Is your to-do list for the approaching holidays turning your sugarplum visions into nightmares? Before you stress-eat an entire plate of Santa’s cookies or fashion a noose out of tinsel garland, see these tips for simplifying your life during the most wonderful (and busiest) time of the year.
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1. Festive Fruit (No Cake Required)
Keep
centerpieces simple. Fill a glass jar or bowl with fruits, nuts, or
monochromatic baubles. Going with a monochromatic theme, for example using all red
apples or at least all red fruits, will keep the chaos in check.
2. Cards Hung with Care
Incorporate
holiday cards from previous years into your décor by fastening them to a string
with clothespins and then running the string between two vases. You might want
to put them in chronological order, especially if they have family pictures on
the front. For an extra special touch, write dates on the clothespins with a
marker.
 photo:
marthastewart.com |
3. Card Garlands
Have limited horizontal
surfaces to display your cards? Try stringing them vertically in a bare corner
of the living room. This will keep them out of the way, yet visible for easy
perusal.
4. Cheer All
Around
Who says
seasonal decorations should be confined to the living room? Give your kitchen
some extra cheer by hanging a few ornaments in the window. Wrapping potted
plants in burlap tied with red yarn gives the lanai a seasonal flair.
5. Keep it Sweet
Functionality
and cuteness meet with these easy-to-make decorations from Real Simple. String tin cookie cutters of assorted holiday shapes
like angels, bells, and stars on pretty ribbons. Tack them to a window casing
or a doorframe.
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6. That’s a Wrap
Tired of unruly
rolls of unused wrapping paper? Buy paper and ribbons in solid colors, and aim
for colors besides traditional red and green. This way you can use them well after the holiday season is
over.
7. Make a List, Check it Twice
Before you brave the holiday shopping crowd, arm yourself with a
budget and a gift list. This will keep you from forgetting anyone or from
spending more money than you intend. Organize
your list according to store departments, so you only have to make one sweep
through each store.
8. In Black and
White
Give
your home even more holiday spirit with Christmas trees made from stacked,
newspaper squares. Don’t forget to add some shimmer with glitter on the outside.
This is a fun project from Martha Stewart
Living that not only allows you to recycle your old newspapers but also
keeps the kids busy while you finish other tasks.
 photo:
marthastewart.com |
For more stories like this: art, Cool Stuff, Furnishings & Accessories, Green, Holidays, Paint
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