Wouldn't we all love to put some fun back into our holiday preparations? Here are tips to help you do just that. Remember those days as a kid when the holidays were all about excitement, anticipation and just plain fun. It's time us grown-ups got to enjoy that as well.
Shop Online for Some Fun
Skip the crowds, the traffic, the lines and the surly salespeople. Shop online for just about everything you need from holiday decorations to gifts. The contributing writers for Review This put together a great holiday gift guide just to help you do that very thing.
You can get in the mood for some fun Christmas time while still
curled up in your pj's and fuzzy bunny slippers. Just do it online. Christmas Time Treasures has lots of those great pages to help you with holiday decorations for your home, like pre-lit Christmas trees, festive kitchen towels, even holiday cats on decorative pillows (www.web-surfing-with-susan.com/christmas-cat-throw-pillows).
Get your Christmas tree decorated with personalized ornaments or something even more fun like Eiffel Tower ornaments (www.web-surfing-with-susan.com/eiffel-tower-christmas-ornaments). Holidays are definitely easier and much more fun when you shop online from the comfort of your own home.
Take Some Time to Relax
Since you won't need to spend many extra hours fighting the malls and the traffic, use that time to relax and do something you love. For me, it's a long hot bubble bath with festive scented soaps (www.the-bubble-bath.com/get-in-the-holiday-spirit-with-a-festive-bubble-bath) and reading a great Christmas mystery book (www.mysterybookworldlive.com/holiday-mysteries/christmas-mysteries). Now, we're talking relaxing.
Whatever you like to do to relax, do it. Your own holidays will be more fun. More like those days when you were a kid and the whole month of December was all about the excitement, anticipation and fun.
Posted by: BuckHawk
About This Contributor
BuckHawk decribes herself as "Basically a lazy person who prefers the easy things in life." So that's what she writes about. Easy home decorating, easy recipes, easy entertaining. But, she is also a lover of animals, gardening and crafting. You'll find her writing all over the Web, but with Review This Reviews! she has the opportunity to write about all of her loves.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
There is something magical about snowglobes. It doesn't seem logical. After all, Snowglobes are simply water-filled globes of glass (or plastic) encasing some sort of item or scene. Shake the globe and the little flakes begin to "snow". But there is something special about that frozen moment in time surrounded by the movement of falling snow. At this time of year, snowglobes always come to my mind. They are a wonderful part of holiday decorations. Because holiday snowglobes are offered in such a wide variety of styles they can also be very thoughtful gifts. Each one individualized to reflect special interests of the giver or the receiver. Snowglobes range from the tiny plastic trinkets that you can find at just about any souvenir gift shop to high-quality pieces of seasonal art that can be enjoyed and passed down for generations.
Santa Claus Snowglobes
This review came to mind after recently purchasing a beautiful snowglobe depicting Santa's workshop. There was a piece of synchronicity that led me to thoughts of how special snowglobes can be. Scenes with Santa are my favorite snowglobes. And there are MANY Santa scenes to choose from:
Seated in his workshop with the elves, making toys.
Flying in his sleigh through the snowy sky.
Dressed in his suit with the huge bag of toys slung over his shoulder.
Some snowglobes come with a music box option. Typically, the music box key is under the base of the snow globe. Simply turn the globe over, turn the key a few times, then place the snowglobe on the table to watch the snow and listen to the tune. Tunes that are as familiar as Jingle Bells and as traditional as Oh Holy Night can be found with some snowglobes.
A variety of religious scenes are depicted in snowglobes. From angels to the nativity scenes (simple and ornate) a snowglobe reminding us of the "reason for the season" can be found.
In the areas of the world that have four seasons and the possibility of snow during the holidays, snowy naturescapes are reminiscent of Christmas. Trees drop their leaves and make unique silhouettes against the sky. Native backyard birds are easier to see against the white background of snow. Polar bears, penguins, and white hares are wildlife that are often associated with a winter wonderland.
Perhaps your family has made a tradition of watching the Nutcracker during the holidays. Or watching the Wizard of Oz has become an annual event as the holidays approach. Maybe you've traveled during the holidays and want a reminder of those special places.
