This Item Includes: Blue Gingham Dress
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Wreaths are most often thought to be a Christmastime decoration. Around the holidays, many of us decorate our homes with evergreen wreaths with lights and red bows. Christmas wreaths are a traditional decoration that we're all accustomed to. However, more and more designers are using wreaths as a constantly rotating seasonal decoration. Why limit yourself to only displaying wreaths during the month of December? Wreaths can be a unique and versatile decoration for any season or holiday. Here are some fresh ideas on using wreaths as year-round decorations.
New Year's:
You can easily take your Christmas wreath into New Year's Day by removing the red bows and adding gold or silver ones with some streamers. Other possible decorations include a Happy New Years banner or hat and some small party horns or plastic champagne glasses.
Valentine's Day:
Nothing says love like a pink or red heart shaped wreath. Consider using silk roses, fabric hearts or even wrapped candies. A stuffed animal like a pink or red teddy bear, or small cupid also adds character. Top it off with a beautiful bow and you have a bright decoration for those cold winter days!
St. Patrick's Day:
Everyone can pretend to be Irish on St. Patty's Day! Of course, when designing a St. Patrick's Day wreath, green is certainly a requirement. A mass of green shamrocks wrapping your wreath would look very festive (garlands of plastic or fabric shamrocks can usually be purchased at decorating stores). Additional decorations might include small gold coins or leprechaun figurines.
Easter:
An Easter wreath can be decorated in many ways. Some choose to focus on the Christian celebration of Christ's resurrection, and others choose a lighthearted Easter Bunny theme. Whatever your choice may be, beautiful spring flowers are a good base for an Easter wreath. Other choices might include Easter eggs, chocolate candies or bunnies, and Easter ribbons.
Fourth of July:
In the United States, July 4 is an important holiday when we all like to show our patriotic spirit. Try a straw or grapevine wreath spray painted with red, white, or blue gloss paint as your base, and then have fun from there! You can use firecrackers, streamers, and ribbons for decorations. And don't forget to include some small flags to celebrate our independence.
Halloween:
After Christmas, Halloween is the most "decorated" holiday we celebrate in the United States. Welcome your trick-or-treaters with a festive Halloween wreath. Orange and black are traditional colors, and there are many materials and items you can use to create your wreath. Decorations might include pumpkins, ghosts, black cats, witches, spiders and wrapped candies.
Thanksgiving:
A wreath is a wonderful way to welcome guests to your home for a Thanksgiving dinner. Consider using natural materials this time of year, as they are so abundant. You may have to plan ahead and pick up beautiful leaves as they fall from the trees to create your own special design. A large fall bow with some colorful corn will complete your Thanksgiving wreath.
As you can see, wreaths aren't just for Christmas anymore! Seasonal wreaths are a great way to decorate for each holiday. If you have a nice base wreath, it would even be possible to just change out the decorations to accommodate each holiday or season. And because most wreaths aren't very large, they are an easy way to add a special touch to your home's decor without busting the budget. Be sure to protect your seasonal wreaths by storing them in a secure and efficient manner so that you can enjoy them for years to come.
For more information on storing your holiday wreaths, please visit The Christmas Tree Storage Bag Shop. There you'll find a variety of wreath storage boxes and other seasonal storage products.
Kids love wearing costumes and playing dress-up. Some of the favorite "characters" to dress up as include various occupations, such as doctors, police, lawyers, and others. Doctors and pharmacists tend to be some of the most popular of all. If your child is interested in playing one of these characters at Halloween or for any other occasion, you will need a costume. Lab coats, scrubs, and stethoscopes are staples of such costumes.
Fortunately, kids lab coats are available in a variety of sizes to fit the little ones. You can even get lab coats with embroidered names or logos on the breast pocket, to enhance the child's experience with a little bit of realism. Different patterns and designs of child's lab coats are sometimes available, but you can certainly find a great variety of styles of scrubs, if they will suffice for your child's needs.
Sometimes you may be able to find a child's costume set that includes more than just a lab coat. These are usually available in costume stores or around Halloween. If you do find one of these sets, they are the perfect solution for kids who want to be a doctor or other medical professional. They often come complete with lab coat or scrubs, surgical cap and shoe covers, surgical mask, shirt, and pants. Pretend and Play makes just such a doctor set, which includes a plastic doctor's bag, battery-operated stethoscope, pager, thermometer, and bandages.
Since some parents worry about their kids wearing grotesque or violent costumes at Halloween, occupational costumes are an excellent alternative. Your child can present a positive alternative to the scary and gory costumes so often seen at Halloween today.
For more on kids lab coats, visit http://www.cool-lab-coats.info Also available is information on polyester lab coats.
Fall is a wonderful time of year for floral design. There are so many beautiful flowers in rich fall colors. Halloween arrangements are especially fun. Use fresh flowers and Halloween novelties to make a fun Halloween design! Some flowers that are great to use for fall include: Bird of Paradise, Alstromeria, Gerbera, Roses, Chrysanthmums, Carnations, Coppertip (crocosmia), and an orange thistle. Leather leaf, salal, and goldenrod are just a few examples of foliage that goes well with these flowers. Curly willow also adds an exciting touch to any fall design.
