Posted by Larimer Associates on 9:54 AM
We hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year!
Posted by Larimer Associates on 9:52 AM
We hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday!
Posted by Larimer Associates on 9:50 AM
Do
you need some ideas on how to decorate your apartment for the Holidays?
Here are 101 tips for easy, simple, and creative ways to put holiday
themes around your home this season.
1. Create a charming
display of teddy bears dressed for the season. Gather together three or
more teddy bears and arrange them on a table or on the floor in a
corner. Dress the bears with touques, scarves and mittens. Place candy
canes in their hands or tie bows around their necks. You can even wrap
up some small, empty boxes with Christmas wrapping paper to place in the
bears’ hands.
2. Display a collection of nativity scenes from different cultures.
3. Make simple bows from Christmas print ribbon and pin them to your curtains.
4.
Hang a collection of Christmas stockings on your mantle, a shelf or the
wall (even if you don’t stuff them). The more the merrier when it comes
to nice christmas decorations.
5. Revisit your childhood. Cut snowflakes from white paper and hang them in all of your windows.
6.
Buy a clear plastic shower curtain. Use a hot glue gun to attach
Christmas decorations to the outside of the curtain. Don’t use breakable
ornaments – instead, try small wooden or plastic ornaments (remove any
hooks), bows, garland, etc.
7. Use red and green 3-dimensional
fabric paints to trace simple Christmas patterns (like stars, bells,
Santas, stockings, etc.) on a white tablecloth.
8. Dress up your house plants – hang small Christmas ornaments on them.
9. Tie a red ribbon around a tall, slim drinking glass. Fill the glass with candy canes and display on a shelf or side table.
10. Purchase plain green or red place mats and attach Christmas ribbons, bows or small wooden ornaments with a hot glue gun.
11.
Fill a small glass bowl or decorative Christmas bowl with small cones
and display on end tables, shelves, buffet tables, etc.
12. For
quick ornaments, hang Christmas cookie cutters with ribbon. Hang them on
your tree or in a window so other people can enjoy your christmas
decorations.
13. Create a cookie wreath centerpiece for your
table. Just arrange Christmas cookies in a wreath shape right on the
table cloth. No need to attach them to anything ’cause everyone will
want to nibble at them. If you like, place a pillar candle on a small
plate in the center of the wreath.
14. Decorate plain red,
white, green or gold candles with 3-dimensional fabric paint. Draw
stars, bells, angels, snowmen, etc. If you make a mistake, let the paint
dry and peal it off, then start again.
15. Pile a collection of Christmas books on a side table.
For the rest of the 101 tips see
All Things Christmas.
Posted by Larimer Associates on 9:42 AM
Do you have anyone in your group of family and friends that love technology and superheros? Here are the top 6 "geek gifts" for your loved ones. Harry Potter to Big Bang Theory there are gifts for all ages!
1. Dr. Who pocket watch
Want to give your geeky boyfriend a nice gift that doesn't scream, "I'm cheap"? Check out the Dr. Who pocket watch on ThinkGeek.com. The high quality die cast metal watch is an exact replica from the Dr. Who television series. The retail price is $39.99
2. Superheros are your friends
It's never too late to start accessorizing before the next Marvel or
DC superhero movie hits the big screen in 2013. No crime fighter should
be without the proper outfit. Check out the Captain America or Green
Lantern hoodie on Amazon.com. There's also a nifty Superman comfy throw blanket with sleeves.
3. Afraid of Ghosts?
Your kids ain’t afraid of no ghosts – but just in case they are, the Ghostbusters neon light will work perfectly as a night light to keep away any scary ghosts or poltergeists that dare try enter your kid’s room.
4. May the Force be With You
Battle your fellow geeks like never before with these real laser
powered lightsabers. Powered using the same technology in professional
lasers, these intense lightsabers are the closest thing we’ve ever seen to a real lightsaber outside of a movie theater.
5. Hogwarts graduate
Harry Potter fans can control any TV with the flick of the wrist with this magic wand TV remote control.
This magic wand TV remote control has 13 different gestures to do
everything from turn the TV on and off to changing the volume or
channel.
6. Big Bang Inspired T-shirts
Thanks to the characters on the popular TV show, The Big Bang Theory, nerd
chic is in. Do you have a special someone looking for Sheldon's
signiture style of superhero T-shirts or Howard's belts? Then check out
this fun website filled with nerd-inspired clothing.
For more information see
The Patch.
Posted by Larimer Associates on 10:10 AM
In this part of the country it is warm throughout the year.
Experiencing snow is very unlikely. However, you can create a winter
wonderland right in your home. Keep reading to learn how to create snow
right in your own home.
