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I’m a freak about the holidays.
There. I said it.
Even when I lived in a one-room apartment, I hoarded Saint Nicknacks. I hung glass balls from my houseplants – a little odd, but festive. I set up an Advent calendar on top of my fridge. I even put a pig dressed up as Mrs. Claus on my windowsill.
I inherited my mom’s decorating gene, but I think it mutated. When it comes to tasteful holiday decorations, ShopGirl’s mom has got it going on. ShopGirl, on the other hand, has too much going on. Eleven months out of the year, my home is colorful yet tasteful, but come December, anything goes.
My problem is, I like everything, and I want it all in the same room. On my tree, country meets retro meets modern. And then there’s the glitter-dipped peacock (with real feathers, no less) that ShopGuy conveniently “forgets” to unpack each year.
So it’s inevitable that my annual decorating spree yields unpredictable results. The day before Thanksgiving, I headed to Kmart to pick up the gumdrop garland ($5.99) that I simply couldn’t live without – despite the fact I have nowhere to put it. While I was there, I also snagged a package of what Martha Stewart calls “fancy garland” ($3.99). It’s basically a bunch of large sequins on a string. I figure if it doesn’t work on the tree, I can drape myself in it.
Next stop was World Over, which may have the best selection of ornaments around. I picked up a very large glass ball with polka dots ($10) and a fused glass sun catcher in the shape of a square snowman ($10). But I was drawn to the hunting ornaments, even though I don’t know anyone who hunts. I’m blaming it on the blaze orange.
I drove downtown to Metropolitan Soul, where a $40 feather wreath caught my eye. They’re all the rage this year. Even the ever-tasteful In Style did a piece on the “Angel Wreaths.” So there.
At Ingrid’s, which is holiday central, I perused the old-fashioned German glass ornaments. Very traditional and classy. But what really lured me in were the MoMA ornaments ($13.95 and up) – bold, graphic, glittery bull’s-eyes and stripes in lime green and hot pink. Go figure.
On Friday, ShopGirl Jr. and I headed toward the coast. In Hampden, we discovered Schacht’s True Value Hardware. What a place! You can get everything there – from extension cords to ornaments, gift wrap to gifts, even hammers. If you’re not sure how to decorate, the dozen or so trees loaded with ornaments will give you a few ideas. And the prices are so reasonable. I will definitely be back.
In Searsport, we spent about an hour in Silkweeds. I have to say, I’ve never seen anything like it. Room after room after room of country Christmas cheer. I bought an adorable snowman bucket for $10.99, a small ornament for 99 cents and a couple rustic-looking tin stars on sticks (99 cents each) to place in my plant pots – ever since I started getting a tree my houseplants have looked a bit bare. Silkweeds has sales throughout December, as if I needed an incentive to return.
The Penobscot Marine Museum had a small but tasteful selection of ornaments, and in Belfast, I picked up a little ornament for my mom at The Good Table. I’m not going to give away the surprise, but let’s just say it’s something she’d never, ever buy for herself.
It’s not exactly tacky, but it’s pink. And it’s not a pig dressed as Mrs. Claus.
ShopGirl would love to hear from you! Send questions, comments or suggestions by e-mail to kandresen@bangordailynews.net, by U.S. mail to Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329, or by fax to 941-9476. Tune in to ShopGirl at 5 p.m. Fridays on WLBZ-2.
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