My sweet friend NK and I went to lunch Saturday, and afterwards we walked over to a few of our favorite local stores. Typically I’m not much of a boutique shopper because I tend to favor 1) Walmart(s) 2) Target(s) 3) Steinmart(s) or 4) TJ Maxx(es), but I saw lots of cute, affordable gifts that I would’ve happily bought if, you know, I’d done any Christmas planning at all. Sadly, however, the extent of my Christmas preparedness is to say YES, WE WILL JOYFULLY CELEBRATE IT, but I haven’t exactly reached ye olde list-making stage.
Even still, I had the best time looking at Christmas decorations in all the stores, and I ran across some fun ideas for things I’d like to try in our house this year. Our window-shopping adventure totally sparked my Christmas decor interest, so when I got home I did what any God-fearing American would do and proceeded to WEAR GOOGLE OUT looking for inexpensive decorations online.
And do you know what? I found some adorable things. All for less than $10 per item. But before I share them with you, a brief aside.
As some of y’all know, my love of a certain kitchen cleaner knows no bounds. I adore it. It works well and smells divine and turns the world on with its smile. It can take a nothing day and suddenly make it all worthwhile.
Well, Saturday afternoon NK and I were walking through this little specialty linens shop where I can barely afford to even look in the general direction of their high-priced wares, so I stayed in the home fragrance section because it’s a little more in tune with my budget. While I was standing there I saw a new kind of kitchen cleaner that will no doubt change my life, and OHMYWORD I TOTALLY BOUGHT IT, even though I could practically hear my sensible friend Shannon saying, “You’re going to pay ten dollars? For something to clean your countertops? SO THAT YOUR COUNTERTOPS CAN IN TURN SMELL LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE?”
To which I imaginarily replied, “Yes! I am! ISN’T IT EXCITING?”
Because oh, y’all – this stuff smells like, well, Christmas perfection. Plus, we have an artificial tree, so I long for that fresh tree smell. My plan is to start using it the day after Thanksgiving and I know I’m weird to be so tickled to death over some new countertop spray but SOMETIMES I JUST CAN’T FIGHT THE CARZY.
Anyhoo.
I now give you (AFFORDABLE!) decorative Christmas wares for your enjoyment and perusal.
- Colorful star lanterns – I’d hang red, lime green and white over my kitchen table and then marvel at the cuteness. If you want paper lanterns that are a little fancier, Pier1 has them, too.
- Handmade owl Christmas ornaments – They’re funky and retro and oh-so-charming. Owls seem to be in the midst of a decorative resurgence, and I for one say hoorah. And also: HOOT.
- Santa Star Christmas ornaments – These are handmade, and if you’ve read Barb for any time at all, you know that they’re METICULOUSLY done (edited to add: and since you get 3 for $20, technically they still fall under the less-than-$10 per item limit).
- Jingle Bells napkin rings – I’m a fan of anything that’s practical, festive, colorful, and, well, jingly. I’m sure someone is going to leave a comment telling me that I could make these for even less than the $3 I’d spend in the store, and while yes, that’s true, you must also remember that craft projects and I are SWORN ENEMIES.
- Green starburst ornaments – I’d love lots of these hanging at alternating heights from a small chandelier…but the suggestions on the website about using them in a bowl (or a glass apothecary jar, maybe?) or as placecard holders would be delightful, too.
- Finally. Make five year-old happy it will.
Make it a merry Monday, y’all.
November 10th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
I have noticed that the passing of Halloween has given free-range to the Holiday speak. :) All of the commercials have started to take on that sentimental gift-giving spin, and even my favorite blogs are plunging into the Season! My husband played our favorite Christmas album (“The Living Room Sessions” by Christ Rice…Ah-MAY-zing…) in the car this weekend, too. I would say that the Holidays are very quickly on their way.
I, for one, say, “HOORAY! and MERRY CHRISTMAS!” :)
November 10th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Your $10 is $10 more than mine, lol. Those Santa star ornaments MUST go on my tree, but my husband would kill me if I paid $20 for more Santas. :(
Great finds though!
PS… Did you notice the pickle ornament at crate and barrel? Who hangs pickles on their tree?
PPS… Oh, if you hang pickles on your tree, woops. Sorry.
