Every November 1st I begin thinking about Christmas and start crafting a week-by-week plan to make my favorite holiday the best it can be. There are eight weeks until Christmas so each week until then one post will be dedicated towards getting ready for Christmas. I hope that all of the posts are helpful for you to plan along with me. This will make the last week much easier and more enjoyable. As I get ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas, a wreath is a nice way to transition through the holidays.
If you like to have a wreath on your door for Thanksgiving that lasts through the New Year I think Magnolia wreaths are beautiful. They last a long time, don’t dry out and can be changed during the season. A fall magnolia wreath can easily be changed to have a more traditional Christmas feel.
By changing the ribbons and ornamentation you can get different looks out of one wreath.
Magnolia wreaths are all green or the traditional mixed leaves.
What I am doing this week for Christmas:
- Getting a transitional wreath for my front door.
- Going through my address book to update addresses as needed. Counting how many Christmas cards I need to order and round up to the nearest 25 increment.
- Ordering holiday stamps online at USPS.com. Skipping the line at the post office.
-Start working on the kids pictures and look at Christmas Cards. Try to get two and three year old boys to sit together in cute outfits before they get dirty. Wish me luck.
What are you doing to get started for the holidays? Let me know what’s in your early planning stages.
Photo Credits: BHG, Southern Living, Charleston Gardens
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{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Laura, you are great to do this for us! I will get out my Magnolia wreath from Restoration Hardware and do some additions as you have shown. Perfect! Oh and one thing I am doing this year is insisting on a low low budget for gifts…talk with the family, just being together is a huge gift of love.
Great post, Laura! I’ve been thinking about Christmas already too. A couple of months ago, I made a list of all the people that I will buy gifts for and have been jotting ideas as they come to me. Now I’m in the process of reviewing my lists and beginning to order gifts! I also have been updating addresses and working on a photo for my card. Oh- I’ve begun shopping for wrapping paper too. I love gifts to be beautifully wrapped, so I start looking for nice papers and ribbons early…. before the selection gets low! Oh how I love Christmas!
This is making me excited. Yesterday morning my husband got and up said, “You know, this is the beginning of the holiday season!” I stood there with my mouth wide open. He’s never said anything like that before. I think I will get a wreath up this afternoon. Thanks, Laura!
I was thinking of a magnolia wreath but didn’t know if it was Christmas-y enough! Thank you for the transitional tips. I am going to follow your getting ready tips each week – I need the structured approach! And I wish you great luck with your picture! I’ve decided it is impossible to get my 2 and 3 year olds in cute outfits, clean, sitting still and smiling!
Great ideas! I think I’ll follow along. Do you have a favorite source for wreaths?
Love the Magnolia wreath!
xo,
cristin
I am not a wreath girl. But I do like ones that are beautiful in their simplicity like the green one with the red ribbon…I would do that one……:)
I’ve just ordered mine from Linda’s Florist! Thank you for the inspiration.
How pretty! I have a pinecone and cinnamon stick wreath (I think it came from the clearance section in Target a few years ago after Christmas) that I put up in October and take down in January. I just change the ribbon each month for a completely different look.
Thanks for getting me in the holiday preparations spirit!
I’m so excited for the holidays! Thanks for the great tips and I’m looking foward to your weekly Christmas posts. Cheers to ordering Christmas stamps online! xoxo
Laura,
I keep a “Holiday” Binder and have all my favorite lists jotted down from the year.
There is the card list, the recipes and menus, the decor ideas as well as my wish list.
I do a few things every month to allow me to enjoy the month of December. I had a Christmas tree skirt made last January and I have my ribbons for wrapping!
I can hardly wait! Lovely wreaths inside and out are on my list (thanks to you)!!!
pve
I love the way wreaths make your front door look so beautiful! I love Christmas time and I love all the decorations!
Great Post.l
Look forward to see all of your ideas and thoughts. So helpful. Eight weeks!
I love magnolia wreaths, and had been considering one for this year. Thanks for pushing me over the edge, I’m definitely doing it now! Beautiful photos, too!
Loved seeing you at Tar-jay the other day. You’re inspirational with your holiday plan – your good organization must be what keeps you so calm! My strategy with the pics is to get the photo cards that allow for 2 individual photos juxtaposed…world peace seems almost easier than getting my two to look at the camera, smile, keep their eyes open and not end up with someone crying.
This is a great idea, Laura! Can’t wait to see what you’ve got up your sleeve for the next 8 weeks. We’re hosting Thanksgiving this year and I’m in the process of figuring out transitional seasonal decor. We will have to swap ideas about where to shop for a Christmas tree around CTL!
wow. if only I had your gift of organization for one area of my life. thanks..i am inspired.
My mother always had a Magnolia Wreath, every year. I love them, they are so southern, I making my first one this year too! OH…and working on my christmas cards too, debating if I should include a black and white photo of my and my husband (kidless) in front of our new house..is that cheesy?! Hum..still thinking about it. I’m so getting organized now for the holidays too!
Ok Laura, I ‘m so glad one of us is in planning mode. Maybe I’ll just follow your calander. I’m a mess this year! This year I feel as though I stretched myself pretty thin with lots of comittments to keep me busy. Yuck. I’m already feeling the stress.
I am a planner too. I have ordered our Christmas cards in October and they have arrived. Working on updating the address, but need to buy stamps – your online tip is great!
Also, just posted an article on decorating the Thanksgiving table and linked to your great article on setting the table. Hope that is okay!
http://simplifiedbee.blogspot.com/2009/11/thanksgiving-table-setting-and.html
xo,
cristin
I love magnolia wreaths. i did a square one last year and one with gilded leaves the year before. lush!