Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Thursday, December 2, 2010
Celebrating holidays in the hills By Sharon Bouchard Feature Writer / Photographer
plans to celebrate the arrival of a new year.
F
or many people, the most joyful season of the year is the holiday season of Christmas and New Year’s Day. It’s a time filled with the hustle and bustle of shopping, wrapping and decorating, cooking, company parties, and making
It’s a time of the year for the gathering of family and friends, fostering good will, and praying for peace on earth. There will be Christmas carols, visits with Santa for the little ones with wide-eyed wonder, toasting with eggnog, and holiday cheer to warm the cold dark
days of late December. The dawning of a new year will see funny hats, noisemakers, confetti, and resolutions for a better lifestyle in the days ahead. How we celebrate the upcoming holidays is special to each of us in our own way. There is much similarity from home to home in the decorating of the Christmas tree and the gathering around it to open gifts on Christmas morning, in the plans and hopes for a new year and the promises it may bring. And yet, each family has their own traditions and special ways of
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making the season bright. For John and Wendy Williams, of Norway, the festivities begin the Saturday after Thanksgiving with the annual search for the family Christmas tree. Williams is the executive director of the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce, an ordained minister with the National Association of Congre gational Chris tian
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Churches tending the Wes t Bethel church, and, together with Wendy, owns and operates Williams Broadcasting, Inc., now in its 20th year. “For 30 years we have gone as a family to various cut-your-own tree farms on the Saturday after Thanksgiving,” said Williams. “It is one of my favorite parts of Christmas and I am an absolute Christmas fanatic. Nothing gives me such joy as Christmas.” Christmas Eve and Christmas day are a whir of family activity for the Williams couple. “After all the visits with family are over and things are quiet on Christmas Eve, I stay up as late as I can just to savor the moment,” said Williams. “And, of course, there is the annual roast beef dinner to look forward to on Christmas day.” Christmas Eve will find Dundee P r a t t a n d s o u l m a t e Pe t e Hodgdon, both of Norway, at his sister’s house for a family gathering, good food, good cheer, and a Yankee swap of movies.
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“On Christmas day, we’ll visit my late husband’s (Jim Pratt) family and watch the kids open presents and later in the day we’ll go to the Maine Vets Home to spend some time with Pete’s dad,” said Pratt. “But my favorite time I look forward
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Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 2, 2010
The hills
Traditions
to the most is New Year’s Day. It’s the one day of the year when I stay in my pajamas all day, watch movies, eat chips and dip, a shrimp ring, and just do absolutely nothing but relax.”
put in the stocking, an orange goes in first,” said Pratt.
from page 3
As friends and families come together to celebrate the season there will b e reunions with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, old friends, and, for some, the return of children home from college. “My oldest son, Alex, will be graduating from the University of Maine in December and my youngest son, Phoenix, will be home on break from Colorado College. So, both of my boys will be home for Christmas along with a west coast friend,” said Debi Irons, renowned dancer and owner/ instructor of Art Moves Dance Studio in Norway. “Lately,” Irons continued, “our tradition has become getting the last Christmas tree at Youngs’ Greenhouse and taking as long as humanly possible to decorate it. “We’ll go to my mother’s house in West Paris on Christmas Eve to visit with family and friends, but what I really look forward to is hours of doing nothing but hanging around the living room talking and laughing about nothing. That’s when we know we’re home – no matter where in the world we are.” For some, being home for the
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holidays and spending time with family is a balancing act when their profession demands their attention elsewhere. Such is the case for Rev. Don Mayberry, pastor of the First Congregational Church of South Paris.
services on Christmas Eve and a return on Sunday for the regular 10 a.m. worship service. But Christmas day is all about family with wife, Judy, and daughters, Sarah and Susie.
“Our Christmas celebration begins at the church with the start of Advent on November 28 when we do the Hanging of the Greens and have a 4 p.m. service,” said Mayberry. “The church family looks forward to celebrating the season with each other through worship and the Christmas music. It is a beautiful and spiritual time.” Mayberry’s time will be in short supply with 7 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
“We’ll be home on Christmas day and Judy and I will take our daily walk, which is a peaceful time for us, and we’ll gather with Judy’s parents in celebration of the day,” said Mayberry. “Christmas is a spiritual day, but you know, every day is a spiritual day – we just don’t always take note of it. The best part of Christmas is that it reminds us of the hopeful possibilities of peace on earth.”
