The holidays are super fun, but let’s not lie to ourselves here… Stress has a sneaky way of slipping in with the ginormous totes decorations. Let’s not even mention how, by day 2 or, if you’re lucky, day 3, these things may or may not happen:

• The dog will decide she needs to rip half the ornaments to shreds, including that favorite one your grandma gave you.
• The kids and/or dog will have managed to tip the tree over.
• The 3 year old and his 5 year old brother will have totally accomplished rearranging the ornaments in one cluster no taller than 4 feet.
• One or all of your family members will develop a sudden allergy to the real tree you just bought and decorated 3 days ago. You might be tempted to just throw it out on the back deck and grab one of those little plastic trees from the ceramic Christmas village.

Or you might just put off decorating until the week before Christmas.

Here are some of my favorite decorating ideas. They shouldn’t cause major disasters, tree allergies, or glitter on your kitchen table for the next five years because of that one craft project. But then again, you never know.

Boxwood Wreaths from Embroidery Hoops

Paper Bag Advent Calendar

Vintage Christmas Ornaments

Centerpieces with Cranberries and Candles

Try these easy decorations, have a little fun, and save your sanity this holiday season. And you know that if all else fails, just nab the plastic Christmas tree from the ceramic Christmas village.