‘Tis the season curlfriend! The Holiday season is definitely my favorite time of the year. Growing up my parents made Christmas so special, and every year around this time, I get really pumped and go all out!
For me, the Holiday season starts the minute it gets cold in Houston. Fall brings so many fun Holidays (Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas) and I’m the happiest this time of the year.
While many people tend to go from Halloween to full on Christmas mode, I like to celebrate each Holiday properly. I think it’s important to slow down for Thanksgiving, take a moment to be thankful and appreciate this time period. Growing up, Thanksgiving and Christmas were a big deal and we would gather with family and friends around a good meal, and this is a tradition I’d like to pass on to my children.
While I’m enjoying the Harvest season, I still prepare for Christmas. So right before Thanksgiving, I bring out all of my Christmas decor out of storage. I like to work on my decor all night during the week and on weekends, which my husband hates, because I keep asking him to help while he’d rather just sit on the couch and watch football.
Christmas is a very special time, and I go out every year. I lost count of how many brown Santas I have around the house! The key to enjoying the Holidays is to plan ahead and be prepared. Here are my top 5 tips to get your game plan together, stage your house and prepare for the Holidays:
- Improve your technique
I have garland going down my stairs and on every fireplace, needless to say that it’s a lot of work. However, I get better at it every year and last year I discovered wired twine. My garland is very heavy because of all the bells and bows on it, so I find that wired twine holds it so much better than rope. I buy green wired twine so it blends seamlessly with my garland. I ask my kids to help me and I have them hold it while I slowly wrap the garland with twine around the stairs foot by foot and cascade it down. I also use thumb tacks and that same method to hold my garland around my fireplace.
- Stick to a theme
At our house, we have about 7 trees around the house. We have our main Christmas tree (a huge fake tree that we’ve had for a couple years now), my children’s tree, one on our landing and four trees at the front and back doors.
Generally, I tend to stick with the traditional Red and Gold Christmas colors, but I like to add a pop of blue, teal and purple (I went to school in New Orleans). I love to set up my tree with traditional colors and a pop of NOLA swag Christmas decorations (peacocks with long blue feathers, cardinals, etc.) just to add some glam and pizzazz. I personally feel like you cannot have a Christmas tree without red in it…it just doesn’t shine as bright!
My kids’ tree is right outside of my son’s bedroom. I get them shatterless ornaments from Costco and they decorate it as they wish. I give them the task of decorating other small trees around the house to get them ready for the main Christmas tree. Yes…I am THAT mom that says…”um…let’s put that ornament on your tree.” LOL!
- Manage your budget
My biggest advice is to not try and buy your decorations all in one year. Holiday decor is a collection that takes years to build. Each year, figure out your budget, pick a color and buy a little bit at a time. My other advice is to buy big pieces. These don’t have to be expensive, for example, they have these big plastic/aluminum balls that might look cheesy when you’re holding them in the store, but look GORGEOUS from afar. Another tip is to buy different textures of the same color, which will give you a sense of dimension. Large ribbons are a great way to decorate as they take so much real estate on your tree that you won’t need as many ornaments. Use a wired ribbon and artfully wrap it through your tree (not just on top) to fill out any empty spots. This takes extra work, but it looks really nice.
- Order ahead of time
My other tip for all of you out there where Santa still visits your house (as he still does mine), is to order NOW. Popular items and delivery dates will be tight this year because of Covid-19, so take advantage of those annual holiday sales (like ours) and start shopping!
If you have the ability to do so, have your big gifts delivered to your workplace and wrap them there. At our house, at midnight on Christmas Eve it gets crazy, so it’s easier for me to get our gifts wrapped at the office, cart them to the house and put them under the tree.
- Breathe and Have FUN!!!
Most importantly, remember to step back and let it go. If you get over stressed about Christmas decorating, then it’s not fun for anybody. (Trust me…I have been there!) There are some times where I’ve overdone it and I have learned that I have to let it go, pour myself a nice hot bath and a glass of wine and take time to relax, unwind and rejuvenate. One way to relieve the stress on you (and your family) is to get the help of teenagers — who actually still enjoy Christmas decorating — and throw a few bucks their way. This puts cash in their pocket to buy much needed gifts while taking the burden off of you.
I hope my tips help you navigate the Holiday season…stress-free! Stay safe everyone and have a wonderful Holiday!
xoxo
Renee @lifebyrenee
