Getting Ready for the Holidays
With December arriving today, chances are you’ve already
began the Christmas decorating process, or will be undertaking it shortly. Most
people will be unloading boxes from attics and basements, untangling lights,
and hauling home a fresh cut Christmas tree this weekend. However, there are a
few things to remember before you begin your campaign for best light display in
the neighborhood, or prettiest Christmas tree, and we’ve got most of it
covered.
Lighting the Way
Perhaps the most hated task of holiday decorating, stringing
up lights can be a real hassle, at least when it comes to replacing bulbs and
checking fuses. Start by doing a simple visual check of the light strands
you’re working with; if a bulb looks burned out or the actual cord looks
damaged, you’ll want to fix that before plugging them in. Wrap potentially
broken cords with electrical tape to prevent any nasty shocks, and replace
damaged bulbs with any extras you might have. Once that’s done, you can move on
to actually plugging them in. Even if you took the utmost care bundling them up
from last season, exposure to extreme temperatures can ruin perfectly good
bulbs, and you’ll want to check them before putting them up.
If you plug it in and
nothing happens, you’ll want to check the individual bulbs and make sure they
are not loose from the plugs. Most modern lights will still continue to work
even if a bulb isn’t working, but they won’t work at all if a bulb is missing
or especially loose. If all of the bulbs are pushed in tightly and in working
order, you might have an issue with the fuse, which is often located in the
plug of the strand. Most lights come packaged with a little plastic bag
containing extra fuses and bulbs, so replacing the fuse should be a piece of
cake.
Other than that, be sure to use outdoor-labeled lighting and
extension cords for your outdoor displays. Also make sure that everything
outside is plugged into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). All outdoor
lighting should be hung using insulated holders and hooks, and you should never
leave your lights on overnight or when you’re out of the house in case of an
electrical fire. Remember the steps you took at the end of the Christmas season
to help aid in storing your lights again so that you can avoid any problems
next year.
O Christmas Tree…
When you’re ready to head out to pick up a Christmas tree,
there are steps you need to take beforehand to ensure that it’s a perfect fit.
Measure the space that you’ll be displaying the tree in, both horizontal and
vertically to make sure you have enough room for it to stand properly. Remember
to bring your tape measure along when you go to get the tree so you’re
absolutely sure you won’t have to hack it down to size. Also give the tree a
once over and inspect the needles; they should look shiny, green and fresh.
Your tree should not have a lot of dried, brown, and brittle needles.
Some tree farms will let you know the type of tree they
sell; look for a hearty breed like a Fraser or a Noble Fir. These trees will
have thicker, stronger branches that can withstand heavy ornaments and
decorations. When it’s time to take the tree to your house, a lot of people
will be tempted to strap it to the top of their car and haul it home. This is
fine; as long as you make sure the straps are good and secure. However if you
want to ensure no damage comes to the tree, its branches, or the needles it
might be a good idea to move it in a truck or SUV. Remember that if you go the
real tree route, you’ll have to water it for the month of December. Plain old
tap water is the best thing for the tree, and when refilling its container,
make sure the water level sits above the cut line to ensure its sucking up
enough H2O to keep it healthy.
Festive Décor
The holidays; quite possibly the one time of the year where
all traditional decorating advice can be thrown out the window. “Go big or go
home” is the name of the game when it comes to displays and decorations for the
month of December, and we definitely encourage you to go big! There are plenty of great sites for coming up
with easy and ingenious ways to deck the halls. Our favorite is definitely
Country Living's huge 101 Holiday Decorating Ideas photo gallery (http://www.countryliving.com/homes/holiday-decorating-1208#slide-1)
that has plenty of ideas no matter your style. Some of our favorites include…
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Getting Crafty: Don’t underestimate your own
creativity when it comes to Christmas and holiday decorations. There are plenty
of unique ideas to use at home, such as sewing together old skirts to create a
brand new tree skirt, using matchboxes to make the cutest advent calendar ever,
and cutting out images from old botanical and nature themed books to make
vintage style ornaments.
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Make your own Wreath: Who says you have to buy a
premade wreath this Christmas? There are plenty of options for making your own!
For the eco-conscious, try repurposing old newspaper and magazines to make a
lovely wreath for your door, or even use family photos from Christmas’s past.
Yarn balls in red and greens can make a cute and clever holiday wreath as well.
One of our favorite ideas includes making a wreath from fresh herbs and plants
for your door; the look is trendy and completely natural.
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Vintage is in: This is the time of year to
remember the past and all of those special holiday memories. Help revive them
by including some beautiful vintage/vintage inspired decorations. You can
display printed vintage Christmas cards, either hanging from string across your
fireplace or on a lovely iron card tree. Vintage style present tags can make
surprisingly beautiful and festive ornament ideas for your tree. Use an older,
ornate tray or bowl to display some of your best vintage Christmas tree
ornaments.
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The Power of Nature: While poinsettias are a
holiday mainstay, consider a couple other types of flowers, plants, and even
fruits to decorate your home. Amaryllis has long been considered a Christmas
flower as well, and will look stunning in your displays. When it comes to your
tree, why not consider a replacement that will live for several years to come,
like a small potted pine or fir trees. Cranberries make great decorations when
placed in vases with their shiny red exterior. For a real show-stopper, find a
large branch the size of your dinner table and suspend it from the ceiling,
with hanging Christmas tree ornaments placed sporadically all over.
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Unconventional Colors: Is anything more
traditional than Christmas red and green? If you find yourself looking for a
way to change up your holiday palette, try variations of the old fave. Light
green and white create a wintery, fresh feeling while still being playful. For
a real icy look, combine soft blue with white and silver, or go all out with
pure white. Metallics, especially gold are eye catching, can be used with any
combination of colors, and can be left up to ring in the New Year as well. For
a thoroughly modern twist, use a bright turquoise/blue with either green or
red.
