Here Comes Santa Claus...

As annoying as it can be to have the retail stores shove Christmas down our throat starting in early October, the truth is Christmas is swiftly approaching whether we are ready or not!  Since we have no choice in the matter, we might as well be ready for the holiday.  Christmas decorating can be tricky- you want to make your space welcoming and festive but you don't want to go overboard with themed items.  Then you add the stress of volunteering to host that office party or family gathering and suddenly the decorating becomes an integral part of the event that you don't have time to do.  Here are a few tips for this year's holiday decorating:

- Get started!- Don't wait until the last minute to get the decorations up.  When you have some spare time during a weeknight or on Saturday afternoon, pull out those boxes and start tackling the space.  It won't hurt anything if you have to spread the job over a few days.  Before you know it, it will be over.

- Don't forget the outdoors- Spread some of that holiday cheer to the exterior of your home.  This will set the stage for what guests should expect once inside (however, I don't suggest going Griswold style). There are some great people who can help you if you aren't so keen on climbing the ladder to hang the wreath over the garage.  In Lexington, Eddie McNeal owns Just a Twinkle for the Season and the business exists solely to decorate homes and offices for Christmas.  (I can give you his number of you want to get in touch with him.  Just shoot me an email).

- Jazz up your color scheme- Bust away from the traditional red and green.  Bold jewel tones and warm earth tones are the HOT items this year.  Pair some bronze ornaments with your traditional green decorations or keep your trusty red ornaments and throw in a bold blue hue to the decorations.

- Get creative- Re purpose ornaments by using them in a hurricane to make an interesting tabletop accessory (see picture below).  Lay your wreath around a collection of varying height candles and place in the center of the dining table to create an unusual centerpiece.

Above all, remember if the task of decorating for the holidays is overwhelming- get help.  The season should be exciting and fun for you not stressful.  If that means putting aside a little extra money (hiring help can cost around a couple hundred dollars) to get some help then do it, it can be your gift to yourself :)

*For more info and useful tips on holiday decorating, come by 2331 Fortune Dr Tuesday night at 6:30 pm.  I will be speaking to a lovely group of ladies on this topic and attendance is open. I would love to see you there!*

Happy holiday decorating!