At the risk of sounding like my least favorite Broadway leading lady, Elle Woods…
OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, YOU GUYS!
I am officially brilliant. Allow me to explain.
I’m not sure if this is a trend among my readers, but I am exhausted this holiday season. I’m not sure why. I’ve got Christmas spirit, but feel almost too tired to do something about it. I’ve put off decorating until tonight because, well, it just seemed like too much work. And lets face it, with no manly man to help haul the tree in from the garage and sit on the couch watching me put up ornaments, decorating a tree can be a lonely endeavor.
This year, as I grunted and heaved and lifted the big green bag over my car and into the house, scaring my dog in the process, I dreaded putting all those ornaments up.
And then, I had an epiphany.
I asked myself: “Self, what are the ornaments that you WANT to put up on the tree?” And my self answered: “The ones in the special boxes. The ones my grandma made. The ones given to me by friends, family and coworkers. The ones I found at craft fairs. The weird ones that have meaning.”
So I, like the genius I am, took approximately 20 minutes to put ONLY those ornaments up. And the result is a simple, lovely tree full of stories and memories. Some are gorgeous. Others are downright weird. But I love them all.
Here are two of my favorites. They were made for me by my mother’s stepmom, Grandma Joyce, whom I don’t really remember all that well. All you crafty bloggers will appreciate how gorgeous they are; if Grandma Joyce was alive today, I’d be setting her up with an Etsy shop.
Merry, Happy and Joyeux decorating, everyone!
Everything and a Racehorse 
Simple is good. We put up one tree (instead of our normal two which clutters up our already crowded house) and decorated the mantle. That is all. No knick-knack paddy whacks that will need to be dusted. I think I’m brillian too!
You are! Never doubt it. I love my tree so much – it does what it’s supposed to – make me think of family, friends and fellowship.