Whatever your holiday traditions include, chances are good that there is a snowglobe that gives a shout out to those special memories.
design courtesy of pixabay.com
Whether you are looking for long-lasting holiday decorations or a special gift for that special someone, snowglobes are a great choice. My love of snowglobes was recently renewed during an incident of coincidence. Or maybe it wasn't coincidence at all. I'm not completely sure. If you would like to read about how I came to own my most recent Santa Claus snowglobe you can read about it on my personal blog.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) 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) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
March is 'National Craft Month', a month which also includes National Crochet Week.
This is the perfect time to look at some handmade crafty creations, including DIY projects and tutorials, and read some articles about the art of crafting to get you in the mood for creating.
To Craft means to make or produce something skillfully.
Craft in Green for St. Patrick's Day
Crafting for holidays is quite often a popular endeavor. Since the month of March includes the St. Patrick's Day holiday, crafters enjoy the opportunity to 'Craft in St. Patrick's Day Green'.
If you check out the Craft Section here on Review This, you will find many articles with crafts to try for all the other holidays during the year from Thanksgiving to Valentine's Day and throughout the year right back to the Fall Holidays which begin with Halloween!
Or try out one of these DIY Craft Books with projects and gift ideas for a large variety of holidays available on Amazon.
A fun example is the one for the next nearest holiday – Easter. DIY Projects & Gift Ideas for Easter is filled with amazingly easy guided gift ideas for beginners to the more experienced (with pictures!) and is available in Amazon's Kindle Store.
Handmade gifts are such a joy to create, give and receive and this book will give you lots of crafty ideas. There are homemade Easter crafts in the popular areas of Easter Eggs and Easter Bunnies and fun DIY Easter food, to name a few of the projects available in this book.
This sweet bunny girl in gold is all dressed up for Easter in a pretty dress. Bunny rabbit in crochet is hopping by to remind you that if you love to craft, but find life getting in the way and your crafting time getting put on a back-burner, circle the month of March on your calendar and use National Craft Month as a reminder to restore your creative self! Crochet crafter Wednesday Elf uses National Crochet Week in March as her reminder.
If you are a crafter and have a DIY tutorial to share with those of us who love hand-crafts, please feel free to share a link with us in the comments section.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
I do love the summer! Here in the Midwest, we might not have a gorgeous ocean and beach but we do have our own great summer sights. The flowers, the creek falls, the kelly green grass, the blue sky, the vitamin D filled sunshine and 3 fun holidays to boot wrap up our summer season!
Memorial Day starts everything in late May, Independence Day is midway and the end of summer is signified by Labor Day every year.
Memorial Day/Weekend Party or Get-Together
Since we are smack in the middle of Memorial Weekend today, I thought I would take you through our celebration last year (this year's is tomorrow.) Each year, my family gets together for and on Memorial Day. It's our "Kick Off to Summer Party" and one of my favorites.
I know I have mentioned it before but here I go again... I am a military brat -- specifically the U.S. Navy. My dad was career Navy. My parents actually met when both were stationed at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. Both my grandfathers were U.S. Navy veterans as is my only brother.
Suffice is to say, we are a patriotic bunch! So, because the Memorial, Independence and Labor Day holidays are patriotic in nature, that's the theme we use for all three. It's a lot of fun and we leave some of the decor up all summer -- red, white and blue is very appropriate for a summer season boasting 3 patriotic holidays.
Stars & Stripes -- Red, White & Blue
The color combination is timeless. The primary color scheme is used by Countries for their flag, sports teams and schools for their colors, in home decorating (especially in the cottage, vintage and nautical decor themes) and so much more.
Last year, I decided to use a "vintage feel" with the patriotic theme and loved the way it turned out. I wrote about it here: My Patriotic Buffet Table for our Summer party. Burlap, baskets, bandanas and mini flags come together to create a festive, fun and whimsical buffet table for our party. What do you think?
