What would be their dream

Decorating with Small Trees

The focal point for Christmas décor is usually the tree, top to tie with ribbon.) You can include baby and childhood but more and more people are putting up small trees photos, pet photos, photos of memorable moments — losing all over the house. Two- to three-foot tall trees, real or a fi rst tooth, prom, fi rst car, weddings, vacations, etc. artifi cial, are fast to decorate, can be set up in any room, and are a lot of fun. Find the place, add lights, and decorate — either freestyle or choose a theme. Here are some ideas. NORTH POLE TREE. Include ornaments of Santa, sleighs, reindeer, elves, polar bears, penguins, miniature gifts, you can even attach the kids’ wish lists. KITCHEN TREE. Kitchen items such as cookie cutters, gingerbread fi gures, apples, candy canes, cinnamon sticks, ENCHANTED SEA TREE. Use ornaments from the sea: pretty measuring cups and spoons, teacups, and food fi sh, mermaids, shells (add glitter for sparkle), starfi sh, and garlands (popcorn, gummy bears, dried fruit) make great boats. If you add garlands, ball ornaments, a topper, and tree decorations. In other words, if it’s pretty, it can go on skirt, make them all variations of sea blues and pale greens. the tree! SINGLE THEME TREE. Use variations of just one type of CHRISTMAS CARD TREE. This is a great way to display ornament. A tree with just stars, or angels, birds, or fairies. your Christmas cards. Just punch a hole in the top of each Complete it with pretty ribbons cascading down the sides and card and tie it to the tree with a ribbon. a topper that’s a larger version of the theme. FAMILY MEMORY TREE. Copy family photos, glue them to squares of wrapping paper (cut the wrapping paper so the photo has a 1/2” border on each side, and punch a hole in the CRYSTAL TREE. Use all crystal-like ornaments on a white tree with white lights. Add silver and shiny white ornaments for a dazzling display.

SNN News Team Dream Holidays

Barrett Tryon

NEWS ANCHOR With a wild year that’s been fi lled with uncertainty, the best holiday is one I’ve been waiting for years to happen again. After two decades of going to school and working from New York to Las Vegas and several stops in between, I will be spending the upcoming holidays right here in Sarasota, my home town. There’s nothing that can replace being with your family and friends during the holiday season. And thanks to living on the Suncoast, the best place in the world, the only thing we have to worry about shoveling is sand and sunshine. So happy to be back, everyone!

Hallie Peilet

NEWS ANCHOR I think the idea of my dream holiday has changed a lot this year due to the pandemic. This diffi cult year has really made me realize what’s important. I’ve always valued family — my family has always been the most important thing in my life, but even more so now. In a time where we’re all spread out around the country and can’t physically be together be cause of COVID -19, I guess my dream holiday would be just to have my family all together in one room. I can’t think of any better medicine right now than laughing and eating holiday food with my loved ones!

Justin Mosely

CHIEF METEOROLOGIST With the holiday season once again upon us, one may picture the quintessential look of the season featuring snow, holiday lights, presents, and the palpable anticipation of the new year. While these are all things I look forward to each year (minus the snow of course, here on the Suncoast) , the most cherished — that just can’t be missed — is the quality time shared amongst family and friends, enjoying the abundance of fl avors only this time of year brings. Happy holidays everyone!

Jake Young

SPORTS DIRECTOR A whole lot of food and a whole lot of family. There is nothing better than having everyone together under the same roof to take in the holidays. Pepper in a Steelers victory, and my dream holiday is complete. From my family to yours, enjoy the festivities!

My dream holiday after this year of COVID -19, would be just to be able to spend time with my family (my mom and sister are in New York,

Kathy Leon NEWS ANCHOR my brothers are in Texas) and to make sure everyone stays healthy — we are not fl ying anywhere. But, as we all know 2020 has been a year of adapting. So while I will go all out over decorating and fi nding the biggest tree that will fi t in the house, I will make sure to Facetime and Zoom with family and friends as much as possible. I know fostering the connections that really matter is the best gift of all. My dream holiday is really pretty simple, yet not. The dream is to gather, if possible, with all six of my brothers and sisters, my 14 nieces and Don Brennan NEWS ANCHOR nephews, and my two sons, preferably in one place. With a large extended family, it is diffi cult to get everyone together other than the holidays. It would be too much to ask to get all of us (and our 25 fi rst cousins and their kids) together, but one can dream. It is the holidays, after all. A dream holiday of mine would be similar to Christmas of ‘95 when we visited family in Maryland. Snow blanketed the Marco La Manno neighborhood, we went sled- METEOROLOGIST ding, we ate my Italian aunt’s amazing food, and I was ecstatic that I received presents there and again when we returned to Florida. I haven’t had a white Christmas in 25 years, and I’d love another one. Not much of a dream since it actually happened, but it’s been long enough that a man can dream to have a Christmas like that again!