It’s December 1st, which means the calendar has given us full permission to get our Merry Christmas on- or at least get things started. So we kicked things off last Sunday by putting up our artificial (reusable?) Christmas tree. It has yet to be fully decorated with ornaments, but if you wanna dive head first into the holidays with us, here’s a quick little video that captures the process (broken strand of lights and all) and hopefully drums up a little taste of seasonal spirit in the process.
And while we do our best to give all of you sneak-a-peek-at-work readers a non-video version to enjoy, there’s not much to say or show this time by the way of a photo rundown. Basically we put up our tree (after a couple failed attempts at figuring out which part was the bottom), threw down two sheepskin rugs as a tree skirt and plugged the tree in only to discover a section of lights was out. Sigh. But it’s all in fast motion with a bit of holiday music so it’s somehow still cheerful and fun. Oh and Sherry’s baby belly is clearly visible so that might be exciting for some of you bump watchers out there.
In the good news department: we’ve since fixed our little tree-lighting issue. The better news: we’ll have more pictures (and a sequel video) to share once it gets all ornamentified. Just gotta hunt down (or create) a few more in a certain hard-to-find color first (Sherry’s all about a punchy new scheme this year so stay tuned for that).
But what about you guys. Has anyone else started their holiday decorating yet? We were amazed to see tons of homes that were already fully decked out with lights along the roof and around the porch and a giant tree glowing in the window just the day after Thanksgiving. We’re starting a bit more slowly- but fear not, we’ll pick up steam in the coming weeks and share all the fun along the way. After all, ’tis the season…
Update: You can check out all of our favorite holiday decor finds here – many of which are under $15!
Carla says
Oh, how I wish it really went that fast putting up the tree. With a fiesty cat and an even fiestier three year old, this years tree assembly should be an adventure!
I love the music you used in the video!
Chelsea says
Love your belly bump Sherry! I love that you guys are using a “reusable” tree, I know a lot folks out there do, I guess you can make up for me… who just can’t get away from a real one. From shopping for it, to the fresh pine smell- I love everything about a real tree. I know it isn’t the best for the environment, but I just can’t help but feel lost without a real one. AAHH I am sooo lame, and a contributor to the declining ozone layer.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Chelsea,
Good news! Real trees definitely aren’t bad for the environment since they’re replanted each year and they’re extremely biodegradable. And one way we’ve heard for real tree lovers to go above and beyond for Mother Nature is to get their tree chipped into mulch so it gets a second life instead of just drying up and getting carted off. But even if it does get carted off to the landfill, at least it’s biodegradable! Hope it helps.
xo,
s
Stefani says
You guys are so cute. I love the fast motion documentation of putting up the tree – I haven’t put mine up yet, so I think I might do that, too – how fun! I guess it is time to get in the Christmassy spirit!
Katie says
So much fun- love the music! I’m definitely ready to set up my tree tonight now :) Sherry, you look beautiful!
Gracia says
My only motivation to finish up this assignment I’m working on is taking out the tree… And now you’re pushing me even more! It looks sooo pretty even with just the lights!
The Design Slice says
Justin and I totally took advantage of the long weekend to put up our holiday decorations. Unfortunately, our criminal cats wanted to do a little decorating at their own level. What goes up, must come down! http://thedesignslice.blogspot.com/2009/12/what-goes-up-must-come-down.html
Jeane says
I’m from Germany (but live in Ohio) and we don’t start putting up the tree until December 24th in the morning. So coming over here and seeing trees being put up at the beginning of December was a really big adjustment for me. After being here for 5 years now I am finally at that point where I can not wait for Thanksgiving to be over and start to decorate everything ;-) That being said, we did put up the outside decoration on the house and also the stockings and other little things around the house. Unfortunately we didn’t have enough time for the tree the past weekend, so it has to wait until this coming weekend. I can’t wait to see it all up and glowing as well as my kids eyes glowing with joy when they see it :-)
Ally says
Love the soundtrack to your video :)
Jenny @ Words On Wendhurst says
People around here have had lights up outside and trees in their window for weeks. It’s craziness I tell ya. We did outdoor lights on Sunday, and we’ll put the tree and the rest of the decorations up this week. The ornaments don’t go on till Christmas Eve though!
