Ahhh. We’re finally starting to show some Christmas progress around here. The baking has officially begun with a small batch of caramels. I used the recipe for Fleur De Sel Caramels from Ms. Humble.
This recipe is a keeper – it’s fabulous. I love that little bit of salt with the buttery sweetness. Packed into cellophane bags, they’ll make a nice little gift for friends.
The rest of the weekend was spent wrapping up the Christmas decor. I finally finished the big tree in our family room. Every year we have trouble with the lights and TheManoftheHouse has to fiddle with them and find out which little bulbs are causing a malfunction here or there. So this year, while he was out shopping, he called and said he’d found a good price for LED lights. Oh Yay.
So, now the tree is all done and here I sit in the spaceship glow of LED Christmas lights. I. Hate. Them. Everytime I walk into the room, I have to resist the urge to throw my arms in the air and scream “Take Me To Your Leader!” Here are the top three reasons why LED lights suck (you know, aside from the whole alien thing):
- The lights are spaced almost twice as closely together as regular lights. Which means, you’ll have roughly twice as many lights on your tree as you would have with regular lights. No wonder the tree is glowing.
- There are twice as many yellow and red lights as green and blue. That’s ’cause LED lights are “cool” lights, not “warm” lights. I’m betting they could put three or four times as many yellow and red lights and there would still be a blue hue to the tree.
- They’re fugly. Fuh. glee. They might be ok on a little one-string tree, but on a big tree, it’s not pretty. And I can’t even put a paper bag over it.
My favorite thing to do during the holidays is sit in front of the Christmas tree, late at night when everything is quiet and peaceful. I can’t do that this year though — I’m afraid I’ll end up on Mars. Which actually, fits right in with the week ahead. Brace yourselves … we’re about to hit warp speed heading to the weekend!
XOXO,
Anna
It’s just lucky I never had a mouthful of my drink when I started reading this cause it would have got spat all over the keyboard. I’m laughing my head off here. Please don’t stop blogging, your good for me. I’ll go check out the yummy caramels now.
I totally understand! Our tree is a blaze of blue! Our lights died half-way through being put on the tree, and by the time I went shopping for new ones, the choice was minimal, and blue LED it is. Now, I like blue. BUT! Next year these lights will be going elsewhere, and I’ll get in early for some regular lights!
Oh my gosh, you are too funny! Maybe you could remove the lights while TheManofthehouse is sleeping and blame it on the cats? :o)
Your caramels look so delicious with that sprinkle of salt on top. Yum!
Maybe that’s why they had a good price… LOL? It’s time to train the kitties to drag the Christmas lights from the tree, in stead of dragging with sweaters and tv blankets!
I share your intense dislike of those blasted led lights. It there anything more cold, ugly and unchristmasy? But the caramels look absolutely delicious. I’m going to try and make some, maybe for our New Year’s eve party. Merry Christmas!
Heehee – alien inspired lighting is never a good look for Christmas trees. My week is going to get quieter – most of my friends are trying to make their way across snowy Europe to get home….and at my home things will be a lot quieter this year than usual as my mum’s recovering from a heart scare…..but friends will be seen and relaxing will be done….
Ohhh dear….caramels!!! You have woken the sugar fiend in me!!!! I looove caramels!!!
Sorry, while I wipe the drool off my keyboard!
Merry Christmas Anna!!!
Hmmm these caramels look so yummy.
Have a great day
Janine
Sorry Anna but you’ve brightened up my morning .. I can’t be doing with LED lights either , far too bright and just not cosy cosy. We had snow again last night and this morning we are off to see some reindeer … holidays are coming, holidays are coming.. just need the Coke advert now.
Your caramels look mouth watering and are perfectly packaged (the twine makes all the difference!) Your LED experience is too funny – hope you don’t get visited by any extra-terrestrials on Christmas eve:)
O how I agree re the lights and so far I’ve been able to avoid them. The colors look more theme-park oriented than Christmas, to me. I also enjoy just sitting and seeing the lights when it’s dark outside, love it.
Merry Christmas, Anna!!!
Awww, we went for white LEDs and I’m very happy with them. We won’t mention that the tree is too big for our already overcrowded living room …
Love the salted caramel idea. We need some little hostess gifts, and these could be just the ticket.
ohhhh, hope time slows just a bit…trying to finish a quilt for my mom for Christmas!!!
merry times to you!
“Beam me up Scotty!” You are too funny but make a huge batch of the delicious looking caramels and sit for awhile each night by the tree eating them one by one – bound to increase your desire to sit by the tree – fugly might just become plain old ugly! Merry Christmas!
My hubby ordered extra-expensive LED lights with low lead levels in the cord… I don’t have the heart to tell him that I HATE THEM SO MUCH.
