Tag Archives: Christmas decorations

Decorating the Christmas Tree

We finally got our Christmas tree on Thursday. Because it’s a real tree and summer here in Australia we can’t afford to buy the tree too early. A week is about right. Given the cost of them this year, possibly because of the drought that covers 80 percent of Australia, it’s a smaller tree than usual. Couldn’t justify the extra expense to get a bigger one. Anyway, it’s still got that Christmas tree smell. Putting the Christmas tree up turned into a funny exercise with Mick a screwing the screw into the stand while I held the tree firmly. Meanwhile, … Continue reading →

Playfulness in Marriage

How much is playfulness part of your marriage? Marriage can become ho hum unless we invest time and creativity and effort into it. One way of keeping your marriage fresh is maintaining playfulness. Recently on an interview Andrew Denton did with Alan Alda one of the things Alda he loves about his wife is her playfulness. That showed it the photo he had of her which was a treasured keepsake. On Saturday Mick and I put up our Christmas decorations, well all except for the tree which hasn’t been bought yet. But when we went to out the lights and … Continue reading →

Decorating for Christmas

Now I don’t know about you, but I’m appalled at some of the Christmas displays on homes. Where is a written that Christmas light displays or Christmas decorations have to be tacky? Am I the only person out there who doesn’t think that more is not always the best way to go? It often seems that when it comes to Christmas anything goes. There are Santas and elves, reindeer and snowmen and well you get the idea. Of source in a country like Australia where we have recently embarked in summer and where temperatures are hot, not cold, snowmen and … Continue reading →

How to Make Simple Christmas Topiaries

The economy is in the dumpster and you’re pinching pennies, but you still want to create a festive atmosphere in your home this holiday season. So how do you make that happen? Get creative with affordable materials that can be transformed into expensive-looking decorations. In the days following Thanksgiving my supermarket drastically reduced the price of fresh cranberries. I took advantage of the discount and stocked up on the festive fruit. However, instead of including all of them in holiday recipes I decided to use some for Christmas crafts. My first project is this Cranberry Christmas Topiary. The directions are … Continue reading →

Check Christmas Decorations before packing away

If you haven’t yet taken down and packed away all your Christmas decorations for another year, now is a good time to check them all out. First, carefully examine glass or ceramic items for cracks or chips. Make repairs if possible or dispose of the potentially dangerous item. Also, check out lighted elements and strings of lights. If there are any exposed wires, if you had any trouble with the lights during the holidays, if any cords or plugs are damaged, it’s wise to replace them. They don’t cost that much, and the few dollars to replace them is well … Continue reading →

A few Country Christmas Ideas

Do you like country decorating? It’s something people tend to love or hate. However, even those who don’t care for it when it comes to everyday décor may find that Country Christmas decorating adds a cozy feel and a sense of charm. The key to country Christmas decorating, is keeping basic country décor guidelines in mind. That means it’s simple, comfortable, casual, warm, and there is nothing strict or stringent about it. You can use handmade decorations, rustic items, natural elements, antiques, and even the oldest of your ornaments and other holiday decorations. Don’t call them hand-me-downs, think of them … Continue reading →

Deck the Halls (2006)

The perfect Christmas movie uplifts and inspires, sometimes makes us laugh, often makes us cry, and always gives us the warm, fuzzy feeling of Christmas. “Deck the Halls” did absolutely none of those things for me. Matthew Broderick plays Steve Finch, the town eye doctor and also the chairman of the Christmas Festival. The town has been getting ready for the holidays and so has Steve, with his obsessive-compulsive need to organize everything down to the last speck. His wife (Kristin Davis) tries to help him see that they don’t need to be so uptight about the schedule, but he’s … Continue reading →

Simple Christmas Card Decorations

If you have not been saving Christmas cards, now is as good a time as any to start. You can also look for inexpensive boxed sets at dollar stores. I picked some up recently at two boxes for $1.00 (these are likely last year’s designs put on sale to make room for new ones, but they work). For a mantel or a shelf, you can arrange bare branches or (real or artificial) pine boughs along the length. Drape with tiny white lights. Then, tuck in Christmas cards as you receive them or use some you already have. It makes a … Continue reading →

Easy Christmas Decorations for Kid’s Rooms

Here are some simple ideas you can use or expand upon to decorate your children’s rooms for the holidays: Christmas Trees Most kid’s rooms don’t allow for a full size Christmas tree, but miniature ones work great. Add a little bit of shredded white tissue paper beneath it to look like snow. Place on a mirrored tray and add tiny lights for extra sparkle. Makes a great holiday replacement for a night light. Teddy Treasures Use your children’s stuffed animals, such as Teddy Bears or other favorites, to create cute displays. Sit a large Teddy Bear on top of a … Continue reading →

Holiday Light Displays Minus the Evergreens

Not every city in the nation hosts a traditional Christmas tree lighting ceremony. In fact, some cities don’t light real evergreens at all. In place of multi-story Tannenbaums some city leaders have opted to string thousands of twinkling lights together to look like a forest of Christmas trees. While others simply use technology and a ton of wattage to add major sparkle to cold, black winter nights. If you live in the following cities consider taking a trip to view some of these unique holiday light displays: HOUSTON, TEXAS Once you’ve stuffed yourself with turkey and pumpkin pie you can … Continue reading →