Christmas Tree 2018

I know it's almost Valentine's but because my primary objective in blogging is to document, let me post the highlights of our 2018 Christmas. Let's start with our tree.

We moved here in our new home on November 20, 2018. And with me recovering from a procedure, sangkatutak na ligpitin, at visitors (Pod's parents came here to spend the holidays with us), talagang nagahol kami for Christmas. In fact, I was only able to decorate our tree on December 22!

I really had no intention of buying a new set of tree ornaments kasi nga gahol na, saka maraming gastos sa paglilipat syempre, so I planned on using our 2015 Christmas tree decors na lang. Kaso hindi talaga namin makita-kita sa garahe (kung saan nakatambak pa ang lahat ng gamit namin). Kaya nga nagtagal ang pagkakabit ko ng decors, I was really hoping na makita pa namin pero wala talaga.

Hence, I had no choice but to use the 2014 ornaments. Hesitant akong gamitin talaga yun kasi nga hindi pambata pero wala namang choice. We only had two sets eh. Noong December 2016, wala na kaming bahay kasi nakalipat na kami dito sa BC (tapos nasa Pinas kami noong Christmas season). Last 2017 naman, hindi na kami nagput-up ng tree kasi ang sikip at ang pangit naman sa apartment.

At eto na nga ang kinalabasan. I modified the design para hindi naman kaparehong-kapareho noong 2014. Goal ko talaga na huwag maulit ang design ng Christmas tree para may distinction naman sa annual pictures hehe.

As expected, hindi masyadong trip ng anak ko ang naging Christmas tree namin. Ang sabi nga niya, "Mommy, ang pangit naman ng Christmas tree natin. Eh kasi pink."

Sorry naman, anak. At least ang pogi mo namang mowdel ng tree hehe.

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Ford wants to have a new tree by next year. Medyo high ceiling kasi itong bagong town house namin kaya parang biglang lumiit tingnan ang 7-ft Christmas tree. Pero ayaw ko, masasayang naman kasi ito eh ang bago-bago pang tingnan. Saka would you believe na $11.00 lang namin ito nabili? Closing sale na kasi ng isang store nun kaya nachambahan namin ito.

Next year, we will have a white-silver-red theme. I was able to buy most of the ornaments already from Walmart last December 26, naka-50% off na. Sana maganda ang kalabasan. I was never a fan of silver/white Christmas theme eh. Doon ako palagi sa traditional colors of gold, red and green. But since I want a different tree look every year, sige susubukan ko nang maiba naman.

Christmas tree dilemma

I am really excited for this coming Christmas. May appreciation na kasi si Nathan ng Pasko ngayon eh. Kanta na siya ng kanta ng Jingle Bells and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Palagi niya ring sinasabi na gusto niyang mag-play sa snow. At nag-aaya siya sa "Christmas," na kala niya ay isang lugar (Disneyland lang ang peg) kasi napapanood niya sa Youtube sina Santa Claus at ang mga reindeers.

Hay, kaya I really want him to have a nice Christmas tree this year -- just like our 2014 and 2015 trees in our Edmonton house (we were in Pinas in Christmas 2016) -- para mas maging enjoyable sa kanya ang holidays. Kaso lang we are living in an apartment now na mas maliit ang space. Our tree is 7ft tall and bulky, alanganin na gamitin namin ngayon.

Kung tutuusin, our place naman has a decent size. Medyo malaki naman (mas malalaki talaga ang mga old apartments/condos kumpara sa bago) kaso oversized ang mga furniture namin (dahil nga bigger ang bahay namin dati) kaya sumikip. Pwede pa rin namang isiksik ang malaking Christmas tree if I put some of Nathan's toys in the storage. But the question is, where is our tree? Mahirap ng hukayin sa storage yun pati na ang mga decors.

The easy solution would be to buy a new smaller tree for this year. Noong una naisip ko nga mga 2ft lang sana, yung pwedeng ipatong lang sa table. Kaso saan ko naman itatabi yung mga gifts namin for Nathan? So sige 4ft na lang na medyo slim.

I saw this pre-lit LED 4.5ft tree at Costco for $79 (plus 12% tax) yata at namahalan ako. I searched at Amazon.ca and I found a somewhat similar tree for only $39 (free delivery pa).

I was determined to order a tree already but I changed my mind the last minute.

After Christmas, where shall we put it? Yes, may storage pa naman. For now. But what if we move already to our new place that for sure has a limited storage space, paano na? Nakakahinayang naman idispose. Ngayon nga lang hindi ko na alam ang gagawin sa napakarami naming gamit eh, tapos dadagdagan ko pa. Sabi nga ng asawa ko, ang dami ko ng kalat.

So now I am faced with a dilemma -- to buy or not buy a tree? It may sound trivial I know but I am one person who really loves to "enjoy" every occasion, lalo na ang pasko. Kaya big issue talaga sa akin ang Christmas tree. Kaso nga lang talagang iba ang situation namin ngayon eh.

Oh well, I have a few more weeks to decide. Pagbalik namin from our California trip ko na lang.

Christmas Tree 2015

It's already 2016, I know! But I have so many backlogged posts so please bear with me.

This was our tree last Christmas. It's simple but I liked it. I went for a yellow green-and-red theme because I have a child now. Para mas pambata.

I bought twenty stuffed Santa Claus and Snow Man (at Php99.75 each) at SM North EDSA because I found them cute. Ford and I were together when I got them and he was a bit shocked with the price.

