The challenge with decorating for the holidays is making an impact without damaging your wallet. Christmas ornaments, wreaths, and trees can cost a lot, but you can lessen the expense this holiday season. This tree, decorate a wonderful Christmas tree on a budget with these easy and affordable ideas!
 
Take Advantage of Sales
 
Never underestimate the power of sales! In holiday decorating, the most expensive item is the Christmas tree. If you prefer a real tree, the cost varies depending on your location. Also, local farms have more affordable trees than the big retailers. If you like artificial trees, you can always take advantage of various online sales! Everything from trees and wreaths to ornaments are put on sale months before winter comes in. You can search the web, and even their brick-and-mortar counterparts, for a more affordable Christmas tree plus holiday decorations for your home!
 
DIY It!
 
Another option if you want to create a beautiful Christmas tree on a budget is to make your own ornaments. Making DIY ornaments doesn’t cost as much as buying new ones. Aside from that, these décor pieces also give you the chance to be as creative as you want, and they allow you the leeway to use the colors you prefer.
 

 
Our family room, which houses the Kennedy Fir wreath and tree, was the simplest and quickest to decorate. For ornaments, we hung the  cinnamon apple sauce ornaments I made with my kids. These DIY decorations were affordable (costing $14 all in all) and make dozens. The biggest cost for this project was the baker’s twine I ordered from Amazon.  For $8, you get a huge spool of twine.  I’ve used it for two different ornament projects and it doesn’t look like I made a dent in it.  I am planning to use it for gift wrapping as well.
 

 
I also hung on the tree several Sculpey clay and salt dough ornaments that I made with my friend, Joanna. If you’re planning to go the cheaper route, salt dough ornaments are definitely the way to go. I was inspired by these ornaments from Oleander and Palm.
(more…)

Texture was the highlight of our previous series post, and in it, we learned how to make a room more interesting and how to add texture to your space using different ways. For this month’s Home Décor 101 post, we’ll go straight-up Christmas using an inspiration piece for your holiday décor.
 
In this month’s Home Décor 101 post, we’ll talk about:

• Finding your inspiration piece
• How to glean Christmas decorating ideas using your inspiration piece
• How to use those ideas in action

With your inspiration piece, you’ll be able to create a wonderful theme for your Christmas decorations this year!
 

Finding Your Inspiration Piece

 
I love inspiration pieces, and I use them often when changing up our décor! An inspiration piece is an item that you want to use in your décor, building your room’s design around it.
 
(more…)

As you gear up for the multitude of parties, dinners, and get-togethers this holiday season, always remember to prepare a simple yet thoughtful gift for the hostess to show your appreciation for her hard work and hospitality.

Cyber Monday is a good opportunity to find great deals on gift items while still enjoying the comforts of home. Read our list of gift ideas under $30 and find that gracious gift that’s guaranteed to get you invited to the best parties again and again.

1. Box of beautiful chocolates

A sweet work of art from Mariebelle

After a fabulous party, your hostess will love unwinding with a box of delicious chocolates. This collection of fine chocolates from MarieBelle features beautiful artwork which makes them an extra luxurious treat. Made from high-quality single-origin chocolate and with tempting flavors such as Kona Bean, Rosemary, Saffron, and Mojito, these chocolates are in a class of their own.

(more…)

Perk up your next Christmas get-together with a fresh take on classic holiday celebrations. Your family and friends will truly appreciate these easy, creative, and fun ideas that are brimming with Christmas cheer.

1. Progressive Dinner

A progressive dinner is a fun and inexpensive way to reconnect with friends and neighbors during the holiday season. It involves your group going to each other’s homes for each course of the meal. A traveling party requires less work and expense, and everyone gets the chance to play host.

Appetizing appetizers

Plan around three to four courses. Start with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, and follow it with a first course of soup, salad, or pasta. Next, have the main course along with side dishes, then end with dessert. Try to make the menu consistent by keeping to a specific theme or cuisine, such as Italian or French.
(more…)

Each year, it’s seems that the shopping phenomenon called Black Friday grows in popularity. Heck, some stores are even opening on Thanksgiving this year! For me, however, the day after Thanksgiving is about relaxing and spending time with the family. So if you want to avoid the shopping madness the day after Thanksgiving and spend a little more time with your family, here are some fun and easy Black Friday alternatives.
 
Shop Online
 

 
If you want to buy presents for your family and friends but you don’t want to compete with the throngs of people in retail shops, go online. There are also plenty of amazing sales on the web if you know where to look for them, and you don’t even have to go outside!
 
(more…)