Welcome to The Farmhouse Friday Link Party!
Hey guys! How was your week?
As you probably guessed by the title, my week was less than stellar. Once again I am running WAY behind on getting anything of a Christmas home tour posted on the blog. It’s (literally) a running theme with me. Every year, I think I have plenty of time to get all the projects done around the house AND host Thanksgiving AND get a Christmas home tour together and posted by the first week of December; and every year, maybe 1/3 of the house projects get finished and I’m lucky if I get anything of a home tour posted before Christmas Eve.
I’ve done this for so many years now, it’s sort of become a tradition. I call it the Let’s Shoot Myself In The Foot Every Holiday Season Because It’s Always
Anyway, I helped a friend move on Monday, then Tuesday I worked all day and most of the evening getting my front room Christmas blog ready with the intent of taking pictures Wednesday morning. I went to bed wiped out but happy that I’d finally have my Christmas post finished and posted in the next day or two.
Wednesday morning I get up early, do some last-minute cleanup in the front room (the cats decided to rearrange some of the Christmas decorations overnight), and turn on all the Christmas lights to start taking pictures –
and one section of lights on the Christmas tree was out.
I can’t describe the amount of frustration I felt at that point. It was definitely one of those “I’m going to quit blogging!” moments.
You can see the non-working lights in this quick video I made of our front room. You can also see why I don’t make a habit of singing Christmas songs.
I didn’t notice the lights weren’t working until after I made the video. It’s funny how when I’ve worked on a project for so long I may not catch stuff as obvious as a section of Christmas tree lights being out.
After a couple of hours of messing around with the lights and a Google search, I figured out the problem was a fuse inside the plug on the light string.
By this time it was already past noon, so I snapped the photos I wanted to take – and took the rest of the day off.
Why did I take the rest of the day off instead of pushing to get the Christmas post finished? By that time, I was so emotionally exhausted and drained I just couldn’t push myself anymore. Even if I had finished the Christmas post yesterday, it’s already way too late for it to really do anyone any good inspiration-wise this year. The best I can hope for is that it will inspire people next Christmas. I also know that when I’m that tired and frustrated, any blog post I do is going to be thrown together and nowhere near the quality of posts I want to do here. And since it’s already so late in the holiday season, when I post it isn’t going to matter much at this point.
Obviously, I need to work on a LOT better blog planning next year, with the main focus on starting holiday decorating WAY earlier than I have in the past. There’s a lot more I need to work on, and I do plan on talking about it, but I’ll save it for another time since I feel like I’ve already gotten too long-winded here.
But I am curious – when do you start your holiday decorating for the blog? And how do you work in everything else that needs to be done around the holidays?
On a brighter note, I was blown away at all the fabulous Christmas link ups you guys shared last week! (Obviously, you guys are a lot better at holiday planning than I am!) You guys are simply amazing! The only problem is that it makes it so hard for me to choose features out of all that greatness! Everything you guys shared last week is feature worthy, and I honestly had to flip a coin to choose features this week. So if you aren’t featured this week, please don’t be insulted – it wasn’t that your linkup wasn’t feature-worthy; it was because you didn’t win the coin toss! 😉
This Week’s Features:
Vintage Paperwhites and a Wood Sliced Cake by Penny’s Vintage Home
I just adore this unique wood slice Christmas “cake” Penny created! I love that it’s very Christmasy, but has touches of flowers and greenery to remind us that spring is just around the corner!
DIY Bed Spring Windmill Christmas Tree Topper by Tee Diddly Dee
This windmill tree topper Tiffany created uses a bed spring to hold it on top of the tree! How cool is that?
Vintage First Issue Postal Stamp Ornament How To by Lora B.
Lora came up with this super-cute idea to make Christmas ornaments and display vintage first issue stamps!
Retro North Pole Christmas Diorama In A Jar by The Interior Frugalista
Marie’s Christmas diorama in a jar is as simple to put together as it is adorable! The lighted camper trailer is just too cute!
The party rules are super simple! Link up your favorite DIY projects, decor projects, and crafts that are farmhouse style. If it doesn’t fit into that description, please don’t link it up. Please, no food/recipe posts. You can link up your new and old posts alike as long as you only link them up here once.
I don’t require you to link back to this party, but if you do, I would sure appreciate it! I also don’t require you visit or comment on other blogger’s linkups, but it’s always a nice way to share the bloggy love! Comments are like Skittles to bloggers – we love them and we can’t get enough of them! By linking up, you will get a chance to be featured here at next week’s party and across my social media. If you pin anything from the party, please pin it from the original source.
By linking up to this party, you agree to give me permission to share your posts and pictures via social media and
I’m taking a much-needed break next week so there won’t be another link party until after the first of the year. Until then, have a blessed holiday season and I’ll see you next year!
Thanks for hosting! I accidently added a link before I saw that you were taking a break. I appreciate how you have the time listed on your linky badge. Merry Christmas, and Happy New year.
Hi Kristie! I’m not taking a break until next week, so you’re totally fine linking up today! Thanks so much for linking up and Happy Holidays!
You should read my latest post about taking control of my house in 2019. I just read your post. It is so easy to get caught up in stylized photos, and etc.! Your post made me laugh though! Enjoy your rest. http://lovemylittlecottage.com/im-taking-back-home-2019/
Thanks so much Kristie! I need all the help I can get! 🙂
Have a great Christmas (and a break too) Michelle. Thank you for your Farmhouse Friday. Merry Christmas.
Joy
Thanks so much Joy! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Thank you soooo much for featuring my Windmill Tree Topper this week! It sure did warm my heart to see it today. I hope you have the Merriest Christmas ever!
Many hugs,
Tiffany
Teediddlydee.com
You’re very welcome Tiffany! It’s the best Christmas tree topper ever! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
It’s always the freak’n lights! Don’t even get me started on our pre-lit tree and having to add new sets of lights after replacing over 60 bulbs on each socket and they still didn’t work! Did you say, fuse inside the plug? @#$%&* the one thing we didn’t know was a thing, even after going online to for help. Thanks for the chuckle watching your video and I feel your pain. I hope you enjoy some much-deserved downtime during the holidays. Thank you for featuring my Retro North Pole In A Jar and for hosting this awesome party for us throughout 2018. Happy Holidays, Michelle!
Thanks so much Marie! I’m sorry you went through the same thing with your lights too – Christmas lights are as beautiful as they are a royal pain in the arse! You’re very welcome for the feature and Happy Holidays to you and yours!
I was beyond delighted to see my wood slice cake included in the features this week……thank you! Enjoy your break and have a Merry Christmas!
You’re very welcome Penny! Merry Christmas!
Michelle it is always something or other when getting ready for the Christmas tour. In my case I did the tree first and then did the rest of the house. I was lucky enough to have it up by Thanksgiving but even now I am still tweaking things around the house. I am never satisfied. As long as you love your home that is all that matters. I was painting furniture up until a few days ago. Thanks for hosting each week and Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Hi Mary! I had our Christmas tree up by Thanksgiving too, but I still had a lot of tweaking to do to the room afterwards before it was blog-ready. I too am never satisfied – I’m sure you’d agree that it’s both a blessing and a curse! 🙂 Merry Christmas to you and yours too!
Thanks for featuring my postal ornaments, Michelle! And I’m going to be worse than you; I’m not posting my house till probably after Christmas day! I’m just thinking no ones got time this week anyway;) After Christmas, I love to relaxingly sit and enjoy everyone’s house tours. Then I can pin away for next year! I did peek and see your wreaths on the window frames on the steps, though, and loved them! Have a very Merry Christmas!
You’re very welcome for the feature Lora! And it’s so nice to hear that I’m not the only blogger who’s posting their house late 🙂 A very Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Michelle- I think you are way to hard on yourself. Where is the rule book for posting here in Blog land? I appreciate your honesty about the stress you are experiencing for not having your Christmas home tour post up yet. So what… Your home is beautiful and your honesty is WAY more inspiring than stressing out to get a post put up. Today in Blog land, many profess themselves as stylists, and home inspirational leaders. Women were inspired to decorate their homes long before Blogs, InstaHAM, Flitter and Spacebook were around. Some of us roll slower than others and that is okay. Be kind to yourself. I would not sweat the small stuff, nor would I try to be like the others who decorate their homes weeks or even months in advance of a holiday to try to archive a perfect early a post. I feel everyone is so rushed with so many self imposed rules they can miss the meaning of the holiday they seek to celebrate. Don’t let a late blog post steal your joy beautiful lady. Just a couple of days ago I posted my first holiday post of maybe 3 parts of my Farmhouse Christmas 2018. Some people use their blogs like a magazine.. always having to plan ahead, far in advance. For me, that is a stupid way to live. Give yourself permission to do it your way. I have some pictures I took two years ago that I might post next year for my Christmas feature. You are in good company. Many blessings for a wonderful Christmas. Take time to play this season and remember It is never too late to have a happy childhood.