Nicole B. says
Cute! My 2yo loved the music :) Our lights did the same thing this year.
We are in need of a new tree next year and the debate has been… What is better for the environment: an artifical tree that needs to be replaced every decade (or so) or real trees every year? Any thoughts?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Nicole,
We’ve heard that the best version by far is to get a small potted evergreen that you can decorate on a tabletop and then plant outside. After that it’s debatable about faux vs. real cut trees since real cut ones just dry out and get tossed en masse (getting yours chipped up and using it as mulch is nice because it gives it a second life) and faux ones take energy to make and aren’t as bio-degradable as real ones (so the longer you use and reuse them the greener they get). You also have to factor in the emissions over the years spent going out to a tree farm and getting a tree each season when compared to the one-time shipping of a faux tree (which you’ll then set up over and over again without driving anywhere). We plan to use ours until it won’t stand up anymore, so that’s our eco-friendly solution (we figure it saves at least a dozen trees over the years and by resisting the urge to upgrade or replace it until it’s physically unusable we’ll get the most bang for Mother Earth) but it’s really all about what works for you and your family. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Amy says
Ha! Love it! I have our fake one up in the foyer… we’ll get a real one later for the family room. Wish it was as quick as in your video!
celia says
Really, I truly love this blog! You always make me smile! lol…
SO fun!
Beth@321home says
Love the bump! :-)
Amy says
So cute guys!
We acutally put up our tree on saturday (also a fake one) and we made a little movie of our own! You can check it out here:
http://housebuiltfor2.blogspot.com/2009/12/its-beginning-to-look-lot-like.html
cathey says
Love the video!
Another good thing about getting a real tree is that it supports farmers. Christmas tree farms help sustain the rural economy….and another tree is planted for each one that is cut so that there is always a continuous supply. We always get a real one and have it turned into mulch after Christmas.
I still understand the artificial tree side. Allergies are not fun. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Great point Cathey! We love that real trees keep getting replentished and it supports farmers! There are definitely lots of pros and cons in each category and we love that each family can decide what’s right for them thanks to the different options that are available!
xo,
s
Heather W. says
I don’t know if you live anywhere near it, but if you do…Hobby Lobby has ornaments in I swear EVERY color you could imagine! I also saw that they have feather trees like yours, which is why I’m heading there very soon!
Best of luck on your ornament hunt!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Heather W,
Thanks so much for the tip! We unfortunately don’t have Hobby Lobby’s around here. Sadness. Maybe one will come along soon…?
xo,
s
Amanda says
I love the music! I haven’t done any Christmas decorating yet. I do own a strand or two of red lights, which I was thinking of putting up on my porch. Would that say “festive” or “house of ill-repute”? Hmm…
Darby says
That was so much fun…. you’re like two little elves… will you please come to my house and work that fast! :) Sherry, your bump is really fun!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Darby. I always laugh because there’s a part in the video where I’m just standing there staring at the tree and rubbing my belly. Totally unconsciously I can assure you! But it sure is fun to have a baby bump around. Especially now that it’s time for family and food and general merriment. I highly recommend a second trimester Christmas. No more morning sickness and you have elastic pants so you can pack in the food! Can’t wait…
xo,
s
Becky says
After seeing your decorating ideas for Halloween and Thanksgiving I can’t wait to see your Christmas ideas!!
Allison says
You two (three, including Burger) are pretty much the cutest thing ever! Sherry, you’re glowing!
Inspired by you, I decided that if YoungHouseLove can do a “reusable tree” then I can. I bought a smallish one this weekend, pre-lit. Why have I never done this before? It was SO much easier to just put it together and start decorating right away instead of struggling with strands of lights! It left me more time to devise a new color theme for this year…lime green, turquoise, silver and a hint of gold. The tree looks amazing!
Looking forward to your next installment!
Janis in Scotland says
No tree up yet but hopefully soooon although a neighbour across the road from us had hers up on Saturday.
Sherry…………..loving the bump!
Lindsay B says
Sherry, your baby bump is so adorable! We have a broken strand of lights on our fake Christmas tree too, so I’m excited to see how you fix it. I can’t figure it out!
