Showing posts with label decorating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label decorating. Show all posts

Friday, December 9, 2011

Quasi Xmas Decorating

I'm not usually one for putting up Christmas decorations right after Thanksgiving. I usually wait until at least December 1st! But this year we didn't really have a choice since we weren't going to be home the first two weekends in December! So decorate on Thanksgiving weekend we did.


We've decided that this year, and all subsequent years we Christmas in England (doesn't that just sound so fancified), we're going to have a fake Christmas tree. I think I told you this already. If not, it's in a draft somewhere, so I'm telling you again because I'm too lazy to go look. So we're having a fake Christmas tree. I've never had my own fake Christmas tree! There were a few years where I didn't have a tree at all when I lived with roommates and we decorated a potted palm tree, but whenever I've actually had a tree, it's been real. I love the smell and feel and look of it. Truth be told, I've never really understood why someone would want a fake tree when they could have a real one?? I guess it just boils down to personal preference. Whatevs. My point is, I like real in my house. And every year we Christmas in the US (doesn't sound nearly as fancified), we will have a real tree. This, I vow.

When I say "we decided", btw, what I actually mean is Tim had a good point and I agreed with him. For once. Usually when Tim starts telling me what to do with decorative items in the house it doesn't bode well for him. Lol. But this time, he said we wouldn't be around to water it and we're not around in December really at all to enjoy it, so we should just get a fake tree. I'm not gonna lie, it took me a little while to accept this, being the real tree hugger lover that I am, but eventually I saw that he was right. There's not much point rushing around, getting a real tree, decorating it, then leaving it to die for a few weeks while we're out of town. So we acquired my Grandude's old fake tree. It's a little... small (it's slightly taller than me). I seem to recall a couple years where we were hunting around Grandude's house trying to find something to prop it up on so it seemed taller. Lol. It's also a little... sparce (lots of lights and ornaments to fill in the holes!), but it's just fine. Well, except that the top half doesn't quite "snap" into place, so I was wary of putting anything heavy on top, which meant our tree topper this year is just a big bow, but it works! I like it. :)

Also due to the fact that we are out of town for half of December, I cut back on decorations this year. This made Tim happy because he only had to pull out like 1/4 of the decs from the basement.

This is a MUST HAVE that I have no idea how long I've had or where it came from, but I've had it forever.

However, there are a few favorite MUST HAVES that were missing and I had to venture down to the basement when he wasn't looking and find them because they were in a box that wasn't marked Christmas ("Mixed Holidays") and he would've had a cow if I told him there was another Christmas box. Shhh... But I'm pretty sure my peacock wreath and tree were worth the trip.


Did I mention I don't go down to my basement? Tim has to do it because there are creepy crawlies (CAVE CRICKETS ARE THE WORST) and I'm totally arachnophobic and when I go down there I practically hyperventilate so he yells at me to go upstairs. This is why when we buy a house someday, it will need to have a finished basement and no creepy crawlies whatsoever.

The minimal decorating this year included some wreaths, some Christmas-y stuffed animals and pillows, some garland and pine cones around the TV, obvi the Christmas tree and decorations, and last, but certainly not least, a mini wreath on each pig cage. Don't judge. It's CUTE.


Also, last year I set a precedent (for myself) by taking a picture of my pigs in front of the Christmas tree.


You all know I've since lost my Scooter... so this is Tyson's first photoshoot in front of the tree. Tim stood behind me freaking out because he thought they were going to jump off the stool I had them on. Valid point I suppose. As you can see, it took a few takes (and a quick trigger finger). I guess the baby's a little camera shy.


How are you all getting ready for the holidays? Are the decorations going up?? How many boxes of Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanzaa stuff do YOU have?

-C
xxx

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Gobble

So turkey day is upon us once again, folks. How can it be so?? How can December be here NEXT WEEK?! Crazy talk.

I know stores and people everywhere are skipping Thanksgiving altogether. I mean, as in thinking of Thanksgiving only as an afterthought to Christmas. Like, "We have to get through Thanksgiving before we get to Christmas." Not not having Thanksgiving dinner. That would also be crazy talk.

As soon as Halloween was over BOOM it was Christmas in all the stores. There aren't any turkeys hanging from the ceilings, because I guess not everyone decorates for Thanksgiving. HA. I mean, everyone in my family does, but I assume there are people out there who don't for... whatever reason. I, for one, do NOT skip Thanksgiving. I treat all holidays equally! I don't have multiple bins of Thanksgiving decs or anything, like my 10 (or more... I don't really know...) bins I have dedicated just to Christmas. I only *technically* have one bin for T-day stuff, but some of my Halloween decorations pull double-duty for both holidays. My rule of thumb is pumpkins can stay out if they don't have a face. I think it's a pretty good rule.

Anyway, I can't wait to have my own house and hold my own Thanksgiving someday, where I will probably THEN acquire enough straight up T-day decs for at least 2-3 bins. Don't tell Tim.

When I do... I will decorate with lots of pretty things... *cue dream sequence and harp music*

Let's start with the entrance. "Welcome, friends!"
To my home filled with 8,000 pumpkins.

found on Pinterest


Have I mentioned I don't like carving pumpkins? I suppose that could present a problem there. For the past couple of years I've bought "cinderella" or white pumpkins. Pumpkins that look good and classy just sitting there. No carving. No mess. No potential stabbing of oneself. Maybe I can get Tim to do it (HA, yeah ok).

via Martha Stewart, aka the Bible.

Also from the Bible.

I really just like the turkey placecards here.


found on Pinterest


Uh, this totally solves my problem of never remembering which side which utensils go on! Awesome.

As you can see, my dream sequence doesn't really have any kid friendly decorations. I plan on keeping it that way for as long as possible.


Ummm no. Not happening.

But maybe. JUST MAYBE. this.