November 10th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
The pickle thing is supposedly a German tradition – except when we were in Germany nobody ever heard of it – again proving – Americans are strange (at least to most Europeans). My MIL gave us a lovely glass pickle for our tree and years later confessed – she’d never heard of it either but somebody (what a troublemaker “Somebody” can be) told her about it. I love the Yoda ornament – Christmas it will make. I’m getting in the mood but must pull out the boxes of stuff hidden since last year and see what is good for this year. Thanks for sharing ideas Miz Boo
November 10th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Now I have to confess something right upfront….over the weekend I decorated my home for Christmas! I know it’s early but I enjoy my Christmas decorations and the house looks so good. I have artificial trees but I miss the Christmas tree smell and let me tell you that I am excited over the kitchen counter spray. SO buying it!!
Do you decorate the outside of your home? We haven’t done that yet….I need to let the neighbors get over the Christmas wreath on the door first and my son told me the inside of our home was like the Griswolds minus all the lights.
Get to decking those halls, ya’ll/s!
Love,
Patty
November 10th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Thymes has the most wonderful smelling products ever. I worked in a home decor shop and used to “clean” the Thymes display daily just to smell the soaps and lotions… I can only imagine the cleaner smells DEE LISH!
November 10th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
I am a fan of the Method vanilla-peppermint for a festive holiday countertop scent but you have me thinking. Christmas perfection–that’s some strong words!
And tell me your sister isn’t the only Chi O in the family with all those owls!
COLAM,
MemeGRL
November 10th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
All the Chi O bloggers & readers will have to get after those owls! Hoot! Hoot!
November 10th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
The pickle: i think the tradition is a game. the first person to find the pickle opens the first present, something like that.
the mrs. meyers: they make a concentrate. get the all purpose cleaner and dilute it to make the countertop spray. it’s the same thing; much more cost-effective. i love the lavender.
November 10th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Yeah, but I have my “fake snow” still sitting on (“decorating”) my kitchen windowsill from last year. Hellooooooo, who’s that at the door? Is it Better Homes and Gardens?
November 10th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Oh yes ma’am, we are a fan of the Mrs. Meyers in this house. Don’t know if my hubby would go for $10 countertop spray…but I’m sure I can think of some way to convince him…
Oh, Yoda come to this house, he will. For even 12 year olds Jedis they like.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
There is just no better way to take a break from work than to drink a diet coke and read about cleaning products and Christmas decorations.
I am in heaven. Thank you Sophie for the respite.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Where on earth were all these adorable owls during the sorority days?!
I mean, really. Owls were ugly and like a badge of nerddom back then…those lucky collegiate sisters today GET to have the trendiest, cutest little animal to wear around.
I’d better go buy some for nostalgia’s sake…
November 10th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
yea!!! i love Christmas talk!! i’m uplifted now on this dreary north texas afternoon.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I love to buy the Thymes Frasier Fir for my counter tops as well as the aerosol spray for the rooms just when I feel like a little bit ‘o Christmas. So glad to hear someone else loves it as much as me!
November 10th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
This is so funny because I was just thinking of what I could do for your home tour to spice up our house, but not at a huge expense! This is great!
And I’m the same way with the tree. But we’ve come to a compromise: when we’re in town for Christmas = real tree. Away for Christmas = the fake tree. This year it’s real! : )
November 10th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
You should probably be glad that I don’t break my lurky silence often. But I did notice that the Thymes Fraser Fir spray is not recommended for granite or marble counter tops, just in case anyone needs to know. :-) (You don’t have granite or marble, do you, Boo Mama?) I tragically used the last of the Thymes dish detergent given me by a friend, but it lasted a l-o-n-g time. Of course, maybe my stinginess had something to do with it.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
I think you should do a Christmas craft project JUST for a CARZY blog post.
PS I LOVE the green starburst ornaments. It totally reminds me of my mother in law’s late 1800′s home with things that hang from the ceiling in a lovely array.
Praying for your things and stuff today!
PSPS I’d totally buy the spray for the scent-sational value of it.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Oh WOW. That Fraiser Fir stuff is amazing. I got a little bottle of room freshener a couple years ago, and I ration it, it is so yummy!
November 10th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Truly you are a hoot and a half. And our tree will be adorning yoda as well.
November 10th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I’m raising my hand as a Mrs. Meyer’s fan too! And I’ve found it before at TJMaxx!
Have you ever smelled Pier 1′s Buttercream Vanilla home fragrance spray? Totally worth the $6. Mmm, good!
November 10th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
I am obsessed with the smell of Method’s Almond furniture polish. I think I would pay any amount for it… well, within reason.
