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Christmas

Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas for Kids

Celebrating Christmas with younger children in the household is a magical experience. If you have younger children in your home, you may be on the lookout for Christmas decorating ideas for your kids. The reality is that there are some simple projects your children can undertake that result in what prove to be highly attractive decorations for your family Christmas tree.

Foil Christmas Tree

When it comes to craft projects your children can participate in to create decorations for the family Christmas tree, foil is at the top of the list of materials to consider using. Foil is highly versatile and can be utilized by even young children to create interesting, attractive ornaments for the Christmas tree. The shiny silver is absolutely perfect for the holiday season.Martha Stewart actually has shared some ideas of how your children can use foil to decorate the tree. She suggests having your kids scrunch foil into stars, balls, and canes. The foil ornaments created in this manner can then be hung on the tree using yard. Red and green yarn adds a nice, seasonal touch.Martha also recommends turning foil cupcake liners inside out. These can be strung together using yarn as well. A tiny hole can be punched in the back. A tiny light can be inserted into the foil liner, resulting in a magnificent, radiant glow for your tree. 

Cotton Ball Tree

Like most people, you probably have a bag or box of cotton balls lying around the house. If you do not, pick up some the next time you are at the drug store. They can be the basis of a great holiday decoration project for your kids. Thread a needle with about 15 inches of lightweight fishing line. Sew through cotton balls, leaving gaps between each ball. Place a dab of old-fashioned white glue next to each cotton ball to prevent it from sliding. Once done, the string of cotton balls can be placed on the family Christmas tree. Your kids can repeat the process with multiple strands of cotton balls until the tree looks like it is dotted with wintertime snow.  

Paper Snowflake Tree

If you are like many parents, you probably recollect cutting out paper snowflakes when you were a child. This represents another perfect holiday season craft project for your kids. Have them cut out an array of different types of paper snowflakes. They can then adorn the family tree with their creations. The paper snowflakes can easily be affixed to the tree using paperclips, unfolded into "S" shapes. Bringing together a bunch of paper snowflakes created by your children actually makes a truly dramatic presentation on your Christmas tree. They can be made even more vibrant with the addition of twinkle lights in different colors. 

Snowball Tree on Your Lawn

Your children can get involved in decorating the exterior of your home as well. If you are like many people, you already place lights on trees in your yards. You enhance the look by adding ornaments.You can take the decoration of the trees in your yard a step further, depending on where you live and the prevailing weather conditions. You children can make "ornaments" for your outdoor trees with fist-size snowballs. You might want to consider using a snowball making tool (available in many toy and department stores) to make well fashioned icy ornaments. This not only provides uniformity, which renders the final product more attractive, but speeds up the process of making suitable snowball ornaments for use on a tree.Make a note. Snowball ornaments are easiest to make if the snow is not too powdery or too slushy. Pay attention to prevailing weather conditions for the coming days to make sure your kids' creations will not melt away too quickly. You do need to take care to position the snowball ornaments at points that provide a distance between them and any lights that are included on a tree. 

Make a Lasting Memory for Your Children

The artwork made by your children will be Christmas decorations that you will value forever. You can also make lasting Christmas memories for your children by buying a special ornament each year for the young ones in your home. For example, you can purchase a silver ornament or even a silver bell for your children from a quality outlet like the Silver Superstore. Not only can these decorations be displayed on your family tree this year, they can continue to be part of holiday decorating well into the future. BY- Guest BloggerJessica Kane   

The Ultimate Home Christmas Gift Guide

Yes, it’s the holiday season and I’m in a state of euphoria. I can feel the brilliant electricity that fills the air of Christmas. I wish for little miracles that seem impossible to achieve, but nothing is impossible this time of year, for those who just believe.  This time of year the infectious holiday cheer that reverberates from our home to the next. This wondrous season oozes magic, and it’s always been important for me to share this delight with my loved ones.I’m excited about purchasing that perfect gift for my friends and family this year. I do know that finding the perfect present is a time-consuming task. Browsing online can take hours, even days and our time is precious. If you’re like me, you want the gifts to be unique, meaningful and to provoke an emotion. Give a gift that says something about that person. Top it off with a glistening red bow, pass it along and make your loved ones feel a little more confident and special. The gift should say I was purchased with love and we have a connection. Whether your on the hunt for that big Christmas gesture or simply a stocking filler, take a look through our collection of favorite home decor gifts for an extra boost of inspiration.My curated list will make for a merry and bright holiday season. “My Favorites” make my heart pitter-patter at the thought of them. Be the best gift giver you can be!

