This year I decided to challenge myself a little and stray from the norm of how I usually decorate.

I decided to pretend I was living in a tiny house in the semi-wilderness and I had to adapt and decorate depending on whatever was available in my faux surroundings. Because decorating is still important when one is living in the primitive wilderness, of course.

My challenge was to use as little of my Christmas decorations as possible. With the resolve in the future to eventually donate those decorations that I found myself not needing.

Currently I have two plastic totes full of Christmas decor. Which isn’t too bad for the most decorated holiday of the year, but perhaps I can do better? We’ll see.

Last year I made these paper stars and I still absolutely love them. I hung them from my ceiling, along with my white pinecones. I hung them on my windows to keep the winter gloom away and I hung them on my Christmas tree. I really love the Scandinavian look that they give. Plus, you can keep them for next year (they don’t require much space) or simply recycle and make them again next year since they only cost pennies to make!

I also made these cardboard stars and hung them from my window sill. They are sturdier than the paper stars and sprayed with gold paint so they shine.

I only have three shelves in my house and I find that decorating shelves is my least favorite. I don’t like lots of knick knacks, but come Christmas time, I’m always coming up short with ideas to decorate the shelf space. This year I went extra simple and simply gathered up all of the metal stars around my house and placed them on the shelf. From there, I hung the stockings underneath.

On the only other bare shelf I took a branch that had been trimmed from the Christmas tree and placed it there, along with a star. Simple, easy, and once Christmas is over the branch can become fire wood and the star can go back on the wall.

At the very last minute I decided to make these frosted and gold pinecone ornaments. They were so simple and on the tree in five minutes.

I also put out my Christmas plates. I bought these at a yard sale years ago and they have survived many kitchen cleaning purges. I love them that much.

Finally, for the Christmas tree, I hung homemade strung cranberry garland.

I also hung frosted pinecones, paper stars, Christmas lights, and a big red bow on the top. I also placed my glittery green, red, brown, and gold Christmas balls. Every year I consider doing away with them but I just can’t. They’re so pretty and warm and sometimes I will hang them from other parts of my house so I find them very versatile in that way.

Finally, for dinner, I made a creamy keto tortilla soup from the leftover turkey from yesterday. Delicious!!