Holiday

[Sakuya]

I have three different Christmas Open Houses to attend three days in a row for three different stores. It still seems odd it is already that time of year. It is always exciting to see how each store will decorate and what they have to offer.

[Estellee]

That sounds like fun, I wish we could be done with Halloween and Thanksgiving first LOL

[rockygems123]

@Sakuya 

Sounds like fun!  What kind of products housewares fashions?

Not sure if our area does that maybe Talbots will?

[Estellee]

What stores do open houses, can anyone attend @Sakuya 

[SactoSue]

I went to my local, very good, garden center to get some winter cabbages to plant on the patio. 

They were putting up their interior decorated Christmas trees for their annual Christmas event.   Lots of large artificial trees and garlands with a huge number of ornaments and decor pieces.  Probably most are from the usual asian-made big decoration lines like Raz Imports, Mr Christmas, and such, but they also have really nice local handicrafts and unsual pieces. 

I inquired about when they would be available for sale and she said. "you can buy anything right now if you want"

I was soooooooo sorely tempted.   But did not buy any.

Interestingly, one of the most beautiful trees was white and had a seashore theme and was very very pretty.  Being in a mountain area, it doesn't work for me, but the tree was nice and light and bright.  They stayed away from that tree-stuffed-with picks or ribbons, or hydrangeas or  garlands or feathers or whatever is currently en vogue.   Franklyk, they were all so refreshing to see without the extra stuff.

[SactoSue]

I really still want to enjoy these last sunny days of autumn and am going to try to not give in to Christmas future. 

I just want to see what is offered and how she does the settings and decor.   I find that I miss out on some good cues by not actually watching the shows.

[Sakuya]

@Estellee - The three open houses are all the first week of November. Two of them are at garden centers that also do home decor. The third is a little boutique that sells new items and antiques that she finds around the country.

I do not know the dates yet for other open houses I usually attend.

The bigger nice garden centers that also do home decor are the most fun. I find things there I don't see elsewhere. They also have beautiful picks, garlands, ribbon, etc. It is exciting to walk in and see the store all decked out for each season.

Hallmark's Ornament Debut starts this weekend. It is their second big drop of ornaments. The first batch comes out in July and the second in October.

I stopped by Home Goods today and the Christmas items are showing up. They have a good early assortment of Shiny Brites if anyone likes the retro style ornaments. A lot of Halloween on clearance, but not everything.

[SactoSue]

Oh I LOVE Shiny Brites. 

That must be a hold-over from my mother's Christopher Radko phase.   I do prefer to decorate a tree with the old-fashioned shiny and interesting type of ornaments and especially those Christopher Radko garlands.   Us kids still argue over who got the 30 year old Polish ornaments she treasured.   It wasn't me, but the other siblings will not fess up to who has them. 

I also love the Halloween ornaments that Shiny Brites does.   I have my mother's black "feather" tree that is fun to put these colorful ornaments.   

[Sakuya]

@SactiSue - I have a Radko black feather Halloween tree with a pumpkin base that I hang the original Halloween Radkos on - meaning when he owned the company. I also have Shiny Brite Halloween ornaments.

Maybe you could pop in for visits with your siblings this Christmas season so you can spend time together as well as see their lovely decorations.

[SactoSue]

I'm a lot less nervous about using the Shiny Brites than pulling out those original Radko pieces.   

I think Shiny Brites has done a great job of providing the same charm at a decent price.