December 15, 2010

O.K. I'm admitting it, I do very LITTLE Holiday decorating.

The Secret is out of the Polka Dot Closet, I barely decorate for Christmas.  At the risk of being expelled from the blogging world I am confessing.  I love seeing all of your fabulously decorated houses.

The only decorations I have are on my mantle. 



And my $15.00 thrift store tree that I was thrilled to find last March.  




 I purchased it completely decorated with florescent pink ornaments and a few light pink ornaments.  I donated most of the ornaments, but kept the princess crowns.


I did not realize I was such a minimalist until I started reading everyones blogs.  I thought the amount of decorating I did was normal


Next to the fire place is a thrift store sled  and firewood holder that I painted.

That's it, that's all I have, Oh, there is a wreath on the front door


  Your houses are beautifully decorated, I love looking at them.  They could all be in magazines. 

This is my first Christmas as a blogger and I honestly thought the amount of decorating I did was normal 

So, here is my questions, am I the only one that keeps decorating to a minimum?  

Am I in the minority or the majority?

Can I still belong to the sisterhood of blogging?

Carol




40 comments:

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Carol,
I think that your mantel and your tree are absolute beautiful and just perfect. I have kept my decorating to a minimum this year. Only a wreath outside and no outside lights.
The mantel is decorated and I put up our usual traditional tree.

I'd say you are the majority. And yes, you are still in the bloggerette sisterhood!

hugs
Sissie

Debbiedoos said...

SISTA! of course you can still belong. We need some different kinds out here too lol!!~ Actually I think you do great just as is. It is to your liking and your taste. Pretty pretty!

River Glorious said...

Okay, let's see the wreath at The Front Door! :)

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Carol! I must admit that some years I don't do a lot of decorating. Blogging has encouraged me to decorate because I can share it with others via my blog. What you do is lovely! Just think of all the cleaning up we have to do when it's over and you don't!!

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

Carol.
From the crazy woman who has 14 trees, I think your decorations are beautiful. I learned a long time ago that there is no right or wrong and whatever makes you feel happy is the right thing for you. That is what makes life and blogging so very interesting, everyone is different, with different tastes and styles!

Hugs,
Debbie @ A Debbie-Dabble Christmas

PEACHES said...

It's like a winter wonderland!!!!

Unknown said...

Carol I think your decorations are just beautiful and I think it is normal, I would not consider that minimal, sometimes I do alot and sometimes not so much, once you family is grown and if you spend your day else where or not it is too much work after family is grown. I'm finding at the ripe age of almost 70 I'm ready to do less and just enjoy creating. Hugs and Merry Christmas and you are still my blogging Sista!

ShabbyESP said...

Your tree is very pretty and I love the fireplace mantel. I always want to cut down on what I put out for Christmas....but I love all my things. Just like you I look at the other blogs and mine does not compare to the other lovely things I have seen. I decided last Sunday I just need to be content in what I have done and move on :)
Your decorating is so very lovely and thank you so much for sharing!!
Happy Holidays!
Suzann

The Decorative Dreamer said...

Well even if this is the only space you decorated it is fantastic and quite elaborate IMOP! I love that you have decorated in a style that is totally you too, that's easy to see. It's very beautiful! Maybe you really are normal and were not! LOL!

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Carol, Everything is gorgeous! I love your tree and the rose stockings are adorable. I did more than my normal decorating this year. The fun part is taking it all down and dragging the bins up to the attic! Happy holidays.
Sherry

Debbi said...

well, I think your display is just fabulous dahling! And sometimes less is more, right???
I didn't put all of mine out this year...too lazy I guess thinking how much work it is to take it all down:(

Anonymous said...

Honestly, every year my mom and I tell ourselves that we aren't going to overdo either. It's hard to put everything up and take it down. Espcially when we also decorate my brother's house and are sometimes asked to help older relatives.

This year we didn't do one of our big trees and because the weather is so bad, all the lights are not outside either. I do kinda miss these things, but obviously not enough to go to the trouble to do them.

If your house feels festive to you, then you did the right amount regardless of how much others do. I'd rather have a few pretty things like yours than a bunch of random things everywhere.

