I recently moved from the Georgia Coast to the Midwest to be near family.
Before I left Georgia, I wanted to gather together a few beach-related
mementos to give to my family members who had all visited me in Georgia
at one time or another. I thought the items would be a nice memory of
our time spent together in the South. One family member is my grandson, Ryan. At age 16, it's harder to
choose a gift he'd enjoy as teenagers have set preferences. When I saw this
T-shirt with an ocean theme found in the Tybee island, Georgia Marine Science
Center, I thought “this is the perfect gift”. Ryan loves the beach and the
times he spent at the Atlantic Ocean.
Earth Sun Moon Trading Company
The T-shirt is the product of Earth, Sun and Moon Trading Company, located in
Grove City, Pennsylvania. The themes of their t-shirts reflect the
company's mission to be “Good to the Earth”. You can read about their
commitment here.
For instance, the words for this 'Advice from the Beach' T-shirt state:
Be shore of yourself | Come out of your shell | Take time to relax and
coast | Avoid pier pressure | Sea life's beauty | Don't get tide down |
Make waves!
As you can see in the intro photo, Ryan enjoyed receiving this reminder from
Grandma of his visits to the Georgia Coast, beach and ocean.
Summary
So if you are shopping for a nature lover, you will find the choices from
Earth Sun Moon to be unique and fun for both the gift giver and the
recipient. The company has been creating their T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and
more since 1996, all with original designs. Therefore, there is sure to be a
design of an animal or outdoor theme that perfectly fits any occasion, like
this ocean theme for Ryan did for me.
(c) Wednesday Elf Product Review written 12/8/2018
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Mr. Miracle is a delightful Hallmark movie about a new angel and his first assignment on earth.
As always, Hallmark provides us with an hour (actually 86 minutes) of entertainment appropriate for all family members.
Not only does this movie have a touch of romance and divine intervention, but it also provides a few laughs. That bit of comedy is needed though as a relief to the intense subject matter. Addie is facing her first Christmas after her father's death and having to come to terms with her own purpose in life.
Also, the movie Mr. Miracle looks like the perfect setup for a series of "Mr. Miracle" angel movies. Since I really like the actor and the character, I hope there will be more to come.
Debbie Macomber's Mr. Miracle Movie Plot
Harry Mills (Rob Morrow) is an angel on assignment for the first time. Part of the fun is that everything on earth is completely new to him. This provides a touch of comedy to the movie since Harry takes everything literally. What might be common phrases to us, mean something totally different to him. As a cover for his angel duties, Harry is placed in the community college as a literature professor and provided a home across the street from his "assignment".
As I mentioned in the introduction, Addie (Britt Irvin) and her mother are facing their first Christmas without Addie's father. After returning home and re-enrolling in the community college, Addie lacks the confidence to stick it out and succeed. She feels the need to graduate only to meet her father's expectations, not because she has a direction.
Harry is quite certain he can solve all of Addie's problems quickly once he identifies her purpose in life. He plans to set her on the right course and move on quickly. It isn't as easy as it sounds in the beginning, and even though Harry resists help from his angelic mentor, he must also find the right course for his duties.
Debbie Macomber has long been a recognized author that we can all depend on for a great story with clean content. Her books and movies don't require a lot of graphic images or colorful language to grab, and hold, your attention.
A few of our Contributors here on Review This, have previously reviewed some of Debbie Macomber's books.
Reviewed by BarbRad. How does a woman move on after a painful divorce? Debbie Macomber tackles this subject in her new novel. The book follows the emotional journey of two women after they divorce their husbands.
Reviewed by Diana, Renaissance Woman. Book review of New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber's One Perfect Word. She shares how her chosen words have changed her life in profound ways
Reviewed by BarbRad. If you love a romance series that is true to life with characters you can relate to, you will want to read the Rose Harbor Series by Debbie Macomber. Each story builds on the last, so start at the beginning for an enjoyable journey through stories of hurt, love, and healing.
Currently, Debbie Macomber's "Mr. Miracle" is also available on Amazon with a subscription to the Hallmark Channel.
More Movies Reviewed that are Available with Subscription to the Hallmark Channel
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
I do not have any wee folk around anymore nor did I ever have any wee girls about the house but that did not stop me from holding throughout my life a love of all things related to Anne of Green Gables and Prince Edward Island. A hold over from my girlhood, I am thrilled to know that the red headed heroine we loved as girls continues to be introduced to successive generations of girls through some beautiful books and television programming.
