We have an artificial tree with the lights already on it. That sure does make it soooo much easier to decorate! I used to get so aggravated putting the lights on! I've used different types of garlands over the years. The last couple of years I used ribbon and beads. I don't put balls on our tree.. instead I use cute little dolls, houses, bears, etc. I have several that have been handmade that my mom buys at craft fairs. Naturally I have a lot of dog and kitty ornaments! I like to add at least one dated ornament each year.
We got a bonus with this tree... it came with a rotating stand! I used to try to put all my favorite ornaments on the front of the tree... well now I don't have to cuz it spins around and you can enjoy all the ormaments!
We have an angel on our tree. I did, for a couple of years, have a cute white cuddly teddy bear... but then decided I wanted to go back to the traditional angel!
This picture is actually of our tree last year.. as I was lazy (and busy) this year and decided not to put up a tree! Last year we put the tree up in the computer room last year do that we could close the door and keep the cats away from it when we were at work, in bed, or out of the house for whatever reason! It worked well and the cats never even tried to climb the tree! Although Bailey would lay under it and bat at the ornaments as they came around.
I also wanted to share a childhood memory. We didn't always have fake trees! My great-uncle lived within the Adirondack Park in NY state. So every year we would go to his house and my mom, dad, and grandmother would head out into the woods and pick out their tree! My Uncle would cut them down and load them on the car. It was nice having the smell of a fresh tree in the house. Eventually, it got to be too much trouble and both my folks and grandmother bought fake trees.
I tried to have a real tree my first year in California.. but it was so dry here that the tree was a fire-hazard by the time Christmas came around!
