It's that time of year...

Isn't it funny that the thing I stress most about during the holidays isn't gift giving or having enough money for gift giving...

IT'S MY WINDOW DISPLAY!

Oops, sorry for yelling...

But the stress I'm feeling is funny because it's totally unnecessary. Yes my apartment building holds this contest with a nice cash prize... but the truth is, I could win with half the effort I've been putting into it. Three winners are selected and none of my neighbors do much to try and win... There is no competition.

I guess the only competition is between me and myself. I feel this need to top myself each year. Well last year, I went a little too over the top. I'm really proud of the display I made, but there is a point when too much effort becomes a waste of time.

Last years display... Gah! So much unnecessary detail!

So this year I decided that topping myself wasn't important. It would just keep getting out of control. So last week I came up with my idea and I went for it! And the stress didn't outweigh the fun, which is how it should be.

I need a photo from street level... It looks even better from down there! And I love how the decorations I put up a couple weeks ago ties in with the display. So now that I'm finished decorating my windows I feel like I can finally relax and enjoy the holiday season!!

Merry Xmas everyone!

I bet you didn't know I was this crazy

So this is coming a bit out of left field considering that we are only five days into September but I've got something on my mind.

You know those crazy people who go all out with their outdoor Christmas/holiday decorations? When you can't even see the house past all the Xmas nonsense?

I am one of those people. Well, the urban equivalent. With far less space to work with.

And only because prize money is involved.

The management of our apartment holds an annual holiday window decorating contest for the tenants. The three best window displays are chosen and awarded a hefty (in my opinion) cash prize. I, of course, take this contest way too seriously. We've won the past four years. Every year we've lived here.

The first year we lived here we just slapped some paper snowflakes in the window without even realizing a contest was going on. We put so little thought into our decorations that we didn't even take a photo. And we won! This apparently lit a fire in me... and the next three photographs are the result.

2009

2010

2011

I went all out. Like the people in those crazy holiday decorating shows on TLC. The sad part is there is no competition. Only a few other tenants play along. So I don't really need to put all this effort into the contest to win, but I don't care... It's a lot fun.

I keep switching back and forth between "we" and "I." By "we" I'm referring to my boyfriend Nate and myself. We live together so he is involved in the contest by association but that's typically as far as his involvement goes. I guess he isn't as crazy as I am. 

Last year, for the 2011 display, I had already picked out my design by August. So I'm already behind... 

What sort of display should I make this year? I'm drawing a major blank!!