1. Artificial, I got a really nice one a couple years ago. Unless you go up and touch it you can't tell it is fake. It rains a lot in Oregon and I just don't want to try and dry out a tree before bringing it inside. Plus trees range for $30-60 and it is one of our biggest "crops".
2. Yep, the outside is decorate more than the inside this year.
3. I love chocolate pixies and only get them this time of year as they are pain in the rear to do. I also enjoy cut out sugar cookies with the frosting and sprinklers but we do these more often as DD loves to make them.
1. We have a real tree. I had artificial for years because I didn't feel up to buying a real one, and DH never helped decorate. Last year he FINALLY got into the spirit, and he got a real tree. And then he told me that they help tie it on my car for me, so I guess I could have been doing it, but there is also the bringing it in the house etc. So now that he is helping, I go for real because I like the pine smell.
2. I don't, but DH does. Last year he spent a whole afternoon on Dec 1. This year he hasn't gotten to it, so who knows. It is not in my plans, but if he isn't into it this weekend and it stays warmish, maybe I will do a little bit.
3. My mom always did an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. Dessert wise, I will pretty much eat anything anyone makes. But I am not a baker myself. I am more of a cook because I have to type person. Not a bake for fun type.
1. Artificial because it’s easier and 12’ 2. DH does outside and sets up the big tree and the kids’ 7’ tree and the kids and I decorate inside. 3. I always get an Italian Cream Cake or German chocolate cake for my birthday and cannot wait for it. I also loooove cupcakes with a small amount of frosting and tons of sanding sugar on the frosting.
1. We have an artificial tree inside, and a real tree outside. We've always done artificial. My mom is super duper allergic, so I never had a real tree growing up and never felt the desire to have a real one once I was out of the house.
2. Oh yeah. I wish more of our neighbors did. We have lights, a projector, a glowing/light tree, glittery presents with lights, and a real tree with lights. We need to add more.
We have a real Fraser Fir. We go to a tree farm each year to cut one down. It’s a fun day for us, and I love the smell of a fresh tree.
2. Do you decorate outside? We have several tacky blow ups outside. We also have these really neat icicle lights hanging off of our weeping cherry tree. We put up a bunch of wreaths on the house and the fence, and holly boughs across the fence
3. Favorite cookie/dessert? So. Many. I make ricotta cookies every year, and butter cookies. I also love chocolate peppermint patty crinkle cookies. My sister makes amazing sour cream cookies too. I like all sweets. I gain so much weight every year.
Post by supertrooper1 on Dec 11, 2018 21:25:02 GMT -5
1. Artificial because the only places to put a tree in our house are near a heat vent or our fireplace.
2. I put a wreath and a light up bear by our door. We don't put up outside lights because we live in a dead end road with only our 2 neighbors driving by.
3. Picking a favorite dessert is difficult. Anything chocolate. Almond flavored cookies and fudge during the holidays.
Post by erinshelley21 on Dec 11, 2018 22:35:16 GMT -5
1. We get a real tree every year. DH has been helping unload them at the place we get ours since he was 14. Now that he's an adult he doesn't get to help every year, but when he does our tree is free. We wouldn't feel right not buying on years he can't help. 2. We have what I call Lazy Lights. It's the projector like thing that shines on your house with various designs. We also have a blow up Mickey, Minnie, Rudolph and another character from Rudolph whose name I cant remember. 3. I'm the dessert maker in the family. I make a peppermint brownie trifle that is delicious.
Post by erinshelley21 on Dec 11, 2018 22:37:24 GMT -5
supertrooper1 someone that I'm friends with on FB posted a picture of their tree saying they are starting a new tradition of getting a real tree now that they are in their new house. The tree was right by the fireplace that had a fire going. I literally cringed.
Post by covergirl82 on Dec 12, 2018 8:28:23 GMT -5
1. We have a real tree - my family always had one growing up. I loved going to a tree farm to pick one out and then my dad would cut it down. DH had an artificial tree growing up, but he's come around to getting a real tree.
2. We do the light projectors. So easy and the kids love them.
1. What kind of tree do you have and why? Fake tree, but it's a really nice one that we spent a fair amount of money on a few years ago. I love it. (Plus, kid of a fire chief. Real trees were never a thing in my life)
2. Do you decorate outside? Yes, but not a crazy amount. Some colored lights trimming the house and porch rails and a couple small inflatables on the porch. It took maybe an hour to set it all up and the girls are SO happy about it.
3. Favorite cookie/dessert? My mom makes an insane amount of cookies every year. But my favorite are still her classic M&M cookies with red and green M&Ms. Love them!
1. Real, I had a fake one growing up, and my job was to fluff all the branches to make it look real. I hated that job. DH is all about going and cutting one down as a family, which is fun. 2. We have a light up woodstock and a mouse, and a couple of wreaths. Each year the drunk college students keep kicking in my wire light up animals. We used to have reindeer, but now I just buy whatever is 70% off after Christmas for the next year. 3. Stained glass window cookies.....I need to find some time to make them this year.
Post by librarychica on Dec 12, 2018 9:06:52 GMT -5
1. We have a cheap fake one. I kind of want to buy a fancy fake one. H is allergic to pine trees so no real trees for us.
2. Depends on the year. I’m married to the grinch which means if I want lights I mostly have to get out there myself. The kids want them so I’ll probably do it this afternoon. Better late than never I guess.
2. Chocolate chip is my favorite cookie, key lime pie is my favorite dessert
1. We have an artificial tree since we put up our tree right after Thanksgiving. Also, the pre-lit tree is a game changer.
2. Yes, but we try to keep it simple. We have an inflatable and a swag to put around the front door. We added one of those projection lights to the front yard this year.
3. DH loves to bake cookies. Right now we have a batch of oatmeal cranberry white chocolate chip cookies that are of his own invention that are pretty good. I also love making pizelles with my brother and mom. We use my great grandma's recipe so I don't like any other pizelles but these. The secret is in the orange extract and anise seeds.
1. Fake. We used to get a real tree, but the year I was pregnant with DD, it was so dry and the needles all fell off. DS for years every time he stepped on something that hurt, he said he had a needle in his foot. We got a 9ft $500 tree for $130 the day after Christmas.
2. Yes. We have blue and white ice cycle lights across the front, lighted snowflakes on the port railing, and of course 2 lighted deer on the lawn.
3. Year around cheese cake. But at Christmas, we have to make our homemade sugar cookies. You have to make the dough, chill it then we roll it out and I have Christmas cookie cutters. Then the icing. When we are finished, it looks like a bag of flour blew up in the kitchen.
1. We go back and forth. I prefer fake trees because I’m scared a real one will catch on fire. Which I know is slightly crazy.
2. A little. A have big candy canes lining the walk and a light-up wreath. I would love to do more but I can’t justify the time and expense.
3. I go a little nuts. We have candy (pretty much everything you can dip in chocolate), cut out cookies, peanut butter cookies with a kiss in them. I totally heart Christmas baking.
Post by mustardseed2007 on Dec 12, 2018 12:38:36 GMT -5
1. Fake. I'm also afraid a real one will catch on fire. We have a nice one from balsam hill. 2. Yes, we have a hodge podge of things we have collected over the years that has grown to where it fills up the yard nicely. 3. I love all desserts. Warm chocolate chip cookies and chocolate pie are my favorite. Doesn't matter what time of year.