Countdown to {a Simple} Christmas

Garrett found out the truth about Santa Claus this year.

He’s eight, and apparently the Thing To Do in 3rd grade is spoil the fun for other kids about the man in the big red suit.

So, a few months ago he came to me and asked me straight up if Santa was real.

And I answered honestly, because I could see in his eyes that he already knew and to lie about it would just delay the inevitable.

He took the news in stride, and promised not to tell Caroline the truth once she was old enough to understand.  True to form, my sweet boy was thinking of his little sister more than himself when he learned The Big Secret. 

That means that this year I have an 8 year old who doesn’t believe in Santa anymore and a 14 month old who babbles incoherently and won’t have a clue that the fat man even exists for a long while yet. She is also snatching and grabbing everything in sight and nearly tall enough to reach the fireplace mantel which means there is absolutely no reason for me to go all out with Christmas decorations this year.

There is a little part of me that is sad to miss all the fun that comes with the blogger home tours. I’ve been a part of Jen Rizzo’s Holiday Housewalk for the past four Christmases now.

Christmas decorating is like the SEC Championship for bloggers, and my blog plays in the Iron Bowl every single year, y’all.

It’s an annual tradition clean up Thanksgiving dinner and immediately start hours decorating and photographing and stressing out over the big Christmas home tour, but this year? Anything I put up would have to come right back down out of reach of tiny hands, so I’m just opting out on most of the big Christmas home tours this year. I am just saying no.

Instead, I’m keeping it simple.

And if I’m being honest here?  Even though there is a small part of me that is a lil bit sad, the MAJOR part of me is super excited to have a relaxed Christmas season without the craziness of blogging about every little nook and cranny of my holiday home. I mean, I love y’all, but that shizz is stressful!

So, with that being said, I will still have a few little Christmas-y type projects on the blog this year.

Don’t worry- I’m not totally Scrooging out on y’all. I just won’t be doing the over-the-top full Christmas home tour because my tree and the majority of my decor is going to have to fit behind the Trump toddler wall. 

To kick off the season of SIMPLE Christmas decorations, I’m joining my blog buddies for an easy Christmas Printable blog hop!

This little countdown printable is super simple if you stick it behind glass in a photo frame and use a wet erase marker to change the date each day! See?

You can click here to download your free printable Christmas countdown (your choice with PDF and JPG of both)…

…then you can head over to my friend’s blogs to download all of THEIR holiday printables to your heart’s content!

Banner Christmas Tags by Ella Claire | Gift Tags by Zevy Joy | Good Tidings of Joy by Lolly Jane | Watercolor Christmas Baking by Craftberry Bush | A Thrill of Hope by Maison de Pax

Free Printable Holiday Gift Tags and Ornaments by Finding Home Farms | Peace on Earth by My Someday in May | Red Barn Gift Tags & Print by Refresh Restyle | Kiss Me Under the Mistletoe Watercolor by Finding Silver Pennies | Merry Christmas Ornament by In My Own Style

Good Tidings Christmas Chalkboard by Live Laugh Rowe | Plaid Christmas Gift Tags by Four Generations One Roof | Vintage Inspired Christmas Favor by Anderson and Grant | Hot Cocoa Bar Sign Printable by Blesser House | Watercolor Paper Flowers by Chronicles of Home

Let it Snow Banner by Happy Happy Nester | Reindeer Games by Clean and Scentsible | Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by A Burst of Beautiful | 12 Plaid Reindeer Joy Printables by The Happy Housie | Santa Baby by Kelly Elko

Christmas Tree Farm Poster by Making Home Base | We’ve Got that Holiday Feeling by My Fabuless Life | It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by May Me and Mom | Heaven and Nature Sing by Nest of Posies | Nativity by Shades of Blue Interiors

Make Your Own Christmas Village by Town and Country Living | Madeline’s Christmas by So Much Better with Age | Christmas Gift Tags by TIDBITS | Countdown to Christmas by Unskinny Boppy | Holly Botanical Study Watercolor by Nina Hendrick Design

Pie Labels by My Sweet Savannah | Advent by My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia | Buffalo Check Christmas Banner by Just Destiny