My Patriotic Summer Buffet Party
Summer Parties
The summer is filled with parties, occasions and get togethers in addition to the holidays mentioned above. Do you have a traditional get-together each summer or a special occasion you'll celebrate this year? Could be anything, like:
Graduation Party
Neighborhood Block Party
Birthday
Wedding
Baby or Bridal Shower
Class Reunion
Family Reunion
Annual Luau Party
Summer Picnics
Think about sharing your ideas and experiences with others that want to hold a successful event. Do you have a favorite pot luck dish you always make or take? Are you throwing a shindig to celebrate your daughter's graduation or your son's wedding rehearsal dinner? Are you the "Picnic King/Queen"?
Being the Party Planning Contributor on Squidoo, I can point you to a great outlet for sharing your experiences with others here on the world wide web. Best of all -- Squidoo is FREE!!! You might even earn a little you can put towards your next big party!
Let me know (in the comments) if you write an article about a party so I can help you promote it! Most of all, have a wonderful summertime!
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
One of the first gifts my husband's grandmother gave me, was a large white turkey platter. At the time, I had no idea what a treasure this one serving tray would become to our family. It is now a part of our holiday tradition.
Thirty-five years ago, my mother hosted Thanksgiving in her home and we all gathered at my grandmother's home for Christmas. Both women cooked a lot for the holidays, but my mother always cooked the turkey for both celebrations. Clearly, I didn't have a need for the large turkey platter when I first received it, but I still loved having it.
Over the years, responsibilities have shifted as needed. Mom & I prepare the holiday food together, but we moved the cooking to my home for convenience when my children were younger. The hosting house of the day of the actual meal varies and is determined by the number in attendance or convenience. I don't remember exactly when it happened, but baking the turkey became my primary responsibility when cooking for the holidays, and that large turkey platter became a necessity.
Since my Christmas china platters are not large enough for a turkey, I use the large white turkey platter at Christmas too. Because it is white, it is the perfect compliment for my Christmas china.
There are several beautifully colored turkey platters, but I prefer my white turkey platter. It coordinates with almost any china and looks pretty in any room regardless of the table settings or wall colors.
The embossed (raised) fruit pattern around the edge adds a touch of elegance to Mr. Turkey and is perfect for the holiday season.
The porcelain platter on the right, which is similar to my platter, is microwave, oven, freezer and dishwasher safe, which makes using it a lot more pleasurable.
It is 17½" wide, large enough for a a whole turkey if desired. We usually slice our turkey before serving.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Recipes for Real People is a recipe and kitchen website that offers recipes and food ideas that are quick, easy, and useful for everyday meals. From Aprons to Vegetables, you will find comfort food recipes, meal ideas, and kitchen gifts for you and your family.
Why I Turn to Recipes for Real People
I can't even begin to guess the number of recipe websites on the internet. So why would I turn to Recipes for Real People? There are several reasons I look to this site for ideas. Just this morning I woke with many things on my mind. I have household chores to do, reports to write for work, and assorted things I would like to accomplish with my own website. I have to find a way to save some time today.
After unseasonably warm days, a thunderstorm rolled through last night and brought behind it a very cold and cloudy morning. I am craving comfort food and not sure what I have in the kitchen. After having spent the past few days driving around with the Jeep top open and enjoying the warm weather, I had no reason to buy ingredients to make chili or stew. But now it is very cold outside, the furnace is on, I am under the blankets, and I am craving something warm and filling. Something like stew or chili. However, to make either of those things, I'd have to run out to the store. Thanks to a recipe found on Recipes for Real People, I have found a meal idea and won't have to go to the grocery after all. I should clarify that I am writing this on Sunday and it will be published on Monday. On Monday I will be back at the office, hard at work - giving my time and energy to others. So I am especially thankful for time-saving ideas that allow me to spend more time on the weekends on myself.
