Post-Christmas Decorating Wrap Up
My plan was to keep going with the Christmas decorating… To not rest until you all were weeping in a corner because my house was so much more Christmas-y than yours.
But I ran out of care.
So you are getting the photos I uploaded but did not use, jumbled into me answering random questions and telling you I love you.
Overall, I think I did a pretty good job with the blog-required Christmas extravaganza. (I base this on the possibility that if you do not celebrate Christmas, you may have been converted by the sheer volume of my holiday decor.)
But there are still things I did not show you. And stuff I started, and did not finish… Maybe I will pick it back up next year, or maybe I will just light it on fire.
Some of the topics I did not get around to are:
- A side-by-side comparison of new glass glitter to somewhat-tarnished glass glitter. (I hope you can survive until next Christmas without knowing this important information.)
- How the sled turned out… Initially, I just threw some mercury glass ornaments in it until inspiration struck. (typing the phrase “inspiration struck,” in relation to a repurposed-sled-as-tabletop-vignette and involving mercury glass ornaments must be the MOST blogger-thing I have ever written. Part of me is ashamed, and wants to delete it, but I also feel that I should be forced to reflect.)
- Christmas tree hair, which I did not see until it was too late, but will definitely be happening next year.
- My mini-tree stand collection. (Technically, that is not actually a tree stand. It was probably the base to a coat rack or something.)
Also, I started making a mini-tree skirt out of the leftover duck cloth from the bow debacle. (Because what Pinterest REALLY needs is another tutorial for a tree skirt.)
But then I abandoned it in one of my piles and Elvis started sleeping on it… So it looks like what I really made was a holiday cat bed.
Plus, it was so ruffle-y that I just wanted to WEAR it… So for sure, next year Pinterest will be astounded by my 3-in-1 tutorial for a tree skirt/cat bed/holiday apron.
Now, questions:
The decorative (?) hole-in-the-wall/door-to-the-cat-powder-room (6th photo) is courtesy of the previous owner. It goes into the basement stairwell and is one of his many “creative” projects that did not in any way address any of the house’s actual issues and might be considered a bad idea. Similar to the marble dog bath in the basement.
Paul wanted to get rid of it… And I agreed that would be the “right” decision. However, as discussed, I love anything that is “special” for Elvis. Even if it is stupid.
I meant to decorate it with a tiny evergreen swag over the top and the battery-powered lights from the Halloween chandelier… I did not get around to it, but it is on the list for next year.
The source for the tufted ottoman and paint colors are here.
Now is the part where I tell you I love you:
I love you.
I hope your holidays were warm and full of family. And if the holidays were hard for you, I hope you survived with some shred of sanity.
I wish you the very best close to this year. Unless like me, you hate New Year’s.
I hate all endings anyway and I particularly hate that we celebrate the year being over.
I was not finished with this year.
I understand that theoretically it is important for society’s infrastructure to categorize time as a measurable quantity… But whoever invented the concept of years was an overachieving lunatic. Who can get anything done in 365 days? Not me.
I am still working on 2009.
The only redemption for New Year’s Eve is the requirement for wearing glitter/sparkle/clothing of questionable taste.
This year I will be exceeding my usual quota of obnoxiousness by testing out this glitter-stick-on-tattoo lipstick… The instructions say to not eat or drink anything while you are wearing it, so I will report back on how the intravenous-champagne goes. (This is why my blog is so much more important than other people’s blogs – who else is doing this kind of hard-hitting research?)
Of course, it is also possible that I will bail at the last minute. The odds of me actually leaving the house are about 50-50. Because:
A – I hate New Year’s.
B – why take a shower and leave your house if you do not HAVE to?
C – why would I spend New Year’s Eve without Elvis?
December 30, 2013 @ 1:40 pm
Sign me up for the “I ran out of care” shirt. . .brilliant! And the “I was not finished with this year” would be awesome as well. I found you this year because my daughter showed me your craigs list “mirror” post and I was hooked! Looking forward to following along on your adventures in 2014.
December 30, 2013 @ 2:36 pm
I have never posted a comment, but I have to say that you are definitely laugh out loud funny!!! Look forward to reading and laughing more in the new year!
Kay
December 30, 2013 @ 2:36 pm
So my main question (and by the way, you win Christmas even with all the “incompletes” you reckoned up for yourself) is: Does Elvis actually USE the hole in the wall cat door? Our cat (who is a female tuxedo of extreme elegance like yours, though with an absolutely annoying temperament) looks with disdain on anything we do or purchase especially for her. She only deigns to use the cat door to the basement because the previous owners put it in there for their cat. Otherwise, she would pretend it didn’t exist, like the special matching food and water bowls we bought for her (she uses the food dish, but she always drinks out of the dog’s bowl, because it annoys the dog so very much). Your cat door is much more elegant and sophisticated than ours, which is just a circular hole cut near the bottom of the door.
December 31, 2013 @ 10:31 am
She does use it… But she has never once allowed me to gather photographic-evidence. Somehow she KNOWS if I am sitting out there with a camera.
December 30, 2013 @ 2:46 pm
Don’t ever run out of FUN. 🙂 You manage to pass it on. Thanks!
December 30, 2013 @ 3:13 pm
Is it just me – or does the glitter on the mirror look like Goy? I don’t happen to be Jewish so a glittering Joy is second nature to me.
