Mary Beth Johnson is a writer based in Atlanta, GA.

She is currently writing her first book in between school drop off and laundry piles. She can be found every day on Instagram and at the local coffee shop.

Fresh Evergreen Used A Hundred Ways

With the glory days of fall long gone, fresh evergreens get their moment to shine. It makes the shorter days feel worth it when you’ve got the smell of fresh pine, rosemary, and thyme taking a minute to stretch their branches. Hearty greenery can be used in a hundred ways and one look around Pinterest will prove why. Garlands, gift wrapping accessories and wreaths are just a few of the many uses for these versatile plants. For example, Casey uses pine garland and wreaths all around her home in unconventional places. You can check out her home decorated beautifully for Christmas a few years ago HERE. Or, get lots of ideas from her home this year HERE.

Going Green For Christmas

In an effort to go greener this year with my holiday decor, I made a pact with myself to first shop from my own house. Have you ever done this? It’s fun. It will challenge you to look at everything you own with a fresh perspective and keep you from purchasing double of things you might already own, but forgot about. It also saves you some serious cash. Paper and ribbon can go a long way in decorating, so start there. Then, look in your backyard. You just might be surprised what a fresh set of eyes can do on shrubs and trees you’ve gotten used to looking at. Still needing a few supplies? Shop your garage. I find that the bottom of Christmas bins can yield a very good return.

Christmas Thyme Mini Wreaths

By the time I was done shopping from my own house, I had pretty evergreen sprigs, herbs, velvet ribbon, and some green ornament wire I repurposed into floral wire. I had mini wreaths on my mind after seeing this amazing roundup. I turned the fresh thyme into a set of holiday napkin rings for a festive table setting. Here is what I used, though you can certainly change things up with whatever fresh greens you have on hand.

What you’ll need:

• Fresh thyme or rosemary
• Green wire
• Scissors
• Ribbon

Step One: Stagger the sprigs of thyme so that you have enough to fit a circle of your desired choosing…

Step Two: Wrap the wire around the loose ends. Secure the mini wreath into place…

Step Three: Tie ribbon to cover the wire end. (I did a simple knot and cut the ends, but a bow would also look pretty.)

Step Four: Use as napkin rings, or incorporate the thyme mini wreaths as decor around the house.