Monday, November 30, 2009

Ahead of the Holiday

MOOD STATUS: "Happy". Had a wonderful Thanksgiving and blogging/computer break.

Happy... post Thanksgiving-pre Christmas!

Yes! It's almost Christmas and I AM IN THE MOOD ALREADY.
And it isn't even December!

Since I'm feeling so festive, I need to share two things with you:

1) I went out on Black Friday. I know. But I did it anyway.
At first, I decided against it because I heard there were only a handful of laptops at Walmart and I knew there would be no way I'd get there in time to grab one. But then...I woke up at 5:50AM and decided to shoot down to Staples instead since it's so close. So I threw on some jeans and managed to pick up a $699 laptop for $399.
(Not too shabby) I have not had a chance to take it out the box yet, so I'll be playing with it today.

PS:I was home before the sun came up--and in one piece.

2) I'm completely decorated for Christmas. Yes. No lie. COMPLETELY DECORATED. Outside lights on and Christmas tree up and decorated. Yes. And I'm exhausted.

PS. I was not aiming to have the Christmas tree up or decorated but my daughter BUGGED us until we could not take it anymore!!
Now there is peace in the house again. :)

As you might have guessed, we have a fake tree. But it's 9 ft of beautiful greenery. I do like to put the tree up early so I can enjoy it--not necessary November early, but early. I have friends who wait until Christmas Eve to put up theirs. I couldn't imagine waiting until the last minute like that, but for them, it's tradition.

I'm doubly excited this year because after fourteen years of marriage I FINALLY have white lights on my tree. They look lovely. In exchange, we now have colored lights outside... *cough cough*

It's all about compromise, folks. :)

When do you like to put up your tree?

30 comments:

Sherrinda Ketchersid said...

Usually, we put up the tree the first weekend in December. We completely rest the weekend right after Thanksgiving, then gear up for the next holiday. (My tree dries out if I put it up too early! I forget to water it!)

Katie Ganshert said...

We put ours up on Friday. And it is also fake. I LOVE Christmas decorations! Glad you're happy!

Terri Tiffany said...

LOL Yay on the white lights! I finally had all white ones last year:))
No decorations for us this year--husband can't lift for two more weeks and it is just us:(
And congrats on the laptop--we need a new one but couldn't imagine going out early.

Wendy Paine Miller said...

We put our tree up yesterday, but something went amiss with the lights. We also have white lights, but they cover only the top half of our tree. I'll probably take a picture and create a blog post out of the sight. :)
~ Wendy

Joanne said...

I love seeing trees up early, it's a comforting sight. We put ours up about two weeks before Christmas, since it's real and would really dry out otherwise.

Chicki Brown said...

Last year we downsized to a tabletop fiber optic tree that's gorgeous in the dark and horribly ugly in the daytime. LOL!

I haven't decorated a thing yet. Maybe this weekend ...

Stop by my blog to read about what I plan to do between holidays. www.chicki663.webs.com

Kristen Painter said...

You realize you're making the rest of us look bad, right?

Susan R. Mills said...

I'm completely decorated for Christmas too. I've never had it all done so early, and it feels good. Yay!

Linda Kage said...

Holy cow, a 9 foot tree? That's amazing, but I bet beautiful. You need to post a pictures of it.

And contrats on the great deal for your laptop. I'm so jealous.

Jennifer Shirk said...

Ooh, I WILL take pictures! Great idea!

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

Hey, Jennifer! My family usually waited until Dec 18 or so growing up. I always felt that the longer the tree is up, the harder it is to wait. Without a tree I could trick my young mind that Christmas wasn't just 3 weeks away. :0) But we put ours up Thanksgiving night, mostly because my brother was visiting and he usually does all of the lights (colorful, thank you) :0). I'm happy it's up early this year!

Glad you survived Black Friday and had a great Thanksgiving!

Eileen Astels Watson said...

I put our living room one up this weekend too. We will go out and cut a real one down for our family room a week or two before Christmas as well.

Cindy R. Wilson said...

Yay on the laptop and decorations! We don't usually put our tree up until the first or second week of December. But since I rearranged the living room not too long ago, I am worrying about where we'll put it.

Stephanie said...

We're putting ours up this week, too. I want pictures woman!

PatriciaW said...

Growing up, we always put the tree up about a week before Christmas. I've done it as late as Christmas Eve, especially once I started getting live trees. I don't have a plan for this year yet.

Jessica Nelson said...

Your last line is hilarious!

You're making me jealous. A laptop AND a tree??? LOL

Have fun playing today. :-)

Conda Douglas said...

Wow, I'm impressed! We put up the tree first weekend in December. Unfortunately, it's a fake tree. I love the real ones, but I'm allergic and prefer not to be sick the whole holiday season!

Tamika: said...

Jennifer I feel your pain about the colored lights! Yuk!

I have some on the outside around the front door, but at least he let me trash that colorful flickering star! Thank you Jesus!

Sarah Forgrave said...

My husband put our tree up before Thanksgiving then we decorated it yesterday afternoon. I'm with you on the colored lights, but thankfully my husband and I are both in agreement on that one. :-)

Diane said...

How incredibly productive of you. Great job girl! I hear you on the comprimise thing BTW... :O)

Sande said...

Bargins are always good for the mood. They are essential for our health.

And the lights ... it has to still look festive. We have to do that this year. So what if it's only the possums and the kangaroos who will enjoy it. We can go outside and look too .... !

Tana said...

I'm 90 percent done. I'm in awe of your decorating prowess! I wish I had my tree. DH battles me on the real fake issue. I would love a fake because they last forever!!!!! Oh well, off to do some serious shopping.

Ellie Kings said...

You made me laugh about the lights! I can't believe you got that deal on the laptop. Good for you! Can't wait to hear more of your stories!

Dawn Simon said...

We usually put our tree up the first week in December. I'm in a Christmas mood, too!

Congrats on the laptop. That's awesome. And how brave of you to go out on Black Friday.

Deb said...

We have a birthday on December 1 so I hold off on decorating thoughts until after that's happened. So sometime over the next couple of weeks the mood will strike.

Usually about the time I get tired of stashing gifts in closets :)

Krista Phillips said...

I was up at 2:30 on Friday... call me crazy, but it was fun. I was at my 4th store when I finally saw the sun peek out!

We put our tree up yesterday, and it's REAL! It's 8-9 foot too, and I love it:-) Christmas decorations are all up... but empty boxes are everywhere waiting for hubby to put them back in the garage. Let's all say a brief prayer for my sanity that he is sweet and does it tomorrow!

Elizabeth Bradley said...

I haven't done a lick of shopping, and I haven't broken out the decorations. I don't know if I love you or I hate you...okay I envy you...

Natalie said...

I put it up yesterday! I love the house at Christmas time and my husband is adamant that the tree can't go up before Thanksgiving and must come down the day after New Years so I try to maximize my Christmas time :)

I'm so impressed by your early morning Black Friday shopping! You are my shopping hero :)

Lesley Speller said...

Wow! Good job on your deal! And on getting decorated! I still need to make Finn's stocking...I failed last year. LOL

T. Powell Coltrin said...

May I hate you for being decorated? I am nearly done shopping... but no decorations as yet. PANIC