Every time I drive up to the house I think, “THIS isn’t warm and inviting! This is as comforting as a FREAKING DRUG STORE.”
Well… you’ve met my husband… he is very sweet. I’ll tell him in February.
I have some white LEDs on the outside of the house. They’re white with those big crystal lightbulb covers, and I like the blue cast reflecting on the snow — but we still have my traditional electricity suckers on the tree! I usually do the tree in white lights but I got an argument this year — “Mama, I want COLORFUL lights!” Colorful lights it is!
Now if that damn cat would stop throwing up pine needles, I could be happy!
I REFUSE to drink the LED kool-aid and have for years. Dave knows to not even bother trying anymore to get them in the house, I just give them all away.
I *swear* that blue colors “makes my eyes bleed”, aka, causes me actual physical pain when I look at them.
Anna might need a small tree of her own this year – just to sit quietly and be in her own world. If I was closer I would bring you one. Just make sure you get out early next year and replace them. Don’t care how much they cost – the leds have to mysteriously disappear.
Oh the carmels….ummmmmm.
Merry Christmas Anna.
Anna, I thought I was the only one that hated those LED Lights. I can’t stand seeing those on the houses and trees. I told Hubby he was never buying them. Doesn’t look like Christmas to me either. Maybe start drinking early in the day and then in the evening you won’t care while you are gazing at the tree. LOL xoxo
I’m with you about the LED lights and I have the same reaction to CFLs. Luckily, our house has a large pantry where I am stockpiling enough incandescents to last me after the ban goes into effect. I just love the warmth of them and how they turn on immediately.
Those caramels look delicious and the packaging is equally beautiful!
So glad I’m not the only one who thinks the LED lights are awful! I’d rather not have lights than put those on the tree! Love the ornaments in your picture…so classic!
Anna you are too funny! Maybe you can sew a “Christmas tree blanket” to put over the tree to hide the lights! ;)
they are awful…it’s true, simply awful…and it’s too late to do anything about it this year, if your to do list is anything like mine…
have a blessed Christmas Anna,
hugs
Niki
OMG – LOL!
The lights are too funny….we have a pre lit artificial tree which has been problematic this year…2 strings died at the top, I revitalized one by stealing bulbs from a strain at the bottom/back side….added a string of 4 buck white lights – all is well…..the other night we were do xmas with my b in law and while we are sitting there another string bit the dust! Time for a new tree…..now I am worried it will be a blue pre lit led……enjoy the chaos!
I totally agree with your feelings about the lights and thanks for speaking up, I thought maybe it was just me…they do not give me that warm and cozy feeling. You know what you need to do… just sayin. Any gingerbread house decorating going on this year???
P.ess Our solar leds found a good home in the woodshed,where no one but the Mr can see them and they are helpful to see the wood pile in the dark, so we put them to good use..LOL
I like the look of the LED lights outside but never thought of them on a tree. Oh my. I’m sorry you’re not happy with your tree. And the caramels! Please don’t share any more recipes after this one! I have no more time to make more goodies and I LOVE homemade caramels!
Oh Anna, I so agree. I bought a small strand of the LED’s after Christmas last year and I am so glad I didn’t buy more. They did NOT make it onto the treee, nor will they!
I will meet you on the dark side, bought the same crappy lights. My husband keeps reminding me how much money we are saving. Wait til he gets the threapy bill
Beem me up, Scotty!!! LOL!
Bless you, Anna. You say what we all think. I won’t have coloured lights on our tree. I just won’t. I refuse. My children think I’m a cruel mother. They long for hideously bright coloured lights flashing and chasing for all they’re worth. Nope. Won’t do it! It’s white lights, and lump it at our place. Bah humbug!!! x
I know what you mean with the lights! I got a fake pre-lit tree for the first time this year and the reviews said “Oh there are so many lights and it’s so pretty”. Yeah, well, I like lights as much as the next person but this is crazy! It has SO MANY lights!!! One string has already burned out (which is ridiculous!) but I think it looks better! HA
Those caramels look SO good. I’m always a little weary of the whole thermometer thing though.
LOL, thank you for the warning on the LED lights. I would hate to feel like Scotty was going to beam down at any moment! As for the caramels…look good, I love the taste but not sure I have the patience!
I’m a white light on the tree kind of gal but my husband has an opinion! So as a compromise (I think I spelled it incorrectly but you know what I mean) he puts up white lights with colored lights mixed in the bunch. He usually has the colored lights fade in and out but not this year. Ugh he has them fading and then they go all flashy. Yuck! Why of why does he have to have opinions. Now he is sticking in his opinion on our holiday meal…
Happy holidays!
Oh dear!! Our coloured lights have been a bit temperamental, so this year the tree just has plain white lights (very cheap and cheerful set). I’m planning to buy a new set next year, so I must try hard to remember not to get led ones!! Hope you like the sheepies in today’s post!!
