Ohhhh I love shopping this time of the year, don't you? Okay, so every store is packed but it's still so nice to be out - especially in the larger cities where the store windows are decorated so fancifully and the whimsical store decor can't help by infect you with a happy virus plus, most people are in a good mood. Of course, by mid December I'm completely over it and begging, "Make it go awayyyy!" (LOL) but for now, I'm enjoying the sights and sounds and the mulled spice wine!

One thing I see EVERYWHERE are shiny things on strings - ornaments! Especially here in the Christmas markets that just popped up all over my city. Yet, with the exception of the Santa and Reindeer variety, I don't see most ornaments as being so Christmas-y these days despite the fact that they show up mostly during this time of the year. I see ornaments as great decor any time of the year, in fact I like hanging them from the handles on my windows, from a nail to mix in with art on a salon style wall or to hang from a cabinet lock. I love going to Anthropologie after Christmas to take advantage of their ornament sales because they're usually 50% off or more.

Of course, most associate ornaments with Christmas for good reason and if done with a measure of good taste (not overloading a tree so much that it bends like my dear grandmother once did, ha ha!), they can be a real thing of beauty if you choose to celebrate. I came across some ornaments today in my inbox that I thought I'd share, these DIY geometric paper ornaments are gorgeous - you can go with the bold brights or the softer pastels or do what I would do - mix them up! I can see these as being fun for Spring, especially the pastel tones.

These beauties are from Field Guide Design. So pretty, right? I love geometric shapes, especially mixing pastels with black and some brights - fun!

(images: field guide design)