December 1, 2011

The great debate...

I've been decking my halls the past few days....fa, la, la, la, la.  OR fa-ra-ra-ra-ra as it is said in my most favorite-EST  Christmas movie (and from where my blog title comes from) "A Christmas Story".  I'm sure once Christmas gets closer, and the temps DROP to a more seasonal cold (geesh, how DO people don their gay apparel when it is 65 degrees out!), I will post  more about our family's tradition as it pertains to that movie.  But for now, I've been trudging up and down my basement stairs carrying boxes (ad nauseum) of be-decking materials, while pondering a highly sensitive and controversial issue that rears it's ugly head when Christmas season approaches.....right after Labor Day!




So many difficult decisions require our attention when celebrating Christmas.  Beliefs and traditions often influence our choices on these matters.   Personally, I don't care if long-standing family holiday recipes get tweaked, if I have a real tree vs. an artificial one, if we go to the Christmas Eve 6:00 family service or the midnight candlelight service, or if the kids wake ME up Christmas morning or if I have to go jump in THEIR beds and then devilishly make them wait til I put on a pot of coffee before they come downstairs.   However, there is ONE thing I am unwavering on...

ONLY WHITE LIGHTS ON MY TREE AND IN MY YARD!!!!!  No ifs, ands,  or buts on this.  I stand firm in my belief and I know my decorating rights!  Except for a brief adolescent obsession with my neighbor's white Christmas tree that stood before an illuminated multi-colored rotating disc which transformed the tree into a constant change of colors (hey! I wore bright blue eye shadow at the time too so my choices were suspect at best!) I have been steadfast in my devotion to white lights.  It's clean, it's pristine, reminiscent of snowflakes, it's the perfect backdrop to show off colorful ornaments, it's classic.  It's the "little black dress" of the Christmas hall decking.




I know others do not share my belief and they opt instead for an assortment of multi-colored twinkling lights.  I hold no prejudice or judgement.  This is America, and I believe the "Bill of Rights" gives us the freedom to choose, or is it the "Bill of Lights"?.  On second thought...it's probably TARGET that tells us we can switch back and forth as often as we'd like.   But as my dad use to sooooo often admonish me "When you have YOUR house Kathy, you can do as you like!  But this is MY house so get use to it!". Being the Christmas decorating junkie my family puts up with, I do believe I have molded them into a cult of white light worshipers.  Let's just say, I'm pretty sure when it comes time for my "Things" to choose their future spouses, their wedding vows WILL include "until colored lights do us part"!

Happy decorating!


--Kathy





29 comments:

  1. What a fantastic perspective looking in through your front door past the beautiful wreath! Your tree and wreath are gorgeous and I agree with you about white lights! I'm the boss inside so it's white lights - my hubby is the boss outside so our lights outside are all colours!

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  2. Oh my, I love these pictures. Especially the first one.

    Gret job. And hey, we use white lights too♥

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  3. Your home looks lovely, warm and welcoming. Your decorations look beautiful.

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  4. That first photo is so beautiful! I love the decorations you've put up. And your tree is beautiful.

    I am fully with you on the white lights only. It's just so much more classy!

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  5. I so agree with you on the white lights! Too funny!

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  6. Amazing photos - I love them and they truly put me in the Christmas spirit!

    As for the lights,...we had these huge colored lights on our tree when I was little and I always thought white lights looked so beautiful!

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  7. Wow! Your entry-way is stunning!

    And yes, white lights, ALL THE WAY!! :D

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  8. We are of the same 'religion'. White or bust in my house too.
    Husband put red ones in the window one year, It was like downtown Amsterdam. They were up for 7 minutes or less.

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  9. Kindred spirits once again, Kathy! Hold on I'm still picking myself up off the floor I laughed so hard. Your posts ALWAYS make my day! And yes, for the record, I have been donning my Christmas decorations which DO include exclusively white lights! I believe I saw the same rotating white tree and my great grandmothers house with the ever changing colored spotlight.


    The photo and your house - GORGEOUS! Was that James Dean?

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  10. hahaha - too funny! I will only put colored lights on my tree - BUT only red and gold! no white, no blue, no green - just red and gold! to match all my decorations!

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  11. beautiful first shot. and i totally concur with you about the white lights-definitely!

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  12. As if I wasn't anxious enough to come home for Christmas, after looking at these pictures (and your writing after Christmas) I simply cannot wait! My tiny 2 ft. tree in my apartment just isn't doing it for me... but don't worry, I bought the pre-lit table-top tree with white lights :o)

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  13. I like white lights best on trees too Your photo is beautiful!

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  14. I think white lights are working out just fine for you...that pic is gorgeous! Makes me want to decorate for Christmas tonight. :-)

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  15. Your house looks so festive! I like tasteful lights (this coming from a Jew!) But in that tasteful idea, I like tasteful colorful lights, like the NBC tree, random flashing reindeer on roofs, not so much!

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  16. Gorgeous photos. I especially like the close up of the lovely white lights. I used to be a purist, too, but my kids have worn me down (only on the tree, NOT on the outside!).

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  17. Okay- I need to come visit. Things looks so beautifully festive at your place!

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  18. We are a family divided....I'm all about white lights twinkling everywhere, but there are those who insist on colored lights. *sigh*

    The first time I saw a tree with that rotating disc I was in elementary school and stood looking through the window aghast. No aluminum, pink feathered, or artificial trees...no sireee...only fresh pine will do.

    A great post that made me laugh!

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  19. Oh too funny again....and I'm with ya girl on the white lights. And that scene of your front door and into your home is lovely with a captial L!! Seeing all these wonderful Christmas decorations is really making me anxious to get home and get started on mine.

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  20. Thank you for saying hi! I love love your lights :) Your pictures are making me so excited for Christmas-decorating at home....can't seem to get as festive here in NZ as it is now officially summertime, crazy!! :)

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  21. I love reading your blog, I'm still giggling from this one.
    Beautiful images and I agree, the little white lights look so clean and pretty, like snow flakes.

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  22. Okay, I am with you, Sister! White and only white at my house. Here's the kicker, though. Check out some bokeh shots on flickr and the ones with colored lights are KICK ASS. I almost want to go buy a string of colored lights just for photographic purposes. (I am such a dork!) That first photo with the tree is stunning... is it an HDR? It looks almost... magical. Great stuff!

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  23. I agree totally about the lights. But alas, I was outvoted this year. I know I could have used my veto power, but I just didn't want to listen to it every stinking day. So we have horribly disgusting colored lights that look almost neon. They are tacky, but my husband and kids love them. I guess I will pick my battles.

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  24. Once again your post has me smiling. Your tree does look gorgeous.. No one will argue that!! Happy Holidays my friend..

    Hugs, Linda

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  25. LOL...this made me smile. I am also a white lights fan and wouldn't have it any other way! Your home looks so beautiful. :)

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  26. Just found your blog through Deb Duty....Totally agree with your white light obsession! Loved this post!

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  27. I am a white lite gal too!!!
    Lovely post!

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  28. think I'll come to your house for Christmas! Beautiful, warm and welcoming!

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  29. I am white lights all the way too! And please tell me that as part of your Christmas Story tradition you have a leg lamp?!

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