Tag Archives: Christmas tree

Frugal Christmas Tree Ornaments

Christmas tree ornaments can certainly be expensive. A single ordinary ornament can cost on average $5! Many fancier ornaments cost up to $25! At these prices, you may have to chose between decorating your tree and paying your mortgage for the month. There are ways, of course, that you can decorate your Christmas tree without spending a lot of money. Try some of the following ideas. I’ve included generally ornaments and even some that would be great for a theme. Just think, you could have a designer tree without the designer prices. For no-fuss tree decorating, just hit your local … Continue reading →

When Do You Decorate for the Holidays?

This morning, as we were sitting down for a leisurely breakfast, I glanced through the dining room at the picture window in the living room. I beheld a very strange site. There were our fall decorations: a jolly scarecrow, a basket of small pumpkins, a thick wire pumpkin candle holder, a cloth in a soft fall burgundy and more. Just past the decorations, the view outside was incongruous. The scene showed a wintery wonderland of woods. Suddenly, my fall decorations looked out of place. Traditionally, we usually wait until the middle of December to begin the holiday decorating. Maybe, if … Continue reading →

Home Week in Review: December 17 – 23

Soon! Very soon, Christmas will be here and we have lots of Christmas articles this week: Are you following the Christmas countdown? Hopefully, some of these items will be helpful as you prepare for the big day. Eight Days ’til Christmas Seven Days ’til Christmas Six Days til Christmas Five Days ’til Christmas Four Days ’til Christmas Three Days ’til Christmas Two Days ’til Christmas Mary Ann offered some holiday tips on everything from holiday safety to holiday shipping and tips concerning poinsettias, so don’t miss any of these great articles: Christmas Tree Safety Tips (1) Christmas Tree Safety Tips … Continue reading →

Christmas Tree Safety Tips (2)

Are you doing everything you can to avoid a Christmas mishap? Take a quick look through our Christmas Tree safety tips to make sure that you have all of your bases covered. And don’t forget to check out Christmas Tree Safety tips (1), if you missed this earlier article. For this article, let’s focus on Christmas lights, which are one of the biggest causes of house fires and electrical shocks during the holidays. Make sure that you only use indoor lights for indoors and outdoor lights for outdoors. Some people will grab outdoor lights and use them indoors, thinking that … Continue reading →

Christmas Tree Safety Tips (1)

Each year, there are many accidents that involve a Christmas tree. Do you know what you need to do to protect your family and your home? Check out these Christmas Tree safety tips. They will help to make sure that your holiday season isn’t spoiled by a mishap. Can you guess how many fires involve Christmas trees in just one holiday season? There are nearly 400 residential fires that can be traced back to a real Christmas tree, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). Sadly, those fires result in 40 deaths and 100 injuries each year. Dry trees are … Continue reading →

An Eel-Powered Holiday

Worried about rising energy costs and a big electric bill after the holidays? Lighting a tree may not put a huge dent in your wallet but you can do it for free if you have the right equipment — an electric eel. Japanese inventor Kazuhiko Minawa spent a month working on a system that would collect energy from an electric eel. The Aqua Toto Gifu aquarium in Kakamigahara provided the eel and the tree; the eel provides the energy. Thanks to Minawa, it’s an eel powered Christmas for the aquarium. The aquarium is calling it the “e-tree” — E for … Continue reading →

Sugarplums and Gingerbread: Create a Tree Good Enough to Eat

Make it a magical holiday for children of all ages when you create this yummy tree that is as beautiful as it is delicious. Just imagine the awe on the faces of the little ones when they see a tree filled with all sorts of good things to eat, such as gingerbread boys and wrapped chocolate truffles. You can create this tree as your main tree or as an additional smaller supplemental tree. The idea also works well for anyone just starting out in their home, because the “ornaments” can be had easily. If you plan the tree out with … Continue reading →

The Upside-Down Christmas Tree

Upside-down Christmas trees are a hot thing this year. Learn all about them right here, including where they came from and where you can get one today. Last Friday, Black Friday to be exact, our family enjoyed some time out at a local botanical garden to see Christmas shows and holiday lights. We had a great time, and decided to come in from the cold for a bit to enjoy a nice meal in the gourmet cafeteria. As we were finishing up our dinners, and the kids were enjoying some gingerbread, we started talking about one of the Christmas trees … Continue reading →

Christmas Tree Decorating Tips, Part III

Maybe you would like to try something different this year instead of decorating the Christmas tree the way you usually do. Even if decorating together is a tradition, family members can still help with creative decorating ideas. In fact, your loved ones may just come up with some awesome ideas of their own. You can also try some of these ideas: You may decide to use all one color or theme of ornaments. Start with lights and garland that coordinate with the ornaments you would like to use. A monochromatic Christmas tree can be very elegant. On the other hand, … Continue reading →

Christmas Tree Decorating Tips, Part II

Once you have your Christmas lights and garland in place, begin fluffing and arranging the boughs on the Christmas tree. This is especially important if you have an artificial tree, because branches can become bent and look less realistic. Once the tree is appropriately shaped, you can begin adding ornaments. Sort through your ornaments and set aside any that need hooks. It is always a good idea to have extra hooks on hand for ornaments or for use with creative decorations. Check for cracks and scratches on glass or ceramic ornaments. Throw away any that are not in good shape … Continue reading →