Christmas

The Belated Buying Guide: 6 Time Sensitive Tips For Deadline-Driven Gift Shopping

September 27, 2017 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Well, it’s almost that time of year again folks!

You know what I mean. That “most wonderful time of the year,” and yet in reality, the lead up to it can feel more like absolute chaos.

No matter how organized we say we’ll be, the idea and impending task of Christmas shopping seems to send the majority of us into a sense of madness. That fear that creeps up on us, before the hurried dash to buy all those last minute gifts.

So, to take some of the stress out of seasonal present preparations, here are six tips to help those of you beat the rush, subdue the panic, and meet that looming deadline for fantastic gifts.

Shop online

So many of us hate going into the shops at this busy time of year, especially men. Let’s admit it. How many of us have done the last minute race to buy a gift? However, you don’t have to worry, online shopping can reduce the hassle, and you don’t have to go anywhere. No crowds, no car park rage, it’s a Christmas miracle!

Yes, shopping online may be considered more of a millennial idea, but so long as you plan, sites such as Yellow Octopus can have your man’s perfect gift to him ready in time for the main day.

Get in first

If you are brave (or crazy) enough to front up to the retail stores in the last few days, plan your shopping time. Get to the shopping centre/mall early enough so that you can map out the stores.

If you have to drive a fair distance, plan your quickest route to get there. This can help reduce the stress of parking and the mass of crowds as you try to get to the corresponding store for each related gift.

Make a list

We all know how Santa’s song goes “…He’s making a list and checking it twice.”

However, when working to a deadline, taking a tip from the jolly man and making a list probably isn’t such a bad idea. Write out all the gifts and corresponding people for whom you want to buy a gift and mark them off as you purchase each one.

Then check that you have bought for all on your list. This way you will have “checked it twice.”

Office secret Santa

Now we all know about deadlines when it comes to our workplace. However, that doesn’t mean it can’t have a little festive cheer.

Forbes has some great gifts that work well for the office, aren’t expensive and will suit everyone, from the organised colleague to your supervising manager.

Gift vouchers

Yes, now we come to what would be inclined to be the lazy person’s way out.

However, if you know your person’s favourites, this can save you a large amount of time and hassle.

If your receiver loves movies, a gift voucher to their local cinema can be a great choice. Those such as the Village Cinemas gift shop offer cards for Gold Class or All Inclusive Experience.

Appeal to their likes

If you’re really stuck for a gift, think of what they like. Are they someone with a sweet tooth?

Based in Queensland, Moo – Lolly Bar sells a great range of confectionery that you can buy in bulk, which you can send to anyone from colleagues, to your family and friends. They ship nationwide; including rural areas and you can buy online, a perfect idea for any chocoholic.

There are my six time sensitive tips to help you meet your gift-buying deadline. I hope the festive season is kind to you, and also to your wallet.

3 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do With Christmas Lights

October 10, 2016 by Painter Mommy 2 Comments

Did you think Christmas lights were only for winding through the branches of firs and spruces during that festive season? Think again. Christmas lights are a versatile way to decorate for your parties at any time of year. Discover three things you didn’t know you could do with Christmas lights.

Add Glamour to a Roaring ’20s Party

Glamorous 1920s-themed parties have become all the rage since the release of Baz Luhrmann’s film “The Great Gatsby.” The era was all about decadence, and Christmas lights can set the scene beautifully.

You’ll need a lot of Christmas lights to pull off this look, so the approach is perfect for people who decorate their home like the Griswolds in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” If you don’t have enough lights already, you can often find great discounts at sales throughout the year.

String the lights across every surface you can. White lights work best here, because they look a little like crystals glimmering in the night. All those lights can draw a lot of power, so consider choosing energy-efficient LED strings of lights from suppliers such as Christmas Lights Etc instead of traditional Christmas lights.

Light Up a ’60s-Themed Party

Christmas lights can be used in many ways to make your ’60s-themed party groovier. From tie-dyed fabrics to lava lamps, this decade was all about color, so you’re best served with brightly colored lights, not plain white ones. Simply stringing colored Christmas lights around your party will give it a groovy glow. However, if you have more time on your hands, you can get a little more creative.