Hamburger Vegetable Soup Recipe
Susan's Hamburger Vegetable Soup recipe is just the type of thing I am craving. Her four-ingredient recipe is easy and made from ingredients that are often found in the kitchen at any given time. I do not currently have any fresh ground beef in the fridge. But I do have ground sausage. So I will substitute the sausage for the ground beef and have a filling, warm, comfort meal and won't have to leave the apartment today! In fact, come to think of it, I have a few different cans of soup that I could use as substitutes for the vegetable soup in Susan's recipe. Perhaps I'll add the sausage to a can of creamy chicken soup. I don't know. I will decide later. But I am relieved that a trip to the grocery is something I can remove from today's full to-do list. All thanks to Recipes for Real People.
A few more reasons I turn to Recipes for Real People
Recipes for Real People is a website owned by one of our Review This! contributors - Susan Deppner
I trust that Susan is sharing recipes that she cooks in her own home
these recipes call for few ingredients that are readily available
quick and easy prep recipes
leftovers are used in the Recipes for Real People kitchen - I am a firm believer in using leftovers
Susan's kitchen helpers are adorable
Related Recipe Links
The Review This! contributors share some of their favorite recipes on this site. The variety of recipes, meals, kitchen items, and food reviews that the contributors bring is amazing. From slow cooker beans and TexMex lasagna to buttery shrimp pasta and party menus, there is something to suit everyone's tastes. To see those recipes, use the Review This! recipes tab and scroll. Our own Sylvestermouse Cynthia enjoys food, entertaining, and the holidays. She is the owner of two food-related sites Fun Food and Cooking for the Holidays. Fun Food focuses on "fabulous fun food". I swear some of the ideas shown are works of art! From bright and colorful swirls of jello to snake cakes and food castles, these recipes are as fun to look at as they are tasty to eat.
Cooking for the Holidays is exactly as advertised - meals, desserts, and appetizers specific to holidays and entertaining. This website is elegant and offers recipes that will likely never happen in my little kitchen for one but are perfect for those who enjoy celebrations and entertaining.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Christmas has already exploded on the scene and I usually don't jump on board until the First Week of Advent! But, if you are crafting, you need to start before then! Cricut, a product review!
Cricut is a platform that lets you make and style so many different materials that you can use to enhance the decor in your home for just about any occasion.
Because we are so close to Christmas, we will focus on this holiday for now. Rest assured though, that Cricut is not just for Christmas. You can craft all kinds of things for other holidays too.
So what exactly is Cricut?
Cricut is a machine that cuts several different types of materials, from fabric, to vinyl and even some thin wood products. You can cut letters, designs, logos and so much more with this handy machine.
Paired with your computer, you can make your own designs and within the day have a whole series of items made with that design splashed on T-shirts, mugs, windows and more. Your imagination is the starting point.
Personalized gifts are easy and the WOW FACTOR is what makes your gifts stand out.
Do you need inspiration? There are limitless possibilities with a Cricut, but if you are stumped there are literally hundreds of Videos available to twig your imagination into overdrive.
Any new technology can cause some trepidation, but once you own a machine you will find many videos on YouTube to help you get started. There are so many videos available and also help from Cricut itself. There are idea books, downloads and more to help you organize and execute your first project without any difficulty!
I'm sure you have seen those beautiful signs with Quotes that just make your heart melt! Well you can make your own using the Cricut machine.
Cricut even has it's own blog, so that if you are stumped or need some extra encouragement, it is right there for you!
You can join the Cricut family and open an account. That will help you to see what is possible with your new machine. They will keep you informed on all kinds of new techniques and materials. Everything from wall art, decals, t-shirts, mugs, greeting cards and more can be done with your new machine.
The only thing that will be necessary is a willingness to learn and the time to execute your ideas. Once you get started though, I'm sure you won't be able to stop!
Just think of all the Holidays that you can make special with a touch of your creativity and the help of a Cricut.
Chirstmas, Valentine's Day, Easter, Spring, July 1st or 4th, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and so many more holidays. And then there are the special occasions too that will have you crafting something wonderful. An engagement, wedding, baby, new home, new job. Birthday markers like 20, 30 and beyond, all of them are crafting times and a great way to use your new tools.
I don't like to spend my money on a craft that I will only do once! Cricut is a craft that you will do all year long and for a myriad of reasons!
