Since I can't have any of you over for a little hot cocoa or to watch It's a Wonderful Life this Christmas season (although you're welcome anytime!) I thought I'd give you a peak at our halls a'decked. There's not much, I mean, we've only been married 6 months, and there's no Hobby Lobby here to strengthen my holiday decor stock. Most of it I bought after Christmas last year, packed away, and haven't seen it since. It was like a pre-Christmas surprise to open up all the boxes and see what I had! So grab you're cup of eggnog and a Christmas cookie or two, turn on Nat King Cole, and enjoy our (sparse) holiday tour.
Come on in!
Let's see, we'll start here, though probably pretty mundane. Except that all of these decorations have interesting and different backgrounds. The clear ornaments in the pitcher are all of the ornaments that Zac has made me each year we've been together (this year will be our EIGHTH Christmas!). If you're good at counting, there's only 5...I think my mom is holding a couple of them ransom in her plethora of holiday decor. The small red block is from a craft show that I went to here...gotta support the arts in Okinawa too. And the little jingle bell tree is from the Japanese version of Bed Bath and Beyond, Nitori. So you've got a little Asian flair in there too.
Mantle #1. We don't have a fireplace to roast our chestnuts over here, so we have to improvise by using our lovely air conditioners to catch our holiday gear. I guess we could call this "mantle" this silver mantle. Our stocking holders hold ornaments from Thailand (or the Philippines, or something...and I don't just mean it just says "Made in Thailand" on the sticker. There are several gift shops on base that sell arts and decor from neighboring countries, and these are some of the "one of a kind (?)" imports. So these are real Thai (or whatever) crafted ornaments! Annnnd back to the main event.)
Our makeshift Advent wreath. I didn't have another wreath, nor were there purple and pink candles at the PX, so we've got a cake stand (circular like a wreath, right?), some burgundy and white candles (almost the right color, just off a couple of tones), and some gold balls. We have enjoyed doing some Advent devotionals each night at dinner, so it serves its purpose!
Mantle # 2. I guess the big one. (Excuse my reflection) It houses our brand new, beautiful new nativity, garland, lights, candles, and pears. Pears are Christmas-y...think partridge in a PEAR tree. Actually, I have all of these fake pears and they seem to find their way in all of our seasonal decor. Whatev.
And a close up.
And now, what you've been waiting for...dun duh DUNNNN. Our very own Charlie Brown Christmas Tree! (Presents courtesy of Zac's mom)
And now in all of its ethereal glory...
It's quite small. Hence it's Charlie Brown title. I picked the small one to save some money, and it ended up quite small. This is the first year in my living memory that I haven't had a real Christmas tree, but short of cutting down a bonsai down the road, fake was the only way to go. It houses our collection of ornaments (mainly my lifetime collection of hobby horses and Madame Alexander dolls) just great and just the right size for our little Japanese apartment. P.S. Did you know that it take 20 years for a consumer to reuse their artificial Christmas tree before it has a lower carbon footprint than a real tree. Interesting...
We also have our own neighborhood (Japanese) Clark Griswald. I have a pic, maybe I'll share it later.
Well, that's about it. But please continue to enjoy your hot chocolate and Bing Crosby!
And a big shout out to my Dad on his big Birthday!! Wish we could be there to celebrate with you!
Love you Daddy!
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