Knot strips of tulle around a ribbon and tape it to the edge of the table where you’ve got your chips and dips or a retro cheese ball. Wrap some Christmas lights around the legs of the table, underneath the tulle, and turn them on. The lights will shine through the tulle, making your spread look even cooler.

If you have time, you could also make a twinkling peace sign wall hanging. Cut the peace sign out of a large piece of wood and drill holes through the design, following its lines. Poke colored Christmas lights through the holes, turn on the lights, and wait for the compliments to roll in.

Transport Your Guests to the Islands at a Hawaiian Party

We can’t always get away to tropical Hawaii, but with the right Christmas lights, you can re-create time on the islands at home. Any Hawaiian-themed party needs a tiki bar serving exotic cocktails such as mai tais and piña coladas. To add the right island atmosphere to your tiki bar, string up some Christmas lights. The idea sounds strange, but many colored Christmas lights actually look a lot like the lights that decorate island bars. Lights that have large bulbs, such as raspberry LED mini lights, are ideal for your Hawaiian celebration.

If you pack your Christmas lights away in January, you’re not using them to their full potential. With these ideas, you can enjoy these lights when the holiday season is long gone.

Image via Flickr by MsSaraKelly

6 Simple Ideas for Outdoor Christmas Decorations

December 16, 2014 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Decorating your yard for Christmas can get expensive and time consuming. You can’t just not decorate for Christmas this year, though! Why not cut out the hard work and big price tags and use one of these simple outdoor Christmas decoration ideas instead?

Mason Jar Lighting

Recycling mason jars to use in your holiday decor is super simple and cuts out the price of buying fancy lights. One thing you can start out with is simply stuffing the jars with strings of Christmas lights and setting them up along your porch or walkway. ChristmasLightsEtc.com shares a super helpful infographic that details how to do this lighting trick, along with other ones. Using mason jars doesn’t stop there, though. If you’re ambitious and have the right materials, a holiday-inspired mason jar chandelier can brighten up your porch this Christmas season.

Image via Flickr by Chiot’s Run

Backlit Cutouts

If you don’t have a lot of money this year to spend on decorations, then taking on this simple DIY project could be just the thing for you. Simply use a jigsaw to cut out your shape, such as a snowman, Christmas tree, or Santa Claus, on a piece of plywood. Prop up the plywood in your yard in front of a light to create a backlit effect. Need more detailed instructions? Check out this guide to building your own Christmas backlit cutout.

Glowing Holiday Globes

One of the biggest contributions to your holiday decor will be the lighting you place in your front yard. Attaching string lights to your home can be a hassle, but glowing holiday globes make lighting your outdoors simple. Pick up these glowing frosted globes from nearly anywhere selling Christmas decor. Then place them around your porch or lawn to get an easy and festive effect.

You don’t want your décor to look completely random, though. Consider grouping these globes together in a bird bath or setting them up along your walkway. You can even hang them from your porch if you have the time. You can also find floating lighted globes that you can place in your pond or swimming pool to keep things bright and interesting this holiday season.

Dressed Up Door

If you don’t have the time to do anything else this year, at least put up decorations near your front door. Since that’s more or less the centerpiece of your home, it will be the first thing people notice. Start by adding a wreath to the front door, which you can easily make yourself out of twigs, evergreen branches, pinecones, and other things you might find around the house. You can also buy an inexpensive wreath from any store selling Christmas decorations.

Next, add a string of garland or lights around the perimeter of your door. For a final touch, add something simple next to the door, like a planter filled with fake candy canes or even a small Christmas tree.

Winter Evergreens

For a super simple Christmas decoration, simply put out small Christmas trees in your yard or on your porch. Just make sure to place them strategically so that they’re aesthetically pleasing. Use real or fake trees, and put them in planters to keep them upright. If you have the time, add a few strings of lights and maybe even some ornaments to the trees. If you already have an evergreen or two living in your yard, all you need to do is dress it up with some lights and you’ll be good to go.

