Christmas Decor – Tacky or Tasteful?
When I learned that today’s Mistletoe Make & Bake Blog Hop theme was to share a not-to-be-missed holiday tradition, I knew immediately what I’d share…my aversion to tacky outdoor Christmas decor and the fun we have with it every season.
When it comes to outdoor Christmas decorations, a wreath on the door and maybe a single candle in each window is my preference. I enjoy looking at outdoor decorations that are tastefully put together…lots of white lights and greenery, etc. It is those that go overboard with no conceivable theme other than every imaginable color of lights and all sorts of inflatable ‘things’ that just set my teeth on edge.
When my kids were small we made it a tradition to drive around on Christmas Eve to see the Christmas lights and decorations. The boys got a big kick out of spotting the tackiest decor we could find just so they could see mom shudder! As they got older they would scout out the tackiest outdoor displays they could find in the weeks leading up to Christmas Eve, and each would secretly choose their own favorite “tackiest” to see if they could pick the one Mom would hate the most. It became a competition between the boys and their excitement in directing our Christmas Eve drives to specific destinations would be palpable all day long.
My boys are all grown with families of their own now, but they have all continued this tradition. Mike and I still drive around and look at the Christmas decorations on Christmas Eve, but somehow, it just isn’t the same.
Another must-do every Christmas are my mother’s Date Wraparounds. I think these might be my favorite cookie of all time, and I only make them at Christmas time…it keeps them special!
To download and print the pdf version of the recipe card click here!
I can’t wait to see what fun project Roseann has created for you over at Rosebud’s Cottage, and Brenda at Little Acorns is sure to have something just as enticing. Pick up your cookie recipe from everyone else, and don’t forget to leave a comment!
Tomorrow is the last day (boo hoo!) of the blog hop, and it is my feature day. I’ve cooked up a cute little project for you and will share a great cookie recipe that will be perfect for your holiday cookie swaps!
Melisa
Tags: Date Wraparounds, holiday tradition, Mistletoe Make & Bake Blog Hop, Recipes, tacky Christmas decor
November 19th, 2010 at 1:55 AM
I do agree that some people go way overboard. May not look so bad at night…but a jungle by day. Thanks for the Date Wraparounds recipe. Will have to make these too.
November 19th, 2010 at 1:56 AM
Loved to read about the outdoor christmas decoration! Since a few years it started also here in my country with all these lights and decos outside! Some are nice but some…! I just love it simple! Thanks for the lovely recipe again! I have a lot to try out this year!Lol!
November 19th, 2010 at 5:15 AM
Melisa, first thing about the pic…it brought a sweet smile…so the answer is neither…I loved the spirit of it…
We decorate our outside like a postcard, it is our neighbors who stand outside our home every year with cameras..sew I suppose it is done quite tasteful…lol
thanks for such a sweet visit
November 19th, 2010 at 7:13 AM
Those cookies look awesome! We live in northern NH, where many scrabble for a living with a succession of seasonal jobs. One year a lady down the street gathered greens and made big Christmas balls to sell. She hung them from her clothesline beside her house. She might have made a little money, but her husband bagged a deer and hung it to drain right next to her greenery balls! Now that was tacky!
November 19th, 2010 at 7:14 AM
That’s a great tradition! We have the same tradition! It so fun to go look at other people’s lights! I can’t wait to try the wraparounds! They sound great! Thanks for sharing!
November 19th, 2010 at 8:05 AM
When I was a kid, the Christmas tree wasn’t put up until 2 weeks before Christmas. Now we barely get through Halloween before Christmas decor is showing up in the stores and the decorating begins. I refuse to decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving. It is getting lost because of Christmas. I love all the holidays and I decorate for all of them but not until we’ve had a chance to enjoy each one.
November 19th, 2010 at 8:31 AM
I don’t know, the little silver trailer looks pretty good!
November 19th, 2010 at 8:46 AM
I love the lights on the trailer. So funny!!
November 19th, 2010 at 8:47 AM
What a great picture!!!
This year…just being together as a family will be a blessing!
Thank you for sharing!
November 19th, 2010 at 8:49 AM
Tacky Xmas decorations always remind me of the movie “Christmas Vacation” too funny. I would really like an aluminum Xmas tree though and maybe some bubble lights for it. Thanks for another great recipe. I’ll have to make these for my dad; he loves date cookies!
November 19th, 2010 at 9:02 AM
Love dates, and I am sure I will love this recipe. Thanks for sharing.
As for Christmas decorations, I am with you, a simple wreath on my door. But, I live in New York, where more is better! You would not believe the decorations that some people put up. Some actually hire companies to come in and set it all up for them. Fun to drive around and look at, but not my cup of tea.
