Jingle bells! Batman Smells! Robin laid an egg. Batmobile lost a wheel and Joker did ballet.
What? You didn’t sing that song at camp while wearing culottes and a tie-dyed shirt? Well I did. Anyway, the point is that I hung the stockings and did a little extra Christmas decorating beyond putting up the tree (just in time to put it all away in about a week when we start packing for the big move in mid December). Gotta celebrate Clara’s first Christmas, even if it’s only for a hot second. Out came the ol’ feather trees (from Target and a local store called Buford Road Pharmacy a few years back) along with the same ol’ Target stockings that we’ve been enjoying for the past few Christmases:
Since the stockings and the feather trees were from a few years past, I decided I wanted to do something new to spice things up – but I didn’t want to spend much money. So piggybacking off of our pink and silver tree, I picked up two pretty sheets of wrapping paper from a local gift shop (Mongrel) and grabbed a roll of silver wrapping paper while I was at it. Then I raided our gift closet for boxes and ribbon. I ended up having a ton of empty gift boxes and even had my fair share of pink and silver ribbon thanks to welcoming a baby girl six months ago (I’m totally that cheap-o who saves all the ribbon along with the boxes /bags from gifts that we receive over the years).
So my little stacks of eleven faux-gifts (since they’re just empty boxes that I wrapped for effect) were accomplished for the cost of the gift wrap (around $7 or so). I think they’re sweet and kind of vintage-ish, plus the fact that there’s a touch of yellow in some of the paper really works with our yellow rug in there. They’re so cute I’m thinking that I might save them and work them into the decor every year somehow…
And of course Mr. Concrete Greyhound now has his Christmas best on (read: I tied a gold ribbon that I already had around his neck, but don’t tell him that).
I also made little card stock tags for each stocking (John and I shared one labeled “Mom & Dad” so both Clara and Burger would have their own). Then I tied some extra ribbon around them so they relate to my little stacks of faux gifts. Took two minutes.
With the candles in the fireplace burning and the tree all plugged in it’s more festive than ever. I’m so glad we took the time to put things out, even if it’s only going to be enjoyed for a short time.
Are you guys decorating yet? It’s officially December so I feel a lot less odd about breaking out the holiday cheer. Is there anyone else who’s moving but still putting some stuff up to enjoy it just for a little while?
Psst- Check out a ton of holiday decorating and gifting ideas in this section of our Projects page. Ho, ho, ho.
Update: You can check out all of our favorite holiday decor finds here – many of which are under $15!
Ange says
This is so pretty, definitely worth putting it out! Don’t feel alone in the “keeping gift wraps” arena, I too keep any I can. Not only for wrapping but also craft. I used to keep uncrumpled paper too (smoothing it out & re-folding)but I have stopped that now-I should be able to spring for a bit of paper every now & then right? And in Australia, we used to sing this – “Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Robin flew away..Wonder Woman lost her bossoms flying TAA”. (TAA was an airline in the 80’s before merging with QANTAS).My 5yr old was singing this coming home from school just this week, although trailing off after the Robin line, so I’m not sure what the most current version is.Sweet childhood innocence.:)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, that’s a pretty funny rendition too. Go Australia!
xo,
s
Alison says
We aren’t moving but we are going to Texas for most of December, but we managed to get our decorations up this weekend so the kids can enjoy them. Now my 4 year old doesn’t want to have Christmas in Texas, he wants to have it at home. He’s going to be sorely disappointed. Are your candles on different stands in your fireplace or are they just an assortment of varying heights? We were going to put the fake logs in our fireplace but thats too expensive right now so I was thinking the candle route was the way to go.
YoungHouseLove says
They’re all on a silver tray, I just burned some of them down to get that varied look.
xo,
s
Rose says
haven’t read all the comments to see if anyone else has posted this but at primary school we had a cheeky version…jingle batman smells……robin flew away…..LOL
Rose says
Oh and & there was more to the song but not anywhere near as nice to print…..
Christine B says
I too have a obsession with keeping gift bags. I recieved one on my Birthday this year that I LOVED so much I ended up cutting it up and framing it. I have pics on my blog of it; form2form.wordpress.com and I think it looks lovely!
Jen K says
I absolutely love those little wrapped boxes! The paper goes beautifully in the room. Definitely going to “steal” your idea. I made a little ornament using my little guy’s hand print. You may want to try it this year for Clara’s first Christmas. (It’s no sew.)
http://eatplaylaughoften.blogspot.com/2010/12/advent-2.html
Michele says
I love the photos of your festive Christmas decor, but I LOVE that you used the word culotte even more!!! You guys crack me up. Just one of the reasons I love reading your blog.
