In speaking with my creative director (Ash), the recommendation was for a red and green Christmas tree this year because “Those are the Christmas colors, mommy.” And that’s how this very Christmassy Christmas tree came about. I am overjoyed to share it (as witnessed by the barrage of photos in this post), as it is one of my best Christmas tree creations yet (and it was so much fun to do)!
My fancy schmancy ornaments are from Balsam hill that I’ve collected over the years. The beautiful beaded garland is also Balsam Hill. Target is always coming in clutch! Because the black Santa and nutcracker ornaments are fabulous. The stars were also some of my favorite additions this year. I found them on Amazon!
And then there is the red cardinal. The red cardinal has a back story.
Sometime during the spring this year, a red cardinal regularly came outside the family room window. It seemed he would fly to sit approximately in the same spot in the tree and tap on the window almost every morning. Sometimes his tapping would wake me up. I would go to the window; he would look at me and fly away. Sometimes he would tap while Asher was eating breakfast. I would joke with Ash that he was hungry and wanted his food. Sometimes he would randomly tap like he was beckoning me to come to him. And when I did, he would look at me and then fly away.
One day, while in for a gel manicure with Cheryl, I looked over my shoulder and saw birds chirping away at a bird feeder outside her glass doors. I casually said, ‘I should get a bird feeder for this red bird that keeps tapping on my window.’ She stopped filing my nails and gave me this stare, “A red bird….you mean a cardinal?” I responded, ‘Yes, a cardinal. It comes and taps on my window.’ Cheryl proceeded to inform me that she did not believe that the tapping of the cardinal was just randomness. Some believe that the visiting tap of a red cardinal is symbolic of a departed loved one.
This beautiful cardinal came so much that I missed it when it stopped coming. I don’t know if any of the cardinal symbolism Cheryl told me about holds true, but I know that every year I somehow try to include my sweet angel Ethan on our Christmas tree. One year I had his name calligraphed in gold on an ornament. So this year, I found a cardinal ornament as a homage to him. And I placed it next to the biggest star.
I found this beautiful angel and pine comb from the hospital gift shop!
The reversible red and black buffalo print wrapping paper is from Amazon. My slight regret before taking these pictures is adding ribbon for more aesthetic appeal. But I felt it was a waste as these presents are not props. They are, in fact, for my six-year-old who could care less about a perfectly wrapped present complete with a beautiful ribbon. So I skipped on it.
Anyway, that’s my tree! What do you think?! What color or theme did you go with this year?
Merry Christmas! Xo