The beauty is, that if you can imagine it, you can also craft it and make it your own! There are endless ways to make your home and surrounding a reflection of your own personal tastes. Grab hold of some wonderful ideas and run with them. I bet all your friends will be amazed at what you can do.
You might even find yourself using your spare time to create beautiful things to make and sell. Before you know what happened, your hobby has now turned the corner and you could be enjoying self employment. You just never know what can happen when you start to create with your Cricut and show the world what you have made.
The picture used in this post is my niece's home! She has made signs, stockings and pillows to help her fill her home with Christmas! And that is just a small sample of the things she has made. What is stopping you?
Happy Holidays and Let's Get Creating Some Beauty!
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
One of my favorite gifts to give or receive is genuine wax flameless candles
with a lovely, flickering "flame," a timer, and a remote control that lets me
"light" them or "blow them out" from across the room at the touch of a button.
When flameless wax candles first came out, the quality of the "flame" from
most manufacturers was pretty poor. Fortunately, the technology has improved
and prices have come down a bit over the years. Now you can buy nice ones that
are suitable for both gift-giving and home decor at moderate as well as
premium prices.
Whether you buy a single flameless pillar candle, a pair of tapers, or a set
of votives, they're sure to add beauty and timeless elegance to your home and
be a gift that keeps on giving.
Flameless wax candles are elegant and safe to leave unattended. My
favorites also include a timer and remote control that let you "light"
and "blow them out" from across the room.
Why Choose Flameless Candles?
Here are some of the qualities that make flameless candles appealing for both
gifts and home decor, during the holidays and year-round.
Long-Lasting Beauty
These flameless candles let you enjoy the timeless beauty of genuine wax
candles that never burn down. We have used ours frequently for many years with
no end to our enjoyment in sight (unless we run out of batteries).
Flickering LED "Flame"
The flame on these LED flameless candles moves randomly to simulate the
flicker of an open flame on a traditional wax candle. Close-up, of course, no
one will mistake it for a real flame. However, from farther away, the "dancing
flame" effect can be quite realistic.
No Drips
Unlike traditional candles with wicks, the wax body of these flameless candles
remains at room temperature and won't melt or drip (unless you subject them to
excessive heat). A grouping of pillars or some tapers make a lovely
centerpiece that can't set your tablecloth on fire if they're accidentally
knocked over while passing a serving dish. You could even use them on a finely
finished antique wood table without fear of marring the surface.
No Smoke
Another advantage is that flameless candles are smoke-free. You can "burn" as
many of these beautiful candles as your heart desires without worrying about
setting off the smoke alarm! I love the look of candles everywhere, especially
during the holidays.
Candlelight That's Safe for the Whole Family
Since there isn't an open flame, these flameless candles can be left
unattended, unlike traditional wax candles. They're safe to leave on in your
windows during the holidays. They provide a romantic glow in the bedroom, with
no worries if you happen to fall asleep before turning them off.
They're also safe to use around children and pets.
Perfect for the Dark Winter Months
Here in New England, the winter months can be brutally cold and the sun sets quite early. We have flameless LED candles in nearly every room of our house, and during the winter we set them to turn on at dusk, so we never have to walk into a completely dark room. The LEDs draw very little power, so a set of batteries usually lasts us the whole winter and beyond.
Two of our Luminara flameless pillar candles with our set of three
color-changing flameless pillars
Luminara Flameless Candles: Perfect for Gifting
There are many brands of flameless candles, and the quality can vary
significantly. We've tried a few inexpensive brands and have mostly been
disappointed. The brand we count on for consistently high quality is Luminara.
Luminara makes top-of-the-line flameless candles made of hand-poured paraffin
wax. Most styles have a timer and a remote, and all are boxed for easy
gift-giving.
The company offers a wide range of styles, from everyday essentials to
specialty items like real birch flameless candles filled with paraffin wax
(gorgeous for country or rustic home decor) and Christmas-themed styles.
Here are some of my favorites.
This set of three Luminara melted edge wax pillar candles is one of the company's best
sellers. The graduated-height, 3-inch wide pillars are 4.5", 5.5" and 6.5"
tall, respectively.
