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You are here: Home / STYLE / Interiors / Kitsch Christmas decorations and a new children’s tree with John Lewis

Kitsch Christmas decorations and a new children’s tree with John Lewis

December 4, 2017 by Molly 2 Comments

kitsch Christmas decorations

I’m a sucker for tradition when it comes to Christmas. The tree has to go in the same place, with the same decorations, artfully arranged in a similar fashion. As much as I’ve hankered after on-trend, quirky kitsch Christmas decorations for the past two years running I’ve not had the guts to make the change. I don’t like change at Christmas, basically.

So when John Lewis asked me if I’d like to decorate a new tree full of new decorations, I’ll be honest, I shuddered a bit. But then I realised this new tree didn’t have to replace my beloved real tree full of Nordic style decorations lovingly collected over the years. No, this Christmas tree could be AS WELL AS our traditional tree. And then I got excited.

Once I’d opened my mind to a new tree the possibilities seemed endless. I’ve long admired the kitsch, slightly retro tree look and hankered after brightly coloured baubles and jazzy whimsical decorations. But as flamingos and cactus and confetti-filled glass didn’t go with my traditional scheme I stayed away. Until now.

Our new John Lewis tree is a kitsch, kid-friendly thing of colourful beauty. It lives on our upstairs landing outside the bedrooms and play room, and is a beautiful addition to the space. Not only has it added some festive excitement to a part of the house that often gets neglected at Christmas, but it’s given me a chance to flex my creative Christmas muscles and let loose without being disloyal to all my old favourites in the family bauble box.

kitsch Christmas decorations

As this is our second tree we decided to give up our strict “No Artificial Trees” policy and opted for a four foot number that we can re-use year after year. This is the first artificial tree I’ve ever owned and I was surprised at how realistic it is. OK, so you don’t get that Christmassy smell that comes with a real tree but you know what you also don’t get? Pine needles all over the landing, sticking in your feet as you pad to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Winner.

We’ve gone colour crazy, decorating in the John Lewis Lima Llama range. This range is a bright, colourful, Instagram heaven of Christmas booty from Santa on a llama decorations, cactus decorations, flamingos, pom-pom garlands and parakeets to confetti-filled baubles, disco baubles and sequin-covered things of beauty.

As this tree is for the girls as much as us, we went with a more is more approach, filling the branches with colour and beautiful dazzling baubles. I was a bit worried the tree would be too small to get away with so many decorations, but the subtle LED lights and lack of tinsel just makes the baubles shine that bit brighter. I love how it twinkles as you walk up the stairs and it’s a lovely surprise sitting there waiting to greet you on the landing – a place that is often neglected or used as a dumping ground for laundry waiting to be put away or forgotten toys.

Every morning when I get out of bed the tree makes me smile – which is no small task at 6am on a damp Monday. The girls love it too and have spent even more time playing upstairs since the tree arrived.

This tree proves that sometimes change is no bad thing, even if it is in the form of a compromise rather than a complete turn-around.

Tell me, have you put your tree up yet? What’s your favourite style of decorating at Christmas?

 

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Thanks to John Lewis for working with me on this post. All products featured in this piece were gifted. For more information about how I work with brands check out my Work With Me page. 

 

Filed Under: Interiors, STYLE Tagged With: Christmas decorations, Christmas trees, family Christmas, John Lewis decorations, kid-friendly Christmas decs, kitsch Christmas

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Comments

  1. Colette says

    December 4, 2017 at 11:40 am

    It looks ace! I have a couple of the decorations from that range and can’t wait to put them up!

    Reply
    • Molly says

      December 4, 2017 at 12:06 pm

      They’re so lovely and colourful aren’t they? I was like a kid in a sweet shop when I found that range!

      Reply

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Hello and welcome! I'm Molly Forbes - podcaster, presenter and blogger with a passion for positivity, confidence and body image chat. Regularly writing and vlogging about empowering female issues from a motherhood angle, I also cover lifestyle and fashion topics for like-minded mums who want to rediscover themselves after having children. Thanks for stopping by! Read More…