Holiday Bench Decor

Do you have a bench sitting on your front porch? Chances are no one’s going to be using it during the chilly weather. Why not put that surface to use? All you need for your holiday bench decor is a selection of evergreen branches, pinecones, and ornaments. Arrange these objects on the bench until you’re pleased with the holiday spirit they bring to your front porch. If you want to add an extra touch to the mix, sprinkle a light dusting of snow atop the arrangement.

Which one of these ideas will you use to decorate your yard or porch this holiday season?

Shopping Online for Christmas Gifts

December 23, 2010 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

I did most of my Christmas shopping online this year. It beats having to drag all the kids out of the house in the cold and deal with the crowds. But there are both positives and negatives to Online Shopping.

Positives:

Ability to price-compare on various stores
Avoid the hassle of going out, finding parking, and dealing with crowded stores
Less chance of other impulsive purchases
Shipping right to your door
Access to unique items that others may not have or buy already

Negatives:

Items may get back-ordered and you may be scrambling for a gift last minute
Sales may be better in the stores and not reflected online
You don’t get to physically see or touch the product
Product may arrive damaged during shipping and leave you in a hurry to replace it
If you get gift-wrapping option you don’t even get to see the product as it will already be wrapped when it’s delivered to you
Can be more costly on delivery charges, especially if you buy from many online stores

Yes, Online Shopping is definitely easier in a lot of ways, but you have to realize that you may need to deal with the above list of negatives as well.

I ordered a few things for myself and for my husband, but never received what I ordered. One of the orders was from Amazon (my husband’s Christmas gift – a nice wallet – shhhhh don’t tell him… I am hoping to still get it eventually 🙂 ) well, they contacted me a few days ago to let me know that the order was never processed. They instructed me to respond to the email that they sent and it would go to the vendor. I did that and never got a response. So, I am up a creek with that one.

I also ordered a couple pairs of shoes for myself. I did a lot of research to find the perfect pair of grey birkenstocks. They are usually around $100, but I found a company who had them for only $49. They had my exact size and I placed my order. I realized today that I never got any email from them letting me know that the order was being shipped. I checked back into my email and went on their site to track the package. And I saw a little note that said “Out of Stock” UGH! They could’ve emailed me or something, right?

I also ordered a pair of crocs from Amazon for a great deal and they were shipped ON TIME. I opened the box very excited to put my new shoes on…. and guess what? THEY WERE TOO SMALL! I ordered a size 8 (even though I am a 7 1/2). The shoes were obviously defective because how could an 8 be too small? Craziness! So now I have to ship them back within 30 days – another THING to add to my to do list. Yuk!

I wound up having to do my online shoe shopping research all over again! See? I went back for more! Thank God I did find a couple alternatives for an even cheaper price, but now I have to wait even longer to get them.

But even with all of that I still enjoy being able to hop on my computer and shop without having to leave my house. I can research ideas and compare prices. And in spite of not always getting what I want, when I want – I still prefer shopping online instead of shopping in stores.

I am the type of person who gets overwhelmed in crowds of people. And I wind up over-buying somehow. Does that ever happen to you? What do you think about shopping online? Which do you prefer and why? Would love to hear from you!

The Importance of Sending Christmas Cards

December 5, 2010 by Painter Mommy 7 Comments

I have always enjoyed sending and receiving Christmas cards. I feel like it is something special that I can do to be able to connect with friends, family, and even those who I am acquainted with in business. I have connections in all different parts of the world and I don’t always get to stay connected throughout the year. But when it comes to Christmas, I always like to keep everyone up to date by sending a photo Christmas card of me and my family.

A photo card is great because everyone can see what we look like and how much our children have grown, especially those who don’t get to see us in person on a regular basis.

This year I ordered from Shutterfly.com. They had a sale going on over the Black friday weekend for discounts up to 30% plus free shipping. I was able to order 125 photo Christmas cards for only $65.00. Each card wound up being .52 cents each and they come with envelopes with is a plus.

I got my cards in the mail the other day and they came out great! I adress my envelopes by hand, but I am really beginning to think that I need to come up with a labels list next year to make things easier on me.

What do you think about Christmas cards? Do you send them? How many do you send? Do you use photo cards? Do you hand write the addresses or use labels?