Elegant Christmas Tree Decor at Your House

Do you go all out with Christmas tree decor, gifts and activities at Xmas or keep it low key?

We do a tree and a few Christmas tree decors.I have this magnetic Christmas ball ornaments that DS loves this year.Each year we buy each other 2 hallmark ornaments that represent each other, and that is what is on the tree.

We do few gifts.For the past two years DS and I don't buy each other gifts and just spend the money on house projects or vacations.DS doesn't get much.This year I bought him a new wooden train set and some books.

I would say all out.We usually have 3 trees (all fake though) -- one pretty one with white lights and Christmas ball ornaments, one as tacky as DH wants with every colored light blinking like crazy and insane hodgepodge of ornaments topped by a schwa a friend made him in shop class in high school, and one in between with the ornaments that have special meaning.We also do a wreath and garland, and we spend way too much on gifts.

We aren't doing it this year but did it past years.I like to go all-out with Christmas tree decor because I can do it over time when I have time.The day of the party we keep it low-key and easy.Last year we got a honey baked ham, baked some cookies the night before, and got pre-made sides.We get gifts for all our family but we don't go overboard.I'd say withLO keep it easy the day of the partyand do the "all-out" stuff beforehand so you don't have pressure on Christmas Eve/Day.Have a great time!

We have a tree and some Christmas ball ornaments, but that's it. I love Christmas tree decor, but I have no domestic talents and I'm lazy.I'd like to say low key in terms of gifts, too, but alas, I just love buying presents!And now that I have a LO to buy for, well, it's just ridiculous.

All out with presents, low key with decorations. (Until next year)We are in a tiny 2 bedroom apartment, and are hoping to move this weekend, and that doesn't give a lot of time for Christmas tree decor.Next year will be all out decorations and (probably) low key presents.

But thats just my personality. I love to decorate and buy gifts. We have a big family tree and DD has her own mini tree. We also have wreaths, topiaries,and garland up.

Unique an Edible Christmas Decoration

Christmas is the time of the year when the shops are full of decorations and wherever you go, you will see pretty lights and ornaments in many shops and houses. Decorations at this time of the year take all sorts of forms. Some are more traditional, such as nativity figures and scenes, while others are downright commercial and dare we say it, rather tacky.

When it comes to bringing some festive cheer into our own homes, most of us like to find decorations that are tasteful and original, but that don’t cost too much and don’t involve too much preparation. Either we buy them or we make them ourselves.

One idea that is literally in good taste is making Christmas tree decoration cupcakes. This is easier than it sounds, looks and tastes good, and is a little bit different from the usual paper chains and glittery baubles that you will find everywhere else.

Here are the ingredients you will need:

For the cupcakes:
- Butter
- Sugar
- Self-raising flour
- Eggs
- Cocoa
- Vanilla essence

For the cupcake frosting:
-Butter
-Confectioner’s sugar
-Food coloring of your choice – pink, green, blue, whatever you fancy
-Very hot water

For the actual decoration:
-Chocolate candies/chips
-Round chocolate candy for the top
-Edible gel

- The idea is to make cupcakes using a basic cake batter. All you need to do is make a batter from the ingredients mentioned above by mixing them together very well. Adjust the quantities to the number of cakes that you want to make.

- Drop as usual into little cupcake cases and bake them in the oven. Leave them to cool as usual once they have been baked.

- Once they have cooled down, it is time to frost them. Make a colorful frosting – maybe pink or blue - and cover the little cakes completely.

- Then add some little chocolate candies or chips in different colors, such as red, blue, green, or brown. Decorate with some edible gel and then put a small chocolate candy on the top.

These decoration cupcakes look like the decorations that you would find on any self-respecting Christmas tree. Of course, you don’t have to stick to the recipe provided above. You can make many variations on this particular theme. For example, you might want to make them in a coffee flavor, as apple cake, or with vanilla or rum essence. You could even put peppermint essence in the frosting to make a really good taste. Another idea would be to put colored sugar on the top to give them a bit of sparkle. But whatever you do, these little cakes beat any Christmas tree decoration, bauble, or shiny ball any day!!!

Another great idea is to make some of them red and others green and then lay them out on the tray in the shape of a Christmas tree. This will make any festive table look good, but of course the main difference here between these and “real” tree decorations is that they don’t only look good, but they taste great!