In our family, the day after Thanksgiving is the day we deck our halls. Sometimes, if the extended family leaves soon after the meal, we even drag out the tree and decorate it while we digest the Thanksgiving meal (because we are not football watchers here, which I’m told is what most people are doing post-meal.)
In my perfect world, I would have white lights on my tree and then some sort of ornament theme — I have a ton of White House ornaments (they do a special one each year) as well as hand blown glass ornaments from Germany. I’d probably alternate years and use just those. Then I’d have a candle and a wreath in each window, my chile lights on the bannisters, a nativity in the yard, and that would be it.
But oh boy, my boys (and I include hubby in this) have other ideas. And I’ve learned to roll with it. This year, they’ve added some color-changing metallic trees to the Griswold-like cacophony on the front yard.
How do you decorate? (And if it’s different from your “dream” – what’s your dream setup?)
Winners this Week
If you’re a winner, you should have received an email from the author in charge of the giveaway. If not, please email us at: prizes at inspyromance dot com.
Lincoln was the winner from Brynn Stewart’s guest post.
Teresa Tysinger’s winner was Megan.
Toni Shiloh’s winner was Sunshine.
Elizabeth Maddrey’s winner was Linda (for my stand-in for Jaycee post)
Amy Anguish’s winner was Kendra.
Congratulations!
Don’t forget… every comment you make qualifies you to win one of the monthly Amazon card giveaways!
Specials this Week
A Heart Reconsidered by Elizabeth Maddrey is free through today.
Reader Gathering
Did you know Inspy Romance hosts a Christian Romance Reader Gathering group on Facebook? Toni Shiloh will be hosting this week! Join us… but don’t forget to answer the questions for admittance!
StoryChats @ InspyRomance
Story Chats is back this week with an all new episode launching Friday! Elizabeth, Valerie, and Narelle talked about friend groups in CCR this week. You won’t want to miss it!
Listen to our new weekly show on your favorite podcasting app, through the player on our podcast tab, or watch us on YouTube! Wherever you listen or watch, please be sure to hit subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!
Last Week on Inspy Romance
On Monday, Amy Anguish asked, “What if?”
On Tuesday: Hannah Jo Abbott shared what she wants in a Christmas story.
On Wednesday, Valerie Comer shared some secrets.
On Thursday, Elizabeth Maddrey talked about Jaycee Weaver’s book Love, Laughter, & Luminarias.
On Friday, Mandi Blake gave us some rules for readers.
On Saturday, Lindi Peterson celebrated the most wonderful time of the year.
Next Week on Inspy Romance
Monday: Angela Ruth Strong
Tuesday: Milla Holt
Wednesday: Liwen Ho
Thursday: Deb Kastner
Friday: Tabitha Bouldin
Saturday: Laurie Larsen
New Releases
December 2021
Romanced by the Hero (Heroes of Freedom Ridge 12) by Liwen Y. Ho
Their Unbreakable Bond (Rocky Mountain Family 4) (K9 Companions 1) by Deb Kastner
The Breakup Project (Original Six Hockey Romance 1) by Carolyn Miller
Reclaiming Hope (Independence Islands 18) by Carolyn Miller
Healing Skye (Coastal Hearts) by Janet W Ferguson
No Place Like Home by Amy R Anguish
November 2021
Together in Thyme (Urban Farm Fresh Romance 12) by Valerie Comer
Footprints on Her Heart (Independence Islands 17) by Tabitha Bouldin
Believing the Hero (Heroes of Freedom Ridge 9) by Tara Grace Ericson
Guarded by the Hero (Heroes of Freedom Ridge 7) by Mandi Blake
Pieces of Forever (River Falls 1) by Valerie M Bodden
Always Been Yours (Something Borrowed Collection 1) by Jaycee Weaver
Head Over Stilettos (Fab Forties 2) by Liwen Y. Ho
All the Moore (Something Borrowed Collection 2) by Toni Shiloh
Somehow, This Christmas (Something Borrowed Collection 4) by Teresa Tysinger
A complete list of Inspy Romance books by our authors is always available on our BOOKS tab. Find our audiobooks, our permanently free e-books, and our thank-you gifts for newsletter subscribers there as well!