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Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 2, 2010
Christmas stockings are also an important tradition for Gary and Lesley Dean, of Stoneham. “When my first son, Andrew, was born 27 years ago, my mother knit a Christmas stocking for him,” Lesley said. “Then she knit another one when my other son Ryan came along and we could not have Christmas without those stocking even though the boys are adults now.” Christmas also would not be the same without a little Santa bear at the top of the Christmas tree. “I got the little bear the first year Gary and I were married for 1-1/2 books of S & H Green Stamps,” explained Lesley. “We didn’t have much money back then and few decorations for the tree so the Santa bear ended up as the tree topper and has carried out that duty every year since then.” Nine-month old granddaughter, Brynn Dean, will celebrate her
first Christmas this year and a grandson will be born before the holidays arrive. “This will be new beginnings, new traditions, and the passing of old traditions to the grandchildren,” smiled the proud grandmother. Traditions maintained within families from year to year and generation to generation warm the heart and stir special memories that last a lifetime. Maybe it is the heirloom china only used for Thanksgiving dinner or an ornament made in grade school by a child that holds a special place on the Christmas tree.
Whatever is done year after year, be it an item or a practice, is by definition a tradition. It is never too late to start a new tradition and it is guaranteed that it will be a gift that will keep on giving for many years to come.
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Holiday traditions repeat themselves each year By Sharon Bouchard Feature Writer / Photographer
O
ne of the most cherished parts of the holidays are the traditions that are maintained within families and communities. They may be events or objects that hold a place of warmth in the heart or a special
food or decoration that would render the holidays as incomplete without.
lighting events that help make the season bright. Stores staying open on Sunday throughout the holiday season an d, in d ow ntow n N o r way, Ladies’ Night and Men’s Night are shopping traditions that have been around for as long as this writer can remember.
In my home, to have a Christmas Eve without my special sweet ‘n sour meatballs or a Christmas morning without orange Danish would be like the absence of a dear friend or loved one on a special occasion.
Submitted photo
Adorable Brynn Dean, granddaughter of Gary and Lesley Dean, of Stoneham, holds A tradition, which is often passed the tree topping bear. from one generation to the next, may be as simple as placing greatgrandmother’s aged-worn angel on the top of the Christmas tree or
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as grand as a family going to the Nutcracker Suite each year. The Oxford Hills are alive with traditions that the residents look forward to every holiday season starting with the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce-sponsored Christmas parade, always held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. There is also Christmas in Harrison, a tradition that involves the whole town. The area holds such events as annual concerts, plays, and tree
And, all of us, within our own families, have traditions that are an important part of our holidays. For some, it’s the annual visit to the grandparents or the candlelight service on Christmas Eve.
Reese Wales, of Norway, hangs his Christmas stocking on the fireplace mantel.
The Wales family, of Norway, maintains a number of traditions that they hold dear. One is the hanging of a ceramic Christmas tree ornament. “The ornament opens,” said Renee Wales, “and Elijah (age 11) gets to pick out what to place in it and hang it on the tree wherever he wants.”
morning, usually a gif t that comes from one of them. For Reese, his favorite tradition is the hanging of his stocking, which he has had since he was very young. “It’s just a comfortable feeling to have the same stocking every year,” said Reese.
Elijah, along with his older brother, Reese (age 14), started the tradition of having Mom open the first present on Christmas
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For Dundee Pratt, of Norway, an orange in the toe of the Christmas stocking is the tradition that means the most to her. When she was a little girl, Santa always put an orange in the toe of her stocking and that is a practice she maintains every year as she helps Santa fill stockings for everyone in her family. “No matter what else gets
Traditions
page 3 ‰
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“I guess you could say that frantic gift wrapping late into the night on Christmas Eve is another tradition for us,” said Jay Wales, “since Renee and I end up doing it every year.” No doubt that is a tradition practiced in many households.
