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Christmas

Great Gifts at Great Prices: Top Tips for Christmas Shopping

Photot: Michela Simoncini cc

The Christmas period is an exciting one, we all know that. With all of the festive cheer and the smiling faces putting up the decorations, shopping for gifts and visiting Christmas markets with all of their traditions and smells; it’s one of the most popular times of year despite the freezing weather!

It can also be a particularly difficult time for some families who aren’t as fortunate as others. While some parents will be out buying their children, friends and family all kinds of elaborate gifts, others are trying to balance the books to enable them to give their loved ones one special gift that will make their Christmas because they just don’t have the disposable income available to buy the latest gadgets or to pay the hefty price tags of the high street brands.

To counter this problem, there are a few things you can and they’re relatively simple too. The first is to utilise the likes of www.swap.com which allows people to buy, sell and swap their unwanted or second-hand items with other people looking to buy, sell or swap their items which means you get perfectly good children’s clothes, DVDs, toys and games without having to pay the high prices. It also means that parents can make a little bit of extra cash by selling the goods and that money can be put towards extra presents or saved up for another occasion.

Another good thing about sites like Swap is that a lot of the ‘second hand’ items aren’t even used, they’re simply the kind of items that parents have bought or the children have been given as presents, that simply don’t fit or aren’t of use to them. For example, you can buy, sell and swap sports equipment and if your child isn’t into that particular sport you can sell or swap it with someone who might be for something that is more suitable.

Then you have the kind of website that has been around for some years now – online auctions like eBay. With these sites users have the chance to bid for certain items at prices they can afford, opting out when the price gets too high; but they also have the opportunity to ‘watch’ specific items and search for topics that might be of interest.

While some will still have the high price tags you would find in stores, there are some great bargains to be found especially if you don’t mind the odd defect here or there, like a small mark on the collar here or there or a bit of a pull on the stitching. A lot of brand new items can be bought for a fraction of the price with a little bit of research and even the will and ability to do the repairs yourself if you feel as though they need them; giving your family that amazing gift without the astronomical fee.

A final suggestion is to utilize the many Christmas markets that appear each year. These festivals are often held in the more ‘traditional’ cities, and present the opportunity for people to showcase their handmade items which can make for great gifts for any family member no matter how old or what their interests may be. With a bit of a wander around you will almost certainly find some truly unique gifts that will genuinely appeal to the recipient and because it’s handmade as opposed to made by a brand, it’s often a really good price.

Quirky Ways to Decorate Your Christmas Tree

Quirky Ways to Decorate Your Christmas Tree Christmas has been and gone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start putting thought into next year a little early.

How did your tree look last year? If your answer is anything other than ‘amazeballs’ (well, you know…if it’s something negative), then you need to rethink your tree decorations my friend!

Many people now choose to have an individual looking Christmas tree, you no longer have to stick to green, red, and gold to get in the Christmas spirit. With that in mind, here are some quirky ways to decorate your Christmas tree:

  • Use plenty of fairy lights. You literally can’t have too many – trust us and test the theory!
  • Use more lights – you know all of the lights you’ve put on? Add more. You probably want to double them to get the desired effect. The finished look will be magical.
  • Don’t forget your tree topper – choose one that lights up for even more sparkle.
  • Use beaded garlands and plenty of ribbon swirled around your tree to create a pretty effect. Just make sure they don’t look like you chucked them on as an afterthought!
  • Get together all of your largest ornaments, and hang them on. You can use these to fill in any big gaps.
  • Now hang your favourite ornaments in good spots where you can see them. Make sure you don’t hang your ornaments too close together, and consider the side that people see when they first walk into the room.
  • Next hang any other ornaments you have left over. To make things more interesting, choose different textures. For example; glossy, glittery, and matte.
  • Instead of hanging your ornaments on the ends of your branches, create a multidimensional feel by nestling some right into the tree.
  • You can add any little decorations to your tree in places where you feel it needs something extra. Candy canes, tree chocolates, and red bows look great.
  • Add any finishing touches you like, but try to get creative. You’d be surprised at how nice peacock feathers can look arranged on the tree.
  • When you think you’re finished, take a step back and take the whole thing in. You can then determine if you have too much, or not enough of something.
  • Search on eBay and Etsy for quirky, unique decorations that nobody else will have. A vintage looking tree always looks great.
  • If you have an artificial tree, you always have the option of spray painting it a different colour. Why not spray paint a green tree white, or even a white tree gold?
  • Use handmade felt decorations for a pretty look. You could make these yourself, or give the kids something to do one day when they’re bored.
  • Use lots of different colours for a unique look. You could try gold, green, pink, blue, white, and red all on the same tree; it’ll work as long as you place everything well.
  • You could even choose a simple colour scheme consisting of your favourite colours, like pink and white.

The main thing to remember when buying your baubles, tinsel, Christmas lights etc, is to look out for cool and unusual designs to give your Christmas tree a funky edge.

Have fun decorating your tree!

Photo Credit

10 Creative Homemade Christmas Wreaths You Could Make This Year

If you’re thinking about getting a little more creative with your Christmas holiday decorations this year, here are 10 creative, fun and imaginative wreaths for you to turn to for inspiration.

I hope you like them?! Please feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of the page.

Nut Star Christmas Wreath

Nut Star Christmas Wreath
Not all wreaths have to be circular in shape, they can be whatever you want them to be! And you can use whatever materials you want. Check out this one, which is made from nuts! It looks absolutely stunning.

Marshmallow Christmas Door Wreath

Marshmallow Christmas Wreath
If you’re looking for a wreath which is like no other, then have a go at making this delicious marshmallow wreath! We think it should come with additional instructions, like remember to buy an extra packet of marshmallows as some may be eaten whilst in the process of putting it together!

Stunning Circular Wreath

Stunning Circle Wreath
I spotted this gorgeous wreath on homelife.com.au. What we love most about it is that it’s made from buttons, wallpaper, paper and thread! Hardly any materials used but what a beautiful wreath I’m sure you’ll agree.

Candy Cane Wreath


If you’re looking for something completely different than the usual traditional Christmas holiday wreath, then why not give this candy cane wreath a go? The only problem making this would be ensuring that you didn’t nibble the candy canes before sticking them on! For full details on making this delicious wreath see here.

White Yarn Christmas Wreath


If you’re look to make a festive wreath without it being to busy and fussy then try having a go a making this beautiful white yarn Christmas wreath. Click here for full details on how to make one.

Pretty Pink Christmas Wreath


What I love about this wreath is that it’s no only quick, cheap and easy to make, it’s also effective and still gives you that Christmassy feeling. Full instructions on how this lovely wreath is made can be found here.

Pretty Homemade Bauble Wreath

Homemade Bauble Wreath
We discovered this pretty bauble wreath here and It’s such an easy wreath to make too. These type of homemade wreaths are very popular at the moment.

Striped Paper Straw Wreath


This striped paper straw wreath is such a fantastic idea and so simple to make. We found this great wreath over at tatertots & jello where you too can see it and how it can be made.

3-D Paper Star Christmas Wreath

Paper Star Christmas Wreath
We love this colourful 3-D paper star wreath, it’s both vibrant and unique at the same time. For full instructions on how to create this gorgeous wreath visit Little Birdie Secrets.

Paper Doily Wreath

Paper Doily Wreath
This wreath is certainly unique, original and very eye catching. Full instructions on how to make this Christmas wreath can be found here.

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