tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post1935985899787442479..comments2024-03-28T17:53:34.935-04:00Comments on Exquisitely Unremarkable : Christmas Tree Wars: Real Or Fake?Kim http://www.blogger.com/profile/15445291034631735026noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-39518252071247433072020-12-20T13:56:56.873-05:002020-12-20T13:56:56.873-05:00I agree with everything you said, 100%, Cheri. I l...I agree with everything you said, 100%, Cheri. I love my little fake forest and wouldn't get a live tree now if you paid me!! Ha!Kim https://www.blogger.com/profile/15445291034631735026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-39517130285651814982020-12-20T13:56:00.909-05:002020-12-20T13:56:00.909-05:00There are some really gorgeous ones out there, but...There are some really gorgeous ones out there, but I won't be spending $500 on a new one either...yikes, that's a lot. And they're prelit now and they never last. Nope, I'll stick my old sucker.Kim https://www.blogger.com/profile/15445291034631735026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-18847606801045040302020-11-26T21:27:47.344-05:002020-11-26T21:27:47.344-05:00Well, I did grow up with real trees. I remember o...Well, I did grow up with real trees. I remember only once though actually going out as a family and chopping one down in the woods. Guess we did the other years too. We also had real when we got married but when my son came along he had bad allergies (and so did I) so we opted for a fake tree and have had one ever since...well, we actually put up 4!!!! I do not miss having to dig those danged needles out of the carpet or worrying about it drying out. Plus it seems ridiculous to pay the prices these days for a real tree that you are only going to throw away!!!! Love my fake trees!CHERIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16339717663308847703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-35270596363873093212020-11-24T08:52:37.289-05:002020-11-24T08:52:37.289-05:00I grew up with fake trees too. One year we got a ...I grew up with fake trees too. One year we got a real tree. We hated it. We got stuck watering it and back then it was a real pain. To top it of we had wall to wall carpet and for kids to water a tree was a nightmare. <br /><br />We told our parents we want fake We didn't like it not being up early either.<br /><br />As a couple it's been fake and I don't have any regrets.<br /><br />I won't spend $500 on a tree even if they're gorgeous. Can't bring myself to do it.<br /><br />Sorry I've been behind in commenting I have been busy getting ready for Christmas. <br /><br />Cindycloches and lavenderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15364674775069599236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-56998435717353057382016-12-21T13:08:10.559-05:002016-12-21T13:08:10.559-05:00I hear you Julie, this season has kept me on my to...I hear you Julie, this season has kept me on my toes...enjoy that tree, the smell and the moments with your teen and family! xo Merry Christmas!Kim https://www.blogger.com/profile/15445291034631735026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-43046030709462246192016-12-21T13:06:29.769-05:002016-12-21T13:06:29.769-05:00I have never been to the Arizona Desert, but I can...I have never been to the Arizona Desert, but I can only imagine that it would not be forgiving to a pine tree. And a dead one at that! ;) Fake...or pardon me, faux...allows you to take chances and get creative and it sounds like you have really made the most of it!! And as a former kindergarten teacher, you had me at Dr. Seuss!! ;) Kim https://www.blogger.com/profile/15445291034631735026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-70214435602091379252016-12-14T11:46:01.196-05:002016-12-14T11:46:01.196-05:00OMG I'm laughing so hard I almost spilled my d...OMG I'm laughing so hard I almost spilled my drink on the Keyboard. I grew up with fake ones too, Mom and my Baby Bro' had bad Asthma so Real was out of the question. I too got a Real Deal Tree when I moved out... a Real Live butchered Tree in the Arizona Desert... yeah, it lasted about a week before it was a Fire Hazard waiting to happen! Then one year I bought a Living Tree in a pot that you could plant outside later... in a Desert... yeah, met with a similar demise early like the butchered ones, and probably why you don't see many Christmas Pines Native to a Desert, right? *winks* I can relate to your hilarious Christmas Story, we've been Fake and in Vogue now for DECADES, nobody complains... I don't think my Desert Dwelling Grands even know what the Smell of fresh Pine smells like anyway so they don't miss what they've never had, right? I've even gone for Crazy Fake Trees, in Ombre, Sepia, Champagne tinsel... and weird sizes like Pencil Trees... Weird and Wonderful Trees, like you'd see in a Dr. Seuss Book... Love it! *Smiles* Clearly you're a Woman after my own Heart... Merry Christmas from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The BohemianBohemianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03743017084098726581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-31313998682855620942016-12-14T09:09:47.005-05:002016-12-14T09:09:47.005-05:00Hi Kim, it varies from year to year with the Chris...Hi Kim, it varies from year to year with the Christmas tree. Last year I did a fake one and it was easy. This year I'm hosting Christmas so I picked the tree with my teen and we LOVE it! I feel like what ever works best for you is great! :)<br />I hope you are enjoying the holiday season as I am, but I'm also just so swamped with everything Christmas that I'm having a very hard time to blog.<br />Hope you have a nice week and weekend.