Maybe you should let the tree lights take you to it’s leader…maybe they will take you to a planet where quilters rule and there is peace and opportunity to get all those UFOs done! ;0
Peace would be nice for a change. :0
I had to laugh over this, as I hate led lights as well. Every house that’s all lit up with them is just creepy. Thankfully we’re led light free here. Don’t know how long that will last.
Good luck with your week. See you on the other side.
Oh you little temptress! I see you left the link to the recipe, and I think we’re supposed to go and make those sweet n salty treats ourselves… but I couldn’t help myself and just licked your blog. You may need to get some Clorox wipes.
xxoo and Merry Christmas! sw2
PS… I hate LED lights too! I shun them. SHUN THEM!
What, no pictures of the fugly tree?
Ha ha. That made me laugh. I haven’t actually seen them on a tree yet, cause I’m too cheap to buy them. Those CFLs are crap, so I’m wary of LEDs. I wanted to wait until they really were a good deal before buying.
happy & joyous holiday season to you & your fam!
love your wrapping of ms.h’s candies….
oh… btw: please share photos of how beautiful & festive your “holiday home” is!!!
LOL….no, that’s not fair…poor Anna! I’m not a fan of LED lights for Christmas decoration…it just isn’t right! I’m so sorry! Sitting in front of the tree is one of my favorites during the holiday season…
Thanks so much for the recipe…it looks delicious!
Julia
Oh, sorry about the lights – is it too late to find some warmer, glowier ones?
Those caramels look wonderful – thanks so much for the link.
I’m going to have to make some of that caramel. It looks soooo yummy. I have the same kind of tree. It’s like a lighthouse that illuminates the whole house!!! lol.
Hope you have a wonderful holiday with your family. I’m headed to the airport to pick up my 2nd daughter and then we are all headed out to dinner tonight to celebrate my 50th birthday and my oldest daughter’s 27th birthday.
Merry Christmas!
I was bad and did not buy LED lights, now I really do not want to!!! I am however enjoying my salted caramels I made. So I guess you and I are two peas in a pod xoxo Clarice
We don’t have LED lights…and now after reading this don’t think I’ll be in any rush to get them…might have to try the carmel recipe, though!
I absolutely love caramels and your recipe looks delicious. My husband loves the LED lights and I have to say I like the regular white lights much better. I had to laugh at your comments. We bought some really pretty frosted spikey stars that change colors at Target a few years ago ( LED) and I love those. Wishing you and your family a Blessed Christmas!
Pleeese post of picture of your tree…I’m desperate to see what LED lights look like on a tree!
Hope you get some rest before the big day…you sound like you are gearing up for a mammoth week!
Merry Christmas!
We had the LED lights before and no more, totally hated them….My most favorite thing to do is sit and look at the tree all lit up with the house lights off. Hubby and I used to do that especially after “Santa’ came. I would sit and look at all the presents under the lit tree thinking…I sure hope Santa didn’t screw up this year.
anna, you are hilarious. thanks for always brightening my day. warp speed, indeed. i feel it. every little bit of it. happy warping! LOL!!!
As much as I hated getting burned on the old fashioned big lights as a kid I miss them. I’m getting so old that being a kid seems like yesterday.
Can it be? Thimbleanna is participating in the Fugly Christmas Lights game? I love it!
Unfortunately, it’s your own tree you’re making fun of. I’m sorry. LED lights are the devil’s work. Or, perhaps a Martian’s.
Merry Christmas, mama :)
Maybe if you put a paper bag over the tree, the light will be just right! Just have a couple caramels and a Tom and Jerry or two and it’ll all fade a little.
Jody
Oh Anna, I feel your pain. I bought the sale LEDs and then took them back to get the “warm” LEDs, which were not quite as bad but you’re right about them being so close together. They figured it out, you have to buy more strings to go the distance. I ended up using some of the old strings because I refused to go back to the store again. Maybe next year it will hurt less.
Anna – Merry Christmas and thanks for that Carmel recipe. Looks delicious and I think I’m gonna give it a go. It’s been a long time and I just wanted to say hi and wish you a great Christmas and Happy New Year!
Love –
ooh, ahh, your carmels looks yummy! I’ll have to try those. I’m making rum balls this year and a few others.
Have a wonderful Holiday!!
Caramels! I can also taste them. :)
Everything is beautiful. Wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas!
Sorry to hear about your lights, but thanks for all the laughs. Especially when I pictured putting a paper bag over your tree. LOL
Thanks too for sharing the caramel recipe. Those look delicious and I can’t wait to try making them. :)
We will get to see the final competition, won’t we? I’ll be crushed if you say no. ;0
Oh my gosh! Anna, I nearly peed my pants laughing at your hilarious diatribe of your LED lights! I so needed a laugh today. :)