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Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 2, 2010
Easy, affordable holiday home decorating ideas F
amily, friends and good times – the holidays are here again. While your budget may not be what it was in years past, there’s no reason to trim back your holiday decor. All it takes is a little imagination and some inspiration from decorating experts to create fun, affordable holiday decorations. Here are a few holiday decorating ideas to inspire you. Revive last year’s decorations with new colors. You don’t need to spend a fortune on storebought decorations to add a little sparkle to this holiday season. Change the color palette of older o r nam e nt s an d d e co r atio ns with a coat of Rust-Oleum Ultra Cover 2X spray paint in colors like Colonial Red, Hunter Green, Key Lime, or Apple Red.
Decorate your entryway for the holidays. In addition to stringing holiday lights, use spray paint to create an impressive pathway to your home’s entrance. Paint a wreath silver or gold for a contemporary holiday look. Or add a whimsical touch to patio planters. Use painter’s tape to guide you in painting alternating red and white stripes. Your planters will look like candy canes that came straight from the North Pole. Create a snowman doorstop. Transform a brick or paver into a festive door stop for less than $10. This quick and easy project is a great gift idea you can do with the kids. Thoroughly clean a brick or
paver block and paint it with a coat of Rust-Oleum Universal in Gloss Pure White. When dry, give your snowman earmuffs. Hold the brick or paver vertically and glue black puff balls on both sides of the brick. Connect them with a black pipe cleaner across the top to mimic earmuffs. Next, add a face. Draw eyes and a mouth with a marker and glue on a button nose. Tie on a small piece of fabric for a scarf and you have a snowman doorstop. Count down to the holidays with a custom chalkboard calendar. Use pieces of wood from your local craft store, or from around your home, and coat them with RustOleum Chalkboard Paint. The tint base gives you an array of color options like Fresco Red, School House Green, Peapod Green, and Banner Blue. It creates a writable, erasable chalkboard surface that’s perfect to countdown the days until Hanukkah or Christmas. Erase and use again year after year.
Need more inspiration? Find hundreds of great ideas for personalized gifts on PaintIdeas. com. From projects like customized art easels to decorative votive
holders to accessories for the home, PaintIdeas.com shares project ideas from professional designers and people just like you. (ARA)
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Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 2, 2010
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ou may enjoy regret it when the next holiday season arrives. a rousing rendition of “Deck 3. Mother Nature meets Father Christmas the Halls” when the carolers come a calling. Many of us take for granted the But many time-starved natural beauty that surrounds us each and every day. Even if you hosts struggle to get live in a big city, you can still find the house decked out inspiration – and decorations – nestled amongst nature. Small for the holidays while and pinecones might still having money left stones seem common, but with a little over for gifts. imagination they make great holiday decor. Those boughs of holly aren’t as cheap as they used to be, b ut d e co r atin g yo ur h o m e for the holidays doesn’t need to break the bank. These five simple design tricks from the decorating experts at Country Door, an online and catalog retailer of fering af fordable, contemporary country decor for all seasons, can help you take your home from modest manger to holiday hotspot in no time.
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Minor, near-effortless seasonal decor changes can usher in a fresh new look for any room in minutes. “Look for items that are reversible, such as quilts or throws – they can do double duty in the bedroom as well as the living room,” suggested Ann Bush, president of Country Door. “Centerpieces and other tabletop tableaus are also easy to reinvent for the holidays and can make a big impact when you get creative with your arrangements. Items for display can be collected throughout the year.”
Simply collect small items like stones or acorns and arrange them on a tabletop with artfully placed votive candles. Arrange pinecones around your display. Voila – instant centerpiece. Take your display to the next level by adding height and contrast. Elegant glassware calls attention to your favorite treasures and gives the entire display more impact.
4. Seasonal tabletop swap As the seasons and holidays change, so can your table setting. Anyone can create a breathtaking holiday table setting with their existing dinnerware by adding some festive touches. Use fresh greenery from your Christmas tree or borrow some from your trees outdoors. You can tie a few small stems together with a ribbon and put a bundle near
each place setting. Arrange the sprays around a large bowl as a centerpiece and fill the bowl with fresh fruit and greenery. Oranges, apples, and pears are versatile accents; consider putting dried cloves in the oranges and mixing sticks of fresh cinnamon into your creation for a subtle holiday aroma. Add a few candle holders in the center of the table to complete the scene. For an extra special touch, consider changing the color of your dinnerware set to reflect the holidays. Rustic Red Rooster dinnerware from Country Door is an affordable swap out that doesn’t leave you with an extra set of plates you only use once a year.
