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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
NOVEMBER 25, 2011
Decorations go frugal and festive SAMIE HARTLEY
I
t’s hard to believe, but it’s time once again to deck the halls and welcome another holiday
season with twinkling lights and An assortment ornaments in a decorative bowl makes an easy and inexpensive centerpiece for your holiday table.
boughs of holly. But transforming your home into a festive winter wonderland needn’t be expensive. Chances are you already have all you need to make the season merry and bright. The problem is you’ve been using the same decorations for years and your style has gone from traditional to typical. With a few creative touches, however, you can transform your home with simple, economical decorating options.
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Christmas bulbs
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukah or Kwanza, Christmas bulbs can be used in your home to bring a fun, festive touch to your décor – and you don’t even need a tree. You can get a variety of 100-bulb ornaments at Home Depot for ON THE COVER: A pair of visitors enjoy the decorations at Glenda and Neil Cohn’s home during last year’s EducationWins Holiday Home Tour. This year’s event will be held Saturday, Dec. 3.
Photo by Keith Hinkle
$35. Try arranging a variety of bulbs in a large votive as a centerpiece. Or set some candles of varying heights and widths on a tray and fill in the remaining space with tiny, shiny bulbs. How about gathering up your candlestick holders and resting bulbs upside down in the grooves? Shiny bulbs will reflect the lights but won’t set
your sleeve on fire when you reach for the sweet potatoes. And if one should fall and break – no worries. You have 99 more.
Ribbon
Chances are you already have an arsenal of ribbon at your disposal, but if you don’t, Michael’s art and craft store sells
a 20-yard spool of ribbon for about $10. Michael’s also stocks a library of colors, fabrics, widths and designs to choose from. Transform your throw pillows by wrapping them in a ribbon-made bow. Use ribbon to dress up a white candle or tie bows see Decorations page 10B
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
NOVEMBER 25, 2011
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A wide array of decorations are available at Ace Hardware stores in Brentwood, Antioch, Oakley and Pittsburg, including this lineup of sparkling snowmen.
Photo by Jennifer Wadsworth
JENNIFER WADSWORTH
Sounds like a gag gift, but it’s actually a quick-selling
bit of holiday décor at local hardware stores this year. “We have a lot of hunters, outdoorsy types out in the area,” said Dorene Hewins, a supervisor at Brentwood Ace Hardware on Brentwood Boulevard, where she’s worked
for the past five years. “It’s a neat little gift to decorate the house with.” The sticker price hovers around $75 but that’s a small sum to pay compared to what some locals spend to spruce up their homes for Christmas. According to Hewins, tabs for holiday decorations range from $100 or less to upward of $1,000, depending on the size of the home and budget. “It adds up if you think about the lights,
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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Décor from page 3B the clips, the lawn ornaments – it’s really up to you and how much work you want to put into it,” said Hewins, her bright red hair spilling out of a sparkly Santa hat. “We get all types here.” But one thing a lot of folks are snatching up in a hurry this year: LED holiday lights. They’re pricier, sure, but they’re also longer lasting and more energy efficient than their incandescent counterparts. ACE has offered them for a few years now, but this is the first season some sets have come with replacement bulbs, Hewins noted. Target, Home Depot, Kohl’s and Lowe’s also sell them. The LED lights come in styles such as snowflakes, icicles, multicolored and, of course, plain white. Since the LEDs shine so brightly, the white lights give off a blueish tint. “Think of the headlights on some newer cars,” Hewins said. “That’s kind of what these look like.” If that blue-white glow isn’t your thing, Hewins suggests sticking to the colored LED lights, which the packaging says saves 75 percent more electricity. Otherwise, grab a box of incandescent – those have a pretty decent lifespan if you pack them carefully. But the most popular items this year aside from the staples – lights, hangers and power cords – are eye-catching gems like a sparkly faux mistletoe sprig fastened to a fist-sized crystal. “These are selling like hotcakes,” Hewins said. “And they’re beautiful. They come with a little tag that tells the mistletoe story.” They cost about $14 each and can hang from a tree, an entryway or anywhere else in the house.
