It's no secret that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, but I do love Christmas decorations and their sentiment. They have endless permutations of traditional and modern, handcrafted and mass produced. Decorating for the season is a source of delight, and also a bit of a problem to be solved, as I rationalize the additions to my minimal aesthetic and weigh kid-friendly versus heirloom.

And so it is an eclectic mix up at our house this year, and colorful lights on the front porch, welcoming you in.

An identical Santa always graced my grandmother's mantle this time of year, and so I'm happy to display this gift from my aunt, and think of them both.