I bought the Yoda ornament for my boy last year… and he did love it. Yoda will be back again this year to claim his spot front and center on our Christmas tree.
November 10th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
You are gonna LOVE that cleanser’s fragrance….I discovered the candle in that frgarnace last year, and went through three! I have never liked any of the Christmas tree fragrances before, but this is truly The Bomb!
November 10th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
“Christmas tree” is my all-time favorite scent, followed closely by “brand new Crayola crayons,” but I haven’t seen any cleaners in that particular scent. IMO it is a niche that is waiting to be filled.
Off to order the spray!
November 10th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
love, love, love the owl shout-out!! check out what i found for one of my pledges (i was pledge trainer, er…”educator” as they know say) who just had a baby girl. hoot hoot!!
http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=11455055
http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=11430931
November 10th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
My giveaway this week is for Christmas ornaments made in the USA!!
November 10th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
You’re gonna hate me, but I’m almost finished with the Christmas shopping. Two more people. And then I’m done.
November 11th, 2008 at 12:13 am
Clearly, you don’t think I’m whipping out Santa stars as fast as I possibly can, Sophie. LOL
Thank you for highlighting my little stars. Five minutes ago I thought I had another dozen sets available – and now I have six sets left. I do, however, have another three dozen sets cut out. That’s good, right?
What a great post – I love the way you’re so into Christmas while I’m still making my Thanksgiving dinner shopping list – a girl after my own Christmas-filled heart.
:-)
November 11th, 2008 at 12:22 am
How about that “Tide” it just keeps on rollin’
November 11th, 2008 at 7:22 am
Well, I’m not objective so I’d go with my sister’s Santa Stars which are as you pointed out, pure perfection. But my 7 year old grandson would grab that Green Yoda in a heartbeat, and his momma would likely hide it deep within the branches of the tree!
November 11th, 2008 at 7:47 am
HOOT HOOT! The owls are adorable! Great finds…keep ‘em comin’!
November 11th, 2008 at 7:59 am
I can’t believe you found these star lanterns!! There is a coffee shop in my local town that has three of these hanging in their front window, lit up. I have admired them FOREVER! And I found them one time .. but at 30.00 a pop, so I passed. Your deal is way more cool! The outside printed design isn’t quite as ornate but these you posted are pretty enough! Thanks for the leg work ;)
November 11th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Hey, Boo. I love the green starburst and the suggestion to hang from chandelier. Great idea and great item. J
November 11th, 2008 at 9:06 am
This local “thinks” your shopping Homewood and Three Sheets. If so, please tell me you checked out Royal Standard! It is my FAVORITE gift giving store. Beautiful things at LOW prices. Dare I say……. Better than TJ Maxx!!
November 11th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Make a five-year-old happy? Make my 35-year-old husband happy, it will!
November 11th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Wow – I want that spray!!!!!!!
:)
November 11th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I tried the Method cleaners after reading about them here at your place, and I liked them just fine. Then, Gold Canyon introduced its new line called “Homeology”, which is environmentally safe, too, and smells so yummy! Lavender, peppermint, and stuff.
It’s also a little pricey, but, oh I do love it — yes, I’m a GC demonstrator. Not tryin’ to sell you anything, just sayin’. If you get a chance, you gotta try it.
November 11th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
I think I am having countertop spray envy!! I went to their website and it does not look like any stores in NC carry it :(. Bummer!
November 11th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Make a 9 year old paduan happy it will indeed!
November 11th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
I wonder, oh I wonder, if Pine Sol smells anything like Thymes version of Christmas trees?
November 11th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
BooMama, you make me smile. And laugh. : ) Thank you so very much.
But I do have one question for you and the internets… from one fake tree owner to another… We got our tree several years ago (b/c sadly, I am allergic to the real ones) and thanks to my obsessive packing every year, it still looks beautiful! BUT I can’t help but think that by now it has accumulated (ahem) about a year’s worth of dust just by being up from Sat after Thanksgiving to sometime in January. So do you dust yours? Vaccuum it? Leaf-blower it? Throw it out and buy a new one every year? Just wondering if you or anyone else has any advice before I become allergic to my fake tree too… : )
November 12th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Found you through desperate housewife! Love your blog and this post! :)
I’m pretty excited about cleaner that smells like Christmas trees!
November 13th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I can’t decide if I should be flattered or concerned that my imaginary words are settling in your head. ;)