Anne Arrives and Anne's Kindred Spirits are a retelling of the traditional Anne of Green Gables story for early readers in an easy chapter book format that have been adapted by Canadian author Kallie George. Kallie, that is, with an e. Anne Arrives was released in 2018 and Anne's Kindred Spirits will be released in 2019.
The first story introduces the young reader to Anne Shirley and sets her down at Green Gables where we all know that she belongs. She settles in, that is, after a rough start when they find out she is a girl and not a boy and after she has a run in with the neighbor, Mrs. Lynde.
The second story introduces Anne and the reader to her bosom buddy, Diana. In this book, Anne enjoys a community picnic, which is her first, although that outing is jeopardized when Marilla's prized brooch goes missing.
Author Kallie George has written a number of other books for children including a picture book about Anne Shirley called Goodnight, Anne. Kallie says that she believes that she and Anne Shirley are kindred spirits!
The illustrator Abigail Halpin says that she was gifted with a copy of the original book when she was a teenager and that that book still holds a special place on her book shelf. The illustrations in Anne Arrives, she says, were "influenced by her memories of one of the most beautiful, magical spots on the planet, Prince Edward Island." Her illustrations were crafted using a combination of traditional and digital media.
Both of these books were written with children aged 6 to 8 or in grades 1 through 3 in mind. However, if you child is not quite ready to read these books on her own, you could certainly read them to her. Although intended for children, they are suitable for any one who loves Anne.
I think that this book is wonderful, sharing as it does a simple version of the classic story with the accompaniment of some charming illustrations. My favorite picture might be the two page spread that shows Green Gables in the distance, shown above. It sets the scene in my head, for sure.
As you can tell, yes, this book is RECOMMENDED by me. I think it is lovely but I am biased toward anything from Anne's world. However, Kirkus Reviews calls Anne Arrives, "A dream of an adaptation that is an unabashed love letter to the series that inspired it." In my mind that is high praise indeed.
I think that either book would make a beautiful gift for anyone who loves Anne but it would be especially appropriate for any young girl who is learning or will soon be learning to read. If you want to expose your children to Anne's world, you can never start to young!
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
I have been using a flip phone since the 1990's. I only bought it because I traveled on business and needed a way to communicate on the road. There weren't any smartphones then. The little phone fit easily in my purse or pocket and I used my landline whenever I was home. I only gave family members and very close friends my cell number -- and, of course, services that insisted I get two-step verification by text message. I don't really text anyone myself -- yet.
Almost everyone I know seems to have a smartphone and many seem addicted to them. But I didn't want one. I hate typing on tiny keyboards with my arthritic fingers. I like to work on a desktop where I have it all. So I happily blogged on and resisted the smartphone. I processed my photos nicely without one and took a digital camera on my photo walks. Then came Instagram and I couldn't join the party. Unless I got a smartphone. So five days ago I finally got one.
My Galaxy Note 9 with Accessories
Why I Bought a Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Instead of an iPhone
My brother and many of my friends have iPhones and love them. My husband has a Galaxy S7. I've seen people do amazing things with smartphones and I thought they were using iPhones. One day I was at a winery with a friend and had forgotten to bring my phone. I borrowed hers and it took fantastic photos. I had seen my nephew scan a document by taking a photo with what I thought was an iPhone. I was all set to get an iPhone. But when I double checked with my nephew and my friend, I discovered they both had Galaxy phones. The camera I had borrowed was on a Galaxy Note 8 or 9
I wanted to buy the phone with the best camera. My plan was to start making more videos where I could just talk to people, so I needed a front-facing camera. I also wanted to get great nature and product photos and videos for my blogs and for making Zazzle products. And, of course, I wanted to be able to post to my Instagram account with my own phone -- not Hubby's. I was using my PC to like and comment on posts from my friends, and I wanted to join the fun and post more. Now I can. If you like nature, books, gardening, or a simple lifestyle, you can follow me on Instagram and see the quality of what I've posted so far from my new phone. I'm barbradis on Instagram.
Cyclist in Riverbed of Salinas River in Paso Robles Taken with Galaxy Note 9
I decided on the Galaxy Note 9 because it had great cameras. Yes, the iPhone camera is also a good one, but for my purposes, the Galaxy Note 9 tops it. There is also a lesser reason. I have both a Windows PC and an iMac. Both have been sick. While my PC was really sick, I used the Apple almost exclusively, even though it was really slow. I couldn't find anything. I called our local guru to come fix it and he confirmed that Apple just hides things and you have to know the tricks to get around that. I like a clear file path. I think in Windows, not Apple. I understand Google better than Apple. I thought over the long haul I'd be happier with Android.