5. What’s in your closet? You probably have a junk drawer in your home, but that’s where you can find decorations in the rough. Assorted odds and ends can take on new life when covered with a quick coat of silver or gold metallic spray paint and arranged tastefully on the table. Look for household items you can repurpose for decorating and you’ll be surprised what inspires you. “Consider using stemmed glassware like dessert pedestals to create whimsical holiday tableaus,” suggested Bush. “Simply arranging a few pinecones or metallic Christmas ornaments under glass can make a big impact for very little money.”
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If you give gifts for the holidays, you likely have a box of wrapping paper and ribbon set aside for the occasion. Make that ribbon do double duty – create simple bows and sprinkle them in key locations in your living space. Ribbon also makes a wonderful Christmas tree garland and can be reused year after year. Smart shoppers know ribbon goes on sale the day after Christmas. Stock up and save big at the register and you won’t
Modern merriment: Holiday decor that blends trend and tradition
Assorted odds and ends can take on new life when covered with a quick coat of silver or gold metallic spray paint and arranged tastefully on the table.
Go for colors like fuchsia, apple green, lemon yellow, and turquoise.
T Collect small items like stones or acorns and arrange them on a tabletop with artfully placed votive candles.
At the end of the day, no home is holidayready without your welcoming smile. This is the most dazzling decor you can offer your guests when they walk through your door. With these budget-friendly design tips to inspire you, it’s easy to bring the holidays into your home and still have money left for gifts. After all, ‘tis the season for giving and receiving. (ARA)
Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 2, 2010
he holidays are full of traditions, from big family gatherings down to the simple pleasures like hot cocoa. When it seems like the whole world is in a festive mood, it’s easy to get excited about checking off items on your traditional holiday to-do list, especially when it comes to decorating your home. First, consider the overall decor you want to display. By combining mo dern design and classic traditions of holiday decorating, your home can become memorable – inside and out. An imp or tant, but p erhaps underestimated, element of holiday decorating is lights. Everyone knows they’re necessary, but not many people think outside of the box when it comes to creating a unique display. More
options exist today than ever before, from brilliant white or single colors to an array of jewel tones and all shapes and sizes that can customize your decor. In these energy-conscious times, LED lights should contend for your attention. If their reputation for casting a cold glow has kept you at bay, it’s time to think again. Now, LED lights have the warmer tone that so many people seek while still offering longer life and lower energy expenditures than traditional bulbs. Since you can find them in almost all variations offered by traditional bulbs, your decorating options are wide open. In addition, consider these new spins on holiday decorating: * Pop art: If you’re feeling bold, make your holiday decorations all about of-the-moment color and modern details. Start with an artificial white tree, which you can find at home improvement retailers like Lowe’s, complete with integrated lights that you don’t need to re-string every year. The snowy white branches are the perfect backdrop to make brightly colored glass bulbs and baubles really stand out. Go for colors
like fuchsia, apple green, lemon yellow, and turquoise. For an extra “wow” factor, add even more lights – use multicolored strands that will play on the hues of your ornaments. Make your own tree skirt from brightly colored felt, and glue on small mirrors or silver-tone charms for extra sparkle. * Rustic: Think rich woods, earth tones and, of course, splashes of brick red for this upscale-yetcasual look. Stringing your tree with white and gold lights will give it a warm glow; play on that ambience with raffia garland and ornaments made of natural materials. Hang cable-knit socks on the mantle for another touch of cozy luxury. The key to this look is that it is glowing, rather than shiny. Try wrapping gifts in brown kraft paper and adding pops of color with ribbon in colors that match your decor. * Winter garden: We all love to see plants growing in the middle of winter, and this theme is all about the beauty of living flora. It’s a simple palette, but one that will
Modern page 9 ‰
WESTERN MAINE HOLIDAY
7
Those bloomin’ holiday gifts By Charlie Nardozzi
A
t the holidays, I like to give and receive flowering houseplants. Weeks later, however, after the fruitcakes and candy-canes are gone, these once gorgeous gifts often struggle to survive, much less
to bloom. So here’s a seasonal-care guide that will keep those gift plants looking their best year-round. Gift-plant care rebloom ratings Some holiday plants stay healthy and flower well all year, but others are difficult to grow. Some types are best left to nurseries, and certain plants just won’t survive after flowering. I rate plants as
easy, moderate, or difficult to make bloom again. An “easy” rating is just that: You can hardly stop the plants from reblooming, though they may bloom unexpectedly, because your gift may have been forced to bloom for holiday sale. “Moderate” means that if you adjust the growing environment, rebloom is certain. A “Difficult” rating means a plant requires daily adjustments to light and temperature, and even then it may not flower. Before we explore the requirements of each plant, however, let’s review the care of indoor plants.
