Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Growing up, we always had fake trees. Pretty much everyone in my family is allergic to a lot of different things, so that is the main reason. Plus, real tree needles make a mess, and to be honest…they are a little wasteful and not environmentally friendly. I am in no way knocking the people who get real trees though. I think they are beautiful, they make your house smell like Christmas and I know a lot of people who have a tradition of going and picking one out and making a day of it, and that is special.

When I was younger we had a white Christmas tree, then around high school my parents decided it was time for a new tree. They bought this big beautiful pre-lit rotating tree. It was gorgeous. When I had my own apartment, I went to Walmart and bought a clearance after Christmas special 6 foot no frills tree for about $19. It was perfect when I was in college and later on my own. When my dad remarried, I inherited his 7 foot pre-lit rotating tree. Score! That is what now sits in our living room. It is a perfect size for us.

I do not have a themed tree. I think themed trees are beautiful and very put together, but I just cant bring myself to do it. You see, over the years my mom would buy me Christmas ornaments for Christmas. I have Care Bear ornaments, Strawberry Shortcake, Smurfs, Scooby Doo, Blues Clues, Lady and the Tramp, lots of ornaments that remind you of our childhood. I also have ornaments that have been passed down from my great grandmother to my mother and others that I have received as gifts over the years. So needless to say, our Christmas tree is filled with sentimental ornaments, just about every single one holding a story. There is no theme, or color pattern, it just a bit of everything.

Every year when I get all of our stuff out, I start to reminisce and want to tell stories behind some of them, or I am reminded of a time in the past. It is super fun for me. Here are some of my favorite ornaments from the tree.

Lets start with the top! This angel was on our Christmas tree growing up until my parents got the new tree when I was in high school. They bought a new topper and saved the angel for me. She might not be the prettiest tree topper out there, but she reminds me of childhood. She lights up, but I dont ever plug her in anymore.

I got this ornament my senior year of high school, I was the class of 2001. And I love penguins. If I could have a pet penguin, I totally would!

My mom bought this ornament for me from an antique show, it is my birth year! Plus it is Disney…so you know… 🙂

This crystal angel is from my Grandma Jerry’s tree. She isnt with us anymore, and every time I see this angel I like to think that she is my angel. She used to have a little tree that was full of these angels, and I dont know what happened to all of them but I am so thankful that I have one!These are some of the ones I have gotten as presents over the years from my mom.

This one is very old. I think it was my great grandmothers. It isnt just a ball, it is handmade out of some material that isnt plastic. I just love it! Plus it still has the original piece of yarn to hang it by!

Another one that my mom bought me. I used to love Barbies and their outfits and constantly changing them. We used to look at all the Barbie catalogs and stuff when I was younger to see how fashion had changed.

I got this guy when I used to work at Kirkland’s. I have about 12 different ornaments from when I worked there over high school and college.

I got this Alabama snowman for Chris our first Christmas together so that he had an ornament on our tree. Roll Tide!

This smurf is another old ornament from when the Smurfs first came out way back in the day. His arms open and close and you can attach him to anything.And of course, Lady and the Tramp and the Care Bears. I LOVED the care bears, and Lady and the Tramp was my favorite non-princess Disney movie. How could you not love the spaghetti eating scene? So sweet!

And so you see, there is NO theme or plan for my Christmas tree. Just a bunch of memories from my 30 years here on this planet. I can literally tell you about every single ornament on my tree. I love it. It is so special to me and I will always have these ornaments up on a tree somewhere in my house every Christmas no matter what.

Amber and Jennifer also have some festive questions, so I thought it would be fun to answer those in this post too!

1. Favorite Christmas song. I seriously SERIOUSLY can not pick just one.

2. Christmas song you can’t stand. Feliz Navidad. It gets on my nerves so bad, yet I find myself singing along to it and getting stuck in my head.

3. Favorite holiday movie. Elf and The Grinch are a tie for me.

4. Real or artificial tree? Artificial.

5. White or colored lights? White.

6. All matching ornaments or more random personal ornaments? Random. No tree is more random than mine!

7. Favorite ornament. The crystal angel that was Grandma Jerry’s. (Anyone feel like some of these questions are testing whether or not you read this entire post ?!)

8. Angel or star tree-topper? Angel

9. Does Santa wrap presents or leave them unwrapped? Ummmm he wraps them duh!!! Half the fun is unwrapping them! Plus wrapping paper is cute and fun.

10. Favorite childhood memory.  There are so many wonderful memories. Going to church Christmas Eve with my parents and Grandma Jerry, waking up super early Christmas morning with Tracy and goofing off, and just how magical my parents made Christmas for us!

11. Coffee, hot chocolate, or eggnog? Give me all of it! Just not in the same glass!

12. Christmas morning at home or do you travel? When I was little we spent Christmas morning at home. Now, Chris and I open our presents to each other then we head to his sister’s house for breakfast.

13. Traditional holiday meal or something unconventional? All of the above. Chris’s family does more traditional items. My mom has a few staples and then either an Italian dish or Pierogies.

14. Personalized photo Christmas cards, store bought cards, e-cards, or “ain’t nobody got time for that”?  I’m lazy. No cards this year.