This is Jeff and my third Christmas together, second Christmas living together and our first Christmas as Mr & Mrs. Because we were saving for our wedding last Christmas, we really had to scrimp on decorations at home – which meant no tree, no colourful lights, 1£ decorations from the corner shop, and Christmas cards taped to the wall to try and make the flat feel festive.

But that’s not the case this year, so here’s what our first Christmas as Mr & Mrs looks like…

Like last year, we hung up all of our Christmas cards – but this time we used gold, glittery ribbon and mini clothes pins to hang them up around our mantle piece. This was super easy to do, but it was really effective, pretty to look at and – bonus! – the ribbon was recycled from a gift we received last year.

Unlike last year, we’ve begun investing in decorations – including a tree with lights! Yes, it’s a faux tree, but we’ve saved the box and can re-use it for a few more years. And as everyone knows, it’s never just a tree. Oh no – the tree must be decorated! So far most of our ornaments have been gifts from my mom and sister (the lovely ‘first Christmas’ and ‘Katherine and Jeffrey’ ones), nieces (their school photos framed as part of crafty projects – thoughtful, fun, and totally precious! Not to mention a sort of tradition in my family…) and brother in law (he gave us the sports-themed ones, of course!), but the gold and silver ones we bought at the shop to ‘bulk’ out the tree.

And yes – I’m already planning to pick up a few ornaments for next year in the sales, because that’s how I roll.

Last year we piled our presents under our TV (I feel like that probably implies something about the media culture/generation that we’re from, but the reality is that was just the most out of the way place to put them), but this year we have a tree to put them under! Side note: this is also my first year with a Christmas tree of my own since moving out of my mom’s 9 years ago, so I’m totally over the moon.

We’ve already exchanged presents with my side of the family and sent gifts to Jeff’s side of the family, so there are no longer very many under the tree. (Note to self: next year take a picture of the tree before sending gifts off to recipients!) As for the wrapping, we totally bagged the paper in the sales last year (like I said: that’s how I roll) and I used the patterned paper tape left over from this crafty project to make the wrapping feel a bit more festive. Recognise the string and gift tags? Those came in the My Little Christmas Box!

Finally, there are the little holiday-themed extras around the living room that make me feel like I’m a Real Grown Up. There aren’t many – just a couple of decorative pillows, a Christmas-themed bouquet in a vase and a seasonal Yankee Candle (which we picked up in the USA) – but you have to start somewhere with these things! And, you guessed it: I’ve got a list of things I’d like to look for in the sales to put into storage for next Christmas. (Such as a tree skirt, wintry throw for the sofa, lights for the windows and maybe a few Christmassy doorstops or jingle bells for doorknobs! We’ll see what I can find, but I’ll have an eye out for things with reindeer, penguins, snowmen and snowflakes on.)

Alright my lovelies, one more sleep before Santa pops by (does he visit homes without children?) and my mum-in-law comes over for the FIRST (of many, I hope!) Christmas we are hosting as a couple. Good thing we’ve already done the Christmas shop, because it’s pub time!

Merry Christmas, and I hope you find the presents you’ve been hoping for under the tree!