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Bloomin’
page 9 ‰
Flowering houseplants often don’t rebloom because of insufficient intensity of (and length of exposure to) light, especially in winter.
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Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 2, 2010
Bloomin’ from page 8
moistened foliage to dry quickly and so prevents leaf diseases. Cold water shocks plants and damages African violets’ leaves. If water drains out immediately, the plant is rootbound, and the rootball may be dry and compacted. To revive the plant, submerge the whole pot in a tub of water to soak the rootball. If the water takes more than five minutes to drain, the drainage holes may be clogged or the soil mix too heavy. Repot with fast-draining soilless potting mix. Water plants like cyclamens and African violets from the bottom.
Modern from page 7
impart an elegant look: creamy white, red, touches of brown and green, green, green. While your tree is a traditional spruce or fir, look for opportunities to incorporate other plant textures, like spongy moss or magnolia leaves that are shiny dark green on the top and velvety brown on the bottom. Poinset tias are a per fec t complement to this look, but this year, they’re going high-tech. At Lowe’s, poinsettias will feature a Microsof t Tag on the label;
Place pots in a tray of water, and let the soil naturally soak up the water. However, once the soil is saturated, don’t leave the pots in the water. Excessively soaked soil may lead to root rot.
Turn on the lights Flowering houseplants often don’t rebloom because of insufficient intensity of (and length of exposure to) light, especially in winter. Without adequate light, plants will become leggy, and they won’t flower. Provide optimal light in winter, especially in regions north of the 38-degree latitude line roughly from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco. In these regions, place plants in a south-facing window with filtered sunlight. Move the plants back to their usual
location by March. In the southern half of the country, keep plants in their preferred locations yearround. However, in both regions, if you notice leggy growth and few flowers, consider placing the plants under full-spectrum grow lights.
Temperature Indoor temperatures of 55 to 70 degrees F. are usually adequate for most flowering houseplants, though tropical emigrants such as holiday cactus and gardenia need cooler temperatures (60 to 65 degrees F.) to set buds. However, avoid placing plants near drafty doors, uninsulated windows, and heat sources.
– Courtesy of the National Gardening Association.
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smart phone users can scan it and instantly learn more about the plant they’re buying and how to care for it, the same tag will also be on the live, freshly cut Christmas trees. Getting started with your holiday decorating projects is as simple as going to your local home improvement store to stock up on what you need. To plan ahead, go to www.lowes.com to browse their holiday decor items before you shop. Then it’s time to get the whole family involved with making your home look holiday-perfect – just another tradition that makes this such a fun time of year. (ARA)
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Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 2, 2010
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9
Turn your holiday decorating into a fun event T
he holidays seem to come around earlier every year – and with the economy still in a funk, everything about this season takes careful planning and budgeting. If shopping early makes the holidays less stressful, then planning early for decorating your home brightens the family’s mood and makes this time of year more fun. When you’re decking the halls, you should remember what the holidays mean – spending time with family and friends and those you love. “Family is the most important thing in my life – and I think most people feel that way,” said Jaclyn Smith, whose Kmart home collection includes fun and inexpensive holiday decor. “So taking time to have family
gatherings in comfortable, inviting, and beautiful surroundings is very important. It’s during these gatherings that new memories are made and old ones are remembered.” Smith has some pointers for helping to make this time of year as joyous – and stressfree – as possible. 1. Choose one high-impact piece or setting and decorate around it. Whether it’s an extravagant centerpiece for your dining room table, a festive mantle or a warm and welcoming entryway, decide on one area where you’ll go all out and choose accent pieces to complement throughout the rest of the house. For example, if you want to make your dining room the focal point, take a large clear vase and fill it with one type of seasonal item: ornamental balls, either multicolored or all the same hue, work well; so do pinecones, small Santa figurines or small wrapped “gifts” (wrap wooden blocks from your children’s toy box). Once you’ve decided on the theme, follow it throughout the house.
