Guest Post: Bring the Outdoors In

Happy holidays, blog friends!

This is a very special guest post because my good friend, Wendy, wrote it. Wendy and I went to college together and we were even in the same sorority. (Yes, I was in a sorority. Don’t judge! )

I love Wendy’s guest post topic. It’s unique and timely for the season. Be sure to check out her blog, too!

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My name is Wendy and the name of my blog is Give Love Create Happiness. The following post is a recent one I created and thought would be fun to share. Happy Holidays!

Bring The Outdoors In

While watching An Old-Fashion Christmas, a Reader’s Digest movie my Grandmother gave me, I was inspired. This is a great background video that goes from one Christmas carol to another. One segment of the video is made to look like it takes place a long time ago. A time when Christmas decor did not involve so much plastic and “fake” decorations.

I for one have my share of fake decorations. One of my favorites is a string of little red plastic balls made to look like cranberries. However, it didn’t always used to be this way. Once upon a time most decorations were made from nature. I would like to start bringing this back in our home.

You can make beautiful decorations for your tree made of food, cookie ornaments, cranberries and popcorn strings to name a few. Decorate your home with beautiful plants. If you purchase a real tree save the trimming to put in vases to decorate your table, or go outside and clip some.

Instead of candles and air fresheners made to smell like the scents of Christmas, which I admit can smell so nice, it would be great to breath in the real scent of pine and cinnamon. Fill bowls with real cranberries, nuts, and cinnamon sticks to give your home a beautiful scent. Like the smell of coffee, add coffee beans. This also would work great to give your bathrooms a fresh scent without the use of so many chemicals.

Use the Holiday Season as a great opportunity to dig out old vases and bowls you rarely use and fill with nature’s precious gifts. Fill baskets with pinecones, and let your kids make crafts with them. If your outdoor treasures don’t add enough sparkle to your holiday decor a little addition of glitter and glue can go a long way.

Not only is this way of decorating better for the environment, it truly brings an old-fashion Christmas back into your home.

The movie inspired me to move back to more traditional ways of decorating, and I hope this post inspires you!

Do you have any natural decorating techniques you would like to share?