<br />Julie xoJulie's Creative Lifestylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356593535311926517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-80159713962800993342016-12-12T22:39:33.752-05:002016-12-12T22:39:33.752-05:00Doreen, you never fail to make me laugh! I can see...Doreen, you never fail to make me laugh! I can see your white and blue tree, there were many of those in my neighborhood. My mom was a traditionalist and ours were green, but those white ones would've matched the blue velvet furniture we had much better...and the plastic she kept on it! ;) Yeah...we were THAT family!! <br /><br />And thank you for your sweet, sweet words about my words. Made buy day... xoxoKim https://www.blogger.com/profile/15445291034631735026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-61450113073804098792016-12-12T22:36:44.537-05:002016-12-12T22:36:44.537-05:00It sounds like so much fun, Carol!! I have to say ...It sounds like so much fun, Carol!! I have to say that when I was finally able to have a real tree, it still didn’t involve the picturesque trip the country. We ended up at Home Depot! Ha!! No great family outing!! ;) <br />Kim https://www.blogger.com/profile/15445291034631735026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-66488448210336408002016-12-12T22:33:38.225-05:002016-12-12T22:33:38.225-05:00It's so funny, isn't it Susanne? I guess t...It's so funny, isn't it Susanne? I guess the grass is always greener!! I have become my own mother, too...fake is easy and I am just fine with that! ;) Glad you enjoyed the post and thanks so much for leaving a comment!Kim https://www.blogger.com/profile/15445291034631735026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-3342922456006390052016-12-12T22:32:12.557-05:002016-12-12T22:32:12.557-05:00Florence, I have to say, I used to feel the same w...Florence, I have to say, I used to feel the same way about the little tabletop trees, but they are starting to look more and more appealing!! I bet yours is lovely...and yes...we have stayed away from the pre-lit versions. I would rather toss a string of $2 lights than deal with fuses and bulbs. I hear you!! ;) Kim https://www.blogger.com/profile/15445291034631735026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-65989514226637367182016-12-12T22:30:07.714-05:002016-12-12T22:30:07.714-05:00Ok, well you totally win the classic country Chris...Ok, well you totally win the classic country Christmas award…selling trees?? That’s amazing!! That sure beats my musty crawlspace. ;) <br />And when you mentioned that fragrant railroad car, all I could think about was Frosty The Snowman heading north in his refrigerated car. Now if that doesn’t stir images of the perfect Christmas, I don’t know what does. Thank you for sharing that story, Dewena...and Merry Christmas! xo <br />Kim https://www.blogger.com/profile/15445291034631735026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-49403790008242877852016-12-12T22:30:00.016-05:002016-12-12T22:30:00.016-05:00Anytime, Deb...I love handing them out!! :) Anytime, Deb...I love handing them out!! :) Kim https://www.blogger.com/profile/15445291034631735026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-43847805116050277352016-12-12T22:22:45.561-05:002016-12-12T22:22:45.561-05:00A fresh wreath is a great idea...someone else sugg...A fresh wreath is a great idea...someone else suggested that as well. You ladies are so smart! Thanks for sharing the tip! :) Kim https://www.blogger.com/profile/15445291034631735026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-74767780846492645672016-12-12T22:21:43.880-05:002016-12-12T22:21:43.880-05:00Haha…those spiders are everywhere! Didn’t they get...Haha…those spiders are everywhere! Didn’t they get the memo? It’s the wrong holiday! ;) So glad you got a kick out the post. That just makes my day. Kim https://www.blogger.com/profile/15445291034631735026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-70888207249186435962016-12-12T20:39:57.172-05:002016-12-12T20:39:57.172-05:00This was hilarious, Kim! But also so completely ho...This was hilarious, Kim! But also so completely honest even if I'm sure written tongue-in-cheek--house of wax? I bet not!<br /><br />Okay, the big question, real or fake: My father sold Christmas trees, my husband sold Christmas trees so guess what we always had and often two. And a scent? Nothing compared to going to the railroad car the trees were shipped in and the fresh fragrance flooding out when the heavy door was slid back.<br /><br />However, I did add a fake one, two actually, in the last few years, but this is the first year we don't have a single tree, or any decorations. A tall white poinsettia is our sole Christmas decor this year as everything is packed for the move. But next year I'll be getting out our artificial one in mid-November, and probably looking for a tabletop fresh one after Thanksgiving. <br /><br />Excellent writing, Kim! I thoroughly enjoyed it.Dewenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07330797553600987145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-31703583958045321522016-12-12T00:03:13.254-05:002016-12-12T00:03:13.254-05:00Oh yeah, forgot to add that we had a pre-lit tree ...Oh yeah, forgot to add that we had a pre-lit tree for a couple of years. When we got that, I thought it was the answer to all our problems! Huh! Never had so many problems in all our born days. Hubby struggled with that every year trying to keep it lit, so that when we had an opportunity to get rid of it, we couldn't do it fast enough. https://www.vintagesouthernpicks.