Elizabeth Maddrey is a semi-reformed computer geek and homeschooling mother of two who lives in the suburbs of Washington D.C. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books. She loves to write about Christians who struggle through their lives, dealing with sin and receiving God’s grace on their way to their own romantic happily ever after.
My mom loves classic Christmas colors: red, gold, green, and silver. Put Christmas wreaths on the windows and decorate candy canes. The tree decorations are in the same colors: I have always liked the collection of angels that we have. Something funny is that we have a game of angels to hang on the tree that look like girls with wings, and another game that are little soldiers that look like boys. When I was a child and they let me decorate the tree, I would put my hands on them and the tree would end up full of couples placed in the most creative ways hahaha.
My mom even took a picture of one of them to put on a Christmas card. I thought it was cute how the couple seemed to be dancing hanging from a branch.
When I have my own house I think I will buy a completely white Christmas tree and decorate it in shades of silver, pink and purple.
We use ALL of the very, many decorations. The kids insist on the more is better concept. I actually love it. It’s bright, fun and so us.
We use ALL of the very , many decorations. The kids go with the more is better concept. I actually love it. It’s bright, fun and so us.
Oh! I love the idea of angel couples. That’s delightful.
It is definitely bright and fun.
This year, the only decoration I have out is the Nativity, though I’ve put it in a different location. Mom and I hadn’t put a tree in YEARS, and really, there’s no “good” place to put it if we wanted to be able to see it. We did use a ceramic one that a friend gave us. This year, I just decided I wanted the Nativity, and nothing else. In a “dream world” I’d put a real tree up, and use the decorations I’ve had for many years that are still in their boxes, plus the ones we used to use. I would also have a lighted Nativity outside, and possibly colored lights outlining the roof of the house. That would be it, though.
I love when people line their roof with lights. We do our garage but the roof is too high/steep really for us to do more.
Our tree this year is three big redwood shoots tied together :-) We have large redwoods in our yard, which put up shoots. These are about 8 feet tall. The three tied together make a decent tree :-) Our ornament collection is very eclectic – each one has a story – “I bought that in ___” or my friend ___ made that one, etc. Outside we have lights along the eaves, and I was thrilled about 10 years ago to get a lighted nativity set at KMart on sale after Christmas, so we have that on the deck. Inside I have the nativity set my parents had when I was tiny, plus one my husband and I bought in Taiwan when we were first married.
Our live tree isn’t up yet, but hopefully today. I love trees with white lights and red/white/silver ornaments. They are so pretty… but ours has much more personality! Hubby prefers multi-color lights, so that’s what goes on the tree (white lights other places). And almost every single ornament on our tree has been handmade by a family member or purchased at a craft fair. So it is definitely charming!
I’d love to have a fireplace with a mantel to decorate. Or just a bit more room anywhere to add a pretty display. Alas, there is no room.
Ooh. The redwood shoots sound just lovely.
I do love our mantel this year – it’s got the stockings and two of m nativities (which, to be fair, I leave out year round). Handmade ornaments are always fun.
Hi Elizabeth! Happy 3rd Advent. My first holiday decorations are holiday placemats and my Advent wreath, plus Advent Calendar. Since Christmas 2017 on December 6 my 4 foot tabletop artificial tree in true Martin Luther fashion with white lights is placed in the front window. When my sons left home, they each were given their collection of Christmas Ornaments. Since my granddaughter love squirrels our tree has an outdoor theme with squirrels, deer, birds and silvery glass pinecones. My youngest son’s preschool thumb mouse framed ornament is on the tree, plus a few sentimental wooden ornaments. For this retiree, I keep things simple. Depending on the holiday, I do change the stuffed animals for the granddaughters. I have out the Christmas teddy bears. Some in the living room and others in the play room. Happy Holidays.
