Decorating Contests

I've fallen and I can't get up.

I've fallen and I can't get up.

I began decorating for #Christmas when I was 12 in order to compete in (win!) my neighborhood Christmas decorating contest. That year, I used bolts and bolts of flawed red nylon from the textile plant where my dad worked and wrapped our house like “present.” This rendered our front door, across which I tied the giant bow, completely unusable during the holiday season. Though I didn’t win the decorating contest, I did get my picture in the paper as the kid who “tried to wrap his house.”
A couple years later, in another failed attempt to win the “Best House” award and its congratulatory red-lettered sign, I made a tableau in which it appeared that Santa had fallen off our house into the giant molding leaf pile in our front yard. How the Nickels with their understated Charlestonian pineapple-candle-in-each-window routine beat my Santa-legs-and-black-boots-sticking-out-of-a-leaf-pile-and-flailing-about-in-the-breeze, beats me. But it did. Perhaps if we had snow in South Carolina, my concept would have been a little more compelling.

I’d definitely give this guy (at left) the win for creativity. He recently took down his clever display for two reasons: #1 the police suggested he might cause traffic accidents, and #2 an old lady drove up on his lawn and climbed the ladder to “save him.” She and her arthritic back were none to pleased to find they were saving a dummy. Don’t you love a good Christmas Samaritan?

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Santa Letters

SANTA LETTERS

Mail finds its way to the North Pole.

Mail finds its way to the North Pole.

Everyone knows #Santa Claus’s address. It’s “The North Pole.” And each year, since 1954 tiny Alaskan town of North Pole (population 2100) receives around 120,000 letters from around the world. Even letters without stamps are delivered, a rare exception for the U.S. Postal Service. Those that have return addresses usually get a reply and a “North Pole” postmark in a community effort that has brought smiles to kids faces for decades. But not this year…
Last year, a postal worker in Maryland recognized an Operation Santa volunteer there as a registered sex offender, and the Postal Service viewed the episode as a big enough scare to tighten rules in such programs nationwide.
People in North Pole are incensed and I am too. I say, STOP THIS GRINCH MADNESS! It’s as easy as CHECKING “THE LIST” TWICE before giving someone a volunteer role! Don’t punish the kids or a town with holiday spirit because of one $&^#!
In an effort to re-warm my heart, I’ll tell you my favorite story out of North Pole. A few years back a letter arrived with a Michigan postmark and no postage stamp. Inside the envelope was a thousand-dollar money order and an anonymous note that said: “If you are who you say you are, you’ll put this to good use.” The money bought a lot of stamps. Now, that’s the kind of Christmas we need, right this very minute.

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Christmas Cards

Go Elf Yourself!

Go Elf Yourself!

#CHRISTMAS CARDS
According to Hallmark research, Americans send almost 2 BILLION!!! Christmas cards every year. (The second largest sending occasion is Valentine’s Day, with only a mere 192 million cards being given.)
Save a few stamps. Here’s #JibJab’s quick and easy solution–ELF YOURSELF!

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Christmas Songs

When was the last time you went caroling?

When was the last time you went caroling?

Let’s sing some #Christmas Songs. “Fa la la la la, la la, la la!”
TOP 10 CHRISTMAS SONGS (according to ASCAP):
1. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) Performed by Nat “King” Cole
2. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Performed by the Pretenders
3. Winter Wonderland Performed by the Eurythmics
4. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town Performed by Bruce Springsteen
5. White Christmas Performed by Bing Crosby.
6. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Performed by Andy Williams
7. Jingle Bell Rock Performed by Bobby Helms
8. Little Drummer Boy Performed by The Harry Simeone Chorale & Orchestra
9. Sleigh Ride Performed by The Ronettes
10. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer Performed by Gene Autry

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Christmas 101 – Movies!

Rudolph and me

Rudolph and me

HERE ARE MY TOP 10 CHRISTMAS MOVIES sure to brighten any festivities.

#10 “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946)
#9 “Miracle on 34th Street” (1947)
#8 “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965)
#7 “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989)
#6 “The Santa Clause” (1994)
#5 “A Christmas Carol” (1938)
#4 “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” (1964)
#3 “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” (1966)
#2 “Home Alone” (1990)
And my #1 favorite: “A Christmas Story” (1983)

WARNING: Do not put your tongue on an icy pole.  It will get stuck!

WARNING: Do not put your tongue on an icy pole. It will get stuck!

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Christmas 101 – THE TREE

Vintage simplicity can be gorgeous.

Vintage simplicity can be gorgeous.

FIVE STEPS TO A GORGEOUS TREE
Creating the perfect Christmas tree is an art that can be broken down into five easy steps:
1. Decorate Away from the Wall
You need to be able to access all sides. Pull it out and place a few chairs around it to stand on while reaching the top branches.
2. Hang the Lights First
Start at the top and work your way down, keeping the lights plugged in if possible. Rather than strangling the tree with the lights, go in to the trunk and out along the branches as you work your way around. This will give the tree depth.
3. Hang the Garland
Again, start at the top and work your way around and down the tree, weaving the garland in and out and giving it swag.
4. Hang the Ornaments, from Big to Small
If you have a lot of any one type of ornament, put these all on first, spacing them evenly. If you have large ornaments, put them on early in the process to prevent the tree from looking unbalanced. Fill in with smaller ornaments, making sure not to ignore the inner branches of the tree as well as the tips.
5. Top it Off
The final touch is crowning the tree–otherwise it will look unfinished. Choose something that makes you happy, whether it be a big bow, a star, or an angel.

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Christmas 101 – Gift Giving

A potted bulb is the gift that keeps on giving.

A potted bulb is the gift that keeps on giving.

#Christmas ideas. We all want to find the joy in the holidays, but let’s face it, we don’t have a lot of time. An easy, yet thoughtful gift, is a potted bulb. I love potting amaryllis bulbs in a fun container like a quart-sized paint can, sealing the lid, and shipping it to my grandmother. Here’s why it’s the gift that keeps on giving: her calling with reports on its growth always brings a smile to my face and she’s thrilled when the little bulb finally performs her beautiful show.

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Christmas 101

Time to Light Up!

Time to Light Up!

#CHRISTMAS IDEAS Okay, it’s time to haul out the holly and I’m going to try to do so this year without diving into my savings account. Start a tradition and go out with family or friends for a drive to see the lights. Every town has that neighbor who makes their house a glowing gift to the world. For a tour of people who go all out to make their houses say “Ho! Ho! Ho!” and a list of the best places to see the lights in every state, grab a copy of my cross-country megawatt adventure “Merry Christmas, America!” MCA book cover

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Thanksgiving Turkey#THANKSGIVING Trivia. Do you know what the first meal ever eaten on the moon was? Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin ate roasted turkey out of a foil pack.
On this Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…. And that I wasn’t born a turkey. Gobble gobble. Wishing you and yours bounty. What are YOU thankful for?

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Halloween Wrap-Up

Boo!
Boo! Made my Christmas plan this week. Key word: fiesta! But before we merrily move on…a look back at Halloween. My daytime costume to accompany bandana-wearing Westminster shows how simple a costume can be – my moustache Band-aid from Urban Outfitters got a lot of attention as we drove around the Hamptons. My nighttime party attire–‘The Real Housewives of Islamabad.’ I was ‘Kim Zol-sikh.’ I wore a big blonde wig atop my burka, and of course I was ‘Tardy for the Party.’

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