Holiday Decorating Made Easy: Your Guide to a Beautiful and Festive Season

 

Photo source: Real Simple

"Perhaps one of the best parts of the holidays (other than all the tasty treats, of course!) is the beautiful decor. It’s the one time of year people really get to deck out their homes with all the twinkly lights, tinsel, and jingle bells galore. And while it looks fun and festive, the process of getting there can feel a little daunting for some of us. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be! With some smart planning and a few nifty hacks, your home will be a merry and bright sight to behold—without all the fuss."  Comment from Real Simple

It all looks so easy and it can be with those nifty hacks from Real Simple.  Check it out!

Click here to go to the Real Simple article.

Christmas Tree Decoration Ideas For A Dazzling Holiday

 

Photo Source:  Southern Living

"Whether you're celebrating the holidays on the coast, in a cabin, or right at home, let the decorations around the room and outside the window inspire you to create a picture-perfect, unique Christmas tree display. Read on for our best Christmas tree décor ideas that will revamp your tree this holiday season."  Comment from Southern Living

This article provides lots of Christmas decor inspiration.  You'd be surprised how the smallest thing can bring a wealth of inspiration.

Click here to go to the Southern Living article.

Why My Favorite Christmas Ornament Will Only Get Better With Age

 

Photo source:  Southern Living

This article from Southern Living brought back so many memories of my first Christmas with JR.  Christmas was so important to both of us and the Christmas tree and ornaments equally important.  We bought so many ornaments for the whole tree and one ornament was not the most favorite, they all were.

These memories are happy and sad since the storage shed that held all the Christmas stuff was smashed by a huge tree a week after JR passed away.  Everything gone.  This is the first time I have thought about the first Christmas decorations for 20+ years.  

One of the ornaments I remember had the year and said "our first Christmas" . . . another was Santa riding a red bike which started the theme of ornaments depicting toys featuring Santa or other Christmas characters.  So maybe those two ornaments were the favorites since I remember them distinctively.

Through the years, every Christmas we would go crazy buying more and more Christmas stuff.  When we bought our house, then it included outdoor stuff.  I don't know where our old Christmas photos are, but when I find them, I will post them to this page.

Using a famous quote, "thanks for the memories" Southern Living.  It brought a really big smile on my face and touched my heart to think of happy memories with JR.  We had a special, happy marriage and after all this time, getting married a second time and all, I still miss him so much and think of him every day.  Now I have two husbands I think of every day.

Click here to go to the Southern Living article and see if it brings up happy and touching memories for you too.  

Holiday Decorations I Always Buy Secondhand

 

Photo source:  Martha Stewart

If you are not a thrift shopper, you may be lost when you go shopping in a secondhand shop.  No problem, take the advise of a professional thrift shopper and shop for your Christmas decorations like a pro.

Thrift shopping has always been one of my favorite things to do.  There is nothing like the feeling you get when you find a super bargain.

Click here to go to the article from Martha Stewart.com.

Real Touch Evergreens are the Upgrade You Didn’t Know Your Christmas Décor Needed

 

Photo source: Holiday Magic Hub

"They look so good, all decked out with Christmas lights and candles tucked in among them. I found one garland that even had real pinecones in it, making it look even more realistic." - Comment from Holiday Magic Hub

Whether they are real or fake, they are so festive and beautiful.  Great Christmas decor idea!

Click here to go to the article page.  You must check out the website if you love Christmas!

Is It OK to Leave Your Christmas Tree Lights on All Night?

 

Photo Source: Real Simple

"The soft glow of holiday twinklies delivers some of the coziest vibes imaginable. It’s tempting to just go to bed without flipping off the switch on your Christmas tree or strands of garland, and sometimes you may even accidentally forget to do so. But is it safe to leave indoor holiday lights on overnight, or is it considered a fire hazard? We went to safety experts for the final word." comment about the article from Real Simple.

It sure is pretty!  Good question I always used to wonder about when I put up a Christmas tree and sometimes I left them on and sometimes not.  It just depended on my mood!

Click here to find out what the experts have to say.

Unique Christmas Tree Ideas for Every Decorating Style

 

Photo source: Real Simple

"Christmas tree decorating is more than just knowing how to put lights on and digging into the assortment of decorations from years past. Your Christmas tree decorations help set a tone and give you holiday decorating ideas for the rest of your space." - comment about article from Real Simple.

This article will surely give you Christmas inspiration, even if a little bizarre.  But everyone has their individual creative inspirations and even the most bizarre will give you some type of inspiration.  Maybe like . . . don't do it!!  Anyway, lots of inspiration for your consideration, just add your creativity to make it yours.

Click here to go to the article and be inspired.

The Secret to a Stunning Christmas Tree, According to a Macy’s Designer

 

Photo source:  Real Simple

"Whether you're hosting guests for the holidays or just trying to perfect the art of Christmas tree decorating for your own holiday cheer—we have some tips to help guide the way" . . . description of the article from Real Simple. 

This article has more than just a few guidelines.  It has a wealth of information and inspiration to help you create your own stunning Christmas tree in your style.

Click here to go to the article.

