It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas (rent, home)

[nuts2uiam]

Well, much to my chagrin, the Rehoboth area is rapidly being transformed into Christmas. I drove past the outlets last week and the wreaths are up on all Tanger buildings and over the weekend the garlands went up. I am guessing that some time during the next week the trees will be going up.

Downtown Rehoboth, I am sure is not far behind as the Tree lighting is on 11/25. They have a lot of poles the to decorate with garland and lights - so I guess they have to start sometime.

Curious, when'd do you decorate? When do you shop, if you do shop?

For me, I have started to shop this year already. I only have a few to shop for, but, I learned my lesson that people are shopping earlier and earlier so if you want something from a catalog, it is best to buy it now. I got a 60% off and free shipping on Lands End so I have ordered from them. I have also noticed that the retailers must be very nervous this year as they are having a lot of deep discounts very early. I guess they are concerned about the impact of inflation.

As for decorating, I have a Nativity that goes outside with a spotlight and a large 4 foot wreath that I hang. That only takes at most 2 hours, so despite this lovely weather, that is so very tempting, I will wait til Thanksgiving week. Now inside is another story. It takes me weeks to get this place done and the older I get, the longer it takes. Love the going up stage, hate the take down stage. We still get a real tree between 9 -10 feet. I have well over 1000 lights and probably 500 ornaments including a Lenox annual that my mother started my sister and I back in the 80's and now DH continues. I start inside on Thanksgiving morning and it is up til Little Christmas, the feast of Epiphany. The tree goes up in the mid -teens so I have a fully decorated home for almost 2 -3 weeks before the tree goes up, but that is ok, I so enjoy a cocktail with my Christmas wonderland.

I am getting mentally geared up now and I admit, I may break with tradition and start a little earlier inside this year.

[citygirl3133]

I decorate Thanksgiving weekend, with Christmas movies and the musical RENT playing in the background, leftovers for dinner, and a smidge of early baking thrown in for good measure.