CUSTOM ARTWORK AS UNIQUE AS YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY ARE!

You can upload a photo of your favorite person, place or object and an artist of your choice will recreate your very own custom painting! You can also upload a photo of your room, provide a Pantone color, or share a link to your furniture and receive original art that matches your decor. Just click on the photos below to be directed to Minted.com.   

Garden Drive Square Jewelry Boxes By Kate Spade

Because you can't always wear all your treasured jewelry all at once, these bright lacquered boxes with flocked interiors are perfect for the fashionable women in your lives. 

Gem Water by VitaJuwelLove 

Restructure your water using the power of rose quartz gemstones, while also boosting pH and oxygenation. Put a little romance into your gift with these Love gen-water blends.

Kendra Scott Stone Slab Tray

This stunning stone 16" x 10" tray will look outstanding on a neutral ottoman or as an luxurious accent to your master bedroom or bathroom.   

Stylish Cooler For Wine Lovers

Keep your wine chilled in style without condensation on your table, while protecting the bottle from water or ice. The stunning Portaghiaccio copper wine bottle cooler will certainly be a conversation piece. It's hand-crafted in a workshop in Ravina, Italy and features a hand-hammered traditional leaf design as well as a cork-screw style handle. Can be found at Ahalife.com 

Poetry Books 

For all the readers in your life these stunning poetry books will be sure to please. The black and white books feature a custom jacket design that displays snippets of manuscripts and typescripts from poets, a visual encapsulation of the varying styles and voices in the collection.

The women's  lovely collection of poetry books features the works of five world-renowned women poets. A custom, removable book band ties the volumes together and makes the set a striking addition to any bookcase. The Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets series consists of small, beautifully bound poetry volumes in charming jackets. Each hardcover book is bound in cloth and features a silk reading ribbon, acid-free, natural cream-colored paper, and European-style half-round spines.

They can be found at Ahalife.com

 

 

A Drink Caddy Set With 24K Gold Banded Drinking Glasses

A refined addition to the home bar, this set includes an ice buckets and 8 24-K gold banded drinking glasses that are neatly housed in a brass-plated caddy.  Can be found on OneKingsLane.com   

Alabaster Coffee Pot & Creamer Collection   BY- Ahalife.com

Its mid-century silhouettes feature lustrous metal bases, capped with translucent alabaster lids. The alabaster is made in Italy, by artisans with five generations of knowledge of working with this stone, and the stone comes from the last existing alabaster quarry in Tuscany.

Antique Mirror Glass Spheres  By- Onekingslane.com

 

Speakers With A Fabulous Twist  By- https://us.amara.com

I had to throw something fun and colorful into the mix. I'm totally in love with these fabulous and vibrant speakers! They will make the perfect gift for your beach loving friends and family! Get the party started in any setting with this Beach Sounds radio from Sunnylife. Easy to carry and transport from place to place, these speaker radios are adorned with a playful print and is perfect for playing your favorite songs on any occasion. Compatible with any smart phone or tablet, the water and sand resistant body is ideal for beach days, the odd spot of rain or outdoor dining.Beasley & Henley Interior Design

What Do You Want Your Thanksgiving Table To Say To You?

I would like to start off by asking you a question. How often do you stand back and reflect on what you have to be grateful for? I ask this because this year has been big year of reflection for me. It's been a year of mindful contemplation and thankfulness that I carry forward from month to month. My soul is a little richer and filled with the joy that my mind has allowed me to feel how beautiful things really are. I've become accustomed to such a life and see its incredible beauty.   Like the infectious smile of a cherub faced baby I hope you find it difficult to hide the jubilation this holiday season brings upon you. With Thanksgiving  just a few days away I hope the thankful spirit spreads from my table to yours. Almost as important as the food itself, is the Thanksgiving table and I want to share some of my favorite dining table decor  with you. Whether your reminiscing about Thanksgiving past or anticipating this years celebration, your dining table should reflect those memories. How much or little you decide to decorate is up to you, but your guests will undoubtedly appreciate the thought you put into creating a special place for them. Here are a few items you can add to your table settings as inspiration for you to create your own memorable design.

A memorable tablescape is a lot like a well-appointed room. The more layers and texture there are the more interesting it can be. Grass cloth-tablecloth-runner-placemats.....

