Reasons to Take Good Care of Your Christmas Tree

When does your family put up the Christmas tree? Some families decorate the tree before Thanksgiving, and others wait until a few days before Christmas to do it. The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety wants to remind you to take good care of your Christmas tree. There is the potential that a Christmas tree could catch fire. Many families have made a tradition of picking out a Christmas tree, and decorating it together. The tree is a big part of the season. What else would you put all those presents under? People have a tendency to think of … Continue reading

Saving on Holiday Decorating

I’m not much of a holiday decorator when it comes to my home. In fact, there are only two holidays in which I do, the fall season and Christmas. This is the time of year in which I break out the scarecrows. Mr. Bob (yes, I named him) is my favorite. He is my largest scarecrow that sits on our porch. I also have a few pumpkin decorations that grace my home as well. I keep it neutral. In other words, it isn’t about Halloween or Thanksgiving. It is more of a “harvest” look, so that way I can keep … Continue reading

Some Kids With Autism May Not Understand Christmas

In general, kids who have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) tend to have difficulty with social concepts. Many kids with an ASD can be extremely logical in their thought processes. Together, this can make it hard for them to understand the connections between Santa, Christ, and the Christmas traditions that most families participate in. Every year, there are a lot of little kids who are excited by the prospect of Santa coming to their house on Christmas Eve. Parents tell their children about Santa, and the youngest kids believe with all their hearts that Santa is real. When they get … Continue reading

Of Cats and Christmas Trees

We have three cats. This is a lot of cats. I do believe that it makes me somewhat of an expert in the cat management department. Some cats like to climb. Others like to spray. Others like to bat things around the floor. When you bring the magical Christmas tree into your home, you bring a ready-made climbing-spraying-batting extravaganza into the living room. Lucky you. Lucky cats. Your tree might delight your cats, but if the ornaments end up on the floor and the cats climb the tree, you’ll be less than delighted. Here are a few tips to enhance … Continue reading

Creating a Holiday Planner – Part 4

As I continue this blog series on creating a “Holiday Planner,” we are going to look at how planning your holiday decorating and baking is beneficial. Once again you are going to utilize your blank calendar, which should already have filled in the date you are going to decorate and bake. You might have penciled in the day after Thanksgiving to put up the tree and the following weekend to decorate the rest of the house. You might have the first weekend in November set aside to do outdoor decorations. Spreading it all out can relieve some of the stress … Continue reading

Scrapbooking Blog Month in Review – October 2008

It hardly seems plausible that October is over and we are now staring ahead into November. Before I blink again, I am afraid Christmas will be here and I won’t know where the time went. Before you get all wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, be sure to check out what happened in the scrapbooking blog last month. I’d also like to encourage you to come back and visit frequently in the upcoming weeks for great gift ideas, new products and of course plenty of project ideas and other great scrapbooking related information. Here’s what … Continue reading

Home Blog Month in Review: October

As I sit here looking out my window at the backyard, the birds are hovering in the pine tree against a strong wind and steady rain. The temperature is chilly today, and the calendar reminds me that we have left October behind. October 1st Buy a Home for $1.75 It seems that the housing crisis has made some interesting news lately. Home Month in Review: September 2008 Has the weather turned cooler now that September has passed? Pretty soon, it will be time to get that heat turned back on! Meanwhile, check out all of the articles that were posted … Continue reading

The After Christmas List

There are always great sales after Christmas. This is where I often gather new items for the next year. So, I’ve decided to make a new list, an after Christmas list, of things I want to pick up at those tremendous sales. Last year, I was able to obtain some very nice, new Christmas ornaments for mere pennies on the dollar. They were marked down anywhere from 50% to an incredible 90% off the regular price. I found some lovely hand-painted glass ornaments in a variety of styles and colors. My favorite set has four deep green, four deep red, … Continue reading

Affordable Holiday Travel: Touring Department Store Window Displays—Seattle

It’s simple, really. If you are looking for an affordable family friendly holiday activity, head to your local mall. The activity is not set amongst the stacks of sweaters or rows of remote controlled toys. In fact, you don’t even need to step foot inside a single shop to enjoy the festive treats that await you behind glass walls or inside fencing near the food court. As I continue my series of blogs spotlighting seasonal store window displays I am focusing on the Pacific Northwest, specifically Seattle, Washington. That’s where you’ll find Nordstrom’s flagship downtown store and its spectacular seasonal … Continue reading

Affordable Holiday Travel: Touring Department Store Window Displays—Dallas

Who needs ice and snow when you’ve got sparkle and shine? Dallas is not known for snow-covered sidewalks, but the city certainly doesn’t lack the Christmas spirit thanks in large part to upscale retail giant Neiman Marcus. As I continue my series of blogs spotlighting department store window displays I am turning my attention from the Big Apple to the Big D—Dallas. The city is home to Neiman Marcus’s flagship store and the windows at the downtown location are traditionally one of the most visited spots in the entire state during the holiday season. This year the store is treating … Continue reading