The Learning Curve
If I had already been a smartphone user just trading up or getting a different brand, I don't think the learning curve would have been as steep for me as it's been these last five days. I'm used to the space and options I have with a desktop. I work with forty tabs open in Chrome, four notepads to cut and paste from, and several Windows Explorer windows open at once. Although the Galaxy Note has a larger screen than many phones, it doesn't come close to the 21 inches my computer monitor has.
The Note 9 lets me open several apps at once and flip between them, but I had some trouble getting an email with a pin I needed to put in a registration form for Verizon or Samsung -- I forget which. Once the email came in through the GMail app, I couldn't get back to the form where I was supposed to enter it. I think that would have happened on any smartphone. So most of my learning curve is just learning to use a smartphone instead of a PC -- not something unique to the Galaxy smartphone. It's a totally different way of working. It will take time to really get good at this.
The thing that bothered me most was that tiny keyboard. It's hard for me to hit only one key at once -- even though the Galaxy Note 9's keyboard is larger than most. I have two work-arounds for that. First, I use that little microphone on the keyboard and talk instead of type when I can. I also have a small wireless keyboard I bought to use with another device. It plays nicely with my Galaxy Note 9, as would just about any portable Bluetooth keyboard. So if I'm free to talk without disturbing anyone, I make my Instagram captions and hashtags with my voice and correct most of my mistakes using the keyboard. The speech recognition does confuse to with too or two. I have to speak slowly. It mistook my friend Celia's name for silly. But I can live with that as it learns to better understand my voice.
What Happens if You Hold the Volume Button Down Too Long While Taking a Photo
What I love about the Galaxy Note 9
The large 6.4" screen
The ability to type with my voice instead of my fingers
The quality of the front and back cameras
The way the phone camera handles lighting differences -- what's in the shade shows better than it does in my Canon PowerShot photos if the photo subject is partially shaded.
When I shoot videos while walking, they are less shaky than the ones I shoot with my Canon PowerShot SX410 IS. I'll show you one of my photo walks below.
Easy updates for software
Ease of installing the apps I want
Easy flipping between apps
The ability to take multiple photos in quick succession by holding down the volume button. I learned this accidentally.
Clear voice reception on calls. I called my landline and my husband just to make sure.
Easy contact management, but I confess that I used my little bluetooth keyboard to help enter the names and numbers.
Fast charging and long battery life.
Flaps that cover the ports for the charger and headphones to help keep them safe from water and dust during everyday use.
The S-Pen with its many amazing features, only some of which I've tried so far. I can't do it all in five days. So far I've found it very handy when I have to use the keyboard since I can better control what I click. A video I watched showed many more pen features I have yet to try. The S-Pen can even control some phone features remotely.
The ability to make a monitor act like a PC if you have the right cable, monitor, and the S-pen. It will work with your monitor if it has an HDMI port and you have an HDMI to USB Type C cable
I can use the Do Not Disturb setting to keep away all notification sounds during the hours I sleep. While I'm trying to fall asleep I can play relaxing music for as long as I set the timer for -- all while my phone is charging.
A Video of a Photo Walk I Made Yesterday
I made this video with the Galaxy Note 9 in the morning during a lull between rainstorms.
Here's the Camera and Accessories I Use With It
This is my phone color. I also bought the case and screen protector to keep my investment safe. I already had a portable keyboard to use.
Much as I love my new phone, there are some things I don't love as much.
The phone is somewhat heavy because of its size.
The shape of the phone, though similar in shape to most other smartphones, is harder for my arthritic hands to hold while trying to take a photo than a camera is.
If I want to take a horizontal photo, it's really easy to press the button that will make the phone take multiple shots in a row as long as the button is held down. I'm learning to be careful how I hold the phone.
Selfies
I have never yet found a camera that made selfies I liked. I'm afraid the problem is not the camera but the subject. Nevertheless, I made a selfie so I could photograph the screen for you. The weird colors are the result of the artificial lighting in the room that my Canon couldn't handle well. Flashes leave light bursts I didn't want. You do see the editing icons here. I don't normally edit photos except to crop them or add text, but I think I'll learn to use some of those available apps that remove wrinkles, etc.