With my husband's office Christmas party
just around the corner, I have already begun decorating. It takes a
while to get all of our Christmas items up and set in stone.
Last year, the main focus of our house for the party was the Florida
Room, which I turned into a Santa's Toyland. This year, the focus is
once again on that room but this time, I'm turning it into a snow land.
Turning any room in your house into a snow land can be fun and it
offers a slightly different twist to the more traditional Christmas
theme. I chose the Florida Room because it is the room in which my
guests most like to congregate. Additionally, the green curtains and
blue carpet lend themselves automatically to the theme.
You can do something similar for your house by using some or all of the following ideas:
Idea #1. Start the theme with the Christmas Tree. This year I scaled
back my 8' tree to allow more room for seating. Instead, I chose a
smaller, thinner 6' tree, which I decorated in keeping with the snow
land theme.
Think about placing cotton batting inside the tree
to simulate snow. To make it glisten more, accent it with aurora
borealis tinsel. Glittering snowball tinsel round around the branches
works well too.
Choose ornaments that fit in with the overall
theme. I used old world Santas, snowmen, angels and Christmas bulbs in
clear, white and silver. Then, I popped it with color by placing red
glitter poinsettias and snowflakes inside the branches as well.
Use a bow made of snowmen or a similar theme as a tree topper or pick
out a glistening snowflake or star topper instead. Even an angel will
work if you stick to clear or aurora borealis glass or plastic or choose
something done in corresponding colors.
Idea #2. Temporarily cover furniture cushions and pillows with snow themed fabric.
The floral cushions in my wicker chairs were inappropriate for my snow
land theme. So I used inexpensive ($1 yard) fabric in a snow theme to
temporarily cover them. A simple running whip stitch allowed me to
complete the job quickly. It will also make for easy removal once
Christmas is over.
To pull the fabric together with the
curtains, I replaced the curtain on my door to match the cushions. I
left the other green curtains in place and simply dangled snowflakes
from the tops of each. I also covered throw pillows in white felt and
glued matching snowflakes to the front.
You can also replace
throw pillows with store bought ones if you prefer. I added a couple
that fit in with the theme but also popped in a bit more color.
Idea #3. Cover surfaces with a blanket of snow.
I used several different kinds of materials to achieve the look I
wanted. For the large round wicker table in the center of the room I had
to use white felt. It was the only fabric I could find that was large
enough to cover the circumference. The fabric was around $5 a yard but
one yard was all I needed.
Snow blankets can be purchased for smaller surfaces almost anywhere that Christmas decorations
are sold. I used that material for my large rectangular table. These
blankets retail for anywhere from $4 to $10, depending upon their size
the features (e.g., glitter, glisten, etc.)
You can also use
cotton pull-apart stuffing to make snow banks on large surfaces to cover
really small areas. That material is inexpensive and can be found at
any arts & crafts store, at Wal-Mart or fabric stores for around $4 a
bag.
Increase the glitter factor with white glitter netting
from Michael's Arts & Crafts. It can be draped or round a surface.
The cost is about $7 per 84" by 15" piece.
Add snow flakes made from foam, fabric, or tinsel to accent the surfaces. Also think about using glittered white poinsettias.
Don't forget the snowmen. The ones I used happened to be wine bottle covers that will house Christmas gifts for some of our party guests.
Idea #4. Decorate surfaces.
I found cute little cardboard houses at Dollar Tree that doubled as
gift boxes for party guests. They were perfect for decorating the top of
one of the room's tables.
Add a bouquet of flowers or a plant to bring extra pizzazz to any surface.
Idea #5. Add some stockings on the fireplace.
Even a small fireplace in the room is still perfect for stocking
accents. The top or mantel also provides another surface upon which you
can place plants or other decorations.
Idea #6. Sit snowmen around the room.
I picked up the giant snowman pictured at a yard sale for $5. He sits inside the door to greet guests as they arrive.
Sit other woodland creatures around on the floor, between chairs, etc.
Although they are not pictured, I have the perimeters of the room strewn
with snowmen, old word Santas, reindeer and more. They cover up
extension cords, trash cans and other things I don't want attention
called to. They also add warmth and charm to the space.
Idea #7.
Pipe in music with a snow theme like "Winter Wonderland," "Frosty the
Snowman," or anything else appropriate. It will help set the mood and
help calm the guests and remove the stress of their day.
Have
fun with the theme. Get a bit wild and crazy with ideas if you want. The
whole idea is to make a fantasy room that you and your guests will
enjoy.
For more information see
Yahoo.com