Tag Archives: Christmas tree

Christmas Tree-less In Seattle

If your holiday travels take you through the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport you may notice something missing—holiday decorations. Did the Grinch descend upon the Evergreen State and steal its holiday décor? Not quite. It’s more like Captain P.C. (as in politically correct). Here’s the real story: According to local newspapers, airport staff stripped the building of all holiday decorations, including nine large Christmas trees, rather than add a giant Jewish menorah to the holiday display as a rabbi had requested. Maintenance workers boxed up the trees during the graveyard shift early Saturday, when airport bosses believed few people would notice. “We … Continue reading →

Home Week in Review: November 27 – December 2

What happened this week in the Home Blog? Well, you can find out quickly with this rundown. Find articles about anything you’re interested in from cleaning tips and holiday decorating to finances, charity, and everything else that has to do with home and family. If it wasn’t covered this week, be sure to check out other Week in Review pages for many more titles. Marjorie gave us lots of great cleaning tips this week as well as cool notebook ideas to help get organized for the holidays, in this series: Have a Merry, Organized Holiday: Part One Sections For Your … Continue reading →

Tips For Maintaining Your Christmas Tree

So you’ve got your Christmas tree up and decorated–congratulations–you’re ahead of the game in my book. In a previous blog I provided tips on how to choose the perfect Christmas tree, but that job is just the first step. After you cut your own tree at a farm or pick one from a lot you should have it wrapped with some type of netting to bring it home. This makes it easier to transport; protects the tree when you bring it in the house; and makes it easier when you put it in the stand. Which is a great tip: … Continue reading →

Tips For Choosing The Perfect Christmas Tree

The first Saturday in December is traditionally the day our family picks out and puts up our Christmas tree. We’ve hunted down the perfect tree on tree farms (where we not only pick out just the right tree, but also cut it down ourselves), tree lots, and believe it or not, one year I even helped my sister-in-law pick out a Christmas tree from the back of a semi-truck parked on the side of a rural highway. No matter where you choose to purchase your tree there are some hard and fast rules you want to keep in mind before … Continue reading →

Our Christmas Tree is Up!

We didn’t get it up or decorated when we had originally planned to do it, but our Christmas tree is officially ready as of 8:00 last night. Decorating the tree is a traditional thing we do together each year, with Christmas music playing in the background. It starts with my husband and I putting the tree together. It’s a nice one that is quite realistic looking (and I like it even better because I got a great deal on it one year at an after Christmas sale). Next, my husband checks then strings the lights. We seem to always have … Continue reading →

Touring the Town for Christmas Lights

Have you ever taken the kids for a drive to look at Christmas lights? It might not seem like that big of a deal, but it really can be a lot of fun, whether or not you have an ultimate destination in mind. Taking a spin to view beautifully lit homes and buildings or to check out animated displays can really put the whole family in the Christmas spirit. Look around, take pictures, get inspired for your own decorating projects, or just relax and enjoy. One fun way to go about the tour is to number each display as you … Continue reading →

Up with the Tree!

Okay, so I ranted a little about early Christmas decorations. I still stand by my assertion that Halloween is a little early to start having Christmas displays. I don’t think Christmas should have to compete with Halloween or Thanksgiving, but I do understand wanting to make the season last as long as possible. So, now that Thanksgiving is over, I’m ready! Bring on the lights, bring on the Christmas carols, and let’s get in the spirit. I love the beautiful music and the joyful celebrations that commemorate the Reason for the season. I love the beautiful lights, fresh fallen snow … Continue reading →

The Roots of Christmas Traditions

As I warned in my introductory blog to this series, I likely won’t take prize for popularity. So, here I am being a scrooge. So where is it our Christmas traditions come from? Christmas Tree I touched on the festival of lights a bit in my last blog. Now I would like to address the beloved and adorned Christmas tree. In Egypt it was a palm tree that was used to represent the bringing forth of the pagan messiah Baal-Tamar. In Rome a fir tree was used to bring forth Baal-Berith or “lord of the covenant”. The mother, who was … Continue reading →

New York City’s Most Famous Christmas Decoration

I spent years looking at the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree from 5,500 miles away in Hawaii. Even when I moved to the mainland in 1990, it still took me another decade before I would get to see New York City’s most famous Christmas decoration in person (I had visited the city since I was 7-years-old, but never during the holidays). It was everything I dreamed it would be—tall, wonderfully lit, and festive. I stood in line to get my picture taken in front of it (a very tricky endeavor considering its height—if you want the entire tree in your shot … Continue reading →

New Fashion Line From An Unlikely Source

We’ve heard of the pop-singer-turned-fashion-designer, the rapper-turned-fashion designer and the hotel heiress-turned-model-turned-singer-turned-fashion-designer, but we may have heard it all with the latest turn of events in the Philippines. Oh, yes, fashion has no boundaries. Just ask former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos (the one who made headlines for her vast shoe collection). According to news reports, she is embarking on a new project – a fashion line. The 77-year-old widow of Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos told reporters Monday that she planned to launch “The Imelda Collection” of fashion jewelry and accessories later this month. Of course, the news of her … Continue reading →