Our Holiday Decor (+ My Super Awesome Vintage Santa Collection)

I have a thing for collections.  When I was in second or third grade, my teacher had us participate in a stamp collecting project.  Although I had absolutely no interest in the stamps themselves, I remember being exhilarated by the concept of searching for things that had a common theme and putting them together.  Even at that age, it was all about the design for me.  While the other kids sought out stamps that had the highest value (which was technically the point of the project), I focused on colors, patterns, and aesthetic.  Seeking out pretty things that had variations within one common thread was thrilling - an artistic treasure hunt.

I've always loved decorating for the holidays, and I've been a huge fan of thrifting since high school.  My mom gave me my first Santa figurine when I was in college, and it was all over from there.  I am now a self-proclaimed official Santa collecting dork.  Even in the summer, if I come across an interesting old Santa at an estate sale, thrift shop or garage sale, I snatch it up immediately.  I love the way they all look together, and it's so cool to imagine the history behind each one.  Who owned it?  How did they display it during the holidays?  Where is it from?  Sometimes I get a brand new Santa from friends or family, which is equally as awesome.  Even the non-vintage parts of the collection have some sort of stories to go along with them.  As you can see from the images above, my addiction has grown to include vintage deer too.  I found the raddest old deer salt and pepper shakers at an estate sale over the summer for 99 cents!

I forced myself to take my first weekend off from working in weeks, and we put up some of our holiday decorations. This is such a busy time of year, and I usually put off decorating until a week or two before Christmas. It was ridiculously nice not to feel rushed this year.

Most of our Christmas decorations are pieces I've made or that my mom made and passed down to me, mixed in with vintage items we've found over the years.  One my favorite decorations are the bubble lights we put on one of our trees (yes, we have several!).  They were huge in the 1940s and 1950s, and feature colorful glass "candles" that produce moving bubbles when warm.  Coolest Christmas lights ever.

Do you have any collections?  Have you decorated for the holidays yet?

Happy Monday!  Make sure to stop back by tomorrow...  I have the most amazing (and incredibly easy) D.I.Y. to share!

I just had to give a quick shout-out to my dad, who turns another year older today!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!  We love you!