My Ugly Christmas Sweater

This year, for one of my work Christmas parties, my boss wants to have an Ugly Christmas Sweater contest. I could not find what I wanted in the area I live in, but when I went home for Thanksgiving... I found the one!   With the help of my dad, we found 3 possibilities, then narrowed it down to the one we thought was the ugliest of the three. 

Knowing how creative some of my coworkers are though, I know the ugliness of the sweater alone is not enough.  I need more embellishments!  So, off to another store we headed for bobbles and inspiration. 

I bought some tinsel.

A weird little ornament that sort of resembles a reindeer.

Some unusual bows.

Some odd-looking bells.

And finally a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer headpiece with blinking noses.

When I took all my items up to the cashier, she picked up the weird little reindeer ornament, and asked, "What is this supposed to be a little reindeer or something?"

"I don't know," I replied, "I am trying to win an ugly sweater contest."

"It makes you wonder who would actually buy a bunch of these things (indicating to the ornament).

After seeing and ringing all my items she said, "I think you are going to win."

It was particularly funny because the whole time she was ringing my items, she expressed no enthusiasm  whatsoever. I could not blame her however, the day after Thanksgiving is one of the worst days to work.  I probably sounded just as enthused as she did, but inside I thought the whole conversation and manner was pretty funny.

She wished me luck, and I thanked her.

Then I went to tell my dad what she had said, and we both laughed.

I tried on the sweater when I got home.  I felt like Bridget (played by Renee Zellweger) in Bridget Jones's Diary when she thinks to herself, "Great.  I am wearing... a carpet."  Or maybe more like what Bridget thinks of the outfit Mr. Darcy (played by the ever-so-handsome Colin Firth) is wearing.

I came home, modeled just the sweater vest to my mom and she said, "Oh cute!"  She was totally serious.

"No mom, it's NOT cute, it is supposed to be an ugly Christmas sweater!"

She showed me one of her sweaters of almost equal ugliness that was not Christmas related, and asked, "Is this ugly?"

Looking to side to side, I finally told her the truth..."Yes, it is!  But it is okay, because older ladies tend to wear those things!" (It's true, they tend to do that.)  Luckily, she was okay with that answer.

I later showed her the items I was going to put on it.   I am pretty sure she thinks the sweater will be a good contestant for the Ugly Sweater Contest now.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties are pretty popular these days.  Here is a segment from CBS This Morning I found after collecting all my items:

Even if I don't win this Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest, the process of finding it and making it even more ridiculous has been fun.  Wish me luck!

At this point, I tried on the sweater, and felt a bit like Elton John from the 70s, but I wasn't finished yet.

I also decided I needed pom-poms!

The finished project!

...and the back.