Deck the Halls

Truth be told, my hall decking got started a little early this year.

I was chosen to have my house decorations featured in one of our local magazines.

I was tremendously honored -- and also panicked! The photo shoot was a full week before Thanksgiving and we'd been under a tremendous pace at work. I had no idea how I could make a good stab at it -- with at least enough up for photos!

Fortunately, I had a few tricks up my sleeve that I'm happy to share. You've probably thought of most of these, but just in case...

Tip 1 -- if you have the space to do so and it will work, put your trees away with the lights and garland left on. It will save you a TON of time.

This only works with artificial trees, of course, and not all of them, at that. My big tree (not in this post) must have all the lights removed when it is put away. But this thin white tree is easy to keep lit.

I love the ornaments on this tree. For the most part they are white or silver and many are paper. (Shop your own collections, especially ephemera!)

A number of them I've made myself. 

I also tuck my antique Christmas postcards and cards into the tree, like this one I found in my grandmother's things.

Tip 2 -- For small trees, keep ornaments handy and easy to find and get to. This is my Solstice Tree.

Although it has a lot more ornaments than are on it now, I keep the ones I love most -- the "must haves" -- in a separate box and it's easy to get it up and something on it without spending a lot of time. 

The other ornaments can be added later.

Tip 3 -- Shop your yard, your basement and your current arrangements. I really didn't want to throw out my dried green hydrangeas. 

It only took a cardinal on a stick to turn it into something seasonal. And the bright green is a good contrast color.

Tip 4 -- Do the tree you love most first. While my big tree is "my biography," this smaller tree in the family room (also in the top photo) is my "mom" tree and the things on it are those from our original tree and ornaments that remind me of mom.

We have a set of storybook characters that she got in the mid-'60s when the hospital auxiliary sold them. You can see Peter Pan here, the Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow (alone with Raggedy Andy) below.

Other ornaments on this tree reflect her love of tea, family and sugarplums. If you run out of time, you'll always be happy if your favorites are there!

Tip 5 -- Do it because you want to; not because you have to. Not everyone is a Christmas Crazy Girl like me. I'm trying hard to do what I can do, not what I think I should do. This is hard for me. But in the end, I'll be all the better for it -- and so will you. Or maybe you know that already!

By the way, the magazine also included my pumpkin roll recipe. Here's the link!

More to come!