Well, okay, so I told you all a few weeks ago that we decorated our Christmas tree. That doesn’t mean, however, that we haven’t added some items here and there.

Thus, for today’s edition of “Make my List Monday,” I thought I’d do a breakdown of the different types of Christmas ornaments, for better (sequins!) or for worse (generic glass bulbs. blech.)

Meri’s “Getting in the Orna-Mentality” Checklist:

• Crafty Ornaments (by kids): We’re talking sleds made of popsicle sticks, Snowmen from cotton balls, and cookie cutter stars painted and tied with yarn, decoupage anything… I think we all can agree these are adorable. Grade: A- (points docked only because they don’t last forever. glue sticks aren’t immortal, you know…)  
• Crafty Ornaments (by adults): I might be a little biased here in favor, as I’m quite the craft nerd myself. We merely up the ante from the kids’ category to crotcheted snowflakes, sequined and tasseled birds, painted and molded figurines. Grade: A (if you made up the design yourself), B- (if you copied it from a magazine or other tutorial.) 

  

• Grown up ornaments: Otherwise referred to as, “look, but don’t touch,” or “that’s my faberge (insert anything)…” here we might see delicate glass icicles, crystal angels or birds, fancy metallic boots (I didn’t know this was a “thing” until yesterday. I thought we just had one weird unique boot.) Bells and nutcrackers round out the MVPs of this category. Grade: B (B for Beautiful but also for Boring…)
• Personalized (A.K.A. “make anything an ornament and put the kids name on it.”) That might sound a bit harsh, but you might see kiosks full of these at the mall. Snowmen, stockings, whatever your heart desires, with that special child (or adult?)’s name on it. This category includes the beloved baby photo in frame and engraved metal ornaments too. Grade: A+ for my baby picture ornament at my parents’ house, D for all of the other ones. This is my list, I grade how I want.
• Figurines: Disney characters, santa bears and coca cola bears, Snowbabies, and more. Peanuts characters, penguins, Wild players (we had one until he got accidentally decapitated… oops). Any character ever, in ornament form. Grade: D. I’m not inspired by these at all, even though I have some I absolutely adore. 

  

• Ornamental Food: Candy canes, popcorn and cranberry garlands, gingerbread cookies… Grade: A. I just love these, I think there’s something Victorian yet utilitarian about them. Winning!
• Balls/ Bulbs. Okay, so these are classic and unavoidable, yet sort of tiresome. Glittery or painted, Glass or porcelain. Grade: B+. Never better, never worse. 

What are your favorite ornaments? Did I miss any categories? Do you have a fancy “grown up” tree, a “kid” tree, or a mixed tree?

Meri