November 19th, 2010 at 9:04 AM
Unfortunately, we live next door to tacky decorations every year. Lots of plastic figurines, inflatables, etc. – in a very small yard! I like doing just some lighted garland on the deck railing with burgundy bows. Wonder if my neighbors think my decorations are tacky?
November 19th, 2010 at 9:13 AM
Well in SoCal suburbia we won’t see that trailer but there are plenty of tacky displays. My neighborhood has started with lights already this week! the season is upon us!
November 19th, 2010 at 9:32 AM
Love looking at tacky decorations! One of our local tv stations highlights a different house every night during Christmas and I enjoy seeing those, too! Thank you for the date cookie recipe! I’ll be trying those!
November 19th, 2010 at 10:00 AM
We too love to drive around and look at the Christmas decorations. Some realy are tacky but some are beautiful and thought out. Thanks for the recipe.
November 19th, 2010 at 10:11 AM
I really need to try dates…so many Christmas recipes can’t be wrong.
November 19th, 2010 at 10:24 AM
We have basically done the same thing – we just all give the “ugly” ones a big huge groan, and the other nice ones a big “Ahhh”! Part of our Christmas Eve tradition also. And your recipe is the same that I make every year, except we don’t eat dates, so I put maraschino cherries or a Hershey’s Kiss in mine. And then, I put pink icing on the cherry ones and white icing on the kiss ones (so we know the difference). Thanks so much for sharing. Read you tomorrow on the last day of toeing. HUGS… and stitches
November 19th, 2010 at 10:35 AM
That Airstream all lite is quite the look. Too funny.
Our kids have gone to and had ‘bad sweater parties’ the trouble with that is some of the sweaters are from their mom and grandma’s closets!!!! They just can’t let them know..LOL
November 19th, 2010 at 10:35 AM
I can’t stand those inflatable ‘thinga’ either. I agree, tacy, tacky, tacky. And yet another date recipe. I do love dates. I lived my earliest years in the Southern CA valley with several date groves. They must have been cheap way back then because I sure love them!
November 19th, 2010 at 10:38 AM
Thanks for the recipe. My husband like date nut bars so I buy the dates at Costco, but then I’m still left with alot of dates that I have no idea what to do with.
November 19th, 2010 at 10:39 AM
Would Love to drive to see your lights Very traditional Thank You for the Hop and for all the recipes and all of the fun
November 19th, 2010 at 10:50 AM
We also take in the sights on Christmas eve, after church. With snow already on the ground and hopes that it will not melt by Christmas, it will
make the lights glisten. thank you for sharing your Christmas memories and
the great recipes.
November 19th, 2010 at 10:55 AM
Mom and I also used to drive around on Christmas Eve looking at lights. It was great. Have missed doing that. Things change, everybody gets busy, Mom is now 92 and I, well I am older to. The memory is always there, and I bring it out once in a while. She would make lots and lots of cookies and freeze them. we could not eat any until Christmas Eve, but my sister and I would sneak downstairs and eat them frozen. Now I make lots and lots of cookies and freeze them til Christmas Eve. Last year I stopped freezing them. We eat them fresh. Have a great day. Judy S.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:24 AM
Boys need to compete with everything, don’they? I agree there can be some over the top decorating done.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:13 PM
Remember back a few years, a radio station had everyone fax in the address of tacky lights and then you could get a list to drive around and see. It was great fun! Thanks for being part of this and for sharing your great cookie receipes.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:30 PM
Our neighbours, here in the French countryside have so much outdoor lights , already weeks before christmas….I hate it….
November 19th, 2010 at 12:36 PM
I always remember the joy every decorator wishes to express. That is good enough reason for tacky decorations as well as tacky quilts. What? There are no tacky quilts? I agree! LOL
November 19th, 2010 at 2:11 PM
Thank you for the recipe it looks delicious. We have a house by us that has had its lights up for several weeks already. Maybe they are trying to keep up with the retailers!
November 19th, 2010 at 2:20 PM
When I was reading your post today. I had the easiest time imagining those drives with your children. Thanks for sharing your memories with us.
November 19th, 2010 at 2:36 PM
Love your tacky decorations contest. Some of them are just unbelievable. What a fun thing to do.
November 19th, 2010 at 3:47 PM
Yum. Thanks for the recipe!
November 19th, 2010 at 3:54 PM
Awwwww…come on…..Christmas lights on an old trailer….how cute is that? Gotta love what people come up with during the holidays…but sometimes, I just don’t get it either. LOL!
November 19th, 2010 at 4:14 PM
What a great old trailer….love that picture! Thanks for the recipe!