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At Target, Kohl’s and other area chains, fake pine trees are a big seller despite their higher price. That’s true at ACE, too, Hewins said: “I think people are investing more in this because it pays off in the long run. Not just for the tree but for other decorations – people want stuff they can re-use next year.” In her own house, Hewins displays her mini holiday village annually. Other long-lasting trimmings good for more than one use include window stickers, lit-up reindeer lawn ornaments, blow-up Santas and snowman-shaped poinsettia stands. “People are buying a lot of durable items because they know they can use it again,” Hewins said. “I leave some of mine up all year.” As the economy picks up, Hewins has noticed an increase in spending for decking the halls, the eaves, the trees and banisters. A few local stores say the same – that they expect people to spend more this year compared to 2009 and 2010, when the nation was in the thick of a credit crisis. “It’s getting back to normal,” Hewins agreed. To kick-start the season, ACE will host holiday parties in which customers can take 20 percent off all purchases from 5 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 1 at the Brentwood, Antioch, Pittsburg and Oakley branches. The event includes visits from Santa Claus, refreshments and games for the kids. “It’s a great way to get some ideas, advice and a little help shopping for your decorations,” Hewins said. “It’s a lot of fun.” To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
NOVEMBER 25, 2011
Season from page 5B
Festival of Trees
By the time the Festival of Trees lights up the Shadow Lakes Event Center on Friday, Dec. 2, organizers Mary Black and Nancy Torres expect the inaugural affair to have surpassed even their ambitious expectations. “The excitement for this just continues to grow,” said Black. “And we are so encouraged by the response. People are doing some fabulous things with their trees. It’s going to be a wonderful event.” Running three days and highlighting four special events – including a Gala Dinner and Silent Auction, Teddy Bear Breakfast, Sparkling Wines and Twinkling Trees open house and Brunch Among the Trees – all proceeds from the Festival of Trees will benefit local nonprofit and service organizations. More than 30 decorated trees of varying sizes, shapes and themes will flank the perimeters of the Shadow Lakes Event Center. Themes include Home for the Holidays, I’m Dreaming of a Wine Christmas, An Old-Fashioned Victorian Christmas and Winter World of Sports. Placed first on display, the trees will later be made available for purchase through a silent auction. Holiday wreaths, centerpieces and mantelpiece items will also be available for purchase. And throughout the three days, the public can enjoy the trees and holiday items during specified viewing hours. “There are going to be a range of trees for just about everyone,” said Black. “There are tall ones and short trees,
elaborate designs and whimsical ones. People are really finding their niche with this and coming up with some amazing decorations.” Live entertainment will also be provided throughout the festival, including the Brentwood Burnished Brass, Delta Jazz Trio, Elegant Touch of Strings, harpist Renee Roberge-Anderson and the Brentwood Community Flute Choir. University of the Pacific Conservatory music students Alivia Logan and Johann Axel Schram Reed will be performing, as will local musicians Susan Stuart, Dorothy Strauch and Laura Carreon. Tickets for the open hours are $10 and available at the door or online at www.brentwoodfestivaloftrees.org. Open hours are Friday, Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 3 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 4 from noon to 6 p.m. Tickets for the special festival events must be purchased in advance. Admission includes the Gala Auction on Friday, Dec. 2 from 6:30 to 10 p.m.; Teddy Bear Breakfast on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 9 to 10:30 a.m.; Sparkling Wines and Twinkling Trees on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 7 to 9 p.m.; and Brunch Among the Trees on Sunday, Dec. 4 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Tickets are also available at the following locations: The Brentwood Press, 110º Magazine, Co. Co. County Wine Company, MJ’s, Shadow Lakes Golf Club & Event Center, and at each of the Summerset clubhouses. For more information, call 925-206-5087 or 925-584-6311. To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
Photo courtesy of Karen Rarey
Peggy Valley and husband Jay McLaughlin have already decorated their Discovery Bay home, which will be part of next weekend’s EducationWins Holiday Home Tour.
NOVEMBER 25, 2011
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Practical and personal economic times, many of today’s shoppers want to
give gifts that will be used, but still want to find creative ways to convey their emotions. Personalizing a useful item can take it from ordinary to extraordinary.
Backpacks
Although toys and games typically top children’s wish lists, practical gifts can be fun when personalized just for them. Embroidered animal backpacks personalized with a child’s name are a fun way to carry school books and can double as an overnight bag when visiting Grandma.
Tools
Tools aren’t traditionally viewed as meaningful gifts, but when engraved with a personalized sentiment, can become a
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cherished item. Even home décor can have special meaning, like a family heritage tree that puts family photos on display for an instant heirloom piece.
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A USB photo key chain with some favorite family photos not only provides loved ones an easy way to keep memories close and personal; it provides them a way to keep important information at their fingertips. Available in a variety of capacities and styles, the small memory banks (also called “flash drives” or “thumb drives”) can fit easily in a pocket or purse.
Creative options
Great gifts are catered to that individual. What is your loved one passionate about? Gardeners will appreciate a holiday card embedded with the seeds for a spruce tree. And nature lovers might like a butterfly-decorated journal that doubles as a photo scrapbook.
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Gifts from page 8B a treasure trove of choices, including walnuts, almonds, pistachios, cashews and hazelnuts. “We have a very loyal customer base,” she said. “Even when they move out of the area, they call and order their nuts from us.” In addition to the regulars, the ranch enjoys a steady stream of new visitors. “We’re grateful
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE to our loyal customers, and we’re happy that we’re seeing new faces.” Gursky Ranch Country Store, located at 1921 Apricot Way in Brentwood, is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Mondays. Call 925-634-4913 or visit www.gurskyranch.com. UPS and USPS shipping are available.
Decorations from page 2B around banisters or chairs. If you need to go to Michael’s to buy ribbon, look for a Styrofoam wreath while you’re there. Wrap the wreath in a variety of ribbons to make a festive collage of colors. You can also use ribbon to hang ornament bulbs from the center of an idle ceiling fan or suspend the bulbs with ribbon at the window to add a splash of color.
Gift bows
Gift bows are the gifts that keep on giving. How many times did your mother tell you to save the bow when unwrapping gifts? Those bows have been used over and over again, year after year. Maybe it’s time for one last hurrah for these gift toppers. Take a paper plate and cut out the center. Add glue to the backs of the bows and stick them around the border to make a wreath of bows. This wreath can also be used as a centerpiece if you place a candle in the center. You can also decorate a Styrofoam cone in bows to make a fun holiday tree. If for some reason you’re out of bows and need
NOVEMBER 25, 2011
new ones, you can grab a few bags at a party store or you can get a steal at the Dollar Tree.
Candy
Fill martini glasses or a vase with colorful holiday candies such as M&Ms, or use foil-wrapped candies in a deep candleholder instead of marbles or sand. These candies can also be used in a vase to keep a faux floral arrangement in place. Even a festive bowl filled with silver-wrapped chocolate kisses can add a touch of class, and you get to eat your centerpiece when you’re done.
Paper
When all else fails, go with a classic. Take used printer paper, fold in half and repeat the folding two more times. Then cut out the corners and chunks of the paper. When you’re done, open the paper to unveil a snowflake pattern. Dust it with glitter or silver or gold spray paint. These snowflakes can dress up a wall or window or work as a doily for your end table. To comment, visit www.thepress.net.