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06005937023577046274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-65394777472395185782016-12-11T23:59:56.580-05:002016-12-11T23:59:56.580-05:00Great post Kim & fun to read! You had the drea...Great post Kim & fun to read! You had the dream & your bubble burst about the real tree. And I know exactly what you mean too. The tree was never straight & what a struggle to get the thing standing upright, whether it was in the tree stand or our way. Our way growing up was a bucket of water-impregnated sand. Getting the tree in THAT...whew...I don't want to go back to that method. So fake it is for us, only now we've gone the lazy way. A small tree that sits on a table that is fiber-optic & we don't even have to decorate it. I love it! So easy. I think I've gotten lazier. I used to feel sorry for people like me that only had tabletop trees. Huh! Now I'm one. https://www.vintagesouthernpicks.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06005937023577046274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-6461447501639556342016-12-11T23:20:46.573-05:002016-12-11T23:20:46.573-05:00Hi Kim!
Well, we had real trees for many, many yea...Hi Kim!<br />Well, we had real trees for many, many years. But once we moved to Texas and the average temperature is often times 80 degrees-we reverted to fake trees. That is except for the little Cedar Tree that I chopped down. Of course it is outside because I think it has spider mites! You see, real Trees are very problematic...<br />Great writing -loved this!<br />JemmaJemma@athomewithjemmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01137225389791605398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-42091112467022545042016-12-10T23:52:09.382-05:002016-12-10T23:52:09.382-05:00this is wonderful!!! We always had a fake tree gr...this is wonderful!!! We always had a fake tree growing up, the same one every year with the same ornaments, in just two colors. I hated that tree and trying to match the right branch to the right hole, lol!!! And unwrapping the lights from around the magazines...no matter how careful we were they were always tangled. I also got a real tree the first chance I got! And I loved it, but hated watering it and I was also afraid to leave the lights on. So now we have a fake tree, with a two color, color scheme....I have become my stepmother, lol!Susannehttp://www.lifeonpearlstreet.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-73087446889760255072016-12-10T11:16:46.068-05:002016-12-10T11:16:46.068-05:00I loved this post, Kim! For the 10 years we lived...I loved this post, Kim! For the 10 years we lived in Oregon, my hubby's entire family (all 19 of us) would pile in cars the Saturday after Thanksgiving and drive about an hour into the Cascades to an area that had been designated for Christmas tree chopping that year. It was actually quite fun. We tried a real tree a couple of years after moving to AZ, but they dry out so fast that I was most happy when we bought our first fake, and even more happy when we bought our first pre-lit fake!<br /><br />Have a lovely weekend, Kim!<br />Warm hugs,<br />CarolAn Oasis in the Deserthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03775583025686145582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-25352394093899551392016-12-10T09:53:38.998-05:002016-12-10T09:53:38.998-05:00Ok. I must know you too well because I totally kne...Ok. I must know you too well because I totally knew you were dishin' it in that first paragraph lol. Seriously, growing up where we did a Norman Rockwell Christmas just wasn't in the cards. <br /><br />We ALWAYS had a fake free. A white one. With blue balls. Now I have an aversion to blue balls. (So does Fisherman, but that's a whole 'nother story) ;). Consider that our ranch home was decorated with blue provincial velvet furniture, blue carpeting, and plastic slip covers and you'll begin to get a mental picture of what our home looked like. Yup. Italian thru and thru. But I digress. <br /><br />We haven't had a tree of any kind in years. I know. Sad right? But when we did they were real. We enjoyed picking out the perfect one right after Thanksgiving and Sarissa and I would decorate it. It was always the perfect mix of sentimental ornaments and pretty ones, with big white poinsettias and ribbon with an angel on top. We kept it in our family room which had a separate thermostat and three walls of Windows. In other words, it was COLD. It lasted a full four weeks with no problem. <br /><br />I imagine one day we'll have a tree again. When we are not on the road indulging our wanderlust. And when that time comes I'm thinking it will be fake because we'll probably be someplace warm and for too many reasons to list that will just work better. But who knows. You know what they say...if you want God to laugh, just tell her your plans. ;)<br /><br />btw, this post was written so well Kim. It should be picked up by Huffinton for sure.<br /><br />Stay warm Kim! It's freezing today! <br /><br />xxx<br />Doreen@foxdenrdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09418636999038800443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-41932381337862665532016-12-10T07:15:32.791-05:002016-12-10T07:15:32.791-05:00We did have real ones when I was a kid, as well as...We did have real ones when I was a kid, as well as when I was a young married but it's been fake now for a good long time.<br /><br />Thanks for the laughs !! :) Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13091419343402163298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072740790042271296.post-44659708553735212712016-12-10T01:47:56.995-05:002016-12-10T01:47:56.995-05:00We always had real trees growing up but since I...We always had real trees growing up but since I've been married we've had real and fake, then real and fake. I love the smell too but I like the convenience of the fake trees more. I can get a fresh wreath or a candle if I want the smell. toni1965https://www.blogger.com/profile/08664912714016226387noreply@blogger.com