Most years, we like to put our Christmas tree up during Thanksgiving weekend. We ignore Black Friday and instead, we embrace our inner homebodies and use the time to prep and dream for the holiday excitement to come. 

I'm not sure when Christmas trees arrive in France -- this year will definitely be an adventure -- but I love the idea of purchasing a series of small live trees and potting them in various containters to dot around the house. I imagine it would make every room feel festive, and smell fresh. Take a look at these images and tell me what you think. 

All right, everyone, let’s do a self-esteem exercise: Wrap your arms around yourself and say, “I like me!” Did that make you feel better? Or just a bit ridiculous? I know. There’s a fine line between healthy self-esteem and, uh, being conceited.

I can’t decide which side of that line many popular décor items fall on. On the one hand, I love homemade things, I love original art, and I love when people creatively take charge of their own environments.
 
On the other hand… well, see what you think of these home-decorating elements that require just a bit too much owner input for my taste.

We all get the itch to change up our home decor now and again, but it's not always possible or practical to replace furniture or to paint the entire house. So let's start smaller with something that we all have: family photos.

But instead of just framing and hanging, think a little differently with these clever ideas for displaying photos in your home. I can't decide which one to try first.

His & Hers Chairs a la Bella & EdwardHow many of you Twilight Saga fans read the books and then promptly fantasized about moving into the Cullen family's modern home set in the deep green forest? Well, so did two homeowners Whitney and Robert, and HGTV's Color Splash designer David Bromstad totally made a Twilight-inspired makeover happen for the Twi-hard couple for an upcoming episode.

Trust me, I watched a sneak peek and this makeover project will leave you drooling for a room makeover of your own. Bromstad's home design ideas capture both the rustic and whimsical fantasy of the feverishly popular movie and book franchises. Plus, one of our favorite vampires pops in at the unveiling!

Check out this amazing The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1 home makeover.

November is only a week away, which means hibernation mode is near and a whole lot of kids will be saying, "I'm bored." While I have a moment before the whirlwind of the holidays starts, I'm saving project ideas to fill those days of being cooped up inside. Here are some of my favorites to make from a good old cardboard box, something we all have lying around or will after opening all those Christmas packages! 

Every fall, as the leaves redden and fall off the branches and pile up on my lawn, the magazines pile up in my mailbox, each whispering and begging me to open them, hoping I'll add their goodies to my Christmas list. Mostly I roll my eyes, wonder how I got on the mailing list for Geriatrics Quarterly, and throw them into the recycling bin. Occasionally, I'll catch my pack rat 8-year-old trying to stealthily make off with Cardiac Surgeon Monthly (I'm just sure he's saving his pennies to buy me a portable defibrillator!), which is always an epic battle of the wills, but usually I go unchallenged.

I would personally like to offer a sloppy kiss of thanks to whomever invented the gift card.

Remember this baby bachelor pad I posted about? Well, it should come as no surprise that the rest of the house is equally as chic, modern, and stylish.

Owner Erin Williamson has the whole mix-and-don't-necessarily-match thing down where the space looks put-together and effortless. It's what we're all striving for, right? Take a look at more photos of the house below. 

When I come across a DIY furniture project, I can't help adding up all the materials and tools and calculating the cost of making one vs. buying one already made. Sometimes, buying a finished product is easier, faster, and cheaper.

But I think these hairpin leg tables are an exception. Three items. That's all you need! A slab of wood cut to your dimensions at Home Depot, hairpin legs, and a screwdriver. Done and done. I'm so impressed with the final look of all these projects, I now want to make a table, bench, or desk for every room in my house.