Choosing The Perfect Christmas Lights For Your Indoor Christmas Tree

Photo credit: christmaslightsetc.com

Christmas lights complete a Christmas tree. A Christmas tree is not as sparkly and attractive when not adorned with these little colorful or monochromatic themed lights that make it more interesting.

There are plenty of Christmas lights available in the market these days. There are rope lights, bulbs, traditional mini lights, icicle lights and net lights. And with the numerous selections you have, it will be a bit confusing to know which indoor Christmas lights are right for you. Here are tips to help you choose the perfect Christmas lights for your Christmas tree.



Take your Christmas tree’s size and height into consideration

The bigger the tree the more Christmas lights it needs and the bigger the size of the lights must go with it. A Christmas tree that is just below 5 feet will look too crowded when you put big Christmas lights like the bulbs. Choose the traditional of mini lights to complement the size of the tree. And as your tree becomes bigger, the size of the Christmas lights will have to go bigger too.


Know what color motif you want for your Christmas tree

If you have decided to go multi colored with plenty of splashes of color on your ornaments, you may want to tone it down with a monochromatic Christmas lights. A soft and light yellow will be a nice Christmas lights for a multicolored or block-colored theme Christmas tree. The lights will reflect on the shiny ornaments giving your tree the illusion of a multi-color lights.

You can opt for multi colored Christmas lights for white Christmas trees to accentuate the ornaments and bring more color to the tree’s solid color.


Steady lights, twinkly or one that dances with the music

There are plenty of Christmas lights now that dances to the Christmas tunes which plays from the small box attached to the control of the Christmas lights series. You can buy steady lights only or get a series of Christmas lights that twinkles or consider buying state of the art Christmas lights that also plays music while the Christmas lights dances asynchronous with the music.



If you’re unsure of what to choose, you can always refer to ChristmasLightsEtc.com and check out the many type of Christmas lights they have in stock. You can also have an idea by checking various home, and Christmas magazines to help you in your decision and design process.

My Type Of Christmas Tree Decoration

We recently bought a slim, 6 ft. tall artificial Christmas tree. It's similar to Scotch Pine with bushy leaves so the whole trunk is covered. I love Christmas trees that are bulky and chunky looking because I want it to look so real and the leaves have to be sturdy enough to carry all those pretty ornaments I will hang.

Our humble 2012 Christmas tree

Our theme this year is blue and silver and few touches of red. We had the same theme 2 years ago so we just recycled whatever we have already. The only addition to the ornament is the NYC circular ornament we got last Oct. 2012 from New York. My hubby had a light bulb moment when he purchased the NYC ornament. We thought of buying similar ornaments from around the world. So the next time we travel to another country or even in US states, we will definitely get one of that.

Our tree is quite simple in terms of decoration. I don't feel like over doing the decor since we won't be spending the Christmas here in Dubai anyway. I told my husband that we'll go crazy like the one below when we have our dream house because I prefer having a very tall Christmas tree so there'll be enough room to adorn it.

Photo credit: trendytree.com

Put the Bling on the Tree

UAE has done it again! Although it is still not official but it may become soon once the title is given to the most expensive Christmas tree in Abu Dhabi.

The Christmas Tree worth US$ 11 million is on display at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. The tree is decked not with ordinary ornaments made of baubles but of precious and very expensive necklaces, earrings, bracelets, watches and precious stones.

They just put the "bling" on the tree and quite literally.

(Photo credits: Yahoo.com/AFP)

The Big Tree

It is that time of the year again. The crisp air smells of holiday spices. The coolness of the season keeps families gathered in their homes by the fireplace, sipping hot cocoa and enjoying each other's company. Amidst the gleeful spirit of the holiday is a tree - either it is from the line of Artificial Christmas Trees or the real deal - that stands on the corner of the house, witnessing the cheery feel of the atmosphere. The Big Tree is up again.

Many people are eager to feel the holiday spirit by buying Christmas Trees as early as November. It does not matter what kind of Christmas Trees people prefer for their home this time. The objective is to have one at home where people can gather around and decorate as a family.

Choices of Christmas Trees vary from White Christmas Trees to the traditional greens. Some company are being very creative with their offers too. Some artificial Christmas trees are even colored pink, red or yellow. The live Christmas Trees are also the favorite of many because of the natural scent of pine and the nature it emits at home. The scent adds extra feel of the Yuletide season.

