CHRISTMAS DECORATION IDEAS: I enjoy the lights, tree, ornaments, wreaths, etc.!*
Vol. 2, No. 27, November 27, 2011
TITLE: “CHRISTMAS DECORATION IDEAS: I enjoy the lights, tree, ornaments, wreaths, etc.!*”
INTRODUCTION
Christmas is coming …Christmas is coming! It’s that time of the year again … the season that everybody looks forward to.
This week, I will talk about Christmas decorations, the interior and exterior kind. This is another in the series about holidays and special dates. In today’s edition, I plan to discuss wreaths, lights, inflatables, etc. My book of the week is “Let There Be Lights!: A Beginner’s Guide to Outdoor Christmas Decorating” [Paperback] by Christopher M. Donnells (Author) My bonus book is “Decorating with Evergreens” [Hardcover] by Robert Waite (Author). Are you getting into the spirit?
PREVIEW: Attention Christmas Shoppers. Antoinette is in the building. Oh by the way, did you hear about that woman in the N.Y. department store who used mace on other shoppers competing with her for bargains. Can you believe that? I am now out and about in the stores. For next week, I will talk about shopping, no window lookers allowed here! This is another in the series about holidays and special dates.
MY LIFE & TIMES*
In my family, Christmas decorations are very important. It contributes to the magic of the season.
As a child, Chritsmas was a VERY big deal. My grandparents’ house was quite a sight. Oustide, I remember vividly that it was hugely decorated. Dangling from the railings, there were lines and lines of multi colour lights. There were white snowflakes and many stars. It could be seen from a distance and it looked a bit gaudy. It was nearly as much as the house in the Christmas vacation movie. My grandfather took great pleasure and pride with the lights. Inside, it was both festive and religious. There was a stable house with figurines. The Christmas tree was always a fresh one covered with glitz and ornaments. Colourful streamers were hung everywhere.
While less decorated, my parents’ house was also great. Here too, I remember the smell of a fresh Christmas tree. There is nothing like it. Later when the artificial trees became popular, my mother bought one and then used it afterwards. It was nice, but where was the real tree smell?
In my home, we always decorated for Christmas. For a while, I bought a fresh tree, but it was too much work. When it was time to take it down, the mess that it made was tremendous. I then went artificial. The tree ornaments, which I bought or received as gifts throughout the years, are precious to me. Most are memorable. One of my best items is a little house.When lit up with white lights on my hall table, it’s sweet and special.
This year, I plan to put some effort in the exterior decoration. My neighbors on either side have done such a wonderful job with their Christmas lights and stuff, it has given me the initiative to do more than usual. I bought two little green trees. My mother gave me strands of white lights. I connected it all up. It looks great. I am in the spirit. This coming weekend, I will put up the tree in my living room!
THE AUTHOR:Christopher M. Donnells (Author)
Christopher Donnells has the Christmas spirit and lives in Milford, Connecticut, with his wife, Ann. His pets Peanut and Gorbachev are part of the family. He has made Christmas lights a specialty He is a Christmas light guru. If they gave an Oscar for Christmas lights, Donnells would be a a multi-year winner. His house is extraordinary. It has its own web site. Don’t believe me?…visit www.thathouseinmilford.com.
He does stuff with lights that you only dream about. He wrote a book. It is so appropriate for this blog post.
SERIES/COLLECTION
THE BOOK: Let There Be Lights!: A Beginner’s Guide to Outdoor Christmas Decorating [Paperback] by Christopher M. Donnells (Author)
I’m thinking about Christmas and this book hit the spot. This is a HOW-TO for Christmas lighting. Pictures are not its strength. Instead, it is the information, easy to follow, starting from the basics to elaborate Christmas displays of hundreds and hundreds of lights. It explains the ways to: (a) Save money; (b) Use techniques and tools; (c) Fix lights; (d) Make homemade decor items; (e) Store holiday decorations; etc. If a lighting director wannabee and you want to light up the sky and the holidays, check it out.