The included remote control operates all three candles. Even if you split them up and place them in three different locations, you can control each one with the same remote, which is very convenient.
These are unscented (although Luminara does make some scented styles), so they're ideal for someone who is sensitive to scents, has allergies, or prefers to use other home fragrance products such as potpourri or sprays.
These also come in a choice of colors. I think the burgundy is very festive for the holidays and would be great as an accent color in a mostly neutral decor palette, while ivory or white are more subtle and very elegant any time of year.
We own this set of three pillars in ivory as well as a tall pillar in a
discontinued color (blue sage) that coordinates with our living room color
scheme.
Another choice that will grace your or your gift recipient's dining table for
years to come is this set of Luminara ivory flameless wax tapers.
Elegant wax tapers are a classic, timeless style for good reason. Classic elegance with the safety and convenience of a flameless "flame" is a win-win!
Measuring 1" wide by 9.75" high, these flameless tapers can be used in any standard taper candle holder. Even reheated leftovers can become a festive meal with these flickering beauties on the dining table.
Although these do not come with a remote control, they do have a timer function that allows them to turn on for 5 hours and then shut off automatically for 19 hours.
These
flameless taper candles come in classic ivory as well as a variety of colors
for a more contemporary style.
As with all Luminara candles, they come nicely boxed for easy gift-giving.
Another of my favorite flameless candle styles is this hand-poured Luminara wax pillar wrapped in genuine birch bark.
Every time I see one in a store I am tempted to add one to our collection. We bought one as a gift for my mother-in-law this Christmas and she loves it!
This is available in a selection of sizes including 3.5" x 4.5", 3.5" x 6.5", 4" x 5" and 4" x 7".
Just one of these is striking enough to make a statement in any room. Investing in a group of them in different sizes would make a real conversation-piece display!
The on/off switch on the bottom also has a timer setting.
Although this beautiful birch pillar doesn't come with a remote, it is compatible with Luminara's on/off remote, sold separately, which is well worth the extra money, in my opinion. We use our Luminara remotes all the time.
Color-Changing Flameless Candles
One of the best gifts I ever gave my husband was a set of three color-changing
wax flameless candles. I prefer white Christmas lights and he prefers colored
ones, and it was a big concession for him to go with white icicle lights along
our roof and on our Christmas tree. So, one year I decided to give him a form
of colored lights we both could enjoy: color-changing flameless candles.
These turned out to be an even bigger hit than I had hoped. I took a video of
ours to show the color-changing effect, which was hard to capture on video and
is MUCH prettier in person. (If you can't see the YouTube video below, you can
access it via this link to my
color-changing flameless candles video.)
In real life, the color changes are smooth and seamless, and the unsightly
flickering of the image caused by the low-resolution video doesn't exist. I
wish I could show just how beautiful these are in person!
The candles have an on/off switch and a remote control that allows you not
only to turn the candles on and off but also to choose from a wide range of
different colors or rotate through the colors, as shown in the video.
There is also a timer feature, which we use to automatically turn on the
candles in our bedroom at dusk and turn off either 4 or 8 hours later,
depending on the time of year (and how late dusk arrives).
The brand I purchased a couple of years ago is no longer available. However, I
found a similar set with a subtle, elegant, tone-on-tone damask pattern in
the wax shell that makes them even prettier, in my opinion.
If you want to splurge, Luminara also makes lovely color-changing pillars.
Don't Forget Batteries!
Whether you're buying these for yourself or as a gift, make sure to also buy the appropriate batteries for your candles and, if applicable, the remote control.
The set of three Luminara pillar candles, the smaller Luminara birch pillars, and the Luminara tapers take AA batteries. The larger Luminara birch pillars take D batteries. The remote takes a CR2025 button battery.
The three candles in the set of color-changing pillars I featured all run on AA batteries.
Beauty, long life, safety, and convenience — just some of the reasons to treat yourself and those on your gift list to some genuine wax flameless candles!
Genuine Wax Flameless Candles — An Elegant Gift Everyone Will Love by Margaret Schindel
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