[newask]

Hello everyone, I hope that your Thanksgiving celebrations were amazing and delicous <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> I need some ideas for amping up the Christmas spirit in my house. Every year on the day after Thanksgiving, I get a Christmas tree. Well this year, I just can't do it. It seems so sad to cut down a beautiful tree for my entertainment for one month.<br><br>
So I pulled out my decorations and put them up, and the house is a little...lacking. I tried an artificial tree, but that didn't feel right either. Big and plastic-y and made in China did not scream Christmas to me.<br><br>
I would love to buy a living Christmas tree, but I don't have a yard to plant it in after the holidays, and my cats LOVE to eat leaves, so the poor thing might not fare so well. Anyways, I need some creative ways to bring the holiday spirit to my living room. Help please! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> and Thank you in advance!

 

[peacefulveglady]

I am sorry but I don't let the made in china in Christmas tree's to get me down, you can use that over and over and I feel upset about most of the fake trees made from there how about going to this website for American made Christmas trees.<br><a href="http://www.uschristmastree.com/" target="_blank">http://www.uschristmastree.com/</a><br><a href="http://www.madeinusa.org/nav.cgi?christmas" target="_blank">http://www.madeinusa.org/nav.cgi?christmas</a><br>
I hope this helps maybe make a decoration besides a tree to replace it but buying a fake tree made in America is those two links. I am going to look at these two and get them next year.

 

[yally]

Last Christmas Eve, I went out into the garden, cut a few twigs off some apples trees that had shed their leaves for the winter. brought them inside, popped them in a vase and decorated them with tinsel and baubles. It was surprisingly nice <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[YellowRose]

How about a big wreath instead of a tree? Those can be quite nice. I use a mini plastic tree myself...reusable every year and holds up rather well.<br><br>
Other things I like to do starting immediately after Thanksgiving <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> :<br><br>
-Play your favorite Christmas music (if you like Christmas music)<br>
-Bake sugar cookies or cinnamon rolls<br>
-Light candles that have Christmasy scents<br>
-Build a fire if you have a fireplace<br>
-Make some red and green paper chains and hang them in doorways<br>
-Decorate an end table in your main room with Christmas decorations, tinsel, etc<br><br>
I like yally's idea too!

 

[Photojess]

I just went out and bought one of those artificial China trees today and decorated it as well....for all of my 42 yrs, my family or we've had live trees. No more cutting down live ones now. the pine scent will have to come from candles I guess.

 

[paisleyjane]

Maybe you could try to find a second-hand artificial tree? If you can get one reclaimed/used, then you can feel good that you saved it from a landfill <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br>
I just decorate my plants <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/laugh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":lol:"><br><br>
But really, last year I put coloured Christmas lights up around my mantle/windows, and then little lightweight decorations on my plants <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[TooAmy]

I'm also thinking of purchasing a "fake" tree. I have seen a few good ones sofar but I guess I need to research abit more as I do want the tree to atleast look somewhat natural.

 

[fadeaway1289]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>paisleyjane</strong> <a href="/forum/post/3046877"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Maybe you could try to find a second-hand artificial tree? If you can get one reclaimed/used, then you can feel good that you saved it from a landfill <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""></div>
</div>
<br>
^This. Thrift stores seems to have a decent stock of Christmas trees and decorations this time of year. Craigslist and Freecycle also.<br><br>
I have an artificial tree that I love. Not sure where it's from, most likely China, but it doesn't bother me.

 

[peacefulveglady]

I just thought of something even tho we are upset that things are made in china ,those people needs to put food on the table as well and raise a family this time of year, so don't let it hurt you, but like I listed its hard to find but you can research online Made in America Christmas products .

 

[Nishani]

Massive amounts of energy efficient LED strip lights do it for me. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br><img alt="" src="http://www.ledlightsorient.com/images/Strip%20Lights/LED-Strip-lights-LSL1500.jpg" style="border:0px solid;">

 

[peacefulveglady]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Nishani</strong> <a href="/forum/post/3047087"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Massive amounts of energy efficient LED strip lights do it for me. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br><img alt="" src="http://www.ledlightsorient.com/images/Strip%20Lights/LED-Strip-lights-LSL1500.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"></div>
</div>
<br>
That gave me and idea, why don't you get rope lights and make the rope lights into a tree shape?

 

[newask]

Wow, you guys, thanks for the great ideas. I didn't mean to knock the artificial trees, it just struck me weird when I was trying to put it up (but I've had real trees my whole life, so maybe it was a tiny adjustment I was not ready for). I'm going to start with more lights and maybe a cinnamon candle...Happy Holidays everyone! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">