 

Anton Paisley Table Runner By Pottery Barn- This intricate paisley design adds rich color and pattern to a table setting. Pair our runner with the matching napkins (sold separately), or combine with similar hues for a stunning look.

Cozy Knit Ivory Table Runner- By Crate&Barrel  The striking ivory table runner adds instant coziness to winter gatherings. Looking just like your favorite sweater, this unique runner is hand knitted of chunky wool-blend yarn in an oversized cable pattern.

 

Ashlyn embroidered placemat by Crate&Barrel. An elegant backdrop to solid dinnerware, their fully embroidered placemat is lavishly decorated with silky, earth-toned blooms

  Placemat by Crate&Barrel. Charming leaf-shaped placemat is handwoven of natural abaca fibers, lending an organic, tropical note to the table.

On to a little sparkle and shine here are a few of my favorite hues of this seasons popular rose gold trend. Mix them with rich colors with sublet contrast for a luxurious effect...

  

Rose Gold Twig Salad Forks Set Of 4 By World Market

For the start  

 

Pumpkins By- PlushPumpkin.com

 

I found these beauties in a local Winter Park home decor shop- Why I Love It
The "mix and mingle" of crafted glass, metal and wood lends a display of organic fluidity. I like how the metal in these pieces play the little side kick to the leading role.  The combination will add a clean beauty to your Thanksgiving table.

  

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5 Fun DIY Wrapping Ideas

5 Fun DIY Wrapping IdeasHave you ever seen “Pinterest Fails”?  They are quite hilarious and hit too close to home sometimes!  There are some DIY’s wrapping ideas out there that seem merely impossible, and then there are some that are so simple and easy you wonder why you didn’t think of it first!  This Holiday season, or anytime really, make someone’s gift extra special and unique by creating the wrapping paper yourself!  The recipient will love the gift before it’s even opened.This is a great wrapping solution for flat or small objects like books, journals, gloves etc, that might get lost in a heaping bag of tissue paper or are hard to wrap.Furoshiki are a traditional type of Japanese wrapping cloth that can be done out of any fabric!  Follow the simple steps to wrap your gift beautifully out of re usable material.'Blackboard' Canvas Paper and a Chalk Pen are all you need for this unique wrapping idea!"Old" Maps.   Whether it's a map of a state, city or country, maps are continually on trend because of their rarity thanks to technology.  Use the recipients hometown or find an old vintage map from a local thrift store!

Paint Chip Tags:  This one might be my favorite because of how clever but simple it is!  Any color you choose will have a beautiful ombre effect that looks effortlessly unique!

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Christmas Dinner - Crazy for Cranberries!

Crazy for Cranberries!For many, Christmas Dinner is a time for tradition, but with social media sites such as Pinterest, Food Blogs, Twitter, etc. it’s tempting to try something new when we have the chance!  Cranberry sauce is a staple, but cranberries are so versatile why limit them to a sauce every year?  With their sweet and tangy flavor I knew I’d easily find other creative ways to use them.Cranberry-Spice CocktailServe this Cranberry Spice Cocktail before or after dinner for a sweet and spicy kick!Slow Cooker Cocktail MeatballsThis sweet and savory appetizer would be great to serve while the turkeys in the oven.  Might be great with that Cranberry-Spice Cocktail!Holiday StuffingCranberries make their way into Holiday Stuffing!  This would be great to serve for Christmas dinner as well.Cranberry Orange RelishThis is my absolute favorite.  My mom made this dish one year and has made it ever since because of its popularity!  It’s sweet and tangy flavor along with its crunchy texture is beyond delicious.Cranberry Upside Down CakeHow amazing does this sound?  I can only hope that someone in my family has come across this recipe so I can try it this year.  Oh my gosh!Merry Christmas! 

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Small Space? Top 5 Space Saving Christmas Tree Decorting Ideas

As exciting as decorating for the Holiday seasons are for some, for others it’s just as daunting.  Small spaces and small budgets seem to be the culprit of this stress.There is no one “right” way to decorate, and because of that you can let your innovative creativity run wild! Rather than being afraid to break the tradition of a tall Christmas tree, embrace the individuality of your décor with your own Christmas tree ideas!This year my mother will be moving during Christmas so we’ve decided to create a makeshift ‘Christmas tree’.Who knows, maybe it will become a new tradition!

 

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