Tis the season to give you a sneak peak of the house at Christmas before the big reveal later on in the month. The big questions is - did I change anything from last year?
A few weeks ago I told you I wasn't going to change a thing about my Christmas decorating from last year because I loved it so much. It was perfect, why would I change it? That photo is my foyer last Christmas and I love everything about it.
It's not good practice as a blogger to decorate the same way year after year. People want ✨NEW✨, they want change, and excitement. They want nothing that takes longer than 4 seconds to understand and more than anything they want Christmas trees that whirl, spin and tango.
That worked out well for me because I am a blogger and I'm never satisfied with my Christmas (or any) decorating.
No problem!
I can redecorate every year, in fact I might as well, because the more times I do it differently the closer I'll hopefully come to perfection, right? I mean that's what happened last year after decades of Christmas decorating. I found my holiday perfection.
Of course, I changed it.
More to come later in the month, but this little photo of my Christmas tree collection (mainly supported by my friend Anj throughout the years) is the basis for this week's puzzle.
Since I love both of them, I feel like I can ask you which you like better because I won't care that you don't like either, or prefer one or the other. As long as I am confident in my love of them both what do I care what anyone else thinks?
That's not meant to sound harsh, it's meant to be motivational. If someone doesn't like your decorating but YOU really do, who cares. If you like a massive, puffy, reclining chair with cupholders and a built in mini-cooler go for it.
It'll look hideous for sure, there'll be no arguing that, but you'll be comfortable and happy so who gives a shit otherwise?
You can see I'm spreading holiday joy wherever I go.
And to reiterate what I mentioned a couple of weeks ago:
For the Puzzle People
- Over the holidays, I HOPE to have time to create a Puzzle category so they're easy to find.
- I got a message from the nice people at Jigidi this week.
They know some people are having troubles & frustrations with the puzzles & they want to do whatever they can to help.
From the creator:
Encourage your readers to contact us directly after the issue occurs next time. They can do this using this form.
https://www.jigidi.com/a/getting-help/
They don't need to provide extensive details. Just a short text stating they are from Art Of Doing Stuff and that the puzzle restarted or disappeared.
Magnus Jacobi
And now ...
The 12 piece puzzle
It took me under a minute. That's not as impressive as it sounds.
I love the trees, in the forest is my favourite place to be so that's no surprise.
I wanted to thank you too, I ordered a new Christmas tree stand per your recommendation and I'm excited to use it. My old one was adorable but the tree kept falling and the enraged feeling I was getting every time I walked into the room to see it tipped needed to go. So thank you!
I hope you like it! ~ karen
The tree is all set up and that was the easiest part about the whole tree, I love it!
Thanks again and Merry Christmas.
Dawn.
Oh definitely the trees! But I’m partial to trees myself as I’ve a collection of almost 25 of ‘em in various sizes and shapes, been collecting ‘em for years. (Maybe cause I love spending time around ‘em outside in nature?) Love your decorating style Karen!
Thanks Another Karen! The good part about having someone else gift them is that they pick things you might not necessarily have picked - but they're all still things I like. ~ karen!
A tip for lights. Sorry, I meant to send this way earlier but if there is a string go out and you find yourself having to renew (like I did) here is a tip I learned from my husband (chief lighting technician in film/tv). I love your tip to start in the middle! Very helpful! Now, after they are up SQUINT so that you only see the lights and everything else is blurred. That tells you where there is a dead spot. This is especially helpful when lighting a tree. Happy Holidaze!
Carla
Yes! I do that too! ~ karen!
Love the trees!
Ooooo--I love this year's!--especially your chandelier.
- 'Crazy Concrete Lady' here: Oh yes! We have a common love of the trees! Since I am a visual person I get overwhelmed with to much crazy Christmas colour so I love the soothing of the white/neutral colour themes. 'And I found a way to incorporate concrete! Cheers to you Karen!
I love the trees. We crows like shiny so much. My only nitpick is that they rise over the bottom of the painting. I also love that they fill the space; I love to fill a surface. And shiny!! Merry Christmas!
I love the candlebra in #1 but not the use of blue. I like the chandelier in #2 and the trees but they may benefit from a little more green on the 'ground'. I've gone with silver, glass, white & greenery this year and am really enjoying it.
awy... i've never liked the all-white Christmas decoration. Perhaps adding green around the clear trees? I also think that the smallish ornaments kind of get lost and take away that Wow factor of last year.
34 seconds...but... thanks to you...I've been practicing with online puzzles....under the guise of I got nothin' else I need to be doing....bwahahaha! I crack myself up....
Well how else are you going to win the online puzzle Olympics? I mean, you have to train. ~ karen!
Hi,
I like both designs, but would use the portrait of the man with both as I feel the girl is a little creepy and better suited to Halloween(no offense meant). And I love those lamps; so mid-century. Where did you get them?
Looking forward to the rest of your decorations this year. I always change mine.
Hi Nina, I got the lamps from a flea market years ago. And the girl is very definitely creepy - I have a thing for creepy portraits. Not just at Halloween. ;) ~ karen!
I like the first photo better.
41 seconds, which I feel was kinda slow - and I like the young girl painting and the unadorned chandelier, but the trees more than the wrapped presents and candelabra. Which makes me comfortable, happy and the giver of nary a shit.