1. Go to Christmas Tree shop. As someone who does not like to pay too much for anything, I felt the $80-100 that the sidewalk tree vendors in my neighborhood wanted was way too much. I researched and found that the most reasonably priced trees in Brooklyn can be found at Home Depot in Gowanus.

2. Pick tree. I had two criteria: it couldn’t be too wide and had to be taller than me. This 7-foot balsam (err, thanks fact checker) fraser fir was dense, symmetric and $35. Score.

3. Secure tree to top of Mini. I thought the tree would be bigger than the car and it would look really funny, but it wasn’t that bad. It also stayed on the whole way home, which was a very good thing.

4. String lights.

5. Add bling.

6. Step back and adjust. I hate seeing wires, and the lights are still a bit uneven.

7. Rest and admire, decide to finish another time. Now, I just feel like laying down in the sofa with some kombucha and a magazine and putting my slipper-clad feet up. The ornaments can wait. Stay tuned…