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2. Make decorating one of your regular traditions. Involve the kids in as much as is appropriate for their ages. Some of their best holiday memories will be the time spent decorating with the family. Emphasize for them that these moments are what makes this time of year special (not just, as many kids seem to think, tearing open gifts). As much as kids love the other “fun” aspects of the holidays, they also love to help string popcorn, hang tinsel, decide where decorations will be placed, and just being part of the process.
3. Have a home - decorating party. Make decorating an event – choose one day on a weekend, or even a few hours, for the
“family decorating party.” You can even create “invitations” to your fabulous fete. Make hot chocolate and cookies (let your kids help in the preparations) as special snacks for before, during, or after. Set up a few areas where kids can engage in crafts – making those popcorn garlands, creating easily constructed ornament s, whatever your kids would enjoy. Most importantly, just have fun with it. 4. Light up an e n t r y w a y. M a k e your home inviting to guests by adding some sparkle to the doorway. You can go all out, and hang lights around the outside of the doorjamb and along the porch railings. Use LED lights to save energy and money on your electric bill. Stores like Kmart have wonderful selections to match any theme you’ve chosen. Or you can choose to make it as simple FREE Delivery•FREE Haul- Off
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And don’t worry if you don’t think you’ve got an eye for interior decorating – there’s no wrong way to dress up your home for the holidays. You can purchase items that are already coordinated from a themed collection, or you can mix and match your own. Don’t make it a competition with the neighbors, either. Remember, it’s all about what makes you and your family happy, not about what anyone else thinks. (ARA)
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as a lighted wreath adorning your front door. If you go with the latter, you can fashion your own with small strands of LED lights made especially for that purpose, or you can purchase a readymade lighted wreath. However you decide to adorn your home, keep in mind that the process should be a pleasure for you and your loved ones, not an additional stress. Seasonal accessories should be happy reminders of the best parts of the holidays: the love, the warmth, the beauty.
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Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 2, 2010
Decorating for a trendy Christmas on a non-trendy budget
W
e are all watching our wallets closely as we begin to prepare for Christmas. There are children, parents, siblings, friends, teachers, and a host of others for whom we need to purchase gifts. And you’re likely planning to throw at least one holiday gathering that involves large quantities of food and drink.
Remember, though, that your newly transformed ornaments can be used for more than just your tree. You likely have clear glass vases and bowls hiding around your home. Bring them out and add the painted ornaments to create a clever centerpiece on your kitchen table or in a guest bathroom. Write your guests’ names on some ornaments with a metallic leafing pen to mark place settings at dinner or to use as a unique gift tag. Inexpensive terra cot ta pots can easily be transformed into glowing accent lighting for your coffee table, fireplace mantel or buffet. Spray the pots and bases with metallic spray paint and just add candles. To add even more sparkle to your decor, accent fresh greenery and pine garland with glitter spray. Combine with the terra cotta pots for a distinctive centerpiece or easily hang around a door frame, mantel, or entertainment center.
Spice up outdoor festivities While you could always default to last year’s strings of lights and inflatable Santa and reindeer, why not add some more color and distinctiveness to the outside of your home? Instead of the white icicle lights that have adorned your house for the last couple of years, break out those colored lights buried in that dusty box marked “lights of Christmases past.” Red, green, or even blue will help you expand your holiday color palette.
There are creative, cost-effective ways to spruce up your existing decorations with the season’s trendiest colors without breaking the bank.