Oh the squirrel and outside theme sounds like a lot of fun! We have many sentimental ornaments on our tree as well.
Hi, Elizabeth! Over the years, we have had a variety of trees and decorating styles. As a youth, my dad would go to the woods on our property and cut down a tree for Christmas. Unfortunately, it was usually a white pine. If you are not familiar with the variety, it’s what Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree was modeled after. But decorate it we did!
More recently, we have stayed with artificial trees both large and small. I like the multicolored lights (no blinking!). The ornaments are a mix of store-bought and gifts. There is usually a garland around somewhere and maybe a wreath (all artificial). No outdoor lights. Also one or two nativities.
My mom, being a French teacher, got into the French custom of the santons, which is essentially a nativity on steroids. :-) The santons are painted ceramic figurines of people from all walks of life who come to the stable. A small creche (nativity) can easily take up an entire table with all the santons set out.
Many happy memories. Merry Christmas!
Oooh. Now I need to go spend some time with Google looking a photos of santons!
I have some ornaments from Mount Vernon (although one had the house on it and it fell off after a year or so and I cant seem to fix it). I also have others from people who I have don’t exchanges with, I have some from Mum’s Senior angels (they use to write to her once a week and would send her a gift at Christmas, its part of an organisation to write to seniors who may be in care, or on there own so they know someone cares and get a letter at least once a week). I also have some from trips to America and Canada. I love my Pink Trolley car from Hawaii and the other Hawaii ornaments, the Wreath with the Canadian maple leaf, My Squirrels a friend sent. I would like to add the really old ornaments but with Libby (cat) nothing is safe. I downsized to a smaller tree this year although on the small side table it looks really good and is weighed down and tied down to keep it upright but looks really good just needs the icicles. I don’t have lights.
Growing up I always wanted lights on the tree and my ideal own would be a bigger one with the lights tinsel all the ornaments (no real colour theme) and a cat that leave it alone. I would also like some more of the old fashioned clip on birds
Cats make trees much harder for sure! I do love looking at ornaments and having memories of vacations of people resurface.
Congratulations winners!!!
We usually decorate by color 😊
Congratulations to the winners. Thank you for sharing. I go with the punches when it comes to decorating. I would be happy with just the nativity being out. My husband is the one who decorates. Since we are limited in space and disabled, we have a tabletop tree that is already prelit. The nativity is out. He has a candle in the window. Many years ago, a friend of mine took a table top tree decorated it with lights as well as bought small Precious Moments ornaments. It is sitting on top of the freezer in the kitchen which is where I spend most of my time. God bless you.
Fun!
Tabletop trees really are so great!
Congratulations to all the winners. We have an artificial blue spruce and we have multi colored lights . Our decorations are old, lots of photo ornaments , birds and every year I make sure to purchase a new ornament. I love, love everything about Christmas. I put alot of decorations on our tree , my husband puts up the tree, lights and the garland on the tree and I take care of all the decorations, I also love to put on the porcelain and the plastic icicles. Have a great week and stay safe.
Blue spruce are so beautiful – even the fake ones :)
We only put the tree up with all our special ornaments we’ve collected over the years. Last year we decided to get a bigger artificial tree (6-1/2 ft) that was was also pre-lit, and Home Depot had them on sale :-) It’s one of those slim design ones because we don’t have a lot of places to put it & it fits in a corner perfectly. You can also do the lights in multiple sequences….colored to all white, flashing or solid. It’s pretty awesome to switch it up and make it festive!
We usually deck the halls with pretty much all of the ornaments and decorations we have collected over the years (some are projects my mom has made, others are ones I made when I was in school), but since we’re not hosting the family this year, we’re not going full out.
Ours is prelit as well and gosh that’s so nice. It makes decorating less fraught.
Homemade keepsakes seem to be the very popular ornament. And I do love the ones we have on our tree as well. Maybe I need two trees 🤣