November 19th, 2010 at 6:16 PM
Thanks so much for the cookie recipe! I suppose tacky is as tacky does! Evidently someone loves more, more, more decorations! We love to ride around and look at decorations, too. We enjoy going to the same places every year to see if our favorite displays are up again
November 19th, 2010 at 6:48 PM
Thanks for the recipe! I will have try these, they sound like they would be dainty and a fun, somewhat unusual treat to serve. Your traditions of checking out the outdoor Christmas decorations is a great one. The picture of the trailer made me smile — and chuckle a bit!
November 19th, 2010 at 8:46 PM
Yeah, I’d say thats tacky!
Lesa
November 19th, 2010 at 9:03 PM
Not sure if I qualify for tacky or not. I have a 300 lb 8ft tall solid wood working nutcracker on my front porch. My father arved and built it for my. I also have one that is 12 inches tall and was the model for the life size one. I get a lot of people stop to take photos .
November 19th, 2010 at 9:03 PM
The cookies sound wonderful … love the story about tacky decorations … absolutely adore the photo of trailer in lights! What a hoot!
November 19th, 2010 at 10:16 PM
I can’t wait to see what your project will be tomorrow! Thanks for another great recipe. ~Kathleen
November 19th, 2010 at 11:27 PM
Oooo, those cookies would be good with a walnut or pecan stuffed inside the date, too.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:59 PM
Love the photo of the decorated trailer. And all these recipes with dates! I love dates.
November 20th, 2010 at 12:15 AM
The little trailer looks sweet to me. It’s very simple. I don’t like the ones with all the inflatable figures that are falling over or half buried in snow.
November 20th, 2010 at 12:22 AM
Thank you for the special date recipe. I love to look at lights but don’t like the ones that have tons of unrelated blow ups and lights everywhere.
November 20th, 2010 at 12:26 AM
Oh how funny! Love the picture of the trailer
We also drive around and look at Christmas lights … this year we may have to put a new spin on it 
Thank you for sharing!!
November 20th, 2010 at 6:54 AM
Here in the UK it’s still quite a new thing to decorate outside but I love seeing all the houses that are all lit up.
November 20th, 2010 at 8:41 AM
I LOVE CHRISTMAS! The brighter more colorful the lights the better, plain old white lights are boring to me and my family. We don’t go for the huge blow up figures but to each his own. I enjoy looking at all the decorations that people put up to share. We used to drive around with our 4 children to look at the decorations, my husband and I still do it but not as much as when the kids were young.
Our oldest son was just 6 months old for his first Christmas and he figured out how to roll himself under the Christmas tree to lay there and look up at the beautiful multicolored lights. He would do this as soon as we got down on the floor to play with him! His son is too young to do that but you can bet his Grammie will show him the Christmas lights!
Thanks for sharing the pic of the Airstream, it looks festive!
November 20th, 2010 at 9:37 AM
Yummy date wraps. How did you know anything made with dates is my favorite!!!
November 20th, 2010 at 11:12 AM
thanks for the memories Melisa – we used to take the kids out as well, need to start doing that ourselves again!
Date cookies will be hi on the try the new recipe list!
November 20th, 2010 at 11:32 AM
Thanks for the date cookie recipe, sounds good. I like to drive around to see the lights too. Our zoo also does a great display called Zoolights.
November 20th, 2010 at 12:25 PM
Thanks for the great recipe
November 20th, 2010 at 12:46 PM
Thanks for making my first blog hop so much fun.
November 20th, 2010 at 1:26 PM
Awesome picture. We had a tree like that when I was growing up. It was the in thing at the time. Glad we are back to green.
November 20th, 2010 at 3:03 PM
Melisa, this has been a great time the past 6 days. Thank you for all the recipes and projects. Happy Holidays! ~Kathleen
November 20th, 2010 at 4:25 PM
Thanks for the recipe and the fun story. It has been fun!
November 20th, 2010 at 4:32 PM
Thank you for being a part of this blog hop.
November 20th, 2010 at 6:31 PM
The trailer looks so festive. Thanks for the cookies and for sharing is this blog hop.
November 20th, 2010 at 7:49 PM
Yummy recipe. Thanks!!
November 20th, 2010 at 8:02 PM
I am with you on liking the greenery and little white lights, but I must say that the little silver trailer is very cute!
November 20th, 2010 at 8:59 PM
We have a few ‘Griswald’s’ around!
November 21st, 2010 at 10:18 PM
Another yummy recipe!! YUMMO!! Thanks for this hop! It’s really gotten me ready for the Christmas season! Polly
November 2nd, 2011 at 9:46 PM
I used to think like you….but the older I get, the more mellow I get! Whatever makes someone happy decorating their home for our beautiful, love filled holiday, makes me happy, too!
March 13th, 2012 at 2:27 PM
wow, that is great ideas….