The Christmas Tree will always be a part of the holiday season. It is one of those things that makes Christmas homey and full of loving memories from families who are celebrating the joyous occasion.

The Trees of Christmas

Christmas brings forth good tidings and warm feelings. Adding more fun to that jovial spirit are the gift-giving, holiday festivities and the decorations.

One of my favorite Christmas decorations are the Christmas Trees. A Christmas Tree adds that special feeling of warmth and coziness to a home. There are a wide variety to choose from pertaining to ones preference. There are real ones, artificial, white and even some made from indigenous materials like corn husks. I have seen some in my home country and they are just lovely!

Artificial Christmas Trees these days are a far cry from what we used to have when I was young. The artificial Christmas Trees we used to put up were so simple. They were made of plastic and the needles were the tinsels. Although I see them as pretty but the leaves were not enough to cover the branch so you could see the mid-section. They were like malnourished Christmas Trees even when they were decked with ornaments. However, there has been a remarkable evolution on the presentation of artificial Christmas Trees in the modern times. You can now get wide-bodied Christmas Trees, slim or narrow-bodied Christmas Trees, realistic evergreen colored ones, White Christmas Trees, decked with real pine cones on the PVC branches, some with clear or colored lights, some even rotates on their stands, two or three-tone green needles, different colored Christmas Trees other than the usual evergreen or white, foldable branches for easy storage, Christmas Trees with frosted needles and very huge Christmas Trees! The choices are plenty. The quality is superb and the presentation these days is almost believable. You cannot make out if they are artificial or not because they look realistic.

So, no matter what your preference is regarding Christmas Trees. I am sure that you will find something that you will love and eagerly take home to decorate.

Oh Christmas Tree

The Christmas air is here, silently announcing the arrival of the holiday season. It is time to put up the Christmas decors and everything related to the Yuletide season.

Winter season here is rather short. One would even barely notice its passing if not for the cold breeze on your face and the longer nights. Last week, we put up our artificial Christmas tree. It is the only one we can have since we live in a very hot and humid region in this part of the globe. It is for that reason that we cannot put up real christmas trees much as our hearts desire it. The trees must be able to survive the climate here in the Middle East so they can carry on until New Year's.

I am really fascinated with live christmas trees. I enjoy seeing Christmas photos sent by our families and friends in the US specially when they are next to their real Christmas trees. I imagine the fresh scent of these trees filling their abode. It must be wonderful!

I am so tempted to get a real one this time and check out the christmas tree delivery service if I have the tree shipped here in the Middle East. I have yet to try it though and see if the live tree will withstand the humid conditions of this country.

Oh well, it is not bad to dream of having a real Christmas tree this time. We may not have a real one now but who knows. Maybe in few years time, we will be celebrating our white Christmas in the US with our very own real Christmas tree.

Clay Art - Christmas Collection Part 1

As promised, here are the first of the Christmas Collection clay art my daughter and I made. Our medium is still the Sculpey III Polymer Clay which can be baked. My daughter made most of them except for the Christmas Tree (which I happily made for her). We used cookie cutters for the shapes and the rest were from our creative brain juices =) Their sizes are approximately 1.5 inches to 2.5 inches high. Hope you like them!

THE CHRISTMAS COLLECTION

Here's Mr. Gingerbread Man, fresh from the oven...notice the crack on his arm? Almost got him over-baked...hahaha.

The Christmas Tree I made for my daughter. She loved it a lot.

The Christmas Cane

The Christmas Reversible Star. Now it's GOLD...

& NOW it's SILVER!

The Christmas Bell

Coming Soon - Clay Arts!

It's been a while since my daughter and I tinkered on our Sculpey clay arts. We have already made several collections for posting but need to take pictures of them first. We have made some sweet treats and fashionable handbag collections too but will post them later.

Christmas is fast approaching and our theme for our upcoming clay arts are ornaments. Watch out for our new collections soon on this space!

Budget Holiday Decorating

Times are hard these days. Even ordinary looking Christmas ornaments can cost a fortune now. Here are simple tips to get you through the decorating mood of the season while not having to burn your pockets.

Tip 1:

Don't throw out those old Christmas baubles. Instead, revamp their look by adding beads or glitters or cute ribbons (those excess from last year's gifts!!!). That should do the trick! Your baubles will look new and gleaming!

