12.09.2010

Top of the World

My roomate Elyse & I grew up with different traditions- which i could delve into, but there is only one that is important now.

Christmas Tree Decorations.


The major of these differences are
A-Elyse does colored lights (and a LOT of them) where I do ONLY white, and minimal.
B- Elyse does flashy things like garland and tinsel where I would be one to string Popcorn & cranberries.

why does this matter? well I'll tell you of course.

Seeing as I am living with Elyse, when it came time to decorate the christmas tree, i knew i was going to have to make some sacrifices (like i had in the past when living with Elyse). HOWEVER- this year a gift was bestowed upon Elyse of $100 for a Christmas tree. And in a brief moment of selflessness(this was meant to be a joke, and after being told it was mean- i need to clarify that. Elyse has more than just brief moments of selflessness), Elyse decided to let me use a portion of this gift certificate to purchase my VERY own tree. It's a "not quite charlie brown, not quite griswald" size tree.

the very same size i purchased myself 2 years ago, when living in a little beach bungalo.

this means i got to decorate my little tree my very own way.



A few things about my tree: #1- no tree is complete without a Hanging Santa. It's a tradition at my home, that we rotate who gets to hang "hanging santa". It's a special honor, and most people jump for joy when it is their turn. SINCE i am not at my home, and i don't possess THE hanging Santa- My fabulous sister bestowed upon me this special hanging Santa. Straight from the heart of Savanna Georgia, which she acquired on her Magical Southern Christmas tour (another, yet fairly new, tradition)

#2- I love my siblings. Enter, special sibling ornaments, again, given to me by my fabulous sister. One to represent each of us. Grace, Emily & Adam.


#3-of course there is the treble clef :)
#4-Let's talk about the top. 2 years ago when I put up my first very OWN tree, I realized i lacked a tree topper. I frantically whipped together a star made out of leftover fabric, a coat hanger, stick on rhinestones and a Styrofoam cone. When i pulled out my Christmas decorations this year, I realized that topper was not going to cut it.

In attempt to bring a little bit more of my families tradition to my own So-Cal Christmas, I decided I needed an angel for the top. (another duty that is rotated between my family members).

So, i thought. And I decided that the only thing I could do was make one. So I did.

And now, I bring you, the 100% Recycled/Repurposed Christmas Angel:

Made entirely of materials found in this house.
1 2 liter soda bottle, plastic shopping bags, yarn from a blanket i messed up, glue, a cork, some paint and the wire hanger from LAST years topper.



so there it is. I am very proud of my angel, my tree & my traditions.

12.07.2010

the mold & the beautiful

one year ago today I was getting on a plane. From San Diego to Baltimore. One way.

one year ago I packed up my belongings and tucked them away into a friends garage.

I spent the day,today, going through said belongings & material possessions that got left behind.

I had prepared myself to CHOOSE some things to get rid of. To lessen my load so to speak. To purge.

Well, that happened. But I really had no choice. A(nother) lesson in letting go.

Photos, CD's, Books- Ruined by mold. And although the final count of things destroyed wasn't as bad as it could have been, it sure was tough.

You see, this stuff happens. you keep it around for too long- and it gets tucked away in someones basement, garage, or attic- and it get's moldy. And as much as you would love to continue to hold on to that, some things just need to be thrown out.

I have no room for mold in my life.