Since I haven't learned to use those apps yet, I'm hiding behind the camera. The editing icons are above the circle-shaped camera icons. The bottom row of icons are for the whole phone. The quality of this photo has nothing to do with the smartphone camera, since I didn't know how to use the Note 9 to take a photo of itself. It probably would have done a better job with the lighting. I think I did use one filter and kept it because it changed my hair from gray to the blond I was born with.
Apps
Once I got my Note 9 smartphone, I started adding more apps. It's almost impossible not to when you see all that's available to play with. The thing that's hard is organizing those apps so you can find them again. The Note 9 gives me the Apps Edge. Most of the time it sits almost invisibly on the right edge of my screen, but I can slide it out whenever I need it. I can choose ten apps to put there, so I included what I use most. I guess they are also put in files. If I click the files icon (far left under open apps screen below) it will show me every app that's currently open and I can go back to working in it. Handy! I love both these features. Perhaps other smartphones also have them, but I only have experience on this phone.
So far my favorite free app besides Instagram is Relaxio. It gives me a choice of sixteen kinds of white noise I can listen to alone or combine with other sounds. I can choose from city traffic noises, falling rain, ocean waves, birds, crackling fire, wind, a flowing brook, night nature sounds, coffee shop, and a few other white noise sounds I haven't figured out. I love this app for falling asleep, since I can set a timer for how long it will play. I let it play beside my bed while the phone charges at night.
Comparing Photos
This morning I decided to photograph some books in a bookcase in my office. The only light source was across the room and partially blocked with my iMac monitor. I made the shots as identical as I could except I used a flash for the shot from my Canon PowerShot SX410 IS. The phone, of course, needed no flash. I didn't guess accurately the number of books included in each shot, but I think it's close enough for you to get the idea. Except to crop and size these for Instagram and add a background color in PicMonkey, I did no photo editing to change tone, lighting or anything else. I added no effects. Here are the shots, as I will post them to Instagram later.
As you can see, I didn't edit as much extraneous stuff out of the phone shot as I did the Canon shot. I'd never tried putting backgrounds on before in PicMonkey and I wound up using FotoJet to crop the photos when I hadn't gotten the images the right size for the background. I've never used layers before and PicMonkey just added them to their app. In the end I put the wrong photo in the shot above, not the one that trimmed the lower shelf out. I think you still have a fair comparison between the Canon and the Note 9 cameras.
My Recommendation
If you need a phone with an outstanding camera, I can't think of a better one than the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. I bought it for the camera, but also love the pen and the ability to use it to turn my phone into something very much like a PC should I ever need to. Just tonight I downloaded the Amazon Music app and discovered I also get great sound quality for the songs I love when I play them on the Note 9.
Now if my Note 9 could only take a selfie! There's probably an app for that, but I still need to find it. My advice? Get yourself or someone you love a Galaxy Note 9.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
One of the things that my youngest daughter asked for this Christmas was a cake stand. She also wanted a salad bowl. As one of Santa's dedicated elves, I found a perfect solution! Let me tell you about it.
To be honest, I planned to purchase both of those items for her. When on my quest to find a nice cake stand, I came across something that has multiple uses that surprised and delighted me and I know it will be perfect for my daughter.
The wonderful set can be a cake stand with a dome. The dome can be flipped over to create a salad bowl or a punch bowl. The base can be turned upside down to be used as a chip and dip tray or veggie dip. There are six different ways to serve whatever you need with this one set. Isn't that amazing?
I also like that instead of having to store six different pieces for six different functions, this set only takes up the space of one piece. That is wonderful for my daughter since her storage space is limited. I think she will be thrilled!
I also like the simple design because it will go with any style of dinnerware and can be used throughout the entire year. It is made from acrylic so it isn't heavy to move, either. Let me tell you, this Santa's helper is so excited about this find!
How about you? Can you use something like this for your serving needs? Perhaps you know someone on your list who would appreciate its multi-function features. It is perfect for a gift for a bride or a house warming gift, too.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Anker is becoming a brand name that I trust and depend on. And the PowerCore portable charger is no exception. Whether you travel and do not want to have the security risk of plugging in to public charging stations or you spend time off-grid but still want to keep that cell phone charged for emergencies, the Anker is an excellent choice for portable, secure, and dependable charging. I bought one for myself but I think this little gadget would be a great gift idea.
What is an Anker PowerCore Portable Charger?
