How do you light it up?

[irvinehomeowner]

Even before we had kids... I put up lights. It just doesn't feel like the holidays if there isn't some electricity sucking, half-lit, crooked hanging set of bulbs (now LEDs) on your home.

It's funny how the trends in lighting went. It use to be those huge multi-color bulbs, than everyone started going to the smaller ones, then just the white lights, then the icicle style lights and now back to the big multi-color big bulb style.

We have a mix, the icicle lights (going on like 7 years now) and the smaller multi-color ones. I tried the LEDs last year but they aren't as bright. I'm actually surprised the icicle lights have lasted so long, I think I've only changed 1 or 2 bulbs in those 7 years, one because I crushed a bulb with the ladder.

I only put them on the 1st floor, my dad is hardcore and he always puts them even on the second floor but I think a couple of years ago he almost slipped on a roof tile so he doesn't do that anymore. And he is option 6, he doesn't take them down (it's weird that his HOA hasn't said anything).

In the last 3 years, I added one of those blow-up lighted snowmen (after Christmas sale at Target) and some mini lighted trees. I want to do those lighted wire deers but I wouldn't have a place to store them since I don't have a 3CWG anymore.

Unlike most everyone else in Irvine... I don't get them up until a week or two after Thanksgiving... I would have put them up yesterday... but the rain had other plans.

 

[cubiczirconia]

I put only around the door. Mostly because I lack the skills to do a whole house thing, and having someone do is expensive.
I would love to have the whole house done in white lights, and have a Santa count down at the door.. those real tree ornaments would be nice too, if HOA allowed.

 

[irvinerealtor]

With Chris Martin, of course.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1rYmzQ8C9Q[/youtube]

-IrvineRealtor

 

[socal78]

There's a piece in the OC Register about an Irvine woman decorating her home to the hilt. Fourteen trees, 44 moving characters, etc. The pics are pretty fabulous. Every room is decked out. For some reason, it says "The outside provides no clue about what waits inside her Irvine home."
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/-280702--.html

 

[rickr]

How do I light it up?

Hmmmm, let me think about it.

I've got this great huge glass bong that I use sometimes. When I'm out and about and want to be discrete I just roll it in a joint but most of the time when at home it's my good old pipe I bought from the head shop a few months back.

 

[irvinehomeowner]

Well it looks like Irvine can bring it:
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/lights-281955-displays-holiday.html

An Irvine home won the judges pick:

The Irvine home of Tony Gannon was picked by judges as another winner not only because of the vast quantity of lights, but the quality of the workmanship.

It took Tony three months to decorate his home for the holidays, using about 70,000 lights. Most of the items used in his display were salvaged from construction sites (he's a construction worker) and cleaned-up and fabricated by Tony and his sons.

But the next part is so Irvine (emphasis mine):

The home sits at the end of a cul-de-sac and because of overwhelming visits from admirers (and to keep his neighbors sane), Tony has asked us not to print his address. Because of homeowners-association rules, Tony must take down the display today.

BTW: This Santa Ana home won the online votes contest: