Twas the Month Before Christmas.....

Twas the month before Christmas and all through my mind ran visions for Christmas projects and plans! I gave great thought to my sister's Christmas gift and found just the thing on Amazon! Awaiting her gifts to arrive, I began to think of my brother. In despair I spoke of the search for his Christmas gift. Should it be cooking or hunting, fishing or toys, movies or cds? With several suggestions and great help from Daddy I ran to the store with more info than I was actually capable of comprehending. The gentleman who helped me was irritated at first by my ignorance, but thankfully softened as he realized I came in full attempt to be of the least trouble to him. Now under my tree sit quite a few gifts wrapped in my favorite wrapping paper. Some are wrapped in "A Christmas Story" wrapping paper, while others in new Santa paper, but all with "Christmas Story" gift tags! Their ribbons are curled to the best of my ability, though not to the perfection I would like them. Before taping the last corner of paper, I had already bought, strung lights, and hung all ornaments I have collected over the past few years on my tree. With bubble lights bubbling all over the branches, the bright red, blue, and clear strands shine just as cheerfully. Polka dots, Santas, and large candy sit pleasantly among the tree, while glittered balls, trees, and personally detailed Christmas balls hang as well. My very first ornaments that I ever bought were glass ornaments in the shape of a diner, a jukebox, an ice cream float, and two cupcakes and ice cream cones.A ballerina hangs in one spot, something my parents bought me when I was much younger. On a trip to Shreveport, we went to our favorite Christmas Store (/pool place)- Splash. They had some of the neatest ornaments and after walking around for some time, my parents decided to buy my sister and I each our own ballerina. We must have gone through six baskets at least, deciding which ballerina ornament we liked the most. Ever since, I have been allowed to hang her on the tree. I've laid out Christmas stationary on my desk with a red pen slanted to the side. A nutcracker sits on my window sill, while a Grinch tray that I made a few years ago sits on top of my hope chest. A frame I decorated last year sits beside my tv, while an apron I sewed lays across my desk chair. I hung four Christmas handkerchiefs on top of my curtain rod, which I had gotten at Antique Alley earlier last year. Old Christmas cards, bought in antique stores hang on my bulletin board. One of them is from 1948! My copies of "Christmas with the Kranks" and, my favorite, "A Christmas Story" lay out on the desk. I still plan on painting a few portraits of elves to hang somewhere one day, and I need to finish my parents gifts. I also need to work on my sister and brother's gifts that I am making them. Oh, did I mention- I set out a set of dishes and mugs that I found in a really cute kitchen store in Jefferson last year. They look like they are from the 1940s! I couldnt resist. I actually felt horrible the night we went last year, but leaving with my big brown bag filled with the packages, I felt slightly better. I can not explain in full detail the excitement that I have in setting out all these items that I have collected in the years past. I still look forward to the day when I can set out all these things in my own home, with my husband and I and our family and friends to enjoy them. Alright, so I admit it- I am an idealist. I am a crazy, over the top, perfectionist of an idealist. Who's shocked?!?!?!? :) I have already bought fabric for stockings I hope to make one day and I already have two stocking holders. (I figure if nothing else, my husband and I will have matching stocking holders and stockings.) Okay, so enough writing. I am sure y'all are ready for the pictures and I have plenty. The red Christmas balls are the cheaper, more fun version of Christmas balls I found last year for five dollars a piece. I bought a box of balls, a paint pen, and then got to work. *Note- You will get addicted to the paint pen. Too Fun!

Daddy's put up our lights, by the way. I'll post pics of that as well. So have fun looking and Ihope you like the new blog!

-Paige

(P.S. I forgot to mention the fact that all of this was done in November. The only Christmas related project I have done this month is this blog!)