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Our Tree is a Prius

We’ve got a hybrid. Using the garland leftover from the Renegade Fair (seen on the display behind our booth), we stuffed the bare spots on our fake and kicked up the real evergreen status around here a few notches. Small, 1-2 foot sections (about 12 feet in total) were all we needed to plump up our three-years-ago store bought spruce. Can you tell which is which?

One of the upsides to having a bitty home is that you can be most anywhere – and still see the tree. Part of that is our placement, and like every year prior, it hangs in our entryway (while the usual console takes a backseat to the basement). Seen from the hall? Uh-huh. The kitchen? Living room? Yes and yes. In the evenings, it’s a pretty sweet night light.

We lost a slew of ornaments in this summer’s flood (you might remember that we salvaged what we could), and we’re tisk-ing ourselves that we forgot to snag a three-year ornament while we were in Grand Rapids as part of our Christma-versary tradition. A few boxes of clearance ornaments had to do for now, and we’ll just have to start growing our collection again.

And because everyone loves a good bokeh tree, here’s a bokeh tree with our model man, Jack.

As two nuts that revel in all the holiday cheese, we’re a bit late to the game this year. While we normally enjoy a good tree trimming the Friday after Thanksgiving, over the years we’ve been slowly progressing into December, and this year, well, is it already mid-month? We blame busyness, but with the year wrapping up (fast!), it’s about time we take a few final weeks to really soak up the cheese, so to speak.

Are your homes dressed in holiday cheer? Or, perhaps, you’re a little behind, too? And hey, who can point us to a not-too-cutesy tree skirt? As you can see, we’re embarrassingly bare bones down there. Help!

PS… Don’t forget to check out our giveaway from Row Boat Press – ends tomorrow! And get free shipping on all (unframed) orders through December 25th using promo code yellowbrickhome.

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  • Katie12.12.11 - 8:45 AM

    Love the bokeh – must learn to do that! Your tree looks lovely. :) We had to go with a smaller table-top guy this year because there’s just no place to put a full tree! But I’m loving the twinkly ambience as always.ReplyCancel

  • Elisa @ What the Vita12.12.11 - 8:59 AM

    West Elm has some cute skirts :)ReplyCancel

  • Gloria @ A Little Paint12.12.11 - 9:07 AM

    I lost a ton of ornaments too! I accidentally packed away some candles and ornaments together in the same tub in the attic. With last summer hitting the 110’s +, they were doomed.

    Your place is so lovely with the tree! And how perfect to see it from every room!ReplyCancel

  • Sam/LeavetheNestuptoMe12.12.11 - 10:36 AM

    We’re slowly getting the decorations done. Just bought a tree on Saturday and need to find some more ornaments to hang!ReplyCancel

  • Andrea B12.12.11 - 11:02 AM

    No tree pix yet for us, but we broke down and got a fake tree since we’ll be traveling for the holidays.

    I have been on the hunt for a good not so frou-frou tree skirt for over a year and have not yet found one! I think I am going to resort to a white sheet and/or fake snow, if the pup won’t eat it.

    I’m very very tempted to design some and then sell them on Etsy to other non-frou-frou types. lol :)ReplyCancel

  • Kim12.12.11 - 11:15 AM

    Andrea, yes, do that! And if you do, send us a link! We’ve never had a skirt we loved, and when we lost ours in the flood, we weren’t sad. It’s also hard to find one with a small footprint, too.ReplyCancel

  • Two Pitties in the City12.12.11 - 11:25 AM

    It looks so nice, and I LOVE the Jack photo! Since I celebrate Hannukah, we don’t get a tree, but I want to try and do something fun and pretty in the house…we’re going to need some fun winter decor inside knowing that’s where we’ll be trapped for the next few months!ReplyCancel

  • Tina12.12.11 - 12:19 PM

    Your tree looks to be about the same size as mine. Mine is 6′ tall but only 3′ across because we are limited on space. I found a tree skirt at Dollar Tree (plain, red, decorative scalloped edges) that I liked because it was small enough to fit. I did change it by hot gluing the decorative glitter drape to the underside of the skirt so now it looks like a thick circle blanket of snow under my tree.

    My problem is, I always want to do something different with my tree each year! This year I started with the ornaments I already had and put them all up but tonight it will get a complete overhaul. My homework can wait, right? :)ReplyCancel

  • Kim12.12.11 - 12:27 PM

    Tina, there’s always time to procrastinate!

    Yup, our trees are definitely the same size. We bought it several years ago, and although it almost got destroyed in our first great flood, it survived with a bleach bath and a sun dry!ReplyCancel

  • Elise12.12.11 - 2:19 PM

    I can’t speak from experience, because I only have a tabletop tree and I’m currently using a red pashmina as a skirt, but I’ve seen some cute things with burlap floating around. Or maybe grab a vintage sheet from an estate sale? Good luck!ReplyCancel

  • Kim12.12.11 - 2:34 PM

    Great ideas! Thank you, Elise!ReplyCancel

  • Jane12.12.11 - 3:22 PM

    Ok, the tree is pretty, but nothing beats how handsome Jack is! So precious, I just want to give him a huge bear hug!!ReplyCancel

  • Two Grads12.12.11 - 6:00 PM

    your home is gorgeous!ReplyCancel

  • Jennifer12.12.11 - 6:09 PM

    Nice job on the tree I also like that you were able to put Grandma & Pap Pap’s clock back together.ReplyCancel

  • Jess LC12.13.11 - 12:37 PM

    Hi Kim!! I found this video and thought you need to see it. : ) http://marieforleo.com/2011/12/should-you-raise-prices/

    (And I love your real/fake tree idea!)ReplyCancel

  • Jen12.13.11 - 2:16 PM

    I just saw a great pic of a tree in a galvanized tub. So cute! http://pinterest.com/pin/125749014565040090/

    Love the mix of real and fuax! Great idea :)ReplyCancel

    • Kim12.13.11 - 2:45 PM

      Jess, that video is pretty great. Lots to think about. Also, see you tonight!

      Jen, that’s a GREAT idea! Using a tub, crate, etc… Love that.ReplyCancel

  • Monique12.13.11 - 7:32 PM

    Beautiful Christmas tree! However, I so get a kick out of Jack. You manage to capture his expressions so well. I sure would like to know what he’s thinking or then maybe not. :-)

    Merry Christmas to you and yours!ReplyCancel

  • Terese12.14.11 - 11:33 AM

    we only have a small tabletop tree and i just use a pretty pashmina as a tree skirt!ReplyCancel

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