Well, I did it. Phew.
I didn't know if I'd ever be able to get our Christmas tree up this year because I kept dragging my feet while making the eleventy billion feet of pom-pom garland it required.
The tree has actually been up and lit since the Saturday after Thanksgiving. But I was making stockings and painting a couple lamps for my dining room and NOT cooking dinners, much to my husband's chagrin. I'm an expert at starting 17 projects simultaneously... finishing those 17 projects in a timely manner though? Hmm. Not so hot at that one.
Anyway, back to the tree. As you can see I'm a fan of trees that are a bit on the crazy side. No cone-shaped trees in my house, thanks anyway. This is a Douglas Fir which I grew up with and love immensely. My kids actually picked it out at the lot and I think they made a great choice. I love its quirky uneven charm.
I thought I'd share a few of my favorite things about our tree with you... because I'm in a sharing mood like that, lucky duckies.
The lobster ornament is from when I was dating my cute hubster. He's my lobster, guys!
I always hang this fairy/angel thingamabobber at the top of my tree -- I bought it on my first Black Friday shopping experience when a friend dragged me out kicking and screaming. The moment I picked up this little ornament I had the shocking realization that I was pregnant with my oldest son. So I bought it to remember the moment, even though I was terrified at the time.
I'm not a traditional topper kind of gal... look at me breakin' all these rules! Next I'll be hanging my Christmas tree upside down.
Ah, the chili lights. If you look at a photo of the tree you'll see these scattered around. My mom was raised in New Mexico and when I was growing up, several of our traditions were influenced by that. Our traditional Christmas Eve dinner was posole, we lit farolitos (also known as luminarias) and we had a big strand of these chili lights in our front window. (Why? Because they looked cool, of course.)
I loved those traditions so much I carried them on to my own family. I think the chili lights look even better on the tree!
I found these mirror balls at TJ Maxx last year and decided to include them today because they're among my favorite ornaments -- no fancy or sentimental story attached to them. Just fabulousness.
The same holds true for these little icicle ornaments -- I got them this year at Walmart -- $3 for a big box! I love how they look, sort of tinselesque but without all the insane work... I might have to get another box if I can still find them.
But my favorite part about our Christmas tree? All the decorating help we get from little hands:
If one ornament looks good there, two will look even better, right?
Here's our tree at night looking a little more 'glowy' and beautiful:
I'm linking this up to Thrifty Decor Chick's Christmas Tree party and Someday Crafts!
Awwww, lovely! I want to curl up next to that tree with a mug of spiced Cider and sing Christmas carols around that awesome piano with my Even more awesome Seesters and Momma.....How about another trip north ladies.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds great to me! I'm not one of the ladies that would have to make the drive, but my vote still counts, right? ;)
ReplyDeleteI love love LOVE your tree and the story that goes with it, Anna Banana.
ReplyDelete(However. we semi-native New Mexicans know that the One True Way to spell "chili" is CHILE, even for strings of lights. It's the state vegetable and by law must be spelled with an E in order that the Chile Cops don't come knockin' on your door. You say no? We say Webster, schmebster.)
Love you! xoxo
I love your tree so much! I'm all about a whacky shaped tree too...with lots of open areas...unfortunately....I have small whacky shaped one - artificial...but I did a white tree this year and I too hate the perfect cone shape of an artificial tree. I squish the branches down and I even added to the length of some of the limbs...but nothing beats the shape of a real one like your's. Love the way it's decorated too.
ReplyDelete