It’s a family tradition to get a new ornament for our Christmas tree every year. It all started many years ago when I was a young girl. My sister was the one who assembled the Christmas tree and decorated it. I was not allowed to hang any ornaments because it was more so my sister’s tree than my tree.
My mom felt bad about that so she took me to the Christmas tree lot and let me pick out a small, real tree for our downstairs playroom (where I spent most of my time). That was “my” tree that I was allowed to decorate. Sadly I didn’t have many ornaments for the tree, only a few small ones that my sister didn’t use for our “main” tree that was upstairs in the formal living room.
That year my mom bought me a personalized ornament that I could hang up on “my” tree. It had my name and the date on it. The following year my mom let me get a tree for the playroom to decorate and another personalized ornament. Over the next several years I received a new ornament every year. Mom said by the time I was got married and/or moved out on my own I’d have my own collection or ornaments to decorate my Christmas tree so that my tree would not be bare.
Even after I got married, moved away and started my own family my mom would continue to give us new ornaments every year. My husband and I usually received a couples ornament where as my kids recieved their own personalized ornaments. My husband and I also purchase the kids a new ornament each year. When our kids are grown on off on their own they can take their ornaments with them and continue the tradition with their children. I’m sure my husband I will also continue to give our kids ornaments each year, as well as our grandchildren.
Personalized ornaments are an affordable and special gift that you can give to someone you love. Its something that they can cherish for the rest of their lives and look upon with fond memories of the day you gave it to them.
Pretty much every ornament on our tree i can tell you the story of how I acquired it and who gave it to me. My memory isn’t as good as it used to be, but the important details remain.
For example, this dog ornament was given to me by my first grade teacher Ms. Bogart. I’m 43 so you can tell I’ve had it a long time.
This deer ornament was given to me by my Uncle Richard. We were at some holiday store in Pennsylvania. He knew my mom bought me a new ornament every year and he wanted to do something nice for me too so he bought this ornament for me. I must have been about 10 years old at the time, give or take.
The ornaments my fade, chip or break but the memories are always going to be there.
If you are looking to start your own special holiday tradition with family and friends, why not consider the gift of an ornament?
Ornaments with Love (www.OrnamentswithLove.com) is an online ornament store that carries a wide variety of ornaments. You can easily find a special ornament for anyone on your holiday shopping list.
Ornaments with Love carries ornaments for teens, grandparents, children, pets, friends and many themes including professions, sports, house and home, military, sports teams, religious, travel and so much more. Best of all the ornaments can be personalized with names and dates.
Here are a few examples of the delightful ornaments found at Ornaments with Love.
What I love most about these ornaments, aside from the HUGE variety they have available, is that they are very affordable. Most ornaments are in the $10 – $15 range making them ideal even as hostess gifts, stocking stuffers or “Secret Santa” presents.
What a wonderful way to mark a special occasion or event in someone’s life. Perhaps you, a friend or family member is expecting their first child. Give them a personalized ornament of an expectant parent. Then next year you can give the little bundle of joy their own “First Christmas” ornament. Then continue the tradition with a new ornament each year.
A personalized ornament also shows that you put a lot of thought into the gift. Finding the perfect ornament then having it customized for the recipient shows that you put your heart into the gift and just didn’t grab them any other thing you found on a store shelf.
We have two ornaments from Ornaments with Love. One we received last year and one this year.
Last year I had a special ornament created for my family including our names (well, I’m “Mom” and hubby is “Dad”). I colored out my kid’s names for their privacy.
It’s a nice size ornament too. It has our names on each of the stockings and our family name at the bottom. One of the candles on the mantle has the date 2010 on it so that we know when we received the ornament. It’s so cute and colorful too! Check out all the great detail on the ornamnet from the yellow and orange “flames” on the candles to the berries on the wreath.
This year I had another ornament made up. This time I had one made up for the four legged members of the family.
Once again I had our last name colored in so to protect our privacy.
All of our cats have a stocking starting with our eldest cat, Velcro, on the left to one of the younest, Anakin, on the right.
Our dog Espn (pronounced Es-pin) is mostly white with black dots. I thought the white dog was fitting. It’s hard to tell from the photo but he has a bone in his mouth.
Bella, our youngest (6-months old) is black and white. I had them use a black kitten for her. Her basket has her name on it.
The fire in the fireplace also has this year on it.
Here is another photo of the ornmament. Bella’s name is covered up from the camera’s flash.
We will always remember that in 2011 we had all six of our beloved pets. Ten, twenty or even thirty years from now if we still have this ornament we can fondly look back on our precious pets and recall the many Christmases we shared with them.
Ornaments with Love ornaments are breakable, but, they are really well made that it would take a serious fall for it to break or chip. They have glossy coating on them which helps to protect them.
I adore our personalized ornments from Ornaments with Love and I know that each year I will go back to the site to get more fun ornaments for our family. I especially love the family ones. They have family ornaments that range from three family members to MANY family members. These are great for grandparents too.
To learn more about Ornaments with Love and to check out their selection of beautiful and adorable ornaments, visit www.OrnamentswithLove.com. You can also follow them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PersonalizedChristmasOrnaments.
Kimberly
*I received a free product sample in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own.
