*Image via.
When Mr. Magpie and I were first married, we had a small bag of cast-off ornaments we’d inherited from our parents. We went out and supplemented with red and metallic ornament sets from Martha Stewart (she still makes great starter sets), and have gifted one another meaningful ornaments every year since. It’s become a lovely tradition, and we use it to commemorate trips, culinary adventures, inside jokes, and the like. Two of my favorite recent ornaments we’ve added to the collection: this set of beautiful carrots (long, delicate, dramatic, and slightly sparkly), to celebrate Mr. Magpie’s inaugural vegetable harvest in our new suburban home, and this felt NYC subway ornament, to commemorate our final Christmas in New York City. This year, I am eyeing this set of the 12 Days of Christmas ornaments. My daughter loves that carol and the pieces are so fun and detailed! Or maybe this mushroom, as my husband recently found “his own forager” — I kid you not. My husband, as you may have gathered, is a precise and exacting cook and goes to great lengths to find the best sources for all his provisions, including, most recently, mushrooms! He now has a forager he works with for specific occasions, like the paella dinner we recently threw, which involved locally-foraged chanterelles.
Ornaments make such beautiful gifts and are typically at a reasonable price point, too. I am contemplating giving special ones out to some of the recipients on my list this year in lieu of another Secret Santa-caliber (under $30) gift — something to use every year!
01. FLUFFY OWL SET
02. RABBIT
03. HEDGEHOG
09. ARCADIA HOME COCKER SPANIEL (OTHER BREEDS AVAILABLE)
11. BIRD — I HAVE A SOFT SPOT FOR BIRD ORNAMENTS…LOVE THEM NESTLED ON THE BRANCHES!
12. ASTRONAUT
13. MUSHROOM
14. PRETZEL
15. CRAFTSPRING NYC TAXI WITH TREE
16. PERSONALIZED CUSTOM HOUSE ORNAMENT
17. ACRYLIC DOVES
20. SANTA FACE
21. MALILILI BURLAP TREE ORNAMENT TRIO
23. PERSONALIZED BABY’S FIRST CHRISTMAS BALL
24. STARBURST
As far as tree toppers, I like this star, this dove, this modern brass angel, this lit birch angel, and this beaded star.
For tree skirts, I like these ones from Julia Amory, this woven plaid from Target, this botanical one from Parterre, this channeled velvet (what we have!!!), this scalloped toile, and the woven tree collars from Target and Crate and Barrel.
On the utility front, don’t forget the life-changing tree genie and these ornament organizers!
P.S. How I handle criticism.
P.P.S. I just love Nora Ephron. Year-round, but especially at the holidays. I treasure “You’ve Got Mail” in late fall, “Sleepless in Seattle” around Christmas, and “When Harry Met Sally” on NYE (always).
P.P.P.S. The concept of the “realistic preview.”
Having your own forager on speed dial sounds 1000% like a Portlandia bit. I bet those mushrooms are good, though!
Right?? Haha 🙂
Love this post. In addition to our family Christmas tree I have a small one that is entirely garden ornaments – I am also a gardener 🙂 Might be fun to do something like that for your husband. I also have a tree that is decorated with ornaments my three girls made when they were young – so fun to bring it out now that they are all grown.
How cute! Love these ideas! Love the idea of a garden-themed one…might have to steal that idea!
xx