| If you're looking for ways to decorate your home | | | | decorations, using styles and techniques according |
| in a glorious holiday fashion this season--without | | | | to your family's traditions. Combining ancestral |
| breaking the bank and losing your sanity in the | | | | cultures and honoring ancestors by creating |
| process--here are ten terrific ideas to get you | | | | handmade ornaments will make the season more |
| started. | | | | meaningful and will help your children develop |
| 1. You don't need to climb ladders and hang | | | | stronger ties with your family's unique heritage. |
| millions of lights all over your house to make a | | | | 7. You can further personalize the season by |
| happy holiday statement. You can create an | | | | bringing your family's interests into play when |
| enticing "Welcome Home" atmosphere by simply | | | | selecting a decoration theme. Take a photo of |
| placing a special emphasis on your front door, | | | | your family involved in a favorite activity, or |
| surrounding it with colorful lights and garlands of | | | | something used during that activity, and surround |
| greenery. | | | | it in a bed of greenery. For instance, if you love |
| 2. You don't have to use all your decorations | | | | reading, display special books, bound together with |
| every year, especially if you own quite a few. | | | | a colorful ribbon. It's a great way to create a |
| Alternating decorations makes it easier on you, | | | | totally unique decoration. |
| and when you don't see the same decorations | | | | 8. Since it's irritating to have to look through or |
| year after year, they tend to have more | | | | around large centerpieces while trying to talk to |
| meaning. | | | | dinner guests, use either low or tall, skinny |
| 3. You don't need to add anything to your | | | | centerpieces when entertaining, so everyone can |
| Christmas tree's water. According to the National | | | | see each other's faces. |
| Christmas Tree Association, plain tap water is the | | | | 9. Don't forget that you have five senses--and |
| best source of moisture for your tree. In fact, | | | | make sure to fill them all with delight at holiday |
| the NCTA says that some commercial additives | | | | time. Use cheerful warm-colored ribbons to |
| and home concoctions can actually be detrimental | | | | highlight chandeliers and to wrap around vases, |
| to a tree's moisture retention and increase needle | | | | play your favorite seasonal music, add cinnamon, |
| loss. So keep your Christmas tree stand filled with | | | | cloves, and essential oils to fill the air with holiday |
| plain water and use the savings to buy a few | | | | smells, share your favorite recipe with friends, |
| extra stocking stuffers. | | | | and add sumptuous silky fabrics to table cloths, |
| 4. You can save money when buying Christmas | | | | tree skirts, and pillows. |
| tree decorations by choosing your tree carefully. | | | | 10. And finally, there's no need to completely |
| A fuller tree uses fewer decorations, because | | | | redecorate for your New Year's Eve celebration. |
| there are fewer holes to fill. | | | | When Christmas has past, you can recycle your |
| 5. You can also save money by buying silk flower | | | | holiday wreaths and garlands for use in your New |
| boughs and cutting the flowers apart. That way, | | | | Year's festivities simply by spray painting them |
| you get many more decorations for one price. | | | | silver or gold. |
| You can use the flowers on your tree, in garlands, | | | | Christmas doesn't have to be a time of financial |
| and as enhancements to your gift wrapping. | | | | and emotional burden. You'll save money--and |
| 6. You can make your holidays more meaningful, | | | | possibly your sanity--by using these simple |
| while reducing cost, by considering your personal | | | | suggestions. Happy holidays! |
| family heritage when choosing a decorating | | | | (c) Copyright 2004 Jeanette J. Fisher All rights |
| theme. This includes making homemade | | | | reserved. |