Jennifer says
I’ve never felt bad evironmentally about getting a real tree because they usually come from Xmas tree farms that grow them for that very purpose. The fake ones will be in the landfills for years and years to come though…they sure do save money in the long run though. Either way, Christmas trees are just so pretty and so much fun.
I’m loving the baby bump!
Abby says
We started decorating Friday. It’s always been a tradition ot start the day after Thanksgiving. We have outside lights up and our tree is up and decorated. I’m still playing around with other decor around the house.
JMB says
Your videos are always fun! We took advantage of the nice weather on Sunday to put lights on the shrubs in front of the porch, hang a wreath on the front door, and hang some LED icicle lights on the garage. We haven’t put up a tree at all the last few years, because there really is no space for it without MAJOR furniture rearranging. This year, we bought a little (4.5 feet!), pre-lit tree so we’ll have something! It’s assembled, but no decorations yet…
Jill Stigs says
Oooooooooooo………your bump looks freaking adorable (hi lil bean!).
The hubs and kidlet put the tree (artificial) up on the Friday after Thanksgiving while I am @ work. This works the best for us. My mom, 3 sisters and I used to make a handmade ornament every year for all of us so most are those. Very sentimental.
I sure hope you labeled the bottom for next year! LOL
Rebekah says
Getting a real tree is DEFINITELY better for the environment… most artificial trees contain PVC (not good, difficult to recycle, creates pollution, toxins, etc.) and are made in China.
As those before me said… buying a real tree helps support local farmers, who in return plant one or more trees for every one cut down. As you said, they can be mulched and are completely bio-degradable.
Amy W. says
There is no question about which is greener—the real christmas tree! Artificial trees do not biodegrade, use energy to make and ship (usually from China), and you will probably have several over your lifetime. A farm-grown christmas tree is low-pesticide to boot. Please buy a locally grown tree and have it chopped and recycled after christmas. It really doesn’t get much greener!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Rebekah and Amy W,
We’ve read lots of interesting articles on the subject and it’s definitely still an open debate about which one is greener. Here’s one we recently enjoyed (there are TONS of great points on each side: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/11/27/HOBPTEM5U.DTL )
Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Leslie says
Great video! We also had a little trouble this year with the ‘which piece is the bottom?!’ I guess we have started a tradition of the tree decorating time lapse. (2nd year running :) This year’s was better though!
http://www.lesliesday.com/2009/11/christmastime-is-here.html
amy says
We just put up our tree this weekend and have the same problem with a broken strand of lights. How did you fix it? The instructions that came with our tree are pretty difficult to understand!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Amy,
We actually had a strand of lights around that we just strung around the part of the tree and connected to the rest of the lights so they all go on with one plug. That’s the short term solution but we actually have figured out which light is the problem light that caused the whole strand to go out (we heard it buzzing so it was easy enough to find) so once we get a replacement bulb they should all go back on and we can remove the strand that we shoved in there to fill in the hole. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Kelly says
So far, so good! Everything looks great (as do you). I haven’t been following the blog regularly, so tell me: where did you get that You & Me picture right behind the tree? I love it.
Ashley M. [at] (never home)maker says
I think our tree is very similar to yours. It’s tall and skinny — a great choice for a small-ish space! The only problem we have with ours is that our cats crawl up inside it . . . and they chewed the wiring last year, so the lights don’t work anymore.
You likely don’t have that problem with Burger — but, and this is a question to everyone, how do you get pets to stop tearing the tree apart?!??!?! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!:(
Lookin’ good, though!
YoungHouseLove says
Good question Ashley M! Does anyone have idea to keep cats out of Christmas trees?
Kelly- Here’s a post about the You + Me poster: https://www.younghouselove.com/2008/01/you-and-me-baby/
xo,
s
Hailey says
This is our first Christmas in our new house. I was so excited this year to decorate for Christmas (have always lived in dorm rooms or small apartments so no room for decorations). We got a smoking deal on a pre-lit artificial tree at Home Depot on Black Friday ($49!!!). We put it up on Sunday and picked up some ornaments at the dollar store (it will take years to amass the collection my Mom has).
I also picked up a pre-lit garland at Costco for the mantel and some holiday flannel sheets (with matching throw pillows) from Target.