Then there are your holiday decorations. If you’re like most homeowners, you were planning to simply pull out the lights, ornaments, and adornments that you’ve been using for the last couple of years. But what if you could have all new decorations without the expensive price tag? There are creative, cost-effective ways to spruce up your existing decorations with the season’s trendiest colors without breaking the bank. Here’s a look at some inspired holiday project ideas:
Make your interior merrier Your Christmas tree sets the stage for the holiday theme and feel of your home. Refinishing ornaments is one of the fastest and easiest ways to update your look. Grab a couple of cans of spray paint from your local craft or hardware store, such as Krylon’s indoor/ outdoor paint in colors like satin jade, Catalina mist or blue ocean breeze, to create an entirely new color scheme on which you can build.
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The trees in your front yard were meant to hold more than just lights during the holiday season. Jazz them up with oversized Christmas ornaments painted in complementary colors to your new lighting scheme. You can recycle ornaments you already have or repurpose large round items bought at a flea market or garage sale. A few cans of indoor/outdoor spray paint and some string or hooks will transform your oversized ornaments and make your trees glow with color. Don’t forget the front door and windows. If you’re like most homeowners, you’ve accumulated a number of wreaths over the years. Dig them out of the back of your attic and spruce them up with some spray paint, such as Krylon’s Premium Metallic finish. You can also add new cost-effective embellishments like pinecones, shimmery ribbon or silk flowers. These “upcycled” wreaths will help add warmth to the outside of your home. Whether you’re looking to spice up the inside or outside of your home this holiday season, don’t forget to look around the house and in those boxes of old holiday decorations for objects you can turn into the trendy item of the season on a budget. For more Christmas and holiday project inspiration, visit www. yourholidaystyle.com. (ARA)
Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 2, 2010
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Tips for smart, sensible, and cost-effective holiday decor
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hat lush, towering green fir covered in twinkling lights and pricey ornaments really brightens the holidays for your family, doesn’t it? It also makes the
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merrier yours will be if you can celebrate the season and save some money at the same time. You don’t have to give up spending to save money; you just need to spend wisely on decorations that will offer both long- and short-term savings.
Yes, a real tree brings a special holiday feeling into your home. But a modestly sized 6-footer can cost upwards of $50 on many lots. And, a real tree may or may not live to the end of the year, depending on when it was cut and how long it sat on the lot before you bought it. Artificial trees have come a long way since they first appeared on the scene in the early 1900s. Modern artificial trees look very realistic, are far less messy, come pre-lit and can be used repeatedly for years. Artificial garlands and wreaths also offer many advantages, from a longer usable life to less mess and less risk to children and house pets. The cost of a real poinsettia garland and wreath could be quite high, and the plants pose a poisoning risk, especially to cats.
You don’t have to give up spending to save money; you just need to spend wisely on decorations that will offer both long- and short-term savings.
Artificial versions offer the beauty of fresh plants, but will last years rather than a few short weeks. Light the holidays The holiday season without twinkling lights would be as much fun as Santa without his “Ho, ho, ho!” Each year, lighting accounts for more than 15 percent of Americans’ total electricity consumption, according to the U.S Energy Information Administration. Many of us see a jump in our electric bill during the holiday season – even if we don’t engage in the decorating excesses of Clark Griswold in “Christmas Vacation.” In addition to the expense of powering all those holiday lights is the cost of replacing them year-toyear. Maybe it’s wear and tear, or exposure to the elements outside, but it always seems a light strand never makes it for more than a year or two. A cost-effective alternative may be to switch to LED lights. They’re brighter, generate less heat, use less power than regular lights and can last up to 100,000 hours longer. You’ll pay less to power them and won’t need to replace them every holiday season.
Decorations that make sense You can spend a few dollars every year building a cache of low-cost ornaments, but how long will they last? Holiday decorations are notoriously breakable – after all, they sit out for everyone to see and touch for months at a time. If you want to get more than a single season’s use out of your ornaments and decorations, have small children or pets in your home, or would like something of las ting qualit y, consider alternatives like shatterproof ornaments, por table electric fireplaces or collectibles such as a Christmas village.
Quality decorations don’t just dress up your house, they enhance its atmosphere and your holiday spirit. Good decorations can last for years, and even become family h e i r l o o m s . Fo r e x a m p l e, a Christmas village is something you can collect with your children and even pass on to them someday when they have homes of their own. And electric fireplaces and stoves can create a warm glow throughout the winter, and not just during the holidays. (ARA)
Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 2, 2010