SPECIAL POST BY MY HEAD ELF and SOME WINNERS

Happy Holidays to all of you who follow Teresa’s Christmas blog. She wanted me to “guest blog” and let you know a little bit about one of her elves. I have self-appointed myself as the “HEWIC” or the head elf that’s in charge. But after I did a little research on elves, I found a new elf name for myself: “Shinny Upatree”, (the oldest friend of Santa) because that’s what I’ve been doing a lot of lately.
I’ve helped Teresa for many years with her customer database and marketing for her basket business. But it wasn’t until I stopped working full-time that I was able to help her with her tree decorating.
It’s a perfect fit for me. I love, love, love Christmas. Always have and always will. My dad reminded me of the old video he has of me placing one icicle at a time on our tree when I was growing up. So now I realize my OCD was giving me fits then. That’s my only problem trying to decorate. I get into a zone and sometimes take way too long to make something look just right. Okay, so I’m a perfectionist too. Probably many other things if I went into therapy. I think I’m doing a little better with it this year, but Teresa knows she has permission to just shout “OCD” and I know to quickly move on to the next thing. And then I watch Teresa tie bows with her eyes closed and make anything look spectacular in half the time it takes me. But I’m still learning every day.
We have made some great memories for this tree season and who knows what’s to come. Sometimes I can’t believe the things that happen to us. Fully decorated tree falling, check. Haunted house, check. Overflowing toilet, check. Lots of dogs and cats, check. Glitter, glitter and more glitter, check. Plenty of happy and joyful people after we decorate their homes, check, check, check.
Last year I bought a new tree after Christmas and it was so big for my room all the furniture had to be rearranged this year. Even the piano had to be moved which didn’t make my husband very happy. This is the first time I can remember the tree was up before Thanksgiving. So now I have done another tree on my back porch. I’ll have to take a picture and post later. And yes, there is a tree behind me in my office that I started to decorate this afternoon. Enough!!!!
On a personal note, I have been married to my sweetie for 36 years. Our anniversary is next week on Dec. 1st. We have three married sons and five grandchildren with another one due in May. And yes, they all have spectacular trees! Even the little ones.
So thanks to all of you who take time to keep up with what we’re doing. Definitely check back because I’m sure there will be many more adventures ahead. Maybe I need to get more life insurance, hmmmm.

Below are some of Terri's creations.....A Lady Bug tree! She handpainted some of the ornaments.

NOW FOR THE WINNERS OF THE GIVEAWAYS!!! I finally got a cute little man to come by and draw for me .....none other than Mr. Jack....Mickey really wants to hold his hand....notice his mini recliner like Pop's..Surely Mickey can see that Wow Wow Wubsie is on.

The Holiday CD goes to Jeanne at Jeannie's Happy World !

The Holiday Surprise Package goes to Judy at Just a Little Something For You

Please send me your name and address and those packages will be on the way. If you missed the last post, it tells the stories of some special families. Tomorrow we start the last few weeks of the decorating season. Most of the families this week have had the same day for years.

I will post some fabulous homes and trees this next week...and actually a LIVE tree! I just finished a new MICKEY MOUSE tree at my house that is almost ready to show, plus I got motivated late last night and did another fun tree in my family room...Stay tuned for another giveaway next week.....

This is the SEASON of GIVING and there is nothing I love more.