BONUS AUTHOR
Robert Waite has the Christmas spirit and is the owner of Designer Associates, a floral shop in Kaysville, Utah. Evergreens is his specialty. He has 30 years experience. If they gave an Oscar for floral arangements with evergreens at Christmas, Waite would be a a multi-year winner.
BONUS BOOK:Decorating with Evergreens [Hardcover] by Robert Waite (Author)
I’m thinking about Christmas and this book also hit the spot In contrast to the first book, this one is full of photos illustrating designs and techniques. It focues on holidays, fall and better. The artistic materials of choice are fresh flowers, fruit, and live greenery. He explains the national heritage background of evergreens. As a canvas, he uses wreaths, swags, garlands, centerpieces, Christmas trees, and more. He deals in color and texture truly. Good ideas and practical advice live here. Get this book and feed your creative side.
CONCLUSION
Christmas decorations follow traditions and set warm tones, creating the atmosphere for a pleasant Christmas. It captures the spirit of this wonderful time.
Personal Comments
Tastefully decorating your home brings warmth and a whole new flavor to the Christmas season. Although I appreciate tasteful decoration for the exterior, I don’t go out of my way to do it.
By the beginning of December all my decorations and Christmas tree goes up. It creates a holiday spirit and the excitement leading up to Christmas Day. I enjoy the decorations until New Year’s Day and then everything goes down.
Putting up a Christmas tree adds a warm, pleasant effect. Decorating a tree with ornaments from years past continues traditions and adds to the enjoyment from generation to generation.
The Point
Christmas is fast approaching. If Christmas decoration dreaming, I suggest that you get to it asap.
ANTOINETTE’S TIP SHEET*
Decorating the exterior of your house
1. Make lights a key part of your outside decoration; more,
1.1 Put it on the railings and around doors and windows;
1.2 Strive to create an overall theme;
1.3 Think about using a cluster of lights to illuminate Christmas characters or items;
2, Use inflatables as they are very decorative and easy to store; however, there is a down side – a strong wind could blow them away. (It happened to my neighbour.)
3. Try illuminated stands – they are an easy way to decorate and they look great;
4. Put a wreath on your outside front door – evergreen is always a great choice!
Decorating the interior of your house
1. Start with a Christmas tree either fresh or artificial- it’s your choice;
2. Make it a tradition to decorate the Christmas tree with loved ones (your better half and kids);
3. Use ornaments that were bought or received over the years – usew the ones that have sentimental meaning or have become a tradition;
4. Include color with streamers (along railings or doors, etc.);
5. Put up a mistletoe over a door – this gives a romantic spin to the holiday;
Christmas is evergreen, don’t you agree?
Lights will make your Christmas shine, don’t you think?
I want your Christmas this year to be the best ever for you, don’t you?
And that’s my thought of the week on books, what’s yours?*
Take it out for a spin and tell me if you agree.
ALP
“Books are life; and they make life better!*”
P.S. Big News: There are big changes coming to my blog – Please stay tuned.
P.P.S. #1 I have a TWITTER page. Consider becoming a follower? Visit
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www.linkedin.com – Antoinette La Posta
*TM/© 2011 Practitioners’ Press Inc. – All Rights Reserved.
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ANNEX I: NEED SOMETHING FURTHER? TRY AN ANECDOTE OR A QUOTE:
S & R* CHOICE ANECDOTAGE #1:Door to Door Salesman
While preparing for his bar mitzvah at the local Conservative synagogue, Michael Bloomberg went door to door to raise money for his summers at Boy Scout camp. What was he selling? Christmas wreaths!
(Source: Anecdotage) – http://www.anecdotage.com/index.php?aid=11879
S & R* CHOICE ANECDOTAGE #2:Young Seth Green
“My friend Breckin Meyer and I were really bad kids,” Seth Green once recalled. “We drove past this tire store that had a 40-foot inflatable King Kong on the roof and said, ‘We gotta take him down.’ So one night we scaled the Blockbuster under construction next door, walked across to the roof on some planks, and sent Kong into the middle of the street. And once we had a taste for it, we refined our skills, put together a crack team, and started doing it all around the city. If anybody put up inflatables — a big pumpkin,
a snowman — it was coming down. Because nothing’s funnier than a giant snowman bouncing down Ventura Boulevard at 3 a.m.”
