Seashell Christmas

I'm sure everyone knows by now that I have a serious passion for the coast and all things coastal.  While I don't live on the coast (not because I can't tear myself away from the sleepy little town of Gilbert but because I'm po), I pretend that I do when I decorate for Christmas.  My family's fondest memories are of times we've spent together while on or near salt water. 

I was always a very traditional kinda girl in my Christmas decorating.  A live tree decked out with red and white!  A few years ago, after a spectacular summer of many off-shore fishing weekends with my two guys and gathering so many priceless photos from those trips, I decided to purchase a white artificial tree and decorate it with the shells we found on a deserted island that we had so much fun combing and also with the photos we had taken.  I dubbed it the "family beach tree".  That year, I still had the traditional tree and put the beach tree in the kitchen.  My son fell in love with it and has only wanted it since.

Here she is!  She's a little on the small side.  Think I need to bite the bullet and hit a day after Christmas sale to see if I can score a larger white tree.  Oh, the thought of that just made my stomach do flip flops!!!  I loathe crowded stores!!!!!  Guess that's why I feel so at home in the thrift stores. 

Anyhoo, for the last few years, I have been expounding on the coastal theme and last year made this seashell wreath for our front door. 

Glitter and seashells!  Does it get any better??????  Tanya, over at "Make the Best of What's Around" is doing a blog post of Christmas wreaths so I threw this one into the ring!  If you have a hand made wreath you should go over and post it on her Facebook page or link a blog post!  I can't wait to see all the submissions she gets!!!!! 

Hope you are having fun decorating and celebrating with your own family traditions!  While our tiny beach tree is anything but traditional, it holds a lot of meaning for us and is very personal.  So is this simple wreath.  Every shell was picked up by us on a beautiful beach as we walked it alone....  just the three of us!