Muse

Happy New Year!

posted on : January 4, 2018 posted by : Denise Breimeir 4 Comments

I hope your 2018 has gotten off to a great start! It’s been bone-chilling cold here in Indiana for the past week and a half, as it has been for many parts of the world. Yesterday we were at -12 F, colder than both the North and South Poles! Today it’s snowing, because the side streets weren’t slick enough already. Can you sense my sarcasm, and tell winter is my least favorite season? Bring on Spring… I’m already dreaming of flowers!

My favorite belonging these days is my electric blanket. And I’m bringing in the reinforcements! I finally dropped off my down comforter at the dry cleaner’s so I can switch out my summer comforter soon. I also stocked up on long underwear at Kohl’s today: I bought a fleece top and soft knit cardigan wrap and threw them on as soon as I got home. These layers are officially the softest thing I own now, which will make leaving the house a challenge.

Despite the cold, the New Year has been kind to me so far. My parents and I continued our New Year’s Day tradition of getting together for a big home-cooked meal and opening our Christmas stockings, and I enjoyed looking at all of my mom’s pretty Christmas decorations now that the rush to get ready for Christmas is over. We had cabbage for good luck as we do every New Year’s Day, plus ham, macaroni and cheese, green beans, layer salad, olives, kiwi and raspberries, rolls and cheesecake.

The next day was my last day of Christmas vacation and we spent it at the Indiana Historical Society’s Festival of Trees. We’ve been every year since the event began in 2015. The first year there were 50 decorated trees, and it’s expanded to 80 themed trees this year, each decorated by a different local organization or business. Visitors can vote for their top three favorite trees. Pictures of my three favorite trees this year are below.

Scotland Tree. The attention to detail made this my very favorite tree!

Miniatures Tree. I love white flocked trees and I was amazed at all the little cloches on the tree, each with a different miniature scene inside.

One of the cloches on the miniatures tree

Two Chicks and a Hammer Ladder Tree – So blingy and unique! Two Chicks and a Hammer are the Indianapolis mother-daughter house rehab duo on HGTV’s Good Bones.

At the end of December I wrote out my New Year’s resolutions and if I complete even four of the seven goals, I will be happy. One of my resolutions is to get the Gnome Décor online shop up and running by the end of January. I plan to introduce birthday and Valentine’s Day cards and tags first, but please let me know in the comments if you’re looking for any other special occasion items such as wedding or baby cards. And I’d love to hear in the comments about your New Year’s plans, resolutions, and 2018 so far, or just feel free to gripe about the cold weather!

I’m off to drink hot tea. Stay warm, friends!

Denise

The Indiana Historical Society is so beautiful, especially at the holidays.

4 COMMENTS

Mary Kay G. | 4th Jan 18

The Two Chicks and a Hammer ladder tree is so unique—great photos of it, too! Love it.
- Denise Breimeir | 4th Jan 18
  
  It really grabbed my attention the more I looked at it. I liked how the ladder and hammer were blinged out in gold!
Marilee | 4th Jan 18

What a wonderful way to end the holiday season! The trees were so beautiful and unique. My favorite was the white flocked miniatures tree and the Two Chicks and a Hammer tree. They are so pretty light in the evening. Really enjoyed this event. Thanks for taking us, Denise.🎄🎄🎄
- Denise Breimeir | 5th Jan 18
  
  You’re welcome! It was a lot of fun! We saw a lot of beautiful trees, but none of them were as beautiful as yours!