You’re tired. You’ve worked hard all week. Suddenly, the kids shout gleefully… “let’s decorate!” … in anticipation of the coming holiday. The “let’s not” is miraculously not permitted to escape your lips. Instead you take a deep breath while you wonder about how this decorating could become an easier and more fun-filled activity.
Well, it can be!
- First, insist on family members pitching in to help and treat this like a family project. This should not just rest on your shoulders to accomplish and it will be much more fun if you all are making changes and creating memories together.
- Next, pick a day and time you’ll all devote no more than one to two hours for a quick holiday makeover at your home (for a major decorating holiday schedule two or three longer blocks of time). It helps if you can set the decorating date about one to two weeks from now, if time still allows for that. This gives you time to gather items together for the project.
- Ask the kids to create one or two new arts and crafts decorations that are suitable to the holiday to have ready for the decorating day. Or, ask them to select ones from among any they may already have on hand, for instance, from school projects.
- Decide on 3 to 4 areas you will focus on decorating this year. Here are some choices: the front door, the front yard, the entry hallway, the kitchen table, the dining room table, the living room, the patio, the bathroom, the bedroom. There are other areas you could consider as well. But if you want quick and dirty, then focus in on only 3 to 4 of the areas for decorating this year. Anyway, you can select other areas next year for a change.
- Keep holiday decorations in separate bags, boxes or baskets in the same closet or in the attic so they’ll be easy for everyone to retrieve when they are needed next.
- Buy items you really love when you see them advertised or they may not be available when you later. It’s common for seasonal merchandise to change from year to year and also they are not stocked year-round typically. So, your item may no longer be available if you wait too long to decide you want it.
Then stash your figurines, statues, wall hangings, and other holiday
decorations in your bags or boxes, sorted by holiday.
- Make or buy some snacks or treats to enjoy together at the completion of your decorating time.
Here are some favorite quick and easy decorating areas and tips:
1. The front door- Have a welcome sign that is theme oriented and you can easily change by season or by holiday. You can either hang up a completely new themed sign, or there are some that come with interchangeable pieces you swap in and out representing different holidays or themes.
2. The dining room table or a table that is centrally located but not used that often- Change the table runner or the tablecloth to a holiday themed one. Then showcase your holiday decorations by arranging a combination of your kid’s holiday creations and your own figurines or other holiday decor on the table.
3. The mantel or entertainment center- Add a string of lights and if you wish, you can also vary the string of lights by color best suited for the coming holiday theme. Wall hangings can be changed around this area temporarily as well. Holiday accessories, flags, figurines, etc. are easy to rotate in and to view on or around this area of your home.
4. Special areas by kid’s choice- Smaller children can help by adding little decorations to windows and glass doors. They enjoy taping up their creations or they can easily put up static cling decorations. Other areas small children enjoy decorating include outdoors, the dog house and their own rooms. Allow them to handle this aspect of decorating while you take pleasure in their big smiles and hugs!
Finally, make your decorating time even more enjoyable by having holiday background music or other favorite tunes playing in the background. Then, when you’re done decorating, finish up with a big family hug and munching on tasty snack treats together!
Author Resource Box:
Liz Hekimian-Williams is founder of Giftsprings.com, a gifts and home decor online shop that features personalized gifts, custom engraved stones, holiday decor and special occasion gifts. Visit the gift shop at http://www.giftsprings.com
© 2003, 2004 Elizabeth Hekimian-Williams, Giftsprings
This article can be freely reprinted as long as the copyright notice and author resource byline with active link are included with the article.
Most people know that the 50th wedding anniversary is the “golden” anniversary, and that the 25th is silver. But beyond that? Here are some traditional and modern conventions to follow when selecting anniversary gifts.
But don’t limit your gift giving to the gifts listed below for each anniversary year. Chances are if you didn’t know what the gift for that year was, then the recipients won’t know either! Use your imagination, but most importantly, use your heart.
Year: 1st
Traditional Gift(s): Paper
Modern Gift(s): Clocks
Year: 2nd
Traditional Gift(s): Cotton
Modern Gift(s): China
Year: 3rd
Traditional Gift(s): Leather
Modern Gift(s): Crystal, Glass
Year: 4th
Traditional Gift(s): Fruit, Flowers
Modern Gift(s): Appliances
Year: 5th
Traditional Gift(s): Wood
Modern Gift(s): Silverware
Year: 6th
Traditional Gift(s): Candy, Iron
Modern Gift(s): Candy, Iron
Year: 7th
Traditional
Gift(s): Wool, Copper
Modern Gift(s): Desk Sets
Year: 8th
Traditional Gift(s): Bronze, Pottery
Modern Gift(s): Bronze, Pottery
Year: 9th
Traditional Gift(s): Pottery, Willow
Modern Gift(s): Linen, Lace
Year: 10th
Traditional Gift(s): Tin, Aluminum
Modern Gift(s): Leather
Year: 11th
Traditional Gift(s): Steel
Modern Gift(s): Jewelry
Year: 12th
Traditional Gift(s): Silk, Linen
Modern Gift(s): Pearls
Year: 13th
Traditional Gift(s): Lace
Modern Gift(s): Textiles, Furs
Year: 14th
Traditional Gift(s): Ivory
Modern Gift(s): Gold Jewelry
Year: 15th
Traditional Gift(s): Crystal
Modern Gift(s): Watches
Year: 20th
Traditional Gift(s): China
Modern Gift(s): Platinum
Year: 25th
Traditional Gift(s): Silver
Modern Gift(s): Silver
Year: 30th
Traditional Gift(s): Pearl
Modern Gift(s): Diamond
Year: 35th
Traditional Gift(s): Coral
Modern Gift(s): Jade
Year: 40th
Traditional Gift(s): Ruby
Modern Gift(s): Ruby
Year: 45th
Traditional Gift(s): Sapphire
Modern Gift(s): Sapphire
Year: 50th
Traditional Gift(s): Gold
Modern Gift(s): Gold
Year: 55th
Traditional Gift(s): Emerald
Modern Gift(s): Emerald
Year: 60th
Traditional Gift(s): Diamond
Modern Gift(s): Diamond
Hope you found this helpful!
A Heath is a gift researcher for http://www.the-gift-wizard.com