A loving wife, and mom to two little boys, Abby started Just a Girl and Her Blog in 2013 as a creative outlet and a way to keep her writing skills honed. This self-professed list-maker and former English teacher has made her blog a home for posts about home décor, kid-friendly activities, recipes, and much more.
It is also a chronicle of her life story and the various challenges she has encountered along the way. Find out more about Abby and her decorating styles and inspirations in our exclusive Q&A section.
BH: What do you love most about blogging?
Abby: The best thing for me has been getting to meet so many awesome people from around the world – from fellow bloggers to readers to brand representatives. It’s amazing to me how something like a blog can bring us all together to share our stories and learn from one another.
BH: Tell us a little bit more about your decorating style in general.
Abby: I would call my style “polished casual.” I love beautiful, classic design, but I also have 4 & 6 year old boys running around, which means that our spaces definitely have to be live-able!
BH: How would you describe your holiday decorating style? And how has it evolved through the years
Abby: I love that the holidays give us the opportunity to bring out some extra special touches in our home. We have many personal mementos and traditional family pieces that come out during this time of year as well as things we’ve made ourselves. As my sons have gotten older, I’ve tried to make decorating a process that they can contribute to so that it becomes a tradition that the whole family can enjoy.
BH: What holiday decorating do’s and don’ts can you share with our readers?
Abby: I would say don’t feel like you have to do what everyone else is doing– stay true to your own style, even if that means that red and green aren’t in your holiday color scheme.And definitely DO have fun with it! Get the whole family involved, start a new tradition, use it as an opportunity to make memories – that’s what you’ll remember for years to come.
BH: Is there a holiday memory that left an impression on you from your childhood or recent years?
Abby: My dad has always started listening to Christmas music on October 1st every year! To this day he calls me with the Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton Christmas album playing in the background or texts me the lyrics to the songs on the 1st of October. Even my boys know to expect Christmas music when they’re in the car with grandpa from October to January!
BH: What is your must-have ornament or piece of Christmas décor, and why
Abby: I have a little dollhouse ornament that has been my favorite since I was very young. It is very detailed – it has all sorts of furniture, wallpaper, and even its own Christmas tree. I guess I have always been drawn to homes and decorating, even on a tiny scale!
BH: How did you go about choosing your Balsam Hill tree and ornaments?
Abby: We always had a spruce tree growing up, and I loved that Balsam Hill’s Pinehurst Spruce had a very realistic look to it and was the perfect size in our space. The ornaments and trimmings we chose help to complete the tree’s classic Christmas look.
BH: What do you like most about your Balsam Hill tree? How do you plan to decorate your tree?
Abby: Having had live trees for several years, I feel totally spoiled by the ease of setup and maintenance of the Balsam Hill tree! And of course it looks stunning, too! I love a lot of shimmer at Christmas time, so we’ll use a lot of silver and gold ornaments, mixed in with the classic reds and greens of the season.
BH: Are there any holiday traditions that you enjoy doing with your loved ones every year?
Abby: We always watch White Christmas as a family – by this point we all pretty much have it memorized!
BH: What can we look forward to on your blog this holiday season? Do you have exciting new holiday decor or party ideas?
Abby: I always love to add homemade touches to our Christmas décor – from holiday signs to ornaments to an advent calendar that my boys and I make together each year – so there will definitely be plenty of projects on the blog. I also have several fun tours planned with groups of bloggers – it’s always fun to hop around and “visit” everyone’s homes all decked out for the season!
BH: Can you tell us in a sentence what Christmas is to you? (Christmas is…)
Abby: Christmas for us is first and foremost an opportunity to celebrate the birth of Christ, the very best gift of all!
Above is a glimpse of Abby’s decorated Pinehurst Spruce Christmas tree. See more of her beautiful holiday centerpiece by visiting Just a Girl and Her Blog today.
