I used to have pretty ceramic decorations but they are officially in the garage until Zach is older (and any that might come after are old enough too). I tend to decorate in groups. I already said that my shirts, dress pants, dress clothing, sweaters, shoes, and coats/jackets are seasonal (most of them) but my socks are monthly. I like the fun novelty socks so now I'm wearing my Christmas themed socks. This type of decorating can be a challenge in the summer since I tend to base the monthly off of monthly themes but stores usually just do generic summery stuff. December is a very easy month, you'd think, but for some reason I can't find pretty place mats and I'm iffy about a couple of my candles for the coffee table (never lit just decorative). Another example is my bed. The comforter set is seasonal but the sheets are monthly.
I make practical changes like the calendar, complete with the schedule of our sports teams for the month on it. With my nice stuff is seasonal plates (like snowflakes) to match the seasonal place mats, napkins, and napkin rings. Since Zach was born we got monthly themed place mats and napkins even though they don't match our year round plates (which used to be spring).
I'm not going to tell you everything I change because that would bore anyone but me but just like I said I look completely different from one season to another so does our apartment. Monthly changes are more subtle but they are still nice. Being home all day most days (without a car remember) means you get tired of your surroundings sometimes so this is something I look forward too. In fact the last month of the season is usually spent with me thinking about the upcoming season and subsequent changes. Good thing February is short.
To me, the first of the month is also the first day of that new season. Meaning, in this family it's the first day of winter (and oddly it's supposed to be almost 60 today). I do track on the monthly news sheet the actual first day of the seasons though so Zach is learning the scientific first days as well. The calendars and newsletters are from monthly books with lesson ideas for elementary age kids (the Carson Dellosa grades 1-3). I got them when I worked at the teacher's store and dis use them when I tutored in college and was a substitute.
The plan was to not do anything to Zach's stuff but he found a liking to my monthly bear. Josh's mom gave me a bear with monthly sweaters for Christmas a few years ago, before I got pregnant. He looks around after I decorate since I do it when he's grocery shopping with daddy. He does notice the changes and smiles at them. In fact, when he saw my snowflake light up decorations out side he said, "Mama". Our upstairs neighbors all like what I do outside, which is a seasonal change. It's their home too. It's always small but pretty. My surrounding neighbors always comment on how much they like it too. I used to put lights surrounding the picture window then something decorative inside leaving a look out area. Example, White lights for winter with cotton balls around scattered to look like snowflakes. Those will come out again when he's older too.
All of them fit their monthly themes like turkeys in November. Usually, it bothers me when a holiday shirt, like Christmas, is worn after the epiphany (January 6th, the 12th night. We celebrate the 12 days) but since Zach probably won't fit into his stuff next year it hasn't bothered me that he still wears a long sleeve shirt that says "Halloween" and a short sleeve shirt with fireworks that say "Mommy's Little Firecracker". For my stuff each season I have a holiday set but I'd rather Zach have it and wear it more then just the holiday then not have it at all. His Christmas shirt says, "Grandma's Official Cookie Tester" from Kohls.
This is a big part of who I am and knowing I love to decorate friends ask for my opinion on things. I take that to mean I have great taste. I'd like to work for an interior decorator but I'm scared of heights and some pets so that's not good for me. But decorating is my biggest hobby/passion.
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