Marcia V. of Precious Style says
I quite like this Xmas setting. It stands out yet blends in with the decor. Super cute.
Cassie Kimler says
CUTE house!!! Love your ideas for the boxes with leftover ribbons!!:) They always seem to get you in the holidays!!!
My husband joined me FINALLY while reading your blog and he sang that same version of Jingle bells. However, us in the Midwest know it as
jingle bells, batman smells Robin laid an egg, the bat-mobile lost a wheel and Joker got away.. HEY!!
Merry Christmas John, Sherry, Clara and Burger!!! Good Luck Moving!!!
Brieanne Fazio says
I love that even though you will be moving soon, you still put up your tree and everything! We are moving across town next weekend and I decided to wait which was hard for me since I always decorate the day after thanksgiving! Looks good!
Lise says
I’m from South Africa so no snowy white Christmas for me, but my fiance and I are getting married on 18 December in my home state which is quite a way away from where I currently live in Johannesburg and we’re going abroad for our honeymoon and will be in Thailand for Christmas. I bought my Christmas goodies at the start of November (I have a little Sisal tree though so it looks very African) and had Christmas Cocktails in November to ensure that our first Christmas in our own home doesn’t go uncelebrated. It is after all my very, very favourite holiday! Christmas Carols have been carolling for weeks now and I love it :)
Amy says
The photo of your concrete greyhound with the ribbon just nearly brought me to tears.
Every year for the last several years our chcolate lab, Gunner, relished in being the center of attention on christmas morning. One of my aunts always wrapped presents with big elaborate ribbons and we would tie them like a sash around him. We called him “golden boy” because the ribbons were mostly gold.
He would beg to wear those ribbons for DAYS. It was the sweetest thing.
Gunner passed away at the ripe old age of 14 (almost 15) this summer, right before my birthday.
Anyway, thought I’d share that little story with you.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s such a sweet story! What a great memory. We’re sure you have lots of them from Gunner’s long life. Ain’t dogs the best?
-John
Snickrsnack Katie says
I always sang “…and the joker got away”. Never heard the “ballet” rendition.
I have already decorated. This is so my favorite time of year! I LOVE CHRISTMAS!
Mindy says
Here’s a lust worthy list of some holiday decor cheer!
http://fisilis.wordpress.com/2010/12/03/10-things-i-want-to-decorate-my-house-with/
Sherry, a few things would look awesome with your hunting lodge chic moodboard room!!
xo
Mindy
Ayana Posadas says
Ahhh! That video was sooooo darn cute!!! I loved it!
Clara is so lucky to have such awesome parents! :)
meredith says
oh my gosh, i just found your blog and on the first page, you mention buford road pharmacy?!? i grew up in richmond, on fillmore road, and went to bon air elementary, and used to LOOOVE buford road pharmacy (mostly when it was in the littler space). i rode my bike there after school a lot to buy cheap candy and look at the neat toys.
also, everything else here is pretty great, too. i’ll be coming back, even if you don’t mention buford road pharmacy again.
candace @ thecandace.com says
Love the simple (but super gorg) wrapping paper! I wrapped an picture that normally hangs in our entry way and it’s cute and festive (and free!). Great idea!
Amynonymous says
As always, love your decor! We’re heading out of town for Christmas and kept things clean and simple. Check it out at:
http://domesticobservances.blogspot.com/2010/12/minimalist-christmas.html
Amy Lynn says
Last Christmas I bought four stockings…well after Christmas so I only had to pay $1.50 each. Yeah for me, I got a deal. So you’re thinking “good story. Is there a point?” and yes, there is. Last Christmas, we had two “kids” with nary a plan for more. We had Beau & Bella and we were not going to be ‘those people with three cats’. Of course, when you say something like that, God just laughs and lets an adorable little 4 month old kitten get stuck in your garage for 2 days without food…and He lets you find that kitten who looks at you with big sad eyes (like Puss in Shreck)…and you happily become ‘those people with three cats’. So 5 family members and 4 stockings…what to do, what to do? Thanks for the lightbulb moment – Mom & Dad share one! I think I have a date with my Cricut machine and some sticky fabric after work today!!!! And just Sunday Ana solved my we-don’t-have-a-fireplace-to-hang-stockings problem with this: http://ana-white.com/2010/12/fireplace-anywhere.html. What a tremendous week in blog world!!!
Yami says
loved the decor ideas. Feels awesome to have found your site around festive season:) Happy Holidays!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Yami! So glad you found us!
xo
s