I'm not going to lie. I'm seriously in the weeds with holiday tasks. The gift shopping is only half done. The cards aren't even ordered yet and the teacher and friend gifts have hardly been given a thought. The move has finally caught up with me. We only got about 90% moved in before life interrupted. That wasn't too big of a deal until we threw in the holidays. Trying to manage my business, the furniture line, and the family was about all I could handle. Add the holidays, and I was toast. In the past I've suffered from CPS. You know, Christmas Perfection Syndrome. Try as I might, it just isn't going to be remotely close this year. My kids had begged me to put up the Dept 56 New England village up (hasn't been up in 9 yrs). It is such a pain . So, in honor of actually being in New England, I relented and let them do it. It was actually pretty funny listening to my son make up stories as he put the people and animals out. He has the palace guards marching next to the mail carriage. Animals down the middle of the road. The important point... I don't care.
Notice the bales of hay and animals in the middle of town and the palace guards marching down the street guarding the gift carriage. Some CPS recovery? Perhaps...exhaustion could also be an explanation.
Then we were slow to the outdoor decorating. So slow that we ran out of lights and so did the stores. The only ones my husband could find were the LED ones. Now I have blue lights mixed with the white ones. I hate it, and I actually think I twitch a little looking at it...but I left them mixed in the topiaries. This is definitely some sign of recovery...or is it shear defeat?
Okay, it doesn't look quite as bad in the pic as it does in real life.
Enough kvetching. Here are some pics of some stuff I've actually put a bit of effort into.
My tree is a very unconventional, faux Black. I think I have enough bling on it that it disguises the Black.
Here is my Black and White mantel. We do need to update those stocking pics. I think they are about 6 years old. Hmmm, on second thought, maybe just the children. I hope y'all are doing better than I am. I'm developing some new martinis in honor of my CPS recovery. Look for the recipes next week. I'll be joining Hooked on Houses Holiday House Party. Be sure to hop on over and see some great holiday decorating.
I've never seen a black tree before! Love your mantel. Boy, do I relate to what you were saying--I'm so behind this year. I don't have moving as an excuse, but I've been traveling a lot this month and it just really threw me off. Didn't get cards sent out at all for the first time ever, and the only outdoor decoration I managed was the front-door wreath.
Got such a kick out of how your kids decorated the village. That's more fun than perfection anyway, right? :-)
Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Julia @ Hooked on Houses | December 18, 2009 at 09:06 AM
I am in the same boat as you. We just moved from Florida to northern Kentucky. We have been going through this move since July. It has been SO stressful. We have been up here for 5 weeks and I just couldn't think of getting out all the tree ornaments, outside decorations, and dishes. I just boycouted it:( Thank goodness my 15 yr. old son understands. My parents are up here visiting and I really wasn't prepared for them. We just do the best we can, you know? I love your black mantle. I have thought of painting mine black. Yours is beautiful.
Posted by: Melanie | December 18, 2009 at 08:47 PM
Melanie, moving sucks! I didn't realize you'd only been there for 5 weeks. All you've proably been doing is unpacking. Even if you felt like decorating, are you sure you could find the Christmas stuff? That was our daunting task. We had to unpack 30 some boxes the movers had marked "Christmas" to find the stuff I'm currently using. I have a big 9 ft tree that hasn't been up in 5 years because we haven't been in a house with high enough ceilings. It wasn't very much fun. I get the boycott. Moving is so very stressful. My husband and I almost kill each other every time (this was our 8th move in 16 yrs) we move. It takes a while to detox. I suggest martini therapy.
Julia, I really like perfection...ohh okay the kids decorating is more fun (only very very slightly)
Posted by: Kristin@Bouelvard Interior Design | December 20, 2009 at 02:15 PM
I like your tree and mantle. Very pretty!
I hear you on being behind this year. My son was in the hospital for 26 days in November and we were back again for a few days. Cards were not ordered because I didn't get to take a holiday photo of him. Nor have I purchased any other cards or stamps to send any out. I haven't purchased ANY gifts yet. It is December 20th. My decorations are up (thankfully I keep those in labeled plastic bins so everything is organized and easy to put up)however I am short a strand or two of lights. I purchased some last year so I'd have enough this year but some went out this year before I put the tree up so I left an area in the front of the tree thinking I'd put up a strand when I bought it but at least the tree was up and decorated. Ooops! No one has any lights left. They haven't for weeks. Now I have a dark spot down the front of the tree. Nice. I decided to put a mirror behind the tree since I like the look. The one I wanted to put up was too heavy to do alone and since I didn't have any help, I put up a different one which doesn't reflect as well. I need some more decorations for the house however that won't happen. I could go on but the fact is I've been taking care of a sick kid and now nothing is done. I took pics of my Christmas tablescape so hopefully I can get post those this week. Tomorrow I have to do all of my shopping after work.
Posted by: Dream Mom | December 20, 2009 at 06:49 PM
I remember the black tree. I ebven tweeted about it and will tweet this post. Love it and the stocking hung by the fire with care!
Posted by: Paula Grace | December 20, 2009 at 10:34 PM
this is the best site for home decoration
Posted by: home decoration | February 20, 2010 at 02:36 PM