Tribute to Dad

Holiday Gift Wrapping Tips

After completing the holiday shopping, I enjoy wrapping the gifts to match our holiday décor. Using colors of plum, green and gold, I was able to give our holiday packages a designer look without spending a fortune. I found some beautiful foil wrapping paper in pretty patterns of gold, green and plum at TJ Maxx and the Christmas Tree Shop. Also, stores typically mark down their holiday wrapping paper after Christmas, and I often find beautiful paper on sale to use the following year. I also purchased gold and plum wired ribbon on sale at Michael’s for 50% off the regular price, to which I also applied a 15% off coupon, for a total savings of 65%. 
 

For another great designer look, solid wrapping paper can be decorated with a holiday stamp. Craft paint works well for this and comes in a variety of colors. If you would like to try this, make sure to choose paper with a matte finish. 

 
Before wrapping, I make sure to package any gifts of clothing in a box lined with tissue paper. I use two double sheets together to do this and fit them to the length of the box by making a double fold in the center. 

Neatly wrapped corners really make a difference in how a gift looks, so I always trim any excess paper and make sure to fold over rough edges before securing them with tape.

After wrapping the gifts, I like to embellish them by adding ribbon and bows. I think large, loopy bows really give holiday packages a designer look. Making them is actually very easy. To do this, you’ll need at least three yards of ribbon for each bow. Wired ribbon works best. I begin by making a loop, leaving the tail the desired length. The larger the starting loop, the bigger the bow will be. I continue making loops, twisting the ribbon in the center, so that the right side is always facing upward. I try to make the loops uniform in size. I then tightly secure the center of the bow with floral wire. After that, I fan out the loops until the bow looks full, then I cut the tails at an angle to finish it off.

It’s also fun to embellish packages with a sprig of holly, or some greenery and a pinecone, adding a festive tag to finish it off. Recycled Christmas cards are perfect for making beautiful gift tags. To give them a custom look, try trimming the edges with pinking shears.

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Home for the Holidays

Today I'm participating in Rhoda's Home for the Holidays home tour. Be sure to visit her blog to see Rhoda's lovely home tour, as well as to find links to other beautiful holiday home tours. I am also linking up to Julia's Hooked on Houses Holiday Home tour.

Click on photos to enlarge them.

This nativity set belonged to my great grandmother. My father gave it to me. He made the wooden manger himself many years ago.

Living Room Christmas Tree

Living Room Mantel

Living Room Coffee Table

Dining Room Table

Stair Garlands


Breakfast NookBreakfast Nook Table Centerpiece

Breakfast Nook Door Swag

Breakfast Nook Snowmen Collection

Breakfast Nook Tree

Master Bedroom Fireplace and Tree

His Grace is Sufficient

This was the scene from our back window when we woke up this morning. Although I can certainly appreciate its beauty, the snow made it difficult to get up and out of the house for church this morning. With that said, we opted to stay home and watched In Touch with Charles Stanley instead. I'm so glad we did.

Today's message was about God's sustaining grace...Wow! Our family has been facing many trials lately, and as God knew, it was exactly what we needed to hear. Dr. Stanley explained that becoming a Christian doesn’t guarantee we will never again suffer in this life. The world is a fallen place, and Christians are not exempt from adversity. The good news is, grace enables us to face life challenges with confidence and assurance. More than simply providing forgiveness, it sustains us through trials.

How does Grace work?

1. Grace releases supernatural strength to keep going in the midst of pain, suffering, and loss. The Holy Spirit helps us face adversity.
2. Grace ignites determination to keep going.
3. Grace reminds us that God is always with us.
4. Grace points us toward the Father’s goal in allowing trials. We can be content knowing we are in the center of His will.
5. Grace reminds us that God uses trials to strengthen our faith and deepen intimacy with Him.
6. Grace assures us that the Lord sets limitations on what can happen to His children.
7. Grace gives us faith to believe God will transform tough times into something good.

In summary, when you feel discouraged and weary, take heart. Your heavenly Father still cares about you. As you remain in close fellowship with Him, God will give you the ability to tackle life’s challenges with divine peace and joy. That’s the power of sustaining grace.*

You can listen to a video of today's lesson on In Touch's website. Go here.

*From In Touch Ministry's website.

I'm linking up with Charlotte and Ginger's Spiritual Sundays this week. Please visit their blog for some great spiritual food!

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Frugal Decorating: Mini Christmas Trees

I wanted to add a little Christmas cheer to my parents' rooms while they are at the Life Care Center. However, since space is limited in their rooms, I thought mini Christmas trees would be a good option. I bought the trees at Michael's. At 50% off, they were only $2.49 each.

I decided on a red and white color scheme for the tree decorations, all of which I found at the Christmas Tree Shop. I love the white snowball garlands next to the red mini ornaments. Red and white ribbon was used as both garlands and bows for the tree toppers. I used coordinating ribbon to attach the ornaments. I also found some mini candy canes for the trees. Finally, to dress them up a bit, I tied some pretty red and white snowflake dish towels around the burlap-covered tree bases.


We recently discovered a good friend of my mother's is a long-term resident at the same Life Care Center where my parents are rehab patients. She worked with my mother for years until they both retired. I figured she could use some Christmas cheer, too, so I decorated a third tree for her room.

I think these mini trees will add quite a bit of Christmas cheer to their rooms. They were also a frugal decorating project; the total cost of 3 fully-decorated mini trees was $37.57.

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Enchanted Village

Click the photos to enlarge them.

When our son was home for Thanksgiving, our family visited The Enchanted Village at Jordan's Furniture in Avon, MA. (I apologize for the blurry photos. I forgot to recharge my camera battery and had to use my daughter's camera to take these. It doesn't have image stabilization.)


The Enchanted Village was created for the Jordan Marsh department store in the 1950’s. A visit to the Downtown Crossing Jordan Marsh flagship location to see the animated figures displayed in snowy Victorian Village settings was a holiday tradition for New Englanders who grew up here during the 1960’s and 1970’s.


The Enchanted Village was brought back in the 1990’s for a short time. It was displayed at Jordan Marsh, then in a tent at City Hall Plaza, and finally at the Hynes Convention Center. It has not been shown since 2006.


I was happy to find out The Enchanted Village was bought at auction this summer by Jordan’s Furniture and has been lovingly restored to be enjoyed again by New England families in their Avon, Massachusetts store.







I really enjoyed seeing the display. It reminds me of a simpler time, when it didn't take much to make children happy.

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