In years past, I was all about creating a beautiful Christmas home for my family. I went a bit overboard. It was a bit much. I see that now.
At the time, it was meaningful to me and I poured so much creativity into it.
I wanted everyone to feel the love, but I spent so much time making Christmas for everyone else but myself, and it was exhausting. This year, the only place you will see the kids is on a small tabletop tree on the bookcase. The rest of the house reflects ME, including a slim tree in my bedroom, and a main Christmas tree in the front room. I wanted the focus of my home to be totally different. And I don't think my kids will spend any time wondering about it at all.
A simpler Christmas home means:
*less to clean up around
*less to buy and store
*more energy to focus on the season
*less stress over all
Its taken me awhile to come to the realization that what I want is more peace for the holidays. How about you?
Ditto! I used to put up two trees as well, and all the rest. I still put up a large prelit faux tree, but definitely because I like it. It is how I challenge myself to check if I'm still able to do it without any help. A few years ago, I put it up with one arm broken, and I felt like Super Woman. :) I have to say it is one of my favorite purchases ever, because it is SO easy and the lights can change color depending on what mood I'm in. Each year it feels like I got a better 'deal' on it as I divide the original price by the number of times it has been used. :)
ReplyDeleteMy goal this week is to finish dressing it with the ornaments that are special and/or loved, and then to donate all the rest of the decorations while they will still find a home in other homes in time for the holidays.
Oh my goodness, I am right there with you! It's my first year with an empty nest and I went smaller. I only put out my very sentimental items and I still love the way everything looks, but I didn't have to put out what the kids wanted. Less mess, less time and less clutter!
ReplyDeleteGina, I love your peaceful Christmas setup. I’m sure my husband and I will also have a simpler arrangement once my children move out. Your tree is beautiful, and I love that you included an ornament from each of your children.
ReplyDeleteSteph@Stephcreatesthings
I was the same way when I was younger. I decorated every room in the house, in fact, my home was so extravagantly decorated it was on our town's "Christmas Walk" one year. I probably still decorate a lot compared to most people, but I really pared down a lot. Two years ago I gave half my decor away. With Thanksgiving and Christmas being so close together this year, there wasn't much time to decorate so I went a little simpler. I really like how it turned out. Simpler can be sweeter.
ReplyDeleteBack then all the over doing just fit our lives. Now that no one comes around here during Christmas, I see no need to decorate. We actually stopped putting up a tree in the last 4 years that Greg was here, because I didn't have the strength to put it up and it was one less thing to do before we left for Fl. Now, I smile when I see people talking about putting it all away because I don't have to.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to know more about Chili Jam.