Growing up I was always blessed to have a fireplace in my home, which meant a beautifully decorated mantel at Christmas time. After Shaun and I were married our home in Seattle had a fireplace but we never had the chance to use it for the one Christmas that we lived in the house. Since then our homes have been fireplace free and that meant finding creative places for our stockings and mantel decorations. Until now.

This year we have a fireplace and I think that one detail makes me more excited than anything else about Christmas. I was beyond eager to pull out the decorations and get the mantel decorated. I think I did a pretty decent job this year. It sure looks beautiful, at least to me! Christmas is in the air!