And you get to gloat after Christmas when the rest of us are complaining about glitter and fake pine needles in the house til June.

Barbara Jean said...

Oh my gosh! yes, it is OK to be minimal in decorating. I am so that way too (not at the store ind you) =)

I absolutely adore your deocrations and would not change a thing! they are perfect!!

And great find on that tree, sweet!!!!!

blessings 'sister' blogger!

barbara jean

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

Carol, Please don't be embarrased as you said in your comment on my blog!
Your decorations are beautiful and right for you at this time and that is all that matters. There will come a time in my life when I am not going be physically able to decorate the way I do and it may be coming much sooner than I originally thought and I will scale back with a smile because it will be right for me at that time in my life!
Love ya, my friend!

Hugs,
Debbie

Francie...The Scented Cottage Studio said...

LOL ... you haven't seen me posting any photos ... maybe MAYBE I will get around to a mantle or two. LOVE what you have done and think how easy our after Christmas clean up is.
(())

the old white house said...

It's just so pretty, I don't think you need to do more! I used to do up to 4 trees, all different sizes but I have yet to get the lights on the one in the living room right now! It depends on the year and the craziness that is happening around here. I can't believe that Christmas is next week! I think everyones decorating is gorgeous and I love seeing all of the different styles! Merry, Merry! Theresa xoxo

sepiadreams said...

I adore it all !!!!! Hugzzz...Tiina...

Lisalulu said...

hey You are You and you don't need to make excuses. You decorate for YOU ... and you share with us (the best part). I just love seeing the creativity in other people. AND sharing in the Christmas season of loving and joy! ... which I might add you have given me joy this morning with your beautiful pics!

Mari said...

I THINK EVERYTHING LOOKS BEAUTIFUL :) LOVE YOUR LITTLE WHITE TREE :) I HAVE A PINK ONE :) YOUR MANTEL LOOKS GORGEOUS!!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS :)

XO~MARI

Debbie said...

I think what you do is BEAUTIFUL and so YOU!! I don't do much either, and I feel like a big old blog dork because of it. I just decided to enjoy the inspiration of others from this side of the screen.

Cottage Rose said...

OH Carol,,, I love your Christmas decorating style.... from what I have it did not look to minimal to me.... it is all just so Beautiful..

Merry Christmas
Hugs;
Alaura

Debby said...

WOW!!!! It is absolutely gorgeous!!!
DEbby

Betsy@My Salvaged Treasures said...

I just love what you've done with your decorating. You know, I think that when we keep it to a minimum it makes the beautiful things we have stand out. I put up very little this year, only the things I truly love and felt like I could handle with the business of the season. It's all about quality, not quantity.

Herbgirl said...

Your decorations are very festive! I haven't put up a Christmas tree for over 10 years now and haven't missed it once. There are more of us minimalists than you think, I bet.
Merry Christmas!
Hugs N Herbal Blessings, Mandy

Marsha @ Tattered Chick said...

What a beautiful mantel! Oh, yes, I am most certainly a minimalist and even so my husband says I have too much junk everywhere LOL

I would like to put some greenery on our "mantel" but it's not very wide, probably 3 to 4 inches, so I am limited on decorating it.

Ever since we bought the house I've been wanting a mantel and to paint the fireplace. We've been here 9 years this month. So in addition to being a minimalist I am (or more so hubby) a proscrastinator!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

Marsha

Unknown said...

Hi Carol!

No need to confess..lol You do decorate and I think that it's absolutely beautiful! I just love white trees and that cute crown in there is perfect. Hope you are enjoying this time of the year. I sure am. It's always fun visiting you. Hope you can come over and visit me too. I will share my Christmas trees with you too. ;-)

www.janetscreativepillows.blogspot.com
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
xo
Janet

Ginger said...

Carol, you have just the right amount. If it makes you happy. Sometimes I get a little carried away and then when its time to put it up, I wished I had not put every single item out. LOL
Carol, you have given me such good ideas this year with your magnificent crafting, such as the clay roses, the sparkled up Christmas lights, and many more I cant think of. And also good information about my booth. Thank you for your inspiration and have a Merry Christmas.
Hugs
Ginger

Michelle said...

