Christmas Decorating

It's true.  Everything is bigger in Texas.  This Christmas season, I've seen it firsthand. And because I love holiday decorations, as I wrote about here, I'm thrilled with the over-the-top decorating unfolding all around me.  


I am going to try and take some photos over the next couple of weeks - so you can see for yourself how "in the spirit of the season" these Texans really are.  I am happy to report, it's pretty contagious.  


Today, I drove by a house and knew I had to stop and get a close-up view.  Aside from the beautiful wreaths on every window and door, they had this yard ornament(for lack of a better word):

Don't you love how the beam of light shining through the trees
emits a glow off the pages (something I only noticed after I arrived home 
and took a look at the photo).  

Now, I've seen all kinds of Christmas lights. as well as Santas in motion, happy snowmen (and even whole snowman families), life-size and live nativities and even a few glowing Menorahs and Hanukkah dreidels, but I've never quite seen anything like this 10 foot by 8 foot Bible, replete with the verse that sums up the season. 


More photos to come, but I'm pretty sure none will be as divine as this.   

Holiday Organization

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned this great, free online resource I use to help keep my holiday plans organized.  I've found that utilizing this site gives me lots of great ideas/ways to do things from November until the New Year.  And because I'm a little (okay, a lot) OCD, the less stress the better.


I am sure there are lots of methods and techniques out there, but this is the plan I've settled on that currently works best for me, so I thought I'd share.  You can print out lots of different resources at Organized Christmas or create your own.  My own binder is compiled from several different sources, including a few I created myself.  Many of the tabs include blank sheets of paper that allow me to jot down notes.  

Here's the cute cover I downloaded from Organized Christmas.  I use my notebook for both Thanksgiving and Christmas with the Thanksgiving tab (and it's contents) in the front until the day after Thanksgiving when it takes its place at the back of the notebook.  

My dividers include tabs for:


Current year's calendar.  Here I track all the obvious dates, like parties, but also dates for purchasing the tree and Christmas stamps, mailing cards, baking  cookies and wrappings gifts, etc. 

2009's calendar was a little austere, but this was in the early days of
utilizing a holiday  planner and I wasn't making full use of it.

Gifts:  The first page of this section is a  running list for this year, recipients and their possible gift(s), ideas/suggestions/wish lists.  I also retain all previous years' lists.  This makes remembering what I bought for distant cousins (geographically speaking) in 2004, for example, easy. 


Food:  Mostly menu ideas and suggestions, for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, entertaining, etc.  For example, typically we have crock pot chili (that cooks while we're at church) on Christmas Eve, but one year we had bacon-wrapped filets.   And yes,  I retain all previous years' menus for quick reference.  I also keep lists of the assorted Christmas cookies I make from year-to-year.


Recipes:  Mostly items that I want to try, generally these are hors d'oeuvres or desserts (like cookies). 


Archives:  I keep copies of all previous years' calendars, most recent at the front.  


Budget:  I added this tab for the first time this year in an effort to be very intentional about my spending.  It's helped.  


Decorating:  This sections includes ideas from magazines, catalogues (wreath ideas), etc.  Also, an inventory of the items I use to decorate our home.  One day, I hope to take photos and complete an ornament journal.  I keep information about the garland and wreath I ordered  from a neighborhood boy scout (back in October) in this section, too.  

Thanksgiving:  just one tab that contains all the items for the big Turkey Day holiday.


In the very back of my binder is a Receipts envelope.  I use a clear, plastic sheet protector that can be secured at the top. Like this:  

Finally,I print out a hard copy of the address labels from my computer and place it in the pocket on the inside front of my binder.  This way I can make address changes, corrections and additions, as we receive cards.  


My notebook is a work in progress, and I am always looking for ways to improve it.  But I have to say, just having a method, however imperfect, helps me (in a just a small way) celebrate and enjoy Christmas even more.

The Christmas Crafts Begin

Long before I was a blogger, I was a blog reader. I love blogs, especially ones with crafts and recipes and all things homemade and holiday.  Consequently, Today's Creative Blog was/is one of my favorites.  I am always looking for ways to freshen up my holiday decor.  Plus, I love inexpensive, easy-to-execute ideas.  Fortunately, Kim at TCB posted an adorable free Christmas printable just a couple of days ago.  


I printed out a copy, cut it to fit a white  8 x 10 frame I already had.  Then I remembered some tiny deer (intended as cupcake toppers!) in a bin of stored holiday items and (with the assistance of a glue gun),  Voila!  

A close-up on my (rein)deer!  

Sitting on my kitchen counter, it brings a smile to my face every time I look at it.  I especially love the  (unexpected) whimsical shade of blue.  Best of all, here's the link to get your own copy. 


Let the crafting commence!   

Christmas Arboreal

Remember, if Christmas isn't found in your heart, 
you won't find it under a tree."  
~ Charlotte Carpenter

This year's tree

A close-up of the tree topper (and, why yes, that is  Spiderman agilely 
swinging from one of the upper branches).  

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a wonderful and relaxing day!

Thanksgiving Craft

I stumbled upon a great online resource for the holidays, Organized Christmas.  The best part is there are lots of good Thanksgiving (and other holiday ideas) there too.  


Of course, I always love the idea of creating a fun, easy holiday craft.  These Thanksgiving Blessing mix favors fit the bill perfectly.  The good news is there's still plenty of time to purchase and create these before the big Turkey Day.  I bet kids would have fun assembling these too.   


I created mine using the bag toppers  but the gift tags are also adorable.  Here's the recipe (along with my slight modifications):


2 cups Bugles brand corn snacks
2 cups small pretzels (be sure to use the tiny twists)
1 cup candy corn
1 cup dried fruit bits or raisins (I used Sun Maid raisin/cranberry mix)
1 cup peanuts or sunflower seeds (I used roasted/salted almonds instead)
1 cup M&Ms-brand chocolate candy (I searched high and low for a bag of the autumnal colors but was told that after Halloween they disappear from the store shelves.  I settled for a traditional bag and removed the red and blue)
16 Hershey's-brand chocolate kisses


The finished product

A basket of blessings.

Have fun! 

America Recycles Day

 

Confession:  I am not very green.  I drive an SUV, I don't shun animal tested products, I don't know anything about carbon footprints.  Despite my best efforts, I often forget my reuseable grocery bags and I abhor compact fluorescent lightbulbs.  Also, I have never seen An Inconvenient Truth.

I do, however, proudly recycle.  I recycle cardboard, glass, plastic and aluminum.  My city makes it easy because they offer this service for, what I consider, a nominal fee.  Twice a week these items are picked up curbside.

How many blogs contain a photo of trash/recycling cans? You're welcome.

My husband thinks my recycling efforts are a bit silly.  In the scheme of things, he insists, it doesn't make that big a difference. But, I tell him, collectively, we all make a difference.  Besides it sets a good example (for my children especially) and others.  I think being even a meager steward of the environment is important.  

I was feeling pretty smug about my determined efforts to help the environment, until I saw this documentary, a few weeks ago .  Thanks to the Oprah Winfrey Network (which aired the film), these days I'm feeling almost criminal when using a styrofoam cup or eating a hamburger (believe it or not, beef consumption is bad for the environment).  

All the same, today I am going to work to be proud of the very, very small part I do to leave the world a bit less impacted by my existence, and I hope you will too.