Unfortunately, we have no exterior outlets, so we can’t put up any lights. :(
Rachel Ridd says
love the bump and I cannot wait to see some of your creative Christmas decorating ideas! you two are so creative and never too cheesy with your style! Keep it up
stellabellaboutique.etsy.com
Leigh says
Such a cute video! I’m loving the baby bump Sherry! We put our tree up over the weekend. We also use an artificial tree; mostly because my allergies prevent us from having a real one.
On a side note, I saw that you+me poster online a few weeks ago and after seeing it in your room, I have to have it now!!! I think it will look great in our master bedroom :)
Kate says
Cute video! Can’t wait to see all your decorations! We pulled out all our decorations this weekend. I haven’t gotten very excited about it all though because I hate cold weather! I’m hoping my excitement for the holidays starts to overcome my sadness about the cold weather soon. We get a real tree (and support my husband’s old boy scout troop while doing so) and although more expensive, it is better for the environment. Like some other people said, the trees come from Christmas tree farms and you can drop off your tree after the holidays to get mulched. If you go the artificial tree route, please buy a nice one you’ll be able to use for a LONG time. Couple questions for you guys: Is your tree pre-lit? And, have you tried the LED Christmas lights? The “white” lights I’ve seen have all looked blue. Has anyone seen any that look white?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kate,
Yup, our tree is pre-lit and we purchased it a few years ago and do plan to use it basically until it won’t stand up anymore (even then we might just prop it up somehow to get even more longevity out of it). In short: we’re gonna use it til the cows come home (which some experts argue can be the greener thing to do since driving out to tree farms and back every Christmas for a decade can create more of a carbon footprint than the one-time energy spent making and shipping a faux tree that remains at your house for decades with no further driving involved). We’re all about using what we have!
It’s definitely a personal choice for each household and we encourage people to do what’s right for them (real trees are gorgeous, smells great, support farmers, are super biodegradable, etc) so there are lots of pros and cons on each side! As for LED lights, we plan to try them out this year when decorating the outside of our house (and have heard that they look a lot more white this season- a lot of recent developments have been made to create a less blue appearance). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Amy B. says
We have sort of started our decorating. Hubby got down the decorations from the attic, and I have put a holiday table runner on our dining room table. With a 3-week old, it’s been hard finding time to get started. We’ll be doing our indoor decorating this week and get the lights up outside over the weekend.
I think it would be interesting to have a post about who does a fake vs. real tree over the holidays and why. Maybe “Almost Dr. Dan” could chime in on the pros/cons of both, too?
LauraC says
I just want to chime in with my two cents, even though others have mentioned it: I think that real trees are great for the environment, because they come from farms, and yes, they are cut down, but just as many are planted every year. We have not always cut our own, but will this year as we are now back in the great Pacific Northwest aka the Evergreen State. Yeah for pine smell! (Hope to get our Christmas decorations up this week; the bathroom painting/redo has to get finished first!)
Hailey says
I just wanted to point out that the artifical tree my mom uses, we have had for at least 20 years…maybe more. It is a beast and takes at least an hour to put together and then probably another hour to string the lights on. My mom still uses it…and if/when we get a bigger house, I bet she will pass it down to me. It may not be the “green” option…but she has it so she uses it.
stephanie says
hi there-
do you guys mind “you tubing” all your future videos? i can never get vimeo
to work well!
thanks a bunch.
such a joy to have a sweet baby on the way at Christmastime!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Stephanie,
Good news! We actually do You Tube all of them! In fact there’s even a link to the You Tube version of the one above in the post, right before the video (just click the “see it here on You Tube” link to go there). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Heather M says
I’m sooo excited for Christmas decorating this year! And this video has defiantly got me in the Christmas spirit. We’re in the middle of a pretty major project though, we’ve just knocked down a wall to what used to be a bedroom, to create our new formal dining room (the best Christmas present ever!) We’re putting in the french doors this week, and now that the dining room table has it’s own room, we’ll have plenty of space for the Christmas tree! Oh I can’t wait!
And Sherry, like everyone else mentioned, you’re rocking the bump!
Heather H says
I agree that real trees are the more environmentally responsible choice, though neither choice is perfect. At least if you buy from a tree farm, which replaces everything cut, it helps to remove carbon dioxide from our air as they grow and supports the farmer. I often want to cave to getting a faux tree for the simplicity and ease of not hauling the real one in and out, but have so far resisted.
