Thought it'd be fun to start a thread with whatever Christmas things you'd like to share...stories, pics, questions, recipes...whatever. I love Christmas!!! I'll start. I'm about half way through my Christmas shopping. I am doing more and more online every year....I resisted for the longest time, because it felt so impersonal. Finally decided to cut myself a break, and with Amazon Prime and 2 day shipping, it's made christmas shopping SO much easier and more efficient! No matter what anyone wants, I try first and find it on Amazon, even if a link to elsewhere has been provided to the item or it's in a local store. Even if it costs a bit more on Amazon, when you factor in gas prices, or online tax and shipping costs, mostly I STILL come out ahead. I do go out and shop, but there's not the same pressure...I actually enjoy it now when I hit the stores. Still won't go to the malls though, no thank you!! Here's my "loot" pile...things that have been delivered that I need to start wrapping and putting under the tree, or I won't be able to get into my bedroom soon!! And the cutest little plant I picked up, already bedecked with Christmas cheer! Since his divorce, Ned hasn't done anything Christmasy other than buy some gifts for his kids. No decorations, Christmas music, nothing that celebrates the season because he didn't feel like celebrating...the divorce was very depressing to him. So, with his permission of course, I decided to throw a little Christmas cheer around his living room He had a few decorations that I dusted off, I had some that weren't being used, and voila! A bit of color on his shelf I had thrown that Christmas mat down to get it out of the way while I did other stuff. Ned's cat, Serena, decided that it was hers, and has been lounging around on it ever since! A bit of color can make things looks festive! A mini Xmas tree...of course, when you have a tree, you have to put some pressies under it! The NOEL on the mantel is his. Need to find some candles for it..weird size, but they'd look good lit I think. Ned was so appreciative of the decorating. I don't think he realized what a difference it would make before I started out. It didn't take long, (the cleaning took way longer.....the man hasn't dusted in 100 years!) and the end result was warm and cozy...he said when his son Samuel who lives with him gets back from college he's gonna be blown away!! I'm glad. OK, so y'alls turn.......spill!
Well, to start with the box the tree is kept in and the chunk of an Oak limb that is the Yule Log both fell on me when I was getting them off the top shelf in the closet....followed closely by the large box of decorations they were laying on. I was really in no mood to decorate this year anyway so just the bare minimum has been done. The Halloween decorations were much more agreeable back in October so I think next year they will stay up through the end of the year....that'll teach the other decorations a lesson.
It is surprising what muscles come out of hiding when something like that happens...I have been sore in places I didn't know I had. But it's getting better except for when I move my right arm the wrong way which is odd since it was my left arm that caught the brunt of the weight. You did a great job of decorating for Ned, the mantel looks very nice (I would say pretty but it is a guys mantel afterall) and the mini-tree is cute.
Looking nice and festive! I do most of my shopping online these days too. I can't be bothered to drive 40+ minutes to a big box store, push and shove to look at what I want. My kids let me know what they like and I try to buy most on sale black friday or cyber monday from the comfort of my home, and it is delivered (free shipping) to my door. The rest of the gifts are bought locally from small business in my own neighborhood, or made myself. I really hate spending my money at big box stores and making some corporation more money ... I'd rather spend it at a local store where I know my money is making a difference to a hard working family.
We're a wishlist family.....I get lists every year from my loved ones, though I have to hound them a bit to get them in a timely manner! You'd think it'd be easier...I mean come ON! I'm asking you to tell me what things you'd really like to have, so I can buy them for you! Why is that so hard???? Anyway, as long as I get the lists before Black Friday I'm good...and no, I do NOT hit the stores, except virtually, coffee in hand and in my pajamas. There are so many good sales online so I want the lists before then, and also before Cyber Monday, so I can take full advantage of them.
This is the first Christmas that I have done most of my shopping online and it was sooo much easier than fighting all the crowds and I actually saved money by eliminating the 'spur of the moment' buys.
I KNOW!!!! I'm sitting here surfing the web, shopping, visiting the various forums I belong to, checking email, back and forth with my granddaughter on Facebook and my boyfriend in chat. Multitasking at its finest, and I'm doing it all sitting here in my PJ's sipping coffee!!
We have started on the Christmas decorating, but haven't quite finished. Truth be told we're not even half-way finished. We've barely begun. Our tree goes up on the 22d. This is what we've done so far. Door wreath: One of the hall tables: One of the windows: I also did some online shopping this year. It's so much easier than trying to weave my way through the crowds at the mall. They way people behave you'd think they had no manners, a lot of money and a belief that the world will end very, very soon. I have to brave the crowds next week, but I'm going to be there at opening time and leave after max. 15 minutes. I hope.
Wow, those dec's are gorgeous! On that wreath--is that juniper or cedar ? It looks smashing. Are the kids helping this year?
Wow Droopy, I love that window decoration...is it metal? There's a craft thing I used to do....I can no longer remember the name, it was years ago...but it involved punching through metal to form patterns. That window star reminds me of that.
Ty Sjoerd and Ronni. Sjoerd, it's thuja. I like to work with thuja. It doesn't prick me. Ronni. it's metal. Very traditional decoration in Norway, most homes have at least one of those stars. The new houses have very big ones in their big front windos. Very decorative. We really need a lot of extra light when the days are so short. Maybe you should start punching again and make yourself a window star for next Christmas?
Very festive decorations, Droopy. I didn't realize that you made the wreath yourself. It's much prettier than what I've seen here for sale! I love the window decorations though with the poinsettias and orchids putting the finishing touch to your beautiful punched tin star.
Thank you 2ofus, how nice of you to say. I make one for me and one for our neighbours every year. I like doing them, it's fun. Our penguin has been with us since I made our first door wreath. I guess he's going to need many mendings before we're ready to give him up.
