My fourth installment of Halls’ “What The Chic” campaign involves me decorating Xmas trees. Instead of saying, “What the chic?”, my initial reaction was more like “What the hell?” I don’t know nuthin’ ‘bout birthin’ no babies … and I sure as hell know even less about C.O.P. (uh, “creative ornament placement”).
So I took a crash course in Xmas Tree Decorating 101.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA5-pDz6skU
There is apparently an art to bows, ribbons, garland and ornaments. And, for the love of God, who knew your tree has to have a theme? I had no idea. I just threw my favorite ornaments in the front and my least favorite ornaments in the back. Done.
Well, Halls is known, nay REVERED, for their delightfully outlandish tree displays. They have an entire wing dedicated to Hallmark ornaments where helpful sales people tell you things like, “This one’s a keeper” or “This is a limited edition ornament and will be worth $8 million dollars in three years.” (Uh, I bought six of ‘em.)
During the shoot, I was forever flubbing lines and screwing up takes. Every time the director would say “ACTION!” I’d get distracted by something shiny. Well, if truth be told, there were about 812,000 shiny things that were holding my attention. My personal favorite? The Asian-themed tree that was awash in chopsticks, fortune cookies, dragons and cherry blossoms.
I’ll tell you right now my Xmas tree leaves a LOT to be desired. I bought my first tree two years ago after eight years of being here in KC and being all “BAH! HUMBUG!” about the holidays. My mom generously gave me a wide assortment of ornaments from years gone by. The tinfoil themed ornament I made in 4th grade. And all the Snoopy ornaments I coveted from my youth. She also gave me all the decorations she didn’t want anymore. It was an assorted hodge-podge of the good, the bad and the tacky. Thus, my house looks like BillyBob’s Hillbilly Christmas Jamboree. Or as my roommate said, “Wow, it looks like Christmas threw up in here.”
This Halls gig is big learning curve. Things to do. Things to avoid. But at the end of the day, it still makes me happy to know I’m a quick study. And I look “adoresy” doing it!