Use a pumpkin for the vase of your design. To design an arrangement in a pumpkin, first clean out your pumpkin. Sprinkle flower food on the inside, this will help your carved out pumpkin to last longer. You will then want to insert plastic lining in your pumpkin. Floral foam is a great way to anchor your design. After saturating your floral foam in warm water, you are ready to begin! The previous mentioned flowers will look great in this design.
Some tips for your design:
- You paid for that Bird of Paradise! Make sure you can see it! If you use expensive or unique flowers, be sure not to hide it behind foliage or cheap flowers.
- Use the "lid" of your pumpkin as part of your design, this can be attached with a wooden peg.
- Add fall leaves to your design.
- To enhance your design, and to make it more suitable for Halloween, put Halloween novelties in it, like ghosts, spiders, cobwebs, or witches!
- Don't forget purple is the new Halloween color. Using purple flowers and foliage can add variety to any seasonal floral arrangement and help your oranges and reds not to blend together.
For pictures of Halloween designs, instructions on using floral foam, and more information on fresh cut flowers, please visit http://fantasticflower.blogspot.com/
http://fantasticflower.blogspot.com/ is a great resource for wedding bridal bouquets and also provides resources to send flowers online.
Here comes the cast of characters, and I cant wait. I love the parade of different costumes at Halloween parties. Its a myriad of swirling colors and bold style statements. It can also be a den of discomfort if care isnt given to ensure a properly fitting costume. For children and adults, the key is sizing and gauging appropriate length.
Heres a checklist for costume compatibility:
1. MEASURE. If you dont already have one, buy a tape measure. Cloth or plastic tape measures are inexpensive and available at all general merchandise stores and craft stores (look in the craft department where sewing supplies are displayed). Jot down all possible physical measurements chest, waist, hips, inseam, arm and neck. When shopping for a costume to buy, have your list readily at hand to compare with available size charts.
2. LOOK FOR ANY SPECIFIC SIZING NOTES. For example, the manufacturer might note that sizing for an item runs small. If so, believe it and go up to the next size. Otherwise, plan to buy true to size or one size up to ensure comfortable wear. Depending on the festivities, party time is anywhere from two hours to well into the evening. Thats a long time to be squeezed into something too small.
3. TRY IT ON. The best way to check sizing is to try the garment on. If you are purchasing items on the internet, try it on immediately upon receipt. This will ensure plenty of time to exchange if it doesnt fit. If you have questions, ASK. Most retailers are happy to assist you with your purchase, and this includes prompt replies to email questions.
4. SHORTEN. Skirts or slacks that are too long are quite frankly dangerous for Halloween events. Cut, hem, pin or securely tape clothing to the desired, safer length and tripping fears are laid to rest. Unless longer sleeves are actually a part of your costume, shorten them also if ill-fitting. Particularly at Halloween parties, candles are usually part of the dcor and you dont want to be trailing burning sleeves across a table.
Your holiday event will be loads of fun, and youll enjoy the evening so much more if youre comfortable and able to freely move. Happy Halloween, and be safe!
Laura lives in Frankfort, Kentucky, with her husband and youngest daughter. She is a writer and personal injury paralegal. She was born on Halloween and therefore considers herself an inherent expert on the holiday. For a BOOtiful HALLOWEEN and great costume ideas, visit her website at: http://bootifulhalloween.blogspot.com.
The one day of the year that puts any man running is Valentine's Day. This is the one day where they are to find a unique way to show their special lady that they are special and the only one. Many men just go with the usual gifts of stuffed animals, flowers and chocolates. You don't have to fall into the same old gifts like the rest of the guys. You can give her something different and fun that she will absolutely love.
Gift baskets are a sure fire way to give her special treats that will tickle her heart and win her over. You can do just about anything with a gift basket and the great part is, you can make it yourself without having to spend a fortune. You can fill the basket with anything you like and make it personally tailored to just her.
The first thing you will need to do is find the perfect basket. Most major stores such as Wal-Mart, Kmart, Sears and any craft store will have a variety of baskets to choose from. You will need to get a basket that is big enough for the gifts that you will be putting in the basket. Something with a little color is always a good way to go and you can choose a basket with color that matches something in her place so she can use it possible in her bathroom for linens or something else.
Then you will need to decide what to put in the basket. You can make it all romantic gifts such as candles or incense with some flutes (champagne glasses) or wine glasses. You can also add in a bottle of bubble or wine to match with the glasses and add in some cheese and crackers as well as a cheese cutter. Then the two of you can enjoy a romantic treat together and she has some gifts that she can use year round.
You can make the basket filled with all sorts of things for her to pamper herself with such as scented lotions, bubble bath, shower gels and some scented candles so she can take a candle lit bubble bath. Don't forget to throw in something shiny such as earrings or a bracelet as jewelry is always a winner with women.
The best thing to do is pack the basket full of things that she likes. If you need help with what to do with this type of gift you can always ask her friends or family on what she likes. They can give you some great ideas of things that she likes and then you will be sure to have a gift that is a great hit and shows her how special she is to you.
Tom Kranz writes articles on Valentine's Day, Valentine's Day gift ideas, and Valentine's Gift ideas.