(Source: Anecdotage) – http://www.anecdotage.com/index.php?aid=6043)
S & R* CHOICE ANECDOTAGE #3: For Pete’s Sake
One Christmas in the early 1980s, KISS drummer Peter Criss got drunk and fired a pistol at the Christmas tree. Why the tree? His wife, it seems, had refused to let him be the one who put the star on top.
(Source: Anecdotage) – http://www.anecdotage.com/index.php?aid=4583)
S & R* QUOTE #1: Duane Elgin
Compassion will no longer be seen as a spiritual luxury for a contemplative few; rather it will be viewed as a social necessity for the entire human family.
(Source: Wisdom) – http://www.wisdomquotes.com/)
S & R* QUOTE #2: Barry Neil Kaufman
Gratitude is one of the sweet shortcuts to finding peace of mind and happiness inside. No matter what is going on outside of us, there’s always something we could be grateful for.
(Source: Wisdom) – http://www.wisdomquotes.com/)
S & R* QUOTE #3: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Spirituality is allowing compassion and love to flourish. When belongness begins, corruption ends.
(Source: Wisdom) – http://www.wisdomquotes.com/)
ANNEX II
SCHEDULE I
“IT WORDS FOR ME!*”
“For today, my word/phrase(s) are: “wreath”; “Christmas decorations”; “inflatable”
Wreath
A wreath is an assortment of flowers, leaves, fruits, twigs and/or various materials that is constructed to resemble a ring. They are used typically as Christmas decorations to symbolize the coming of Christ, also known as the Advent season in Christianity.
(Source: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
Christmas decoration
Christmas decoration is any of several types of decorations used at Christmastime. The traditional colours of Christmas are pine green (evergreen), snow white, and heart red. Blue and white are often used to represent winter, or sometimes Hanukkah, which occurs around the same time. Gold and silver are also very common, as are just about any other metallic colour. Typical icons of the holiday include Baby Jesus, Santa Claus, and the star of Bethlehem. Typical winter icons include snowflakes, snowmen, icicles, and even penguins and polar bear.
(Source: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_decoration
Inflatable
An inflatable[1] is an object that can be inflated with a gas, usually with air, but hydrogen, helium and nitrogen are also used. One of several advantages of an inflatable is that it can be stored in a small space when not inflated, since inflatables depend on the presence of a gas to maintain their size and shape.
(Source: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflatable
SCHEDULE II
STUDY/STATISTICS:
The Christmas tree is often explained as a Christianization of pagan tradition and ritual surrounding the winter solstice, which included the use of evergreen boughs, and an adaptation of pagan tree worship. Since the 19th century, the poinsettia, a native plant from Mexico, has been associated with Christmas. Other popular holiday plants include holly, mistletoe, red amaryllis, and Christmas cactus. Along with a Christmas tree, the interior of a home may be decorated with these plants, along with garlands and evergreen foliage.
Wreaths are made from real or artificial conifer branches, or sometimes other broadleaf evergreens like magnolia (especially in the American South) or holly. In North and South America, Australia, and Europe, it is traditional to decorate the outside of houses with lights and sometimes with illuminated sleighs, snowmen, and other Christmas figures. In the Western world, rolls of brightly-colored paper with secular or religious Christmas/winter/Hanukkah motifs are manufactured for the purpose of giftwrapping presents. The display of Christmas villages has also become a tradition in many homes during this season. Christmas decorations are typically put up in early December. In the UK, Christmas lights on the high street are generally switched on in November.[7] In the U.S., the traditional start of Christmas time is Thanksgiving, but now begins on (or even before) November 1, the day after Halloween. Major retailers put their seasonal decorations out for sale after back to school sales, while smaller niche Christmas Stores sell Christmas decorations year round.
