If it weren’t for the fact that my head is about to implode due to recent events, I would have posted sooner about the fact that we bought a Christmas tree and how incredibly happy that is making me!  We weren’t able to have one last year and it damn near broke my heart. What makes it even better is that for the same amount of money we would have spent in Saskatchewan we got at least 200% more tree branches. Awesome! 

So just enjoying the smell of the tree and the lights twinkling (figuratively speaking, of course – I can’t stand Christmas tree lights that actually blink, flash, stutter or otherwise “twinkle”) has been a special pleasure the last few days and I intend to bask in it for the upcoming weeks.

In the spirit of lovely holiday atmosphere I wanted to share some of my favourite Christmas items, both new and old – not that my house is a page out of a magazine. Just me, talking about the things that make me happy right now.

First, every few years I buy a giant, red, cinnamon-scented candle. I’m not religious about burning the candle daily so it usually lasts a couple of Christmases. Just for the odd evening throughout the Christmas season. Unless you accidentally leave it burning all night – not that I’VE done that recently (eek!).

Second is my nativity scene. The picture doesn’t do it justice but it is lovely in it’s simplicity. It took me a number of years to find just the right one and then a couple more years to collect the pieces. But it was worth the wait. It evokes peace for me.

 I have a lot of favourite tree ornaments so I’ll only share a couple of them. This first angel was bought our first year of marriage and I actually have about a dozen of them and they all have different phrases on them such as “joy”, “love”, “hope”, “comfort and joy” and “believe”. While I am kind of over the whole country-style decorating I still love these little ornaments because I think words are beautiful and the emotions evoked by these words and short phrases are significant for me.

 

This icicle is new this season. One of several different new ornaments I purchased at the Crate & Barrel store in Boston. I bought ten of these little icicles and I kind of wish I’d bought more because they are so breakable pretty (again, the picture does not do it justice at all). They pick up the light on the tree and sparkle in a really satisfying way. 

 

 

 

 This little angel is one of my oldest ornaments dating back to 1984 (so yeah, not really old at all) when I was 4 years old. It’s kind of creepy looking and cute at the same time. It’s nice to have some things on the tree that have a little history and that I might even be able to pass on to my kids.

 

 

 

 

One of my last favourite things is having a really pretty fireplace over which to hang the stockings this year. We have even lit the fireplace a couple of times which, if you know me, is a big step. I have not been a fan of indoor fires (candles excepted) ever since we experienced a fire in our apartment building seven years ago. And yes, it kind of looks like the decorations and stockings are all part of some elaborate shrine to our TV, and yes, the TV is on. But that is only because we use the Apple TV to play music. See? That’s a picture of the Boney M Christmas Album cover!

Speaking of Christmas music, that must be my last favourite thing. My husband loves December because I not only allow him to play music all the time, but I encourage it. I love Christmas music and I listen to it constantly for one month a year. Come January I’ll turn back into my scroogey old self. 

I hope all of you are getting into the holiday spirit and creating cozy, happy places in which to celebrate. Aww…now I’ve gone and gotten all mushy on you guys. But I love you all! I really do! Mwah!