Christmas cards and new TVs

[same_sky]

I'm going to try something new and actually follow through with a picture of a finished project! We bought a new flat-screen TV to hang over the fireplace and we have had a LOT of setbacks in getting it put up, but it's finished now!

M thought this picture needed annotation but I'm too lazy to write captions directly on the photo like he envisioned. I shall just direct your attention to the highlights. First, we were not actually watching South Park, just flipping through channels with the mute on (as we were listening to Nat King Cole singing about Christmas.) Just getting the important stuff out of the way. ;) The TV looks smaller than it actually is. The big electronic things in the right bookcases are the receiver, dvd player, xbox and wii, and the important thing here is that... note that you don't see any cables from those items. We're going to do a little more prettification of that area but for now--not seeing cables running in front of the bookcase is enough. :) Also, those big black things on either side are speakers. Amazingly enough, those speakers were dragged all the way from Sweden with M--so purchased long before we moved in here--and they just happened to fit the spaces in the bookcase like that. Absolutely incredible...though they've been there so long now that I barely see them anymore.

And.. just a quick note on the presents on top of the bookcase. We put presents up there last year to keep them away from prying toddler fingers and then realized that it was really, really cute that way. So, there's my home decorating tip of the day--when possibly, use your wrapped presents as decoration, as it looks festive and happy and Christmasy, and it also keeps people from looking too closely at the interesting things under the tree. I do have some presents under both of the trees as well, just to keep it pretty. So far, Evelyn's been pretty good about not bothering them.. hope she keeps to that.

Now, the second thing I wanted to write about is Christmas cards. If I don't have your address and you think I should, send me an email at kisha at mosaicminds dot net. If you want to know my address, I have a contact info post here (friends only).

Comments

[helloheather.livejournal.com]

I noticed the presents on top of hte bookcase immediately! They look AWESOME! Do you have anything up there the rest of the year? I have bookcases with a desperate naked SPACE above them, and have been trying for years to figure out what to do up there. Your presents are the first thing I have seen and LOVED on sight. Go you!

The TV looks AWESOME! I would love to have such a clean, neat setup. Also, keeps busy fingers off! Excellent on many levels.

[same-sky.livejournal.com]

Thank you! No, we don't really have anything pretty up there the rest of the year, sadly. We're GOING to put lights up there, eventually. I'm not sure how he's planning on doing it now, but the original plan was just to throw a strand of rope lights up there. We have done that on top of a bookcase set we had before and it looks cute. I think he's planning on something fancier now, though. If you come up with any other ideas on using that space the rest of the year, let me know. :)

[britishcowgirl.livejournal.com]

oooohhhhhh! I really like the presents up there! What a fab idea! I'm so jealous of all of your shelfwork!

[same-sky.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It's taken us three and a half years but it's finally happened! We've been wanting to do this since before we moved in. :)

[ladysunrunner.livejournal.com]

Wow! I am jealous of your bookcases and your TV and especially your no cords showing! How did you manage that?

[same-sky.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :) The cord thing was by far the hardest part. There's a hole for the cords behind the TV, and they're run straight up into the attic. As for the speakers and the receiver and dvd player, etc, those are run through the back of the bookcase and into the garage, which just behind that wall. We were planning on hiding them in there, too, but it's never happened and I don't think it ever will, really. So happy it's done but it was a real pain. :)

[e11en.livejournal.com]

Is the tv centered over the fireplace but just doesn't look like it from this angle? I am very impressed with your set up! My thumbs up to M for all the hard work!

[same-sky.livejournal.com]

It is. Well, it's off a little bit right now but it's adjustable.. it sort of slides on the mount, which is two rails. Good eye. :)

Thanks! It was a pain but we're glad it's done now!

[grain-damaged.livejournal.com]

I am a horrible friend for taking so long to respond to your post but I did just want to let you know that it does look amazing! (Suuuure you were listing to Christmas music - I can see you were playing South Park on the Wii! ;^)

Also I thought your presents looked really pretty up there too. Nice to know they're "real". When I was a kid and my mom would take us out shopping during the holidays the big department stores would have all those HUGE presents displayed everywhere. I was convinced there was stuff in them and not just wrapped up empty boxes as my Mom said they were. lol