In this economy over-the-top excess seems just plain wrong on so many levels, but when your spouse is in the automobile business it seems just plain crazy. As a result, I decided to challenge myself and see if I can go without buying any new ornaments or decorations this year. So far I'm doing pretty well but there have been several obstacles. I have gone the artificial route for years. I know I'm forgoing that great pine scent and I have to dial down the "awe factor" that only a real tree can inspire but because I put up five or six trees it would be cost prohibitive to replace them all every year. This year all of my trees decided to go "ghetto" on me and every single one had large sections that refused to light up despite all of my coaxing, tweaking, and finally cursing. In the end I have had to add additional strings of lights to every single tree but, hey, I had them on hand so I didn't have to buy anything. I had decided last year that the living room tree had finally given us it's best years and it was time to let it go. I had the best of intentions to buy a new one after the holidays but that never happened. Now I'm down one tree and I vacillate between thinking I don't need it and thinking if I can find one I like on sale I should take advantage of some of the great deals that could be out there this season. In the mean time I have worked with what I have on hand. A lot of it is the same as last year. The tree in the library has a book theme. That was easy but for a little whimsy I added readers to the tree and between Mike and myself we have a lot of readers around the house.
The tree in the breezeway used to reflect the outdoors and I used the silver red and green globe ornaments I still use today but I inserted a lot of twigs and berries and red cardinals. Last year we were having a big party and I decided to switch it up in the spirit of the party and I liked this cocktail tree so much that I did it again this year. I added individual bottles of wine, plastic wine glasses, cork screws, plastic martini glasses, bar guide books, shakers and of course mini bottles of liquor.
Where I had fun this year was the tree in my office. This is another small tree that a few years ago I did in pink and red and silver with these 50's looking dolls. They were fun but I was over it and sold them in a garage sale last summer. That left me with a scantily clad tree so I had to get creative and decided to stay with a girly theme and pulled things out my closet. This tree is now dripping with rhinestone bracelets, earrings, pearls and some of my favorite pink heels!
My kitchen tree began with a single Sticks ornament from Liz several years ago. It slowly multiplied into a Sticks tree but because these ornaments are pretty expensive it needed to be a small tree. The kitchen tree is the perfect choice and right above the kitchen sink it makes me happy to look at it many times every day
I painted a flower pot to set off this whimsical feel of this tree and to coordinate with our holiday martini glasses.
The family room tree is my Radko Tree. Liz calls it the tree that threw up Christmas but all of the ornaments have a meaning or memory attached to them.
So maybe with a few other touches of Christmas around the house I won't miss the living room tree so much but right now that spot next to the piano looks so empty and dark.
