Finished the wine table display

Thanks kathy and amanda!!!

Gingerbread Scene Done

My friend Lynn and I started and finished the gingerbread scene today. John, Joey, Jim, Cathy, and Frank cranked away at the garage and it is turning out UNBELIEVABLE!
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2010 Christmas Trend Alerts

Lighted Ribbon will be huge this year! Watch out for it at local stores like WMart...but beware of steep prices. Last year after Christmas it was still $5/roll. Colors=gold, red, blue, silver.

This year, I predict they will add a tacky lime green or maybe teal. Hopefully, buyers were wise and ordered lots of gold, silver, and jewel tones...yes...jewel tones are "still in" when it comes to Christmas.


2010 Trend Alert...themed nutcrackers that are irrelevant to everyone will be "in again."


2010 Trend Alert...outdoor inflatables are here to stay. "Outdoor lighted yard art" that anyone can do seems appealing, but it's really not. Let's all try to bid fairwell to these grass-killing, tacky oafs.

2010 Trend Alert...LED lights will still be way overpriced and much too industrial/cold looking. Even the warm tones are un-inviting. Beware of pricey LEDs which only come in sets of 35, 50, or 70 and do not have replaceable bulbs.

2010 Trend Alert...beware of overpriced "boxed light shows" which blast generic midi files and aren't sequenced accurately.

2010 Trend Alert...gotta love mini themed Christmas trees. Display your hobbies, teams, or favorite colors on a mini tree!

2010 Trend Alert...stores will be sold out of the good stuff again before Christmas this year. Retailers aren't taking chances with inventory surpluses. If you see it and KNOW you want it...don't wait for the clearance sales.

2010 Trend Alert...Go green where you can to stay on trend in 2010. Recycle broken light sets, get automatic timers, and make your ornaments! Don't skimp on the lights, just be conscious of your consumption and try to reduce it.

Themed Trees for 2010 Copeland Christmas

Two exciting new themed trees for this year, plus one old standby...We have a woodland gnome tree, the large Annalee tree, and the pink Disney Princess tree.

Gotta document the details...

Gnome Tree:
I love gnomes, so I waited all season (2009) for the Macy's glass gnome ornaments to go on sale. A few days after Christmas, they were still there, so I bought them all. Here's the details from last year and a few other gnomey details too.


The Annalee tree came out of necessity...I just don't have a place for all these unique Annalees...a pig, owl, grandma, monkey, frog, elves...the one place they ALL FIT is a themed tree. How easy. Above is a photo I took at my local Macys a few weeks ago. I always admire their Annalee trees, but I really love my version below.


2010 Trend Alert!...lighted ribbon will be huge this year.

First Photos of 2010 Copeland Christmas Gold Angel Scene

We are getting there!...friends and family helped us with the gold angel scene and themed trees on Saturday. It's definitely beginning to feel like Christmas! We are excited to have the Annalee Christmas tree done too. Photos to come later.

We decided to make the Analee tree rotate and the real tree this year will be in the dining room and will be themed USA! This will be the tree that we use to collect the Toys For Tots...it makes sense because the US Marines collect the Toys. I can't wait!

Ordered Stuff for the 2010 Display

Today I ordered a rotating tree stand, 4 boxes of shooting star icicle lights and the Moon in My Room.

The moon has been sitting my online Walmart cart for almost a year. I figured I'd just go ahead and buy it finally. The shooting stars were sold out last year, so I'm happy to get them early this year even if they are full price...$25 per box is killing me.

2010 Copeland Christmas Set up Begins

We had a small party tonight with family to kick off the decorating season. It was soooo much fun. The guys got the whole backdrop done in the garage and my friends and I got most of the kitchen done!!!
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