Very pretty Carol! I think your decorations are just right! :)

Deborah said...

Don't let them corrupt you :) Do what you can manage and what satisfies you. I think your decorations are just lovely.

InMyOwnStyle said...

Hi Carol-

You are so funny - being banned from he blogging world! Love it. I don't put up a lot either, although I do put what seems like a lot of outside white lights, wreaths, and a big garland over my door.
Putting the string of lights on the top of cabinets and furniture is one of the best things I have ever done in my house to add ambiance. At night my rooms just seem a bit more alive. You will love how it looks.
Merry Christmas-
My best- Diane

Unknown said...

It all looks so dreamy! Merry Christmas dear!

Sandy xo

Anonymous said...

OMG I do just my mantle too!
Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones...Thank you for sharing HPS!

Anonymous said...

My tree is not up yet so I guess it's not going to happen. Bobby G. did turn on some lights that I had strung outside in the dogwood tree years ago for a wedding. Now they are Christmas lights....lol..perfect. I stare at them every night out the family room window. Merry Christmas Carol and a very happy 2011 along with fabulous sales and whatever your heart desires. xoxo

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

Hi Carol,
I think it's perfect how you decorate your home for Christmas!!! I don't want to ever feel that I must or should keep up with blogland gals. That, to me, isn't the Christmas spirit!
Warmly,
deb :)

Decor To Adore said...

Here I am! Here I am! Your sister in minimalism. :) It was fun to read other peoples comments.

I think your decorations are perfect for YOUR home and that is what matters.

The women's luncheon looks oh so fun and festive.

Stacy's Shabby Shoppe said...

Carol ~ thanks for visiting my blog tonight! Email me after the holidays and we will talk! As for your home, it is absolutely beautiful! I must confess that I go through spurts with my Christmas decorating and it just depends year to year on how I'm feeling about it all. This year I'm in the middle of the road...not too much, not too little! Watch for some pics on my blog soon! ~Stacy~

Simply Debbie said...

MERRY CHRISTMAS CAROL
I THINK YOUR MANTLE AND TREE ARE STUNNING. THE GORGEOUS SWAG WITH THE PERFECT SHADE OF PINK ORNAMENTS JUST MAKES EVERYTHING ON THE MANTLE COME ALIVE. THOSE ORNAMENTS NEXT TO THE GREENRY AND WHITE OF THE MIRROR LOOK LIKE VELVET. YOUR HOUSE IS A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF LESS...SAYS SOOOOOO MUCH MORE. IT IS VERY SERENE AND CALMING.
YOU HAVE BEEN SUCH AN INSPIRATION TO BLOGLAND, WE WOULD DARE NOT LET ANYONE CAST OUR PINK POLK-A-DOT CLOSET OUT...LOL.
I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL WHITE TREE LIKE YOURS BUT IT IS NOT DECORATED IN ANY WAY...IT JUST HAS LIGHTS.
I THINK THERE ARE A LOT MORE OF US OUT THERE THAT HAVE NOT DECORATED AT ALL. YOUR PICTURES OF YOUR MANTLE WITH THE SWAG OVER YOUR MIRROR WOULD MAKE A BEAUTIFUL MAGAZINE COVER.
HAVE A JOYOUS CHRISTMAS WITH YOUR FAMILY.
HUGS
SIMPLY DEBBIE

Brenda Salzano said...

Just found your blog, and am now a follower! Gorgeous, gorgeous! Christmas is gone, but I decorate very little too. I like to put my efforts into the friends , family instead. That way we can keep our smile and encourage others more.

Your front room looks like mine in size and layout. You do a fab. Job of decorating!

Celestina Marie said...

Gorgeous Carol. I just found a self like that to redo for next year. Love your tree and mantel. So pretty.
Hugs

MONSIEUR LE CHAT ET MOI said...

Following your link I come back to the future ! Of course I'm fond of your white and pink Christmas tree with a a big like to the pink sparkles little crown !
xoxo
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