Knickknacks and seasonal decorations
flantastic
member
This weekend H went fishing, and met his dad and brothers down there. Every time we see a family member, his mom has something for us through them, and often it's a tacky knickknack meant to build up our seasonal décor.
Over Christmas, I got an ugly Santa figurine with some sparse glitter on him. That figurine honestly went in the trash as soon as we got home. This time, there is a little molded bunny that someone distressed in order to make it as ugly as possible, IMO, and a little green top hat ornament (I'm sure we're supposed to have hooks around the house like ILs do for these things) with some glitter writing for St. Patrick's Day. As soon as H forgets about their existence, they're both going in the trash too.
I think I've even said in the past (just brought up in conversation) that I don't do much in the way of seasonal décor because it's too much hassle for me to get it all out and put it all back constantly. I also think I've said that I don't like finding space for things that don't have much use. We create space for things with meaning around holidays, like the nativity scene and H's nutcracker collection from childhood, but we don't buy or keep little stuff just to have Christmasy things to put all over the house.
I respect that MIL takes the time to change all the decorative tea towels and put out her decorations, and she can decorate her own house in her style. Once again, though, she's really trying to decorate our house in her style because she doesn't understand that there are multiple valid ways of living one's life, and she genuinely thinks we need to build up our collection.
So... How much of this sort of stuff do you have in your house? Do you decorate a lot for major or minor holidays? Do you have space to store all these extra decorations? Do you have many purely decorative little items placed around your house?
(The snowglobe favor thread reminded me of this, because MIL is the only person I know who would probably keep the snowglobe indefinitely.)
edit - clarity
Re: Knickknacks and seasonal decorations
Seriously though...I live in a tiny apartment, so no knickknacks for me. I brought back some of my favorite little Christmas decorations from my mom's house so we'll use them in FI's house next year. I'm actually really excited about decorating for Christmas. I don't decorate for any other holidays.
But I also have space to store all of this stuff because basement.
I mainly change candle holders and linens for other seasons/holidays. Halloween I have decor for, and I have seasonal wreaths.
I do have a lot of "collectible" knick-knacks because I used to work in a store that sells them and it's super easy to get caught up in the collecting mentality, especially with "limited editions". They are all in a box in a closet somewhere. And I do have a Dept. 56 village that about once every three or four years I will actually bother to go get a stepstool and bring them down from the tops of the cupboards and put them on display at Christmas. That's the extent of it.
I prefer to collect things that I can use - perfume, jewelry, and make-up.
I go balls to the wall for Christmas too! I have boxes of stuff and every year I take on 1 or 2 new DIY projects to add to the collection.
However, the rest of the year I do not do anything. I might have a Halloween sign for the front door somewhere but I really cannot remember.
I have an attic, so I have a reasonable place and amount of space for seasonal stuff.
Most of my seasonal decorations go outside, though. I have door wreaths and those outdoor mini flag things for most holidays/seasons. I have an easter table cloth and right now I have a bowl of metallic plastic eggs on the table.
In the spring/summer, my lawn flamingos will return to the yard, and I leave up the red white and blue wreath May - September.
The first year I was in my house, I put those neon spider web things all over my bushes, and they were a bitch to get off, so this year I stuck to a garland and some lighted figures.
Xmas I decorate both outside and inside, though much less this year than the year before. I have outside lights and 3 inflatables. I don't like my options for where the fake tree goes or how much space it takes up, so we may get a table top one next year! But yes I do own towels, dishes, glasses, mantel decorations, etc for Xmas.
Formerly martha1818
We have some knick knacks out all year tho because we like to go to a local museum and make glass things and they are pretty cool to display.
When fall comes I display all of our glass pumpkins that we made. Right now for Christmas/winter I have a snowman out that I made and a couple Christmas trees and ornaments. I will probably tuck them away in the corner cabinet this month and then bring out the flowers.
I get giddy about my holiday stuff almost as much as I do about my garden.
Do you live near Corning?
Yup, I've always wanted to go there, but haven't made it yet!
ETA: I live downstate, but getting married near Binghamton!
We've been there so often and H used to work there in the IT department that they recognize us when we go in.
They've got a new wing opening this month and I'm interested in stopping by. The tickets to the museum are cheap and if you're a local resident it's $6 and you can get 1 person in for free.
I only decorate for Christmas, and then it's only the tree, garland around the bannister, and my Nutcracker collection (which J thinks is creepy as hell, but I used to dance in it, so stuff it).
Ain't nobody got time for every single holiday. I don't like dusting as it is, let alone dusting around decorations.
We also have a collection of rubber ducks that we put out in the bathroom by season.