A couple of months ago, I announced that I was forming a book club.  Or more specifically, a Wishing Club.  (You can read more about it <strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/10/25/day-364-would-you-like-to-join-my-wishing-club/" target="_blank">here.</a></strong>)

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Many girls at work enthusiastically agreed to read the book, <em>The Wishing Year</em>, as well as form a Wishing Club in which we would share our wishes for 2012.

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My plan was to discuss the book and wishes for 2012 over a Holiday Tea at a lovely and charming Tea House.  Somehow, this "Tea House" evolved into "Michelle's House".

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Let me just say that I am not an entertainer.

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Okay, I take that back.

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Entertainer on the stage?  Yes.

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Entertainer in a blog?  Yes.

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Entertaining people in my humble home?  No.

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When it comes to gatherings, I prefer to be one of the entertained.  I enjoy relaxing at gatherings, not running around like a harried, hot mess.  Silly me.

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Entertaining comes naturally to some people.  My friend, Sarah, for example.  She entertains effortlessly.  She appears to relish hostessing with the mostessing.  And I always delight in being a guest at one of her domestic goddess productions.

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So when my idea of "Tea House" was The Tea House Lobby Court at The Phoenician and the girls' idea of "Tea House" was Chez Michelle, I instantly panicked.  Not only am I a Late Bloomer of an entertainer, I also don't decorate for Christmas.  And shouldn't a Holiday Tea boast a few decorations?

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No, I am not a Scrooge.  I am single.  And putting up (by myself!) an 8 foot artificial tree dating back from my previous life as a smug married does not sound fun to me.

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So I wait until I arrive in H-Town and soak up every square inch of parental unit Christmas decorating.  We're talking a couple of trees, countless candles, a heavenly host of angels, a Nativity scene, a singing and dancing Santa, an award-winning outside light display, and probably a lot more that I am forgetting but will be reminded of in less than 24 hours.

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This strategy has always worked for me.  I always delight in securing a backstage pass to the Parental Unit's Christmas Spectacular!

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Until this year.  When suddenly I found myself directing a Holiday Tea.

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Humbug.

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And then I realized something pivotal:  Even though my 365 Days of Living Curiously project was technically over, shouldn't I still be Carpe Diem-ing regardless?

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Humb...

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Yes.  I suppose so.

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I told myself that I would think myself into the Christmas Spirit!  I envisioned a manageable live tree (a first for me!) with a tasteful motif (another first!) and a few other simple decorations of holiday cheer.  I could almost smell the pine scent.

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I pictured myself floating around my house as Hostess with the Mostess.  I would bake scones from scratch!  I would serve them with Devonshire cream and strawberry preserves!  I would offer a wide variety of teas!  I would ask all book club/Wishing Club members to bring a dish!  (I may be a dreamer, but I'm also a realist.  It was going to take a village to host a Holiday Tea at a non-entertainer's home.)

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<strong>Act One:  The Decorating</strong>

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As I mentioned, I've never put up a live tree at Christmas, although I've always dreamed of "someday".  Live trees somehow seem more "Christmasy" to me.  And this was the year of turning "someday" into "today".

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[caption id="attachment_8503" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Thank you, Katie Ann, for holding my hand during My First Live Tree Expedition."]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8503" rel="attachment wp-att-8503"><img class="size-medium wp-image-8503 " title="photo" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/photo-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>[/caption]

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I had never strung lights before.  I kid you not.  That job was always performed by either Dad or a significant other.  This year, it was tackled by   yours truly.

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I found a strand of 150 white lights in the closet.  They looked like something from one of my Christmases Past.  I found a date on a tag:  1995.  Yep.  Waaayyyyy past.  But Christmas is a season of miracles, and those puppies lit up like...well...a Christmas Tree!

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<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8504" rel="attachment wp-att-8504"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-8504" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PC060005-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>

<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8505" rel="attachment wp-att-8505"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-8505" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PC060003-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>

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