FORD -- Php2,000 lahat?! Ang mahal naman! Tapos isang beses lang natin gagamitin?
CES -- Haler, ang ganda naman! Ang mahal kaya nyan sa Canada! Saka hindi naman natin once lang gagamitin. Magmimix-and-match tayo in the coming years syempre. It's just that isang set pa lang ang tree decors natin kaya we need to buy more pa.

At syempre walang nagawa ang Coblancs.

I know that changing our tree's decor every year is not practical but I don't want to see same tree in all our Christmas photos noh. Syempre dapat iba-iba. Also, Christmas tree na nga lang ang bumubuhay sa pasko namin dito sa abroad kaya dapat naman gawing special kahit papano. 

Oops, I wasn't able to find a tree topper so I used the Santa hat that I also brought from the Philippines. The red and yellow green balls are from SM, WalMart, and Dollarama.


I was looking for a perfect tree ornament for Nathan and I found it the last minute. A Precious Moment again.

This was the night-time look pala:

Ford wanted to buy blinking Christmas lights but I objected. Ang mahal kasi nun, sabi ko di pa nasusulit yung binili namin last year.

FORD -- Bakit pag ako ang bibili eh kontra ka?
CES -- Live with it.

Hahaha! To be honest, I am not fond of patay-sinding ilaw. Nahihilo kasi ako.

When Nathan and I were still in the Philippines, I asked Ford to buy a smaller tree that we can just put on a side table. Gagalawin lang daw kasi ng bata ang puno, baka makuryente pa. But I changed my mind, ang mahal kasi ng bagong tree. Plus gusto ko talaga ng malaking puno. Bahala na kako si Batman.


Thankfully, Nathan has been very good to the tree. Hindi nila ginugulo. At times when he was tempted to hold the tree, he would look at me as if he was asking for permission. And when I say, "No," he will turn away. Sobrang good boy talaga!

We put up our tree very late (by Filipino standard). December 5 na nang matayo and it took a couple of days more para ma-decorate. November 25 lang kasi kami dumating at talagang nag-adjust pa kami. I hope maagahan namin next year para we get to enjoy our Christmas tree longer. Mas may appreciation na siguro si Nathan by that time.

Our 2014 Christmas Tree

I know we're already half way of January but I still have a lot of holiday posts so please bear with me.

For now, let me show you our 2014 Christmas tree...

Because of my post-CS condition, I was only able to decorate it on December 12. "Too late" in Filipino standards, I know. I have to admit that because I was in pain, I was tempted to let go of the holiday trimmings last year (haha sounds so long ago but it was only last month!). But it was my son's first Christmas so I felt that I owe him a tree.

Our tree looked so 'feminine,' do you agree? It's because I bought the decors last December 26, 2013 pa, during boxing day. I wasn't pregnant yet that time so I visualized a sophisticated tree haha!

Most of the tree ornaments were from Michaels and Walmart. It was difficult finding the "right" tree topper so I settled muna with a star from Dollarama. The blue balls were also from that dollar store.

In addition, I put up two special palawit:

This one is for our dear Chicklet...



And this to commemorate our first Christmas here in Casa Blanco (I also bought this last 2013).

Here's the day and night time look...

I honestly loved our tree. It was my first time to have a non-traditional tree (i.e. red-and-gold theme) and I was so happy it still turned out beautiful.

But would you believe that our artificial tree only costs $11+ (or less than Php500). We chanced upon it at XS Cargo's closing sale. It was the last stock left and its box was ripped. We weren't sure if the whole set is complete but we took the risk and bought it. Sabi nga ng asawa ko: "Haler, it's only $11! Kung kulang man, hindi na masakit sa dibdib." 

I am planning for a kiddie-themed Christmas tree this year. Para bagay naman kay Chicklet. But I might use a different tree, a smaller one that we can place by the table para hindi maabot ni Nathan. Our son will already be one year old come December 2015 so for sure he's into walking and grabbing things mode na.  Haha, sana lang may budget! =)

Chicklet's first Christmas tree ornament

I found this Precious Moments' Baby's First Christmas tree ornament  the other day at Walmart. It only costs $4 (+5% tax) so I instantly grabbed it.

Every year, I'll get a tree decor that will commemorate my son's life. Oh, I am so excited!

I've always felt that Christmas is only for kids. This year, I am finally gonna have one -- exciting, eh! I will make sure that all the Christmases of Chicklet's childhood will be special and memorable. As a new family, we'll build lots of Christmas traditions together. We will all have fun, I promise!

Peg for 2014 Christmas tree

Too bad we can't put up a tree yet this year because we're still "homeless." Sayang, akala namin aabot talaga. Pero sige, tiis muna. We'll buy Christmas decors na lang by January para sale na.

I am glad though that I saw a picture of this Christmas tree on Facebook a while ago. Ang ganda! I instantly fell in love with it that I have to blog it! Now I know what decors to buy. Para hindi sabog-sabog.


picture taken from Facebook (credits to the owner)

I've always been a red-and-gold-Christmas kind of girl. Very traditional. But now that I have a new life here in Canada, I can be more adventurous, right? And since having a white-themed Christmas tree is a no-no in the Philippines because of the famous Pinoy dust, this is my chance to have one.

Also, this tree would rhyme with the house interior motif that I have in mind.

I have a year to prepare for our very first Christmas tree. I want it to be nice and fabulous. Wish me luck!