Tip 2:

Old socks? Loose garters on those not-so-old socks? Holes maybe? Well, give your socks a second lease in life by using them as Christmas stockings. If you don't have colorful socks to spare, just dye them in Christmas hues of green, red and yellow. If you feel like being girly or boyish, a deep shade of pink or blue will also do. I have old socks here which I converted to stockings. I stitched some scrap textiles I got from old rags that I am about to throw. Now I have a very economical Christmas stockings to be filled with "love."

Tip 3:

Decorate your table with a great centerpiece which will not cost you a cent! Well, this you can only do if you have spare Christmas ornaments you don't feel like putting up on the tree. In my case, I used my spare baubles which I redecorated to look like new, glistening baubles. I placed them on a colored bowl and viola! My very own Christmas mantle decoration. Here is another option, if you live near evergreens or coniferous areas, maybe you can pick up some of those pine cones. Put some glitters or sequins on some of their tips and put them on a colored bowl instead of the baubles. That's another option. Living here in the Middle East does not give me that option to use so I would stick on my old Christmas baubles.

Tip 4:

Going back to ribbons. Use them as additional decors to your Christmas tree. Red and bright greens will be perfect but any other color will be just fine.

Tip 5:

This will require a printer connection and a pc. Download some cute Christmas cartoon pictures and stick them on nice, used card boards. Ask the help of the little elves (in our case, our children) to cut-out the cartoons. Make sure your kids are old enough to handle scissors. Now, punch a hole and put some colorful thread or yarn and put on your Christmas tree or just hang on a clothes line and put little clips on them as Christmas cartoon swags.

Those are just few of the many other ways we can decorate during the holidays in a strict budget. If you have more tips to share, please feel free to leave a comment so everyone can enjoy the Holiday without having to feel guilty by spending on unnecessary things.

Enjoy! Let those creative juice flow.

I have a Christmas Wish for Santa

I have fond memories of my childhood. My siblings and I used to peek on the stairway railings and would see "Santa" placing presents under our Christmas tree. He would also eat the cookies and drink the chocolate drink my siblings and I placed on the coffee table. My parents told us how Santa could grant our wish if our names were in the "nice list." So we would do everything we could to behave properly, to follow orders and just be good little boys and girls. Oh the sweet memories...

I have always believed that there is a Santa and that he grants wishes for those who believe. I grew up having that belief in my heart. Got a Wish Sweeepstakes can just make that happen for me now that I am all grown up. It is easy to join and you might just be the lucky winner of $500. Just enter the sweepstakes for free but you have to be 18 and above years old and a resident of the US to qualify. There is also a portion there where you can upload a picture and see the effects. I chose the picture of my family so that I am always reminded of the warm memories of my youth.

CEIVA, the company responsible in bringing this wonderful sweepstakes is offering unique and great gift ideas such as the photo frame. The frame is not just your ordinary table-top kind of frame. It displays pictures from anywhere else in the world without having to connect to a PC or having to download or upload to the frame itself. It also has wi-fi so that receiving and sending of pictures is easy as learning a-b-c! A built-in memory card reader is also an added feature.

So, do you want to tell Santa your wish this Christmas?

Christ in Christmas

You can feel it in the air. Christmas is just around the bend. This is my most favorite holidays of all holidays. I just love the feeling of peace, love, sharing and goodwill happening at this season. I enjoy seeing kids jump with glee when they see what's inside their wrapped gifts. I get excited too when I see my own daughter pace in anticipation few hours before midnight of 24 December, waiting to open her gifts and making a beehive around the Christmas tree. It's that season again.

Malls are decorated with festive ornaments to remind consumers of gift-buying. Minced pies are being baked again for bulk orders. Christmas Yule Logs will soon fill the shelves of bakeries and goody shops. It's that season again.

The weather is getting chilly. You throw in warm blankets and put in socks and mitts. You sit by the fireplace drinking hot cocoa and chat with family and friends over some fine wine and cheese. It's that season again.

Christmas is not just gift-giving, the camaraderie in the air, the joyous festivities we will all share with family and friends. It is the time for Christ as he is the reason for the season. Let's all not forget to remember to put back the CHRIST in Christmas.

What do you have to say? - about Christmas