An Uncomplicated Life Blog: Mommy Monday: Christmas-y Weekending Vol. 2

Monday, November 24, 2014

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.


28 comments:

  1. jeepers who wants to pay $300 for a tree? thats ridiculous. you could just buy the cheap tree and say you got it at the rich place, who's gonna know? there's no brand name on the tree. i've never had (or seen) a real christmas tree, perfectly happy with my fake trees! and i totally agree with the sentimental ornaments, that's all i have! i only have a few so my tree is quite sad looking but i love the idea of slowly filling it up with memories :)

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    1. Exactly, who the heck cares about your tree?!?!? This concept is completely lost on me. We'll invest in a fake one next year when we buy a house and get the right height and size :)

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  2. Oh I absolutely love the ornament you got while you were pregnant - that is so special!! I'm with you - paying $300 for a tree that will be gone in a matter of weeks is just plain silly! I really love your west elm tree too! Happy Monday!

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    1. Thanks! I love a mismatched tree full of things that commemorate life events. I saw you do, too! And I'll totally give you the West Elm tree. You have to reposition the wire branches every year (they get all bent in storage), and since I'm a perfectionist, it takes me an hour to put that thing together... And I always futz with it throughout the season! Why can't they all just space themselves perfectly, WHY

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  3. $300 for a Christmas tree?! That's just craziness!! I do love your ornaments. Every year I say I want to do a themed tree (all one color or something similar) but when I break out all of my ornaments each with great sentimental value, I just can't do it! Mix n' match tree for me please!!! Thanks for sharing :)

    Sarah @ sarahsayhello.blogspot.com

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    1. Isn't it nuts?! I can't figure it out. I'm with you, I see "themed" trees and think they're super pretty but my chaotic tree is just so much more meaningful.

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  4. Yay! You found a tree! I knew there had to be some near you that weren't ridiculously priced... Also, I hate Target on the weekends. I can maybe go on a Friday night when the crowds have died down, but any other time is almost not worth it... Love the ornaments!

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    1. We did, but that was quite a scare! I was going to drive all the way down to y'all just for the cheaper tree, seriously. I don't understand the wealthy in Dallas. I really, really don't!

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  5. I love your ornaments!!! And - that little white tree - Super cute!

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    1. Thank you! My hubs will be happy you like the white tree... He picked it out and I give him crap about it :)

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  6. 8AM on a Saturday is the perfect time to go to Target...Starbucks in hand...no lines...bliss!

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    1. Oh girl, no way! Saturday is sleep in day around here! For me at least. Hubs takes the baby and I'm usually just starting to think about getting out of bed at 8am... ;)

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  7. $300! I couldn't believe it when I saw your IG photo. That is highway robbery! We have the luxury of living in the PNW, where we can go cut our own tree down in the forest, but we decided to get a fake tree this year for the first time. I may break down and get a real tree too at some point....maybe. :)
    Love sentimental ornaments.

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    1. RIGHT?! I nearly pooped myself! In MN, where I grew up, we always went to a farm and cut ours down every year, too. It was such a fun thing to do as a kid! There just isn't anything better than the smell of a real tree, is there? Nope :)

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  8. Paige what a beautiful tree! I love it and ya Dallas, what the heck? haha I hope to put ours up this weekend, it just makes the house seem so festive

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    1. Thanks lady! Dallas is a bit like the Orange County of the South... I guess there's more millionaires per capita here than anywhere else. I don't care, that's just stupid! If you do get your tree up, make sure to share a pic! I wanna see, I wanna see!

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  9. WTH with a $300 tree?! How about thanks, but no thanks... I'll go to walmart and get one for $40- $50. That's just crazy! BUT the one you got looks just beautiful. So festive!

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    1. I had the exact same thoughts when I saw that price tag! And that's about what we spent at Home Depot, and nobody will ever know the difference.

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  10. I'm right there with you girl! Bring on the Christmas! Your tree makes me ridiculously giddy! I really want to put one up this year in our *gasp* shared place finally!

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    1. Ohhhhh boy, your first "shared" tree?!?! That's a biggie! Post lots of pics, I want to see!

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  11. I had no idea there were places you would brag about buying a Christmas tree from. I like how you have two Christmas trees. We have a second one, too - it's a Charlie Brown tree :).

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    1. What a bizarre thing to brag about, right? Leave it to Dallasites... Awwww, a Charlie Brown tree! I had one of those one year, but it wasn't intentional. I forgot to water it and all the needles fell off ;)

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  12. Paige, now I am feeling Christmassy!! But then again I always am. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving :)

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  13. Wow!! What expensive trees! Sheesh!! Glad you found a more reasonable route! :)
    xo Krissy @ Sneakers and Sequins

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