“I am waiting for you, Lord. I will not let December become about making a production—when it’s simply about not missing you, Lord. Miracles happen whenever I look for shoots of Jesus’ love everywhere—because this grows deep roots in Jesus’ love for everyone.” -Ann Voskamp

Happy Monday, friends! If you’re coming from my friend Laura’s home, welcome! I have always loved Laura and admired her style. My name is Amber and we live in a tiny little town in the upstate of South Carolina. We bought a home that needed a complete overhaul five years ago and have been it our own ever since. From completely tearing down every wall downstairs to making over our kitchen for $5,000, we have marveled at how God has unfolded it all.

And last year, in our small town, we had an in person tour of homes that we were so honored to be a part of it and I went all out. More than I have ever decorated.

And it was fun!

But this year, I have been taking things so slowly. I LOVED my kitchen last year, but this year, it is much, much simpler.

So, today, I’m joined by some talented friends who are also sharing part of their Christmas home tour with you…

The Happy Housie
House of Wood
Inspiration for Moms
Town and Country Living
In My Own Style

The Turquoise Home
Amber Tysl
Deeply Southern Home
Tauni Everett

Tuesday

Sincerely, Marie Designs
Satori Design for Living
Finding Silver Pennies
Willow Street Interiors
Confessions of a Serial DIYer


Happy Happy Nester
Life is a Party
Two Twenty One
Tatertots and Jello

Wednesday

Lemon Thistle
So Much Better With Age
Taryn Whiteaker
Love Create Celebrate
Rambling Renovators

Clean and Scentsible
House by Hoff
A Pretty Life
Modern Glam

Thursday

Rooms FOR Rent
Shabbyfufu
Stacy Risenmay
Jenna Kate at Home
Sand & Sisal
Paint Me Pink
Setting for Four
Place of My Taste
Maison de Cinq

Friday

The Happy Housie
Home Made Lovely
Just a Girl and Her Blog
Maison de Pax
Summer Adams
Jamie Costiglio
Sawdust 2 Stitches
Hallstrom Home
The DIY Mommy
All Things With Purpose

But to be joining these friends is always such an honor and such a joy as we accent our homes with authentic conversation, meaningful decor, and calendars that turn ever so quickly to the most anticipated day of the year.

Literally, as I was typing this post, a friend texted me this quote:

“In fact, I think the most authentic conversations I’ve experienced have happened during scruffy gatherings. Maybe it’s because when things are a little messy around me, I feel like I can let people know things are a little messy inside me, too.”

Because when I think back to my dreams of this house, it was just that. It was, and still is, that life happens here.

I didn’t want to decorate my house this year because I HAD to or because I was supposed to. I wanted to decorate because I WANTED to.

So we are taking it slow. I haven’t hung my sign about my shelves, I haven’t done my wreaths ‘just so” or hung swags over every window and door.

Instead, the simple pops of red are bringing life to the whites we love so dearly.



And when I saw these tulips at our local grocery store I debated for about thirty seconds before I snatched them up and threatened any one of my kids that touched them.

Because most importantly, I love the way kitchen looks with the bright white and red. I love love love hanging their little hand print wreaths each year! Before my oldest was born, before the days of Pinterest, gasp! I saw these little wreaths a mom had done for her kiddos in a Better Homes and Gardens magazine and tore the page out and was determined to do it with my babes when they were old enough. Fast forward, seven and a half years later and we have three! I save their little preschool prints and add them to our open shelves. It’s these little things that are my very favorite and they mean so much…

But this place, this is where we gather.

Around this island that was once a wall.

Games that are played around the unfinished cabinets.

Counters that are climbed on that were literally the cheapest we could buy.

Dishes that are stacked on shelves where cabinets wouldn’t fit.

And the hood my dad built that finished our kitchen perfectly.



Life full of joy. Life full of family that’s roots grow deep. Life full of seasons that pass before our eyes.

LIFE that happens so that we can continue to walk each other home.

(This shot from last year’s tour…)

Be sure to head to Deeply Southern Home. Oh, how I cannot wait to see!

Amber