Janice Benoit's Blog
Posted by Janice Benoit
Whether your favorite holiday classic is "A Christmas Story", "It's A Wonderful Life", "The Nutcracker Suite", "A Christmas Carol" or "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," every production has a huge Christmas tree as a dominant part of its story. Some are topped by Victorian angels, some are topped by ornate glass decorations, and one is even crowned by a star placed on top by a toothless abominable snowman!
So, whether you choose to use a star, an angel or any other tree topper, realize that you are creating a holiday tradition that your children will take with them as they embark on their own adult lives.
I grew up in a family that topped with a delicate, glass-blown ornament. When I married, my husband brought his family tradition of a Victorian angel topper to our new family. So, for our first year of marriage, we had the Angel vs. Ornament debate. I thought about alternating years, having two trees and every other imaginable solution to the T3 (Tree Topper Tradition) trouble that we encountered.
Honestly, there wasn't a good solution.........until we got a new tree! With a taller tree, we realized that neither topper would fit, and we had to invent our own T3! We love our new topper, (a "ginormous" mass of meshy, metallic wired bows), and we created it as a family. And so ends our T3 troubles --- until our boys marry!
© Text by Janice Benoit. [December, 2006]. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use will constitute an infringement of copyright
Posted by Janice Benoit
Wrapped Christmas presents can be used to create all sorts of wonderful holiday decor. It's the most cost-effective way (and creative use of space) to decorate for the holidays. Try these ideas at your own home:
- Create a tower or pyramid of wrapped presents. The structure will have an architectural quality, and can be placed in a high-visibility area. Work with your wrapped gifts to balance the height and width of the tower. Vary your gift wrap for a most pleasing visual effect. Don't use bows, except on the top presents, as they will undermine the stability of the structure.
- Tuck several elegantly wrapped gifts (think vintage wrapping paper and metallic fabric bows) into or on top of a child's sled or baby/doll cradle. Place the sled or cradle in the corner of a highly-trafficked room.
- Capitalize on the empty space beneath a glass-topped coffee, sofa or end table. Stack beautifully wrapped gifts in this area, and minimize the clutter on top of the table, so that all can enjoy the gifts from various angles.
© Text by Janice Benoit. [December, 2006]. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use will constitute an infringement of copyright
Posted by Janice Benoit
By this time, most of us have or are in the process of decorating for the holidays. Even though we are creating an ambience for our guests, remember that part of being a gracious, hospitable host is to ensure your guests safety. So, take the tips into account at your own homes.
- Cover all cord connections with electrical tape
- Keep the walkways & driveways clear of ice or other impediments
- Use salt, sand or your locally approved agent to reduce the risk of slipping
- Keep cords away from the areas that people will walk on
- If you will be highlighting your front doorway with a floodlight, adjust the angle of illumination so that your guests are not blinded as they exit the house
- Provide an exterior as well as an interior floor mat, so that the risk of melting snow creating a slippery area, is minimized
Enjoy your holidays!
Posted by Janice Benoit
Are you searching for proper etiquette for gift giving to the service people that you encounter --- your hair stylist, the postman, or newspaper delivery person? How about your kid's teacher, coach or carpool parent?
The answer to whether you should give a gift to these people is yes (assuming that their service was good during the year!).
So, what should you give? Obviously, that depends on your budget, but the bottom line is that you don't need to spend a lot of money. However, you should make some effort to get a gift that is appropriate for the specific person. If a person is really into coffee, that an attractive mug and some exotic coffee beans would be perfect. If a person loves to garden, than a nice set of gardening gloves would be appreciated.
Gift cards can also be acceptable, although they can look like a cop-out. To make the most out of a gift card present, select one that is appropriate for the given person. A no-fail option is a gift card to a nice restaurant, because in effect, you are giving the recipient the gift of an evening out. In addtion, take the time to wrap the gift card in a little gift bag with all the trimmings -- don't just hand over the Blockbuster folder with the card stuck inside!
Have fun with your gift giving --- remember that you should give any gift in the same manner that you should receive one......graciously!
Posted by Janice Benoit
The interior of your home may be decorated for the season, but don't forget about the exterior of your house. This is the first thing your guests see when they arrive, and it can really set the ambience of the party.
- Luminaria: line your driveway or walkway with paper lunch bags (white or natural kraft paper) that are filled with an inch or two of sand. Place a votive or tealight in the sand, light the wick, and enjoy the luminous glow.
- Christmas Lights: try this great idea if you live in an area with snow. Drape a netting light set or a several strings of regular white lights artistically on the ground or in your planting beds. When the lights are covered with snow, they create a magical glow that is indescribable.
- Greenery: I have to admit that I have artificial wreaths on my doors, but I invested in realistic and beautiful arrangements that I reuse year to year. I tuck some real boughs (that are very fragrant) into the artifiical wreaths, and nobody is the wiser!