(Source: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_decoration)
SCHEDULE III
S & R* NEWS ALERT* #1: Deck the halls with crafty holiday decor
Fun, easy projects are a great way to spend quality time with family before holiday celebrations ensue and also make fantastic, thoughtful gifts for family and friends. The holiday décor team at Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse recommends the following DIY projects this year:
Fundamental Ornaments
Jazz up simple shatter-proof ornaments by using interior paint in a gloss or semi-gloss finish with fun holiday colours. First, paint with a primer and allow ample drying time. Paint stars, monogram your friend’s names or spatter the paint in wild colours to make a style statement. Wrap painter’s tape or place round self-stick felt pads around the ornament and paint over them for fun stripes and funky polka dots, and remove after paint has thoroughly dried for at least 24 hours.
Spectacular Wreaths
Turn a tired wreath into a show-stopper with a little TLC. Use an artificial wreath from seasons past, with no attached lighting and spray it with one coat of white paint. After it’s dry, spray it again with one to two coats of orange-peel ceiling texture paint for a flocked look. Add painted pinecones, ribbons and bows for a modern take on a traditional look. For a more vibrant décor option, use a wreath with battery-powered lights and attach brightly painted ornaments you just created with 22-gauge wire. Wrap the wire around the wreath’s metal frame to secure the ornaments and voilá you have a fabulous decoration guests will ooh and ahh over.
Wrapping Wonders
Give mirrors a holiday makeover by wrapping them with Christmas ribbon. Measure the size of your mirror and cut two pieces of ribbon, per mirror, about four inches larger on all sides. Place the ribbon diagonally over the corners and tape it down. Tie a large bow and place in the corner similar to all the presents under the tree.
www.newscanada.com
S & R* NEWS ALERT* #2: Outdoor décor essentials for creating a winter wonderland
While holiday decorating often begins with the Christmas tree, it doesn’t have to end there. As the importance of outdoor living space has increased, so too has the variety of holiday décor options.
Lights
Outdoor lights will help make your home the most festive house on the block.Insider Tip: A good rule of thumb is 100 lights for every foot and a half of tree or shrub you want to cover. Of course, if you love lights, add more. After you know how many lights you need, your biggest decision is the type of bulbs to use: LED lights are the newer option for outdoor decorating. They give off brilliant white light and remain cool to the touch, even after hours of use. Thanks to unbreakable plastic bulb covers in various shapes and colours, you’re sure to find a light that suits your style and needs. LEDs are up to 80 percent more energy efficient and last thousands of hours longer than comparable incandescent bulbs, saving you money.Specialty lights are good for decorating certain areas of the house: Shooting icicle lights or snowflake lights give the front of the house a magical look. Stand-alone shapes such as Lowe’s LED gumdrop tree and other mini trees, in addition to holiday-themed signs and figures, can be great additions to open spots in garden beds, lawns and porches.
Yard Art
For those wanting more than traditional lights, the options are endless. Let your personality shine through with the many inflatable and animated characters such as, the tinsel dog or velvet gecko available at Lowe’s. For a more sophisticated look, try tree or snowflake pathway markers that help illuminate walkways and create a welcoming ambience.Insider Tip: The more multifunctional, the better. Go for larger sizes, lights, sounds, movement. The intent of inflatables is to provide grand entertainment.
Natural Beauty
Live potted evergreen trees flanking the front entrance are inviting and a great way to add a different look to the exterior of your home. Tie the look together with a live wreath adorning the front door and draping the railing with fresh greenery. Add personal touches to the greenery by incorporating pinecones, berries, ribbon or burlap. Insider Tip: Natural and rustic decorating themes are popular, creating a holiday garden feel. Natural elements add earthy elegance: think natural greenery from rosemary or Norfolk pine, with a pop of colour by red poinsettia plants and amaryllis flowers.
www.newscanada.com
TM/© 2011 Practitioners’ Press Inc. – All Rights Reserved