $1.25.

I cut the twine off of the chalkboard tags and stuck 3 cranberry picks through the hole on each tag. I used my chalkboard pen to write everyones name.

Next, I used some ribbon from Michael's to create the 'napkin ring' portion, and hot glued it to the cranberry wire. 

I bought a small garland from the Dollar Tree as well for $1.25, and cut off a small piece and stuck it in between the napkin and the chalkboard tag for an added POP of green!

I kept the centre piece VERY simple as well! 

I bought 3 round vases from Dollarama...2 small ($1.50 each) and 1 large ($3). I bought a large bag of fresh cranberries ($2.99) and 10 white carnations (99 cents each) to create the flower arrangement! The small green candles and cranberry 'wreathes' also all came from the Dollar Tree and were all $1.25 each! 

The flower arrangement was EASY PEASY!! 

Just place the cranberries in the round vase. Fill it with water. Add the flowers and arrange how you so wish. Add in some greenery if you so desire! And VOILA! 

I was very pleased with how our table turned out and loved it even MORE because it was so easy (and cheap!!) to put together!! I hope it gives you a little bit of inspiration for the next time you want to set the table for a special meal!

Our Home for the Holidays!

Our house is officially decorated and ready for Christmas! I love Christmas decorations and I have collected a TON over the years. There is just something magical about glitter, ornaments, and lots of red and green sprinkled everywhere! I don't have a ton of 'extra' time these days so I focused mainly on decorating our main floor family room, kitchen, and our front steps. 

Come on in and take a look...

Our front steps

(please excuse the black cord for the Christmas lights!)

Our front entry way

This is probably my favourite shelf to decorate! 

But it always takes me forever to make up my mind as to what to put on it!

In our family room

*I had to sneak some chalk art in my Christmas decor!!*

Our main floor family room

The mantle

LOVE having 3 stockings up there this year!!

Our silver and red themed Christmas tree!

Tree top

Coffee table decorations and coasters

At my kitchen sink

In our dining room

Our festive mugs and cookie plate!

Every year I have issues with where on earth to put all of our lovely Christmas cards! 

This is my $5 solution! A roll of ribbon from Walmart and some decorative clothes pins from the dollar store!

Our snowman tree upstairs in our bonus room

My favourite ornament on the tree this year!

And of course, Sophia's little advent tree in her bedroom!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!

The countdown is on...

The countdown is officially on! 

Christmas is just around the corner and I am EXCITED!!

And I'm not sure if this is funny or sad...but THREE different people sent this to me on Pinterest! HA! 

And in all honesty...they aren't wrong!! 

One of the reasons why I LOVE Christmas so much is that I LOVE traditions! Growing up we had a ton of traditions around our home, but at Christmas it seemed like they were extra special. One of my favourite traditions was our advent calenders! Each year we would be SO excited for our little cardboard advent calenders filled with the little chocolate square! My parents would always buy them mid November and it was PAINFUL to have to look at it and wait until December 1st to open the first day!! As we got older my parents switched to one of those 'fill it yourselves' advent calenders and we were pleasantly surprised each morning with a chocolate, candy, a small toy, and sometimes money! And as crazy as it may sound...My parents JUST stopped doing that advent calender for us a few years ago!! Ha! What can I say?! We love a good tradition!! 

Sooooo...Now that I have a daughter of my own, it has become VERY important to me to start some of these traditions with her! Will she remember them this year?? Absolutely not! But that does not matter to me! I still think its important to start these traditions now, so that one day we can look back and tell her that we have been doing these special things with her since she was just a baby. 

That brings us to Sophia's first advent Calender!

Since she is too little for chocolate and small toys I opted to make her a book advent calender this year! Because in my opinion, you can NEVER have too many books. Especially when you are a baby!! 

It was VERY simple to make and only cost about $20! 

I bought 2 sets of mini board books from Chapters ($10 each) and wrapped them up. Then I numbered them 1-24, alternating between a Christmas book and a Baby Einstein book for some variety! I only needed 24 books, as I have a special Christmas book for Sophia to open on Christmas day! I decorated a mini Christmas tree for her bedroom and I stuck all of the 'gifts' under her tree. I look forward to opening a book up each morning with her and reading the book! Even though she is more interest in eating books these days than reading them! 

And since we don't want anyone to feel left out with this special tradition...

This is Damian's advent Calender!

And this is mine!

Get those advent calendars ready!!

 It's almost DECEMBER!!