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Back in January I was on the brilliant @school.for Back in January I was on the brilliant @school.for.mothers.podcast - we talked diet culture around kids and practical things we, as parents, carers and teachers, can do to dismantle some of the messages and create body happy environments for children to thrive in. Here’s a little snippet and you can listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts ❤️ 
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Reminder: my book, Body Happy Kids is out 1st April and available to order now!
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[Video description: a pink square with blue audio wave and closer captioned text of a clip from an episode on diet culture and kids with Molly on the School for Mothers podcast.]
I am not “bossing” it. Or “slaying”. Or “hustling”. Or “smashing” it. I’m not even juggling or spinning plates or doing any of the other words we use as a glossy, marketable, Instagram friendly way to package up burnout culture, under the guise of “empowering” women (💪🤢). 
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What I have been doing, though, is working too hard. Call a spade a spade. I’ve been working too hard, neglecting my health, my relationships, my life away from my laptop. I cannot be everything to everyone AND work at the level I’ve been working at BECAUSE I AM A HUMAN BEING. And you are too. We are not robots.
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I care deeply about all my work, and things aren’t always this intense, but I wanted to sprinkle some reality into the Gram because I am so over this lie that *any* type of success or achievement doesn’t come at a cost, or involve many failures in the background, or require many other people to help make things happen. 
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I guess what I’m saying is, let’s be real about all that, as well as showing the achievements. I’m bloody proud of my book. And I’m so excited to launch the social enterprise @bodyhappyorg properly next month. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy, and that there isn’t a price. 
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And with that, I’m taking the weekend off. See you on the other side 🥰🥰🥰
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[Image description: Molly sits in her office with her hands covering her mouth. On the back of one hand is written “Not bossing it”. She is wearing a pink boiler suit with a black and white top underneath. She has pink leopard print earrings on and her hair is tied back.]
This was taken at the start of half term, when the This was taken at the start of half term, when the kids were still enthusiastic about going for a walk. 1,705 walks around the same bit of countryside later... not so much 😬 
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If you’re struggling to get your kids motivated to move their body at the moment, go gentle. You’re not alone. Bad weather coupled with boredom coupled with the lure of screens is a heady recipe for lethargy - and that’s just me! 
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Seriously though, remember: all movement is valid. Even if it’s just a ten minute @cosmickids sesh or a little kitchen disco, it all counts. And if it comes from a place of enjoyment and fun, kids (and adults!) are going to be far more likely to want to get involved.
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What joyful movement activities are your kids enjoying right now (if any?!)?
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[Image description: Molly and her two daughters are standing in a field. They’re wearing colourful wellies, holding hands and smiling.]
I founded a social enterprise 😵 . Introducing: I founded a social enterprise 😵
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Introducing: @bodyhappyorg 🎉
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We are a Community Interest Company dedicated to promoting positive body image in children. We help adults help the kids in their care be friends with their bodies 🥰. 
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Through workshops and classes, digital and physical resources (both free and paid) we help parents, carers, teachers, youth leaders - and any adults who are ever around children - create body happy settings for kids to thrive in. 
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We launch officially next month with a beautiful new website and lots of resources which we’ll continually be adding to. In the meantime give us a follow at @bodyhappyorg - we start posting from today and our page has been designed as a free resource on its own! 
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I’m privileged to work alongside an incredible team of people on this. Shout-out to the original dream team @chelseacoxstrategist @amysnellingpt @effinitupfaye @lottie_storey @bodyconfidencecards_db @rachel_hobnobs & @aceandping 💕 LOVE YOU ALL! 💕
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[Image description: A blue square with yellow and white text which reads “the body happy org”. This is the logo for The Body Happy Organisation CIC]
Proof that I did wear clothes other than a tea-sta Proof that I did wear clothes other than a tea-stained hoodie and tracksuit bottoms at least once in the past month 😐
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[Image description: Molly is wearing pink dungarees with yellow buttons over a black rollneck long-sleeved top. She has a monochrome striped hairband on and her hair is pink. She is also wearing earrings with boobs on them. She looks very pleased, both with her earrings, the pink hair and the fact she’s not wearing sleepwear, for a change.]
A new report from the Education Policy Institute h A new report from the Education Policy Institute has concluded an obvious gender divide in the well-being of young adults. If you’d like to read more check out this article by Eleanor Peake in @newstatesman (I’ve linked to it in my Stories).
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Every week I get messages from parents and teachers concerned about the impact of social media on their kids’ body image. And of course, I couldn’t write a book about body image in kids and teens without covering social media - there’s a whole chapter in Body Happy Kids dedicated to the subject. 
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The thing is, social media isn’t going anywhere. And just like it can be a force for anxiety, shame and general angst it can be a force for good too. The trick is in knowing how to use it positively (and in holding the platforms to account for not moderating the spread of harmful viral trends and online abuse, and creating algorithms that deliberately create division and harm mental health... but that’s a story for another day). 
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But how can we expect our kids to have a handle on it when we, as adults, don’t ourselves? 
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I don’t believe the answer is to ban social media, but I don’t think kids should be given unfettered access to it either. 
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They need help navigating this stuff, learning about boundaries, developing media literacy skills so they can think critically about the content they’re consuming (just like many adults).
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And we also need to explore how we might be inadvertently contributing to the problem, perpetuating appearance ideals and creating a culture where kids learn it’s ok to body shame under the guise of health and to value each other based on the way they look.
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As ever, it’s complicated. I’d love to know what you think? What are some of the boundaries you have around social media in your house - both for yourself and your kids?
#BodyHappyKids 
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