Creative Differences

Decorating my house for Christmas has become an ongoing process.  I spent a lot of time in my living room this past month and it just did not look quite right to me.  My eye was always drawn to the fireplace mantel but it was too dark in the room to see my decorations on the mantel.

I researched battery powered mantel lights but could not find the perfect solution.  I tried candles and it did not provide the light I needed.  I read all the Christmas magazines looking for an idea but nothing was quite right.  So I finally mentioned it to my idea guy (otherwise known as Mike.)  He remembered the under cabinet lights we had bought and never used.  So he installed them.  We both liked the effect.  However, when Emily came and we displayed them for her she laughed for five minutes and called us 'adorable'  I do not think that was a complement.

Notice how there are no cords showing.
This is because Mike had the guys do some special electrical and tiling work when the fireplace was installed.
There is a hole behind the TV that we can pull all the cords through.

Anyway, we had been waiting for Emily to come before purchasing our traditional living Christmas tree.  We spent an afternoon driving around to tree lots but they were all out of them.  So I had to come up with a Plan B.  I decided to use my fake tree that has been in storage many years.  We added it to the living room which already had the smaller tree and, of course, the focal point mantel lights.  Still we had to do something special to the old tree.  

I bought the 'As Seen On TV Star Shower Christmas Tree Lights'.  The star shower lights in the front yard were so successful I thought these new lights had potential.  Besides the box said they were easy to install.  Emily would have nothing to do with our decorating efforts but that was fine.  We apparently do not see eye to eye on what is acceptable Christmas decorating anyway.

Here are the results.  Now the inside of our house rivals the outside of the house in terms of decorative lighting.  When Suzanne gets here I expect she will feel right at home after spending that one semester in Disney World.  We now rival Disney World with all these colorful lights.