My description of the PowerCore is a rechargeable battery that is small enough to fit in my coat pocket but holds enough power to fully recharge my phone (and Kindle) many times. Even though it is an electronic gadget, it is foolproof. Three easy steps:
Plug it in to charge the battery using the USB cord (using my laptop or the same plug I use to charge my phone and my Kindle)
Remember to put it into my purse, coat pocket, or camping tote
Plug my phone (or Kindle) into the PowerCore to charge as needed.
The Description from the experts:
Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 (24w) with Anker's proprietary PowerIQ and VoltageBoost technology - fastest possible charge to almost any USB device.
7 days of power (fills the iPhone 7 almost seven times, the Galaxy S8 more than four times, and iPad Air 2 one and a half times)
Quick Charge input, a full recharge is over in half the time of standard portable chargers. (written by Anker about the PowerCore 20000 Quick Charge 3.0)
Why I Chose the Anker PowerCore 20000 Quick Charge 3.0
I go camping at my cabin for days on end. I own the Anker PowerPort Solar charger and love it. It is dependable and perfect for off-grid living (see my review here). Perfect, except for when it isn't. This year was a record-breaking rainfall year in my area. Rain means solar charges aren't able to work properly (if at all). Lack of sunlight was causing either no charge on my phone or a walk (in the pouring rain) to the Jeep to charge (slowly) my phone. Due to all this rain, I bought the PowerCore "battery". I charge it fully at the apartment, throw it into my camping tote, and I have a dependable way to charge my phone - rain or shine.
I chose the 20,000 based on the higher number of charges it provides (compared to some of the more compact PowerCore chargers) and the price tag was as high as I wanted to spend that day. My PowerCore came with the charger, the USB cord to charge it, and a slightly padded travel bag. It did not come with the plug that is used in a wall outlet. But I already had several of those. There are many Anker PowerCore choices, smaller/less expensive and larger/more expensive. I love that Anker provides so many options.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
4. You'll see pricing and the store the item is available from, directly on page. 5. To get further information on the item just click the product photo or link and you'll be taken to that department store. Easy peasy.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
For years I have been using the Professional Planner Calendar by Gallery Leather Co. It is, by far, the best planner calendar that I have ever owned and I do love the leather cover. I used to buy a different color each year as a way to differentiate between the years at a glance on my shelves. However, for the last 2 years I have purchased the burgundy. I just love the deep wine color. I plan to order the navy this year. I need to get back to using a different color per year. Or, perhaps I'll opt for green in the hopes that it will represent strong earnings for the year.
I am reviewing the Gallery Leather Co. Professional Planner today simply because I want the opportunity to point out the fabulous features of this calendar. I admit, I take them for granted now. One glance at a different planner reminds me why I choose the Gallery Leather Co. planner year after year. The fact that they are pretty on my shelf is only one reason.
Fabulous Features of the Leather Professional Planner by Gallery Leather Co.
Aesthetically, it is a beautiful calendar with it's leather cover and gold gilded page edges. Plus, as the name suggests, it has a very professional appearance. The year is embossed on the front cover, but is not colored or filled with anything. I love that professional simplistic design. I am never embarrassed to pull this calendar out in front of anyone when setting appointments or making notes. Speaking of notes, there is a special note section in this planner. I use that section to write down ideas for articles, or things I need to do that don't have a deadline.
The first page displays a quick reference showing a calendar of all of the months and dates in the standard square box display (shown on the right). That helps when I just need to pull the dates quickly for every Friday in a particular month. Or to quickly count the number of Fridays in a particular month.
A quick glance page for the previous year and the next year immediately follow the current year calendar.
Following those pages is a larger breakdown of the months for quick notes. Each month has a page with boxes, one for each date, and area to make quick notes.
However, the section of the planner that I most rely on, the one that I refer to multiple times everyday is the daily calendar that displays each day of the week with appointment times. This is where I organize my work day. Without it, I would be lost. The satin bookmark could be used anywhere to mark your place in the book, but I use it to mark the current week so I can quickly flip the planner open to it.
My fellow contributors already know a great deal about my busy schedule. They see me at work daily. But, I am here to tell you, without my trusty planner calendar, I would be lost. It keeps me focused on what I need to accomplish each day and what should get my attention first each morning. I know I am not alone. Many people scurry from one activity to the next trying to stay ahead and on their fast paced schedules. I can tell you from experience, this planner calendar really makes a huge difference!
