Mommy Monday: Christmas-y Weekending Vol. 2

Second and final holiday post that is far less about mommydom and more about glitter. Just a heads up.

Last week I told y'all that we had pulled all the decorations down and started getting the house ready for Christmas. But since we didn't get the tree up, it was more like we pulled everything out and left it in sporadic piles all over the house. We did a good job of making a massive mess, and a terrible job of decorating.

Christmas ornament madness on our dining room table

Alas, this weekend we were on a mission for a tree! We went to a tree lot near our house (we were actually going to brunch at a restaurant there) and stopped in to see what the deal was the "real Christmas tree scene" in Dallas (everyone I know seems to have a fake tree. And I've never seen a pine tree, not even one, in the Dallas area. Too hot for those evergreens here!) Low and behold! These bad boys ranged from $150-$300. For a tree. That we'd have up for five weeks. And would die, leaving needles all over my floor.

I shouted a big WTF on social media, and got numerous replies to head to Home Depot. I also got a hilarious text from a girlfriend that there are *some* zip codes in Dallas where people will purchase their trees there as opposed to driving an additional half mile for a reasonably priced one just to tell their friends where they got the tree. Oh Dallas... Get over yourself. Being a pretentious rich person who pays $300 for a tree isn't cute. Also? Nobody cares about your tree.**

I digress!

So hubby went to get the tree at a "less exclusive shop" and Henry and I headed to pick up a stand at Target. Now, it's been MONTHS since I've been to Target on a weekend. I have the luxury of going at 11am on a weekday, everyday, any day. And let me tell you, I forgot what a mad house that place can be! Holyschmoly. Lesson learned: stick to my mid-day mid-week Target runs.

Ta-da! The tree is up. Lights on. Ornaments hung.

Mix n' match sentimental tree

And this white tree (West Elm) is up too!

White, silver and gold "feather" tree

I'm a big fan of "sentimental" ornaments - you know, things you pick up while traveling or buy to remember a life event? There is nothing better than a mismatched tree full of memories! In light of that, here are a few of my all-time favorites hanging on the tree this year:

We got this in Maui during our honeymoon

Kirk got me this for my 30th, my first birthday as a mom

We got this last year when I was about 16 weeks pregnant at Christmas

I got this almost five years ago, when I got Otis as a puppy. Striking resemblance!

We picked this up on our trip to NOLA two years ago. We both LOVE that city!

I think we're ready for the holidays now. The mess is gone and the house is decorated.


**Whole Foods even had free-range, organically grown, anti-biotic free and ethically slaughtered Christmas tree's for $60. I don't know what the special deal was with those pricey trees, but if you're looking to get ripped off  want to brag where your damn tree is from and you live in Dallas, head to the corner of Mockingbird and Abrams. You'll find them there.