Deck The Halls Without Arguing
Tis’ the season to argue. In Christmas seasons gone-by, my husband and I fought every time we tried to deck the halls. The Christmas tree was always frustrating in some way, whether it was real or artificial, and the outdoor lights gave us nothing but pain and dissatisfaction.
We would come back from some holiday event to find the outside lights drooping from the housetop. Thus the argument began. My husband would sigh, and I would complain until he went back on the ladder, and fixed the problem.
Technology and age have helped us to deck the halls more wisely, so our Christmas together can be merry (also, my lights don’t sag anymore). Free from Yuletide angst, we can look back and laugh at our Christmas pasts.
5 Ways To Deck Your Halls Without Arguing
Outdoor Projector Lights-#1
Aside from my hard plastic Nativity set, our projector lights are my second favorite outdoor Christmas decoration. Outdoor projector lights are easy and beautiful. All you have to do is plug them in and aim. Some sit on a base, while others have a stake. You can get lights that play music, have holiday shapes, or move around in circles. Most of them come with a remote control. When the “As Seen On TV” Star Shower Laser Light first came out in 2015, they flew off the shelves. They were so popular that people began stealing them from their neighbor’s yards. This year, I would love to add one that looks like falling snow to our collection.
Inflatable Christmas Figures-#2
Christmas inflatables are cheerful, colorful, and simple. They come in all shapes and sizes. Snowmen, Christmas Trees, Cartoon Characters, and basically anything else can be found in the inflatable genre. Most 8 to 10 foot figures cost around $50, and last up to 5 seasons. They have LED lighting for nighttime visibility, and inflate in seconds. Plug it in, stake it down, and watch the magic unfold.
We are planning to buy our first inflatable this year. I love the 10 foot Christmas Tree from Walmart. It looks like it came right out of Whoville.
Prelit Artificial Christmas Trees-#3
According to Wikipedia,
In the early 1990s the world’s largest artificial Christmas tree maker, Boto Company (bankrupted in January 2008) started the first production of prelit trees supplied to Target stores. Recent technical advances in the manufacturing process of prelit trees has made them easy to assemble and realistic looking.
History was made. Gone were tangled light strings, the painstaking process of removing each bulb in the string to find the bad one, and buying new sets each year.
Real trees are aromatic and festive, but they require watering, stabilization, and daily vacuuming underneath. If you love your Frasier Fir, you can always alternate yearly between an artificial tree and a live tree.
You Don’t Have to Use All Your Decorations Every Year-#4
It took me a long time to allow myself to follow this rule of thumb. For some reason I felt guilty if I didn’t use everything. This year I’m only going to use black and red plaid, and gold ornaments (with a touch of green) on my new silver Christmas tree. I plan to follow the black plaid theme throughout the house, without guilt, right down to the wrapping paper. I can always drag everything out next year.
Buy Gifts Online-#5
From 2-day shipping to endless amounts of products, Amazon changed the online shopping game. Other retailers followed suit. As a result, consumers have an amazing plethora of companies offering special deals to compete for their shopping dollars.
How did it all begin? After noticing an increase in sales on the Monday after Thanksgiving, Ellen Davis and Scott Silverman coined the term “Cyber Monday” on November 28, 2005, in a Shop.org press release. To read more about the history of Cyber Monday, use this link:https://www.rd.com/culture/history-of-cyber-monday/
Since then, Cyber Monday has showed no signs of slowing. Shoppers spent over 3 billion dollars on Cyber Monday in 2017. In fact, online holiday sales begin so early nowadays, Cyber Monday may be succeeded by “Cyber Week” and “Black November.”
Exchange your “Deck The Halls” guilt with more time to focus on your beautiful family, and the birth of our Savior and Lord.
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
To read another Christmas post, use this link: https://lovemycottage.wpengine.com/martha-stewart-dinnerware-is-forever-linked-to-our-family-at-christmastime/
This post is linked to: Our Crafty Mom, The Thrifty Couple
Tonita says
This is a lovely post and I think I now what to order that snow projection gizmo.
I love the ending of your post about putting our attention on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He gives me breath and I give him praise.
Also like your tip about not having to pull out our whole holiday stock and that it is okay to use just a few things instead of all the things we have in our storage units to decorate for the holidays. I downsized from a 3 bedroom home to a tiny vintage farmhouse of only 570 sq feet. I have to practice this method of rotating ornaments each year as I have collected a lot of treasures over the years and can only use a small portion of what i actually own. Rotating items each year works great. The important thing is CHRIST. Many blessings.
Kristie Schubert says
I loved your comments! I think the hardest thing about picking and choosing for me is trying not to be swayed by my childrens’ expectations. My youngest wants to know why we aren’t using ALL the ornaments. Sigh.
Mother of 3 says
We live on a dead end road so we don’t have to decorate the outside; a simple wreath and welcoming doorstep is just enough for those few visitors we get around the holiday and while I ask my husband and boys to help carry boxes up from the basement I tend to decorate the house by myself. I enjoy it and they don’t really like it or care what it looks like. I too have just started not putting out everything every year and I like to mix and match what I do put out. Pinned.
Kristie Schubert says
That is a great strategy! Maybe I need a house on a dirt road.