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
DesignCap is the free online poster maker offered by PearlMountain to make all your poster and flyer graphics easy to make and easy to design. The variety of templates, colors, text and background options are endless and will whet your appetite to make free posters in a few minutes for all your events.
WYSIWYG What You See Is What You Get
The DesignCap software is WYSIWYG which is very helpful for all levels of poster designers.
Beginner designers will enjoy the ability to change a template with the click of a mouse and the visual changes are immediate. Graphic designers with more advanced skills will find the templates easy to adjust with the text, color and image options.
DesignCap is an online program which is a bonus as software is not required to download to your computer; design the poster and simply save the poster as a download for its' future use.
I used the cover of my cookbook to test DesignCap and loved the ability to upload an image and change the background in a few seconds.
Background Options DesignCap
DesignCap offers a large variety of background colors and one can get lost (in a good way!) browsing through the options and making changes.
This is the DesignCap template I used for my cookbook.
This is the same template with a different border using the background menu.
The border was changed with a quick of the mouse when browsing the background menu. It was very helpful to have different colors and designs available to change the colors of the background.
Intuitive Design
Overall I found the menus easy to use and intuitive. The text menu to change the font size was less intuitive; however this is more than likely dependent upon the skills the designer has prior to using DesignCap. Two options exist to change the font size: the A+ or A- or the font size can be changed manually. I like the ability to choose the font size manually; however, a first glance it appears the font size is limited to the drop down menu sizes when in fact any size font can be chosen by typing in the size. DesignCap offers tutorials for assistance and step by step guidance through its' menu options.
Image Size
The design can be saved in either jpg or png format. Remember this is a poster therefore the size is large. The image can then be scaled down if necessary or optimized prior to using on a website.
PearlMountain
DesignCap is the latest online design program from PearlMountain along with the established Fotojet and DesignEvo, the free online logo maker. The mission of PearlMountain, "We aim to make professional photo editing and graphic design capability accessible to everyone."
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
In a Heartbeat, Thanksgiving is over and everyone is in Full Christmas Holiday mode!
Part of the whole fun of Christmas is decorating, both indoors and out! I know many people are just chomping at the bit to get their Christmas trees up and decorated, so that they and their families can enjoy this holiday for as long as possible.
Photo
courtesy of my niece Tara Hocaliuk! One very talented lady! (Please
do not copy without permission)
Children love getting into the "spirit" of the holidays too! Schools and Church groups are busy making Christmas decorations or preparing for those Christmas pageants that every parent and grandparent love to attend. Videos and pictures will grace everyone's favorite social media and the joy of our children will be shared everywhere. For years we decorated not only the inside of our homes, but we would put up Christmas lights and boughs of evergreens on our porch with the Most Beautiful Wreath on our front door! These sights would greet all our friends and family as they came for visits over the holidays and we had lots of visitors!
Today, I would not ask my other half to get up on a ladder to attach lights to our gutters, even though he did this for years. Decorating outdoors has become much easier! Thank goodness for the ability to share ideas on Pinterest and other social media as well. If you have the time, these ideas are all very doable and need not cost an arm and a leg.
If you don't have the time, then there is another alternative! And it does not require anyone getting up on a ladder either!
Christmas inflatables have become very popular and they are so easy to install and enjoy. If you have a power source, you are ready to decorate in minutes. You just need to take the inflatable out of it's box, and plug it in. Done! It can't be any easier and there are so many different styles to choose from. The larger the inflatable, the more expensive they become. Don't be discouraged, these inflatables can start at very affordable prices and make a big impact! Santas and snowmen, trains and sleighs, polar bears and penguins are all very popular motifs for the holidays. Many of them will come in several different sizes, ready to fit your decor ideas.
Inflatables are a lot of fun, easy to install and enjoy. Again the choices are many and varied. Some of these inflatables are animated as well. That just adds another whole dimension of enjoyment. The biggest problem (I hate to admit there might be one) is that someone may be tempted to steal it from your front lawn. This is easy to remedy with a little forethought and a handyman or woman. All you need to do is get a few metal tent pegs and a couple of holes drilled in the base of your inflatable. Hammer the stakes into the ground and your worries are over. The children and the adults as well will enjoy the sights that you have so thoughtfully prepared for the Holidays. I'm sure more than one person will stop to admire your handiwork! The best part, you didn't have to get up on a ladder and worry about falling off! Christmas home decor is one of the fun parts of getting ready for the best holiday of the year. Take a little time and let the whole world know that you still believe in the Magic of Christmas!
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
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