From The Daily Green: Pros and Cons
Most Christmas trees are now raised on established farms, meaning deforestation isn’t an issue, but they must be shipped, often from long distances. They do require pesticides and fueled vehicles to maintain, and may end up taking up space in landfills.
On the other hand, most artificial Christmas trees are made in China, typically from oil-derived, pollution-releasing polyvinyl chloride (PVC). A number have been found to contain lead. Once finally disposed of, artificial trees will last for centuries in landfills. These days, roughly 70% of Americans choose artificial.
Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/christmas-trees-picking-greenest-options-synd2#ixzz0YSGp5GTQ
Jen Z. says
wow I wish our tree went up that fast. great video. We put ours up on sunday. It’s pretty much finished, just have to find the star to put on top and the tree skirt. lol! Sherry your belly bump is so cute. You look great.
Abby says
Wow! You two work fast :)
I agree with the 2nd trimester Christmas. I had my baby May 3rd so I had a bump like you at Christmas. It was great! I was over the morning (all day) sickness, but still little enough to eat all the festive food without feeling stuffed! Perfect timing ;)
Enjoy your last year of decorating your whole tree… next year is the top half only!
Anna says
I don’t have a clue about whether a real or artificial tree is better for the environment. I do believe, however, that an artificial tree is a good choice for households with babies or young children because kids and pine needles can be bad news, also pine sap can get into little hands and eyes (and hair!). Not to mention allergies.
Just something to think about-up until our kids were about 5, we used an artificial tree, no lights (electrical hazard), and unbreakable ornaments made of wood or paper (like Moravian or German paper stars). Of course every household is different, but for us it took a lot of worry off our minds.
YoungHouseLove says
Definitely all valid points Anna! It’s all about which tree option works best for you and your family!
xo,
s
christine says
your bump is the cutest thing ever!!
LauraC says
Sherry, I just read the article you posted at 10:58, and it was very interesting. I do think it’s up to each person to do what they think is best, but I just didn’t want people to think that getting a real tree was “bad” for the environment.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey LauraC,
Getting a real tree definitely isn’t bad and everyone’s choice is a valid one! It’s each household’s decision to make depending on a lot of factors (young kids, allergies, pets, etc). We just loved that it had the pros and cons of each side of the argument fairly stated (and a TON of them at that). We never would have thought about all the emissions spent driving out to get a real tree every year for decades vs. the one time emissions spent sending one faux tree to the US and using it over and over again. Things like that make it very hard for experts to agree which solution really is better, so it’s really about which choice is “better for you” as a family. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Jennifer says
Decorating the day after Thanksgiving is not so bad. We like to wait til the first weekend in December to decorate. I was at an estate sale the other weekend and this man was talknig about how they just put up 42 trees in their house for Christmas. They actually rented a large tent and put all their furniture outside so that they could fit all the trees.
Amanda says
Love your fun videos and can’t wait to find out what the new color scheme is going to be! Baby bump looks super cute on you too Sherry :)
susan says
Oh Sherry! Your little belly is so cute! And those are great jeans on you :O) I love that you guys use those rugs for your tree skirt. I am totally adopting that idea – thank you very much :O)
I think another thing to think about in this issue of whether or not to buy a live tree or use a reusable one is remembering that some people rely on the trees they grow all year/for many years as their source of income for their family. Now, of course, there will be the argument about whether you think the job of a Christmas tree farmer is a good one or not… Hey, at least their trees are helping to purify our air and provide homes for animals for a short time at least.
While we haven’t purchased a real tree in a few years due to financial reasons or being out of town visiting family at Christmas, et cetera, and I have a small reusable tree my mom sent for our kids via Target, I have very fond memories of driving out to a Christmas tree farm, choosing our tree, chopping it down, and hauling it home all on our own. In my opinion, this is WAY better than snagging one at your local Ralphs, Target, Home Depot, or wherever, because it’s all a part of the family holiday memory making, and tradition. Plus, you get the stinkin’ freshest tree possible :O) There is also the option of purchasing a small live tree and planting it yourself when you are finished “using it” for the holidays.
ANYWAY. Those are just my two cents.