Sunday, November 27, 2011

Cheerful Christmas Decorating


Around here the Christmas decorating begins shortly after the last dish of the Thanksgiving meal has been put away.  Brett's job is to bring the multitude of storage boxes down from the attic and my job is to create Christmasland from the contents of said boxes.
I will admit that I Love Christmas decorations.  Always have and I guess , at this point, it's safe to say I always will.  At least I hope so.  I just think it's so fun to see all of the different ways people festoon their homes for this glorious season.  In fact, I remember once as a teenager I was invited to a "keg party" at the house of one of the people I worked with.  It was around Christmastime and most of the kids, having recently reached the age of legal drinking , were making a beeline for the keg.  Me, I was more interested in making a beeline for the Christmas tree.  Even then I loved to see the ornaments on other people's trees.  I find it so interesting to hear the stories of the family memories attached to the various ornaments.  Now, I'm not saying I never got to the keg, but that's another story for another time. Ho Ho Ho.


Anyhow, on Friday morning Brett stuck to his end of the bargain carrying box after box down from the attic.  When it came time for my part, I took a look at all of those boxes and felt like going back to bed.  It seemed a bit overwhelming. I daresay I felt a bit of the dreaded "bah humbug" trying to take hold.  At this point I was hoping a gaggle of elves would ring the doorbell offering to deck the halls for me.


It was time for a big ole cuppa GOOD CHEER.
This cuppa came in two forms.
One ~ I made myself a cup of coffee and sat down to enjoy it as I gave my attitude an adjustment and ...
Two ~ this mug pictured above.  It was my favorite find at a recent fun day of thrifting.  This year our local Habitat Restore advertised that they would be putting their Christmas decor out On November 1st.  My sister-in-law and I met there that morning and had so much fun thrifting for vintage Christmas things (our very favorite kind).  Afterwards we enjoyed having lunch out.
Happy memories and a 50 cent mug that makes me smile every time I look at it.
 

While drinking my coffee and adjusting my attitude, I reminded myself that the best way to get the job done is to get started and keep putting one foot in front of the other.
This year I decided to change things up a bit in the kitchen.  Instead of filling the kitchen shelves with a gingerbread theme, I decided to aim for a bit of whimsy  ... cheerful, nostalgic whimsy. 


Sometimes the worst part is getting started.
I find that if I can get one area finished, it gives me inspiration to keep going.  So, now I'd better get back to it before I need another cuppa cheer.

;-)

28 comments:

  1. Oh my sounds like me! I just can not get started. I always carry up the boxes from the basement myself. Up and down up and down, I hate it! But your right I have to get started then I will love it.
    You have some great vintage Christmas items. The coffee cup is wonderful. I just love it when I come across one of a kinds like that!

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  2. I haven't talked myself into getting started just yet but I will. I love that coffee cup and it looks just great along with your other christmasy things on the shelves. Good start!

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  3. I have so many decorations. I don't use them all every year...but I won't part with them either! Every year my home is a little different. It is a lot of work and my hubs and I are taking the day of rest literally...PJs all day! I hope to get the tree done this week, then I am done...well not totally, but close!!

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  4. Hi Kim
    I like to decorate for Christmas too, but when my husband gets all the boxes from the attic I look at it all and think Oh my goodness! Every year it seems to take me longer to decorate and every year I decide to put some of the things back in the boxes to wait for next year! I love all your vintage goodies!!

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  5. Yes, the hardest part is getting started! I agree! We do have the attic cleaned out and everything in an upstairs bedroom. Now to bring it down one more level. Already made a trip to Walmart to get new lights and forgot eggnog. Need eggnog! Kim, you are my deco-collecting hero!
    Debbie

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  6. I have also started taking things out of boxes Kim. I love your new vintage cup. Its so cute!

    Jeannette

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  7. Dear Kim...as always everything looks so festive...so bright and cheery! Thank you for sharing from your home! I hope that your week ahead is a lovely one! Hugs ♥ Teri

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  8. You have done a beautiful job of that little shelf. It just is so cute. I haven't started yet ...maybe this week I'll have a bit of time.

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  9. So cute...especially your s&p shakers!

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  10. Oh, my goodness! I have that set of plates that you have standing in the back in the last photo! My grandma bought me the set when I got married 32 years ago and I still use them every Christmas! Twyla

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  11. Love the Santa display! Looks great! This year has been a lot of fun decorating since my hubby is home. Last year he was in Afghanistan and the year before he was getting ready to leave so we just did a tree. Glad you were able to get in the mood!

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  12. Love your Christmas shelf!!
    I bet your whole house looks wonderful. I'd like to stop by and see it in person! : )
    You're right. The hard part is always getting started. That is true for anything.

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  13. I know what you mean...once you get started, it's all good from there. The shelves with your treasures on them looks wonderful!!
    ~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

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  14. I had the same feelings when the boxes came out! Love your decorations!

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  15. Hi sweet friend,
    I've missed getting over to visit. I just loved this post and that is exactly how I feel when the boxes come UP from the basement! Overwhelmed!
    But I had to tell you, I had a moment when I scrolled through your Santa cups. One of them is just like one my Grandma had! Wow...it just took me back! Thanks for sharing!
    Hugs,
    Tanya

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  16. Your Santa Clauses are darling!
    Will you show us when you are finished?

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  17. I have those same holly plates handed down from my Mom. Seeing yours made me smile.

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  18. Vintage, Christmas, and cups of coffee...just the things I really like at this time of the year. Your mug is adorable! It looks like the perfect way to have coffee during the coming month. Your new banner is beautiful!

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  19. It's looking pretty festive, Kim! I'm trying to pace myself this year. The living room is done - on to the dining room! Then the kitchen! Then - well, who knows? Looking forward to that keg story....

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  20. Good tips for getting it done. Now I know that I need someone to run up and down the stairs for me! It looks so sweetly vintage and takes me back to 1963 faster than you can imagine. Enjoy your decorating! (I think I'm still decorating the day before I take it all down.)

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  21. Looks like you've got a good start on the decorating! I always think it's a lot of work for a short amount of time, but I do it anyway. It's always so pretty and everything then looks so blah after it's put away. Love your Christmas cup, that was a great find!

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  22. Looking good!!! You have so many wonderful nostalgic pieces!!

    I'm going to miss looking at our ornaments this year, but I figured our new playful cat would destroy a tree. I collect nativity sets, so I have them sitting around the house with greenery.

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  23. How lovely! We don't celebrate the changing of the seasons in quite the same way in UK but just add some Christmas touches as the day draws near.

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  24. I love all of the pretty holiday decorations! I have gone crazy this year putting little vintage things on shelves! But I love it all so much! Don't you have a collection of elves...or pixies, as I usually call them? Let me know when they come out...I'll be right over! Have fun! ♥

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  25. SO TRUE! I am the same way. It takes me forever to get my momentum...but then I just can't seem to stop. :) Its just one more thing, one more thing, one more thing. :)

    Thanks for coming by and entering the Nell Hill Book give away.

    ~Liz

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  26. Love your decorations Kim, and you are so right the hardest part is just getting started. I ask myself how do I eat this elephant? and the answer is ... one bite at a time. ~smile`
    Sue

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  27. I love your whimsical vintage decorations! I have some of the same Gurley candles. (angels, deer, etc..) I LUV Christmas but had accumulated way too much "stuff", so for two years I sorted and downsized. And have done a bit more of that this year too. Almost have it to manageable levels. :-)

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  28. A cuppa cheer always seems to help! Love the decorating you've done so far. I'm only now getting started.

    Hugs,
    Donna

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