I just discovered your blog and now I have to binge read…….
What have you plotted for New Year’s Eve? I’m Imagining a Mad Men style holiday bash where everyone smokes incessantly, wine flows unabashedly, you’re dapperly attired in a sequined black gown with long, leather gloves complete with a rakish black velvet chapeau – the epitome of Canadian Gallic insouciance.
December 30, 2013 @ 4:16 pm
My New Year’s resolution is to comment on blogs more! Love your blog – it’s lots of fun! Don’t think of it as a year ending, but a new one beginning. A fresh year full of fresh projects!
December 30, 2013 @ 4:39 pm
I’m a big fan of welcoming the new year in sweat pants, in front of a fire, with Irish coffee.
For me, the “end of the year” is on my birthday. How ego-centric is that?
December 30, 2013 @ 5:05 pm
I think we all belong in the looney bin because I can relate and understand all of this. Needless to say I simply LOVE your style! You are fantastic and may you have a great New Year with Paul and Elvis.
December 30, 2013 @ 5:58 pm
You make me smile. You make me giggle. You make my day by filling it with sunshine and light. Please do not stop because sometimes my life needs sunshine and sometimes I need to see some one else obsessed about things too. Love the blog, which may mean I love you too.
December 30, 2013 @ 6:35 pm
Well it’s official I have Christmas decorations envy your house is fabulous you win!!!! I had a tree which is already taken down and that’s all. I run out of care all the time, especially when it comes to housework lol but love that you care enough to share your world. Wishing you and your darling Paul all the best for the new year I’m sure 2010 will be faaabbulousss lol hugs from me to you Di .
December 30, 2013 @ 9:45 pm
“I ran out of care.” Does this explain why I never bothered to hang a single ornament on my tree this year, opting to only put a pre-lit tree in the bay window so the neighbors and passers-by wouldn’t realize what a miserable holiday failure I was? A “tree skirt, cat bed, apron”? First of all, I have a dog and tree skirts around here consist of gold lame’ fabric that has been surged on the ends. I guess if you wrapped it creatively, it would double as some sort of an apron. Aprons and the Navy SEALs I offered in previous posts do not normally go together, but I’m sure we can manage something. Can we work in a Blackhawk or two while we’re at it? Glitter may give away their position for any New Year’s ops, but somehow I don’t think they’d mind if you were at the end of the the sparkle.
December 30, 2013 @ 9:57 pm
Definitely a “I ran out of care” shirt in silver glitter letters…or even a pin…then when all of us wear our shirt or pin, we know who we are! New Year here in rural PA is going to be a quiet one, like Christmas was…love ya Victoria! Thank you for the laughs you give us all!
December 31, 2013 @ 11:21 am
A pin! That’s it. Secret VEB Society. All we need now is a secret handshake.
December 31, 2013 @ 1:55 pm
Ah, a secret handshake to boot! YES!
December 31, 2013 @ 5:57 am
I think your house looks gorgeous! If only I could accomplish 1/10 of what you did! I did copycat your disco ball chandelier plus random hanging disco balls for my front porch. It was pretty, but I didn’t get the same lovely sparkle effect that you got on your porch. I think this is because my porch is north-facing, so sunlight never reaches it in the winter.
December 31, 2013 @ 10:17 am
Your blog was my “treasure find” for 2013! I am so happy and relieved that there are others “out there” like me. Studies say that we need a minimum of 2 minutes of soundful laughter each day to maintain good mental health…you provide me with more than enough and, if my cats could talk, they would report that I am hysterical for that time when reading your postings. They would also assure folks that I don’t need to worry about being jacketed and carted away to the looney bin for craziness issues…my mental health is generally intact, thanks to you!! Continued good health and happiness to you and yours and all of us who hang on every word!!!
December 31, 2013 @ 3:19 pm
NO CONTEST! Look forward to your posts like a junkie.
If you ever wear those lips – you’d better post a photo!
Now I have to check out that link to Christmas Tree hair…
December 31, 2013 @ 8:02 pm
A return to sanity here…finally had a moment to read and re-post and comment on one of your all-time best posts.
You know you will have a lot to accomplish in the coming year, it’s hard to best your recent ‘how to’ posts.
xo
January 1, 2014 @ 9:25 am
Hello Victoria!
You are absolutely gorgeous and fantastic and splendid…I love your blog and everything about your world, thankyou! Im so glad I have you in my life 😀
January 1, 2014 @ 1:07 pm
Let me just say that I love you right back!
Before you get too excited or wonder if you should call the police, I also love Don..and probably Elvis and I’m living in a 1950’s red brick ranch while converting it to a French Farmhouse. I spent New Year’s Eve cutting a hole in the bathroom wall to determine whether it was plaster over brick or if there were studs behind it. Scintillating…I know.
Not, however, as exciting as your life….sigh. I think that it may be your apron….help a girl out…tell me where you got yours….or just send it to me…I’m easy. xo, Kimberly
January 2, 2014 @ 2:47 pm
Love all the decorating, but I think my favorite are the bows you tied on the pillows. There is just something warm and fuzzy when I look at them.
January 2, 2014 @ 3:33 pm
I ran out of care for working today and have succumbed to reading my favorite blogs 🙂 Yay for a great jersey girl blog!