See decorating our home on Thanksgiving weekend annually is a huge family tradition for us.
But before St. Nick can indeed arrive, there is so much to be done to get prepare.
What you may ask?
Well, like indeed to decorate the Christmas tree.
For some sure fire tips on how to decorate the Christmas tree with the best of them, see our tried and true family tips below that we have cultivated over the years.
1. Hang Tree Lights First
This is the first step to decorate the Christmas tree and one of the most important by far in my humble estimation right after the tree is indeed placed in the spot in your home that you are happy with.
My advice is quite simple.
First, try to get lights that have wire strands that match your tree color. So, if your tree is the traditional green, you will therefore want green wire strands to match, camouflaged and hidden.
Once you are hanging the actual Christmas tree lights, you will want to start at the base of the trunk and work upwards towards the top of the tree on hitting ever major branch from front to back, as well.
My favorite are LED lights, because even though they are more expensive to purchase, they are the most protection being flameproof and completely safe to use on your tree, plus are a bit more energy efficient, as well.
Lastly, definitely use at least a strand of a hundred lights or more for ever foot that your tree stand tall, as the more lights, the brighter it illuminates the tree I have found.
2. Next Up Comes the Tree Garland
After we string the lights on the tree, the next crucial step is to add garland on your tree. I personally like red bows on my tree as a garland effect.
But that is just me when I decorate the Christmas tree.
Still whatever kind of garland you like and use, just make sure to add before you begin to add your actual ornaments.
Unlike the lights though, with garland, you want to start from the top of the tree and work down, slowly increasing the amount of garland between each section of your tree.
For every vertical foot that your tree stands tall, you should try to use two strands of garland, essentially a 2:1 ratio.
Honestly, you can use bows like us, beads, paper, ribbon, foil or even popcorn, but whatever your garland passion, just try to follow the above rule of thumb to maximize your garland potential.
3. Finally the Time Has Come to Hang the Christmas Tree Ornaments
It is finally time for my family’s favorite part of tree decorating. See, we have so many special ornaments that each year, my gang fights over which ones to hang first and where to place them.
My advice once again is pretty simple for this and usually tell my gang to place their favorites on the tree first–front and center. As you want to showcase the favorites for all to see.
One of our special ornaments.
Next up, I will always gently advise them to hang the larger ornaments with a good amount of space between them.
Once this is accomplished, I try to have us all add in generously medium and smaller ornaments to fill in the gaps.
I also try to make sure we have enough ornaments towards the bottom of the tree to create more visual interest.
Even our dog gets her own special ornament!
But I know those who have small kids and pets, this may be a bit of challenge still. See I can recall my girls each going through a stage where they wanted to touch and remove as many ornaments that they could reach with their little hands. Then, our dog wasn’t any better by also having a bit of interest in ornaments her first year with us, as well.
However if you can hang ornaments towards the trunk of the tree without these kinds of intrusions, I say go for it.
And there you have it, three easy steps to make decorating your own Christmas tree a cinch and allowing you to have a holly, jolly Christmas this year!
By the way after we trim our tree, traditionally we always feast on a yummy snack. This year, we are enjoying Honey Bunches of Oat-meal Craisin Cookies.
Why Honey Bunches of Oats® though?
Because Honey Bunches of Oats®, which can be purchased at your local Target are so yummy and perfect to use for baking oat-meal type cookie.
Plus, purchase participating Post Cereal Brands now and enter the SING© movie sweepstakes for a chance to win the $100,000 grand prize plus the chance to instantly win lots of prizes including movie tickets, speakers and more.**
Honey Bunches of Oat-meal Craisin Cookies
Honey Bunches of Oat-meal Craisin Cookies
A yummy, new holiday themed traditional oatmeal cookie.
Ingredients
- Butter 1/2 cup softened
- Craisins 1/2 cup
- Brown Sugar 1/2 cup
- Vanilla Extract 1 tsp.
- An egg
- Flour 1 cup
- Baking Soda 1/2 tsp.
- Salt 1/4 tsp.
- Honey Bunches of Oats® cereal 1 1/2 cups
Instructions
- First, preheat oven to 350º.
- Second, cream together butter and sugar.
- Next, mix in vanilla and egg.
- Then, stir in flour, soda and salt.
- Next, fold in Honey Bunches of Oats® Cereal and craisins.
- Then, ppoon by the Tablespoon-full onto a cookie sheet.
- Last, bake for 8-10 minutes, or until tops are slightly golden and edges are set
Also, linking up with Kristi of Finding Ninee for this week’s FTSF, where the sentence is, “This holiday season, I…”
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Do you like Honey Bunches of Oats?
What traditions do you have during the holiday season?
Do you like to trim your Christmas tree?
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Seana Turner says
I love Honey Bunches of Oats… it’s like dessert – yum! I remember tree decorating being interesting with the girls were little. My tip is to have extra hooks on hand. If the ornaments only have a small loop of string it can be hard to get it over the pine branch. Add a hook and it is easier. And then after you are finished and the kids go to bed, double check it all and make sure all of the fragile stuff is safely hung up high:)
Janine says
I agree about Honey Bunches of Oats and thank you for the extra tree trimming tip, too! 🙂
Ginny Marie says
I love decorating the tree with my daughters! They used to always put too many ornaments at the bottom of the tree, due to their size. Now that they are growing up, the top of the tree gets some attention too!
Janine says
I can’t wait for the top of the tree to get some attention here, as well now 😉
Meredith Spidel says
This recipe looks amazing! And your tree is gorgeous 🙂
Janine says
Aw, thank you once again on both counts!! 🙂
Jen says
I have never thought to put more ornaments at the bottom of the tree in order to create more visual interest. Duh, but that makes sense. Going to take a look at my tree to see if things need to be moved around, well except for the clump of ornaments that Liese put up in the only place she decided to decorate on the tree. Yummy, recipe!
Janine says
Aw, Jen I still remember when both my girls would decorate only one spