I didn’t plan to have a carnival of colored lights on my mantle this year. But our pre-lit, artificial tree had a major wardrobe malfunction and I had to change all the lights on the tree. ..To colored lights because all the white lights were sold out… At the beginning of December. Wha?
I really should tell you the story sometime. In hindsight, I suppose it’s amusing. It involved:
- 3 days
- 4 trips to Lowes
- Blown fuses
- Sparks
- Smoke
It may or may not have involved:
- Naughty words from me
- Threats to pitch the tree out to the yard
- Tears
Initially, I set out to recreate The Most Wonderful Garland on Earth from last year. But it looked too rustic and natural once the tree was all decked out in colored lights. And then I remembered these circus lights that I picked up at Target after Christmas a few years ago. I’ve had grand plans to string them outside for the past few years but it hasn’t happened.
So now they’re on the mantle and it looks like we’re having a carnival…or a circus. The kids adore it and I do too.
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{ 40 comments }
Oooooh, KImba, how lovely, sugar! I’m inviting you to come see my White, Pink and ROSES Christmas tree I just posted this morning, sweet chick. I think you’ll enjoy viewing it! Merry Christmas, honey.
xoxo,
Connie
It looks so fun! I love the big star, I put one on my mantel this year too. I don’t have kids, but my husband loves the colored lights and I prefer the clear so we always have to compromise and use a bit of both. I really love your fireplace though, I think that everytime you post a picture of it.
Absolutely gorgeous! I love it! Now if I can just convince my husband that colored lights are the way to go – he’s a boring, traditional white lights kind of guy!
You would win the best mom award in our house. The kids are SO sad that we aren’t putting up the kids tree due to be out of town and running out of time, so it’s the white lights only here.
Kimba, I love those colored lights! I let my hubby pick them for our outside net lights & do enjoy them too. It looks great on your mantel, so pretty! I bet your kids do love them.
I love it! I always steer clear of the colored lights because I have in my mind that they’re tacky. You just gave me a new perspective. Enjoy your holiday!
Love it! We always have colored lights on our main tree, even though it doesn’t “go” with everything else. But I’d never thought of using them in my garland.
LOVE it! Very “Merry and Bright!”
Love ‘em! A happy accident that you had to use them, and they look very happy, colorful and bright.
They look great on your mantle!! The garland is very cheery.
Ruth
That is absolutely lovely. Isn’t it wonderful when the accidents turn out to be something better than you could have ever planned?
Beautiful!
Great job! I love it.
It looks great! My kids love colored lights too-one year I’ll have to bite the bullet and do colored too.
We always do multi-colored lights and an “old fashioned” looking Christmas tree. It always looks more home-y to me, and our three year old daughter adores all of the colors, too!
I love your mantle. I want colored lights next year.
I think colored lights are so much more “homey!” White lights are gorgeous but too formal for me. I LOVE how your mantle turned out. Last year’s was gorgeous but probably not something I’d try but this year’s! I’m saving this for future ideas that I will probably do. Thanks for sharing!
You wait. You’ve just set a new trend we’ll all be dashing to implement for next year! AFTER you’ve found your beloved white mini lights again, of course.
Looks awesome! And yes, kidlets do love colour. Ask me how I know.
Donna
When I was a kid, I LOVE colored lights!!!! As I grew older, the snobbery of white christmas lights only interested me…me, and EVERYONE ELSE! For the last few years all I have seen are white christmas lights – outside the house, with icicles, on the tree, on mantels, around windows etc. etc. etc. Christmas decorating has not only become predictable, it has become BORING!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE these super large, festive, globe lights and I would buy them in bulk if I could!!!!!
So festive and colorful. I love it!
I posted about my holiday mantel decor too!
http://simplifiedbee.blogspot.com/2009/12/our-christmas-fireplace-mantel.html
xo,
cristin
I love all the colors! Its so cheerful and welcoming
You know what? I am loving those circus lights!!! I am traditionally a white lights kind of girl, but I introduced them into the house this year in our addition, which I did in girlie colors. The colored lights are growing on me…they are fun!!
Totally love this. Love. It.
OH I just adore them. Growing up we always had color lights and that’s what I wanted for our home. My husband compromised and decorated outside with color and I did inside with white. I am definitely showing him this! IT is so beautiful!
I LOVE those lights!- I always love colored lights!! I looks WONDERFUL!!
Hope you’ll join in tomorrow, I’m hosting Christmas Traditions and Memories for the Holly Bloggy Christmas Bash!!
~TidyMom
I LOVE it! I am really, really happy with my mantle/fireplace this year, but I just may have to try this out next Christmas. “Circus lights” are going on the after-Christmas sales wish list.
I’ll be honest– I am typically a white-lights-only type of person
…..
BUT, I LOVE how this looks!! I think I like it better because they are the bigger, chunkier lights! I love it!
I like it!!!! Very cute and fun!
Adorable–I love the big bright lights. Reminds me of my childhood!
Bless your heart! No white lights to be found? Ugh… that’s the worst!
Your mantle looks GREAT, those colored lights look so festive! It (almost) makes me want colored lights.
We’ve always done white, but this year I told my hubby that I want to buy colored lights after Christmas for next year. They’re just, well, FUN!!!!
Your mantle looks beautiful. What a good mom you are!
Why is it that kids LOVE colored lights so much? We try to be all classy, but every year the kids ask for colored lights. I’m totally going to cave next year. I love your colorful mantle!!
oh! i LOVE the big colorful ball lights. i have got to find those somewhere!!
I love your carnival of lights!
So sorry you had a horrible time with the tree lights. I used to get very frustrated and say bad words too. But viewing your wow factor parade of colored lights, I’m tempted to pray my white prelit tree shorts out so I can go find some of those rockin’ lights! I’m very smitten by all those lights that remind me of my childhood. Can’t get enough of your wonderful blog!
Ha! Your mantle reminds me of my husband’s wreath idea that ended up with me holding it and dancing around the room humming “The Entertainer”
I just became a follower. If you have time I’d love for you to stop by my blog and read about my experience visiting Christmas in 1855 last week. I think you’ll find it a blessing. Merry Christmas!
Love the colorful lights, looks great with the big star. Everyone does white, it’s fun to see color.
I love it! Not carnivaly at all. I had to undecorate my tree one time and replace ALL the lights. I cried the entire time. And swore. Merry Christmas!
Hi Kimba, I have signed up as a google follower but somehow it does not show your feeds on my dahsboard… wonder if that’s blogger trouble because I haven’t had any feed from you blog. Best! Vanessa
I love the colored lights. It looks so bright and happy.