Tag Archives: decor

Christmas decorating: a confession

I confess!

I’m not a decorator.

I don’t enjoy decorating.

Case in point: I had to set up a tree in my office at work, and this stressed me out much more than the Quickbooks confusion over a mysterious credit memo or that irate customer claiming we sent the wrong products.

That dang Christmas tree had me in cold sweats.

And that is why, in our house, the only attempt at a “Christmas tree” that we have undertaken is . . . well . . . mebbe 2 feet tall?

Here’s my husband with the box . . .

. . . pulling it out of the box . . .

. . . and thar she blows.

Nestled in a corner next to the radiator, poor thing. And with only two ornaments on top–matching silver and gold stars that shed glitter wherever they may go.

I realize that if we have children, we’ll have to obtain a Christmas tree and actually put up garlands or something, because I remember how magical it was to see the house transformed when I was a tot. And a teenager. And heck, it’s kind of magical even now. So I want to provide that same experience for any progeny we may have. Yes, the future does hold more seasonal decorating for this resistant girl, but you know–let’s not think about that right now, because my heart is starting to palpitate strangely fast.

You think I’m joking about those heart palpitations, but I can assure you I’m not.

However, all that said, I am proud to share that this year we strung twinkle lights around the window. My dear husband did the hard work of getting them down from the closet . . .

(actually getting the stuff out is 99% of the battle for me) . . . and believe it or not, I actually had fun putting them up!

Maybe because I got to balance on the window sill and feel like an acrobat, push tacks into the wall and feel like a hooligan.

And I do love lying on the couch and gazing at the lights while Christmas music plays in the background . . . I guess it was worth those 40 minutes of effort.

Right . . . “effort.” Maybe it was actually 10 minutes of effort and 30 minutes of figuring out how to place all the decorations on my own self.

So maybe my whole “I don’t like decorating” thing is just a mental block. Maybe it’s just for lack of actually doing it and tackling the beast. Maybe it’s the idea of decorating that stresses me out, but if I can just get into execution mode, I’ll find there’s an inner decorator waiting to spring forth.

This is probably the most decorated our house has ever been. Maybe next year I’ll go a teensy step further and hang a wreath somewhere.

But let’s not get too crazy!

Do you like to decorate? Does it stress you out or invigorate you? If you’re in the former category, do you have a tried-and-true method for overcoming the stress?

Welcome to Wonderland

This is my aunt Jacquie’s house–the sun room, to be exact. You probably got a good taste of her decorating sense from this post about the Couch Debate of 2011 . . . or this post about the beauty of her garden.

There are lovely little treasures peppering the house.

But it doesn’t give off a feel of overbearing clutter (at least not while her daughter-in-law Kristen is around to extend her Long Arm of Organization and force frequent purgings)–just one of mystery and enchantment.

Of a family history, told in the things hanging on the walls.

Aunt Jacquie has been hard at work re-making her house ever since she bought it a number of years ago. One of the inspirations for her redesign has been a certain group of little tykes.

Go hug that tree!

They are at a very impressionable age, as you can see. In fact, her grandkids are just old enough to start really enjoying everything she’s done.

And I don’t just mean the big yard that they can run in . . .

. . . though they certainly love to run!

You’ll soon see what I mean. In fact, let’s go up the staircase to the second floor . . .

. . . and up to this seemingly blank and innocent wall. With a very innocent tapestry hanging on it.

Or not so innocent.

What’s that? A hidden door behind the tapestry? Yes! I’ll take a step back so that you can see the hidden door in context:

Let’s go in!

Whoa! We’re climbing up into a castle!

Complete with a dragon and a princess!

I think we’ve just wandered into Wonderland.

There are comfy chairs for the adults to sit in . . .

. . . and a whole room full of things to play with!

Like this airplane.

But, being a girl, the most exciting part of the attic is the area solely dedicated to doll things. Because who cares about riding around in little airplanes and fire trucks when there are doll-sized trees? Doll-sized benches? Doll-sized bureaus and desks and chairs?

Here’s their sitting room . . .

. . . their dining room . . .

(would you just look at those miniature golden goblets! and miniature picture on the wall! and miniature rug! and tiny tablecloth! Oh oh oh!)

. . . the General Store where they stock up on their flour and sugar . . .

. . . and their schoolroom, complete with an iron-bellied stove for those cold winter days.

I want to play here for 5 hours, please.

In fact, make that 5 days.

I think if this attic had been in existence when I was a child, I might have had a heart attack at the age of 7. I would have gone completely ga-ga.

And it’s not just the toys–it’s the little doors. The secret rooms.

The perfect size for little people at play!

Or big people who don’t mind getting stiff knees and a crick in their back.

Plus, you can spy on the adults’ goings-on from up here!

Whether they’re in the garden or in this sitting room below, there’s a wonderful bird’s eye view.

It’s all very child-safe–the spiral staircase is guarded by this metal gate so that no children accidentally zoom down in the metal airplane or other contraption on wheels.

This attic brings joy to a lot of children–and also to the children still lurking within us adults.

Aunt Jacquie, you’ve created a magical world!

And now to get some air conditioning up there . . .