Day 150: Decorating on a budget...totally doable.

I can't seem to stop decorating for Christmas! As a rule, I generally decorate immediately after Thanksgiving, so that I can enjoy the holiday as long as I can. I mean, it only comes once a year, right? Well, as much as I love the decorations I pilfered from my Mom's ever growing stash over the years before we moved, there's always such an array of new stuff in the stores. Not to mention things I'm looking for, and don't want to spend the money on. On a budget like me? I'm sharing my tips for getting into the holiday spirit on only one dime...not many. :)

1.) Wreath on the door. Doesn't have to be fancy, just simple and classic. I found this wreath at the Dollar store, as did I find the bow (notice the glitter?) and the over the door hanger. $3! A little fluffing of the wreath, straightening of the bow, and it's perfect!

2.) Table decor. I actually got this tip from my friend Kiersten, who got it from sources unnamed (ahem, Oprah's former makeover man...). Fill your vases with ornaments! A pack of several shiny, sparkly, colorful bulbs can be found for a dollar or two at stores like the Dollar Tree and the Christmas Tree Shoppes. Dump them into the vase and display! So pretty!

3.) Accent what you already have out. I love these plug ins from Bath and Body Works, in fact I'm currently sporting a lovely Balsam scent to make up for my lack of real tree smell. Now, I could go buy a new holiday themed holder, but instead I tied this bright red ribbon I had stuck in a drawer around it, and voila! Ready for Christmas and totally free.

4.) Twinkle lights. They're cheap, they're easy to wrap around or string up. And, they're oh so pretty. Confession: Sometimes I leave them up after Christmas just because I love the effect of sitting in the dark with only the twinkle lights on. Seriously, if you don't do any decorating, but want to get into the holiday mood, just string up a few strands of lights. You'll feel cheery in no time. :)