via someone in EnglandFrom Cooey's Mom: "How 'bout flashing Christmas lights vs. constant? And what about yard ornaments? Are they fun or tacky? My husband and I debate over these every Dec."
This one is easy for me. First, no flashing lights. It can cause seizures and reindeer are already prone to them. Also, they can look tacky, especially when there are multiple strands flashing out of synch. I don't mind some of the more modern light options, like ball ornaments for trees or snowflakes along the porch, but ditch those icicle lights. They scream "1995" to me, but that's a personal issue. I also prefer large lights to small lights and colored lights to white ones, unless you are totally decking your house out, in which case a bold, white display is charming. I also love to drive by super-lit homes, but I have a funny feeling there is something a little bit off with the owners. Maybe a troubled childhood or repressed joy? I'll call Dr. Phil later and get back to you on that one.
Second, I'm not a huge fan of yard ornaments. If it is done well, it works, but usually it's overdone. I particularly loathe blow-up ornaments (no offense to any friends, family or neighbors who own them, as Miss Dub lives to see them), but that's mostly because they are in EVERY yard in certain parts of Wisconsin; the same parts of Wisconsin where you can register for your wedding at a gas station. Seriously. I'm going to make a poor taste correlation there. You should, too.
What do you think?
What is your favorite kind of Christmas display?
Yea or nay to flashing lights?
What about yard ornaments?
Also, should there be a law saying Christmas lights must turned off after January 4th or what? Because I get all ragey when I see them in February.
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16 comments:
I wish I could find a nice middle ground for decorating...right now we have NOTHING, but I do not want huge over-done crap!
We have some blinking lights mixed in on our tree, safely inside our house. I don't like blinking lights on the houses. What IS the attraction to those horrid inflatables? Why people, why? I guess it's the same attraction to pumping gas and getting a marriage license in one stop.
I don't mind a tasteful yard display, along a certain theme, but there is a fine line of random that too many people cross.
I've been reading your blog for a bit and wanted to say hi. So, hi.
It is only 6:15 in SLC, just after 7:00 there and people have already left comments. You are so popular!
No blinking lights!! Even more impotant than binking lights, if you are going to take the time to put lights up, put them up straight!!!
I like large white lights. I think the look pretty. I hate inflatables but little ones think they are great.
Be careful with the lawn ornaments. We came home from cleaning the church a few weeks ago and saw that our neighbor's reindeer had been rearranged. Buttercup asked me why the reindeer were wrestling. I assume some bored teenagers got a hold of them. Yikes.
We can't have any of the inflatables because hubby thinks they will ruin the grass.Plus they look ugly, except for an hour or two at night.
I just mostly like it when things are lit up.
i like lights! they're great! most people don't know how to do them right, including me :P but the people who do can totally get away with almost anything. i dont mind some blinking as long as it's not the whole strand at the same time, then it kinda looks lame. all bright and pretty one sec and then all dark and boring the next.
my thing... if you're gonna do it, just make sure it looks good and tasteful and dont throw up some random mess just to have them up :P
I have felt particularly bad this year because I'm pretty certain I detract from the overall Christmas Spirit when I scream ... scream I tell you ... at the sight of several homes near us where entire strands of lights blink in no particular rhythm and where just one strand is colored lights among other white lights and visa-versa.
I actually can warm up to the blow up ones ... IF they actually stayed blown up ... which they don't. In the morning it looks like a yard full of wicked witches moaning "I'm melting, I'm melting."
And you KNOW how I feel about any decoration past the first week in January. Let's face it, this diatribe on outside Christmas decor was instilled in you at an early age.
Sorry for my pent-up angst about the whole thing. 'Cause I honestly love, love, love Christmas lights.
I say--GO FOR IT and SPREAD THE CHEER! This time of year only happens, uh, once a year, so let people be festive. Our kids love to see all kinds of yard displays, and we especially love to find those cool neghborhoods where they have all pressured each other into competing for the best yard--I'm so glad that all the effort we had to put in to see a great display was to drive over there. I love when we just find a great yard somewhere too, and I say the more lights, blowups, wooden painted things, ferris wheels or whatever, the better--although I will admit that blinking lights give me a headache--unless they are set to music!
I'm fine with whatever people choose, white or colored lights, animated reindeer, icicles, etc, as long as they do it in moderation. At Halloween someone in my hometown had FOURTEEN inflatable creatures arranged in a huge circle in their yard (pumpkins, witches, ghosts, you name it). At some point you've got to think of your neighbors (and your electricity bill).
Our house lights are colored but small this year. They are LED based so very energy efficient and easy to put up because long strands are supported by a single plug/circuit. But everytime I pass the neighbors, I want to go back to our old big colored lights, at least along the eaves.
I love big displays and appreciate the efforts of the owners, but I prefer the ones that look orderly, planned, and at least a little artistic as compared to the oozing, random accretion ones where the owners seem to believe there can never be too much and anything can go anywhere--I feel the same way about big Dickens Village layouts (may my parents rest in peace).
Colored over white, except maybe for lining buildings and trees, but then it just looks like year round shopping center decor, not like Christmas.
I don't like icilcle lights either; didn't even like them in 1995. And no blinking lights, especially if they aren't sycnchronized.
I think it's all about organzation and keeping displays in proportion to your home and yard. Blinking can be OK if the lights are in sync and limited to one element of the decorations. Also I had decided that blow up decor was horrendous b/c in my neighborhood we have postage stamp size yards, but then I decided if they are in a huge yard they aren't that bad and like you said, my kid loves them.
Ditto to all of your gripes. I prefer small white lights. Of course I'm a bit of a lazy grinch when it comes to Christmas decorations as a whole. I've got lights on my house, a six-foot fake tree, and stockings. And that is all.
I used to be very opinionated on this topic but have softened as I've seen how excited my kids get over ANY lights display. That said, we won't ever get the blow-up yard things but it's fun for my kids that our across-the-street neighbors have some.
I like big lights better for on the house and small lights for trees & etc, but our big lights need replacement bulbs so frequently that they've taken a backseat to the lower-maintenance small-lights, so yes we have icicle lights on the house.
Christmas lights are a great tradition, and although some of my neighbors' are tacky and/or too much for my taste, I do prefer theirs to the bah-humbug'ers who have NOTHING!
I like lights. I like white lights and colored. I don't know why there are so many color light haters in the world...color just brightens the day! I'm not opposed to white, I just have enough of it on the ground! For sure, no blinking!
My neighbors leave their lights up all year. Worse than that (cause at least they don't turn the twinkle lights on except in December), the two lights on either side of their garage doors are red and green...ALL YEAR LONG. It annoys. Every time I come home I want to sing at the top of my lungs, "Roooooooox-anne!" We have restrictive covenants and all that, but apparently someone overlooked including a clause about Christmas decorations (incredible, as they have everything else spelled out to.the.letter.). I may become so bothered in the near future that I send around a petition. Seriously (not really, cause I'm too timid). It's tacky.
p.s. I skipped washing my hair this morning (just rinsed) and tried the baby powder tip. I am in love! AND I smell baby bottom fresh.
I'm so glad you informed me of a ghastly so-1995 mistake I almost made! Kudos! No icicle lights for me.
anyone want to buy any?
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