Alternative Christmas Tree Ideas

 

Great idea, especially if your budget does not include a Christmas tree and all the decorations that go with it.  When I moved into my first apartment, I was young and on a strict budget.  The alternative Christmas tree thing is what I did for a few years.  It can be very festive, very inexpensive and so cute.

The article comes from Good Housekeeping and some ideas are cute, but it is a good starting point to inspire you to put your own spin on it.

Click here to go to the article.

He may be gone, but I will still acknowledge and honor him.

Christmas Tree Themes That'll Inspire You

 

Photo source:  House Beautful

"If you're in need of a little inspiration, we've curated a list of 30 Christmas tree theme ideas that are all so delightful, you'll be set for the next few years" from House Beautiful.

Click here to go to the article.  Some great ideas, some not so great, but a great article to be inspired.

Should You Bring A Gift To A Family Member Who’s Hosting The Holiday Meal?

 

Photo source: Southern Living

Regardless of what anyone else would suggest, I would always have a good supply of little food gifts on hand and take with me to any gathering.  The host or hostess, no matter what the relationship, would always appreciate something they could add to their appetizer or dessert table.  

Speaking of those little food gifts . . . I have and will be listing many items you can make at the beginning of the season to have on hand for gift giving of all kinds.  Whether someone comes to visit you and brings a gift or if you visit someone or you are invited to a holiday gathering.  Always have little gifts on hand for all these type of occasions.  Check out my food blog, Gina's Italian Kitchen.

Southern Living's article is about the question of whether you should bring a gift for a family member who is hosting the holiday meal.  The question should be for anyone in a number of situations.

Click here to go to the article.

Junk Christmas Tree

What an awesome idea!

Everything on this tree came from Lindsay's junk drawer.  

Check out her tutorial . . . you will be amazed at 

what it looked like before she spray painted it.  

I'd love to make one with just mismatched and broken jewelry.

Ruffled Christmas Tree

One of the most treasured items in my Christmas

collection is a festively colored fabric Christmas

tree with matching place mats and napkins that

my mom made many years ago.

The featured fabric Christmas tree is very much

different than the one in my collection, but could

also serve as a table centerpiece . . . make

some coordinating place mats and napkins to

complete the tablescape.  It looks like a

quick and easy project too!

I found this tutorial at an awesome website that

is new to me . . . love web discoveries!  It will

be listed on my favorite blogs page . . . 

Click here for the tutorial

Christmas Shopping . . . are we done yet?

Christmas shopping . . . hmmm . . . with rough economic times hitting everyone at the worst possible time of the year . . . year after year already . . . I have wondered and have written about what society in general are doing about  gift giving.

I survived on running an online store until a couple of years ago when the economy tanked and my business went with it.  Seems like from one day to the next it just went away . . . people quit buying.

While I realize that some are struggling, others are gainfully employed and doing well.  However . . . I wonder if they are freely spending, using their credit cards or not incurring more debt and buying gifts with actual money and living within their means.

My friends and family understand the financial rough times experienced since I became a widow . . . and give gifts that I have made.

So . . . in my case . . . I have not started, but all it will take is a trip to the grocery store to buy the stuff I need to make baked goodies.

This year is gonna be about spending quality time with friends and family . . . something I have missed out on for many years . . . my gift to myself!

How is your Christmas shopping going this year?
Are you done yet?

Random Tuesday Thoughts

The Captain has been on a treasure hunt through the storage shed which has been untouched since I became a widow . . . eight years ago.  After eight years, I have forgotten what had already been packed away for years.  
In addition to the many different types of collections my husband and I collected, we also had a flea market business and a retail boutique . . . and the remaining inventory has been sitting in the storage shed all these years.  The Captain and I have kicked around the idea of starting a flea market business.  For sure it was a fun business that he and I would enjoy doing together . . . without the expense of buying inventory to sell.  The downside is giving up our weekends.
The treasure hunt began when we decided it was time to put up the Christmas tree.  He has been dragging boxes out for days!  You guessed it . . . I have a huge collection of Christmas decorations.  
Imagine his excitement when I told him about the two train sets with all the elaborate bridges, railroad crossings . . . and a locomotive that puts out actual steam.  His eyes hit up like a kid on Christmas morning as I described it.  Poor guy . . . he still hasn't found it . . . but God works in mysterious ways.  I have a feeling once he finds those trains that were usually set up underneath the Christmas tree, the treasure hunt will come to a screeching halt.
So, the fake Christmas tree, lights and ornaments are now lined up in the back room, ready for us to tear into.  It has been eight years that I have totally ignored Christmas.  In fact, the sound of a Christmas song made me cringe . . . Christmas commercials made me want to scream.  The Captain has changed all of that for me.  Although I am apprehensive of the emotions those little treasures will conjure up, my excitement has been building since Thanksgiving and I am ready to face the memories of Christmas past.  At least they are happy memories!
So goes my Random Tuesday Thoughts . . . click on the button and head over to Unmom's blog to read random thoughts from other bloggers . . . join in and add your own!  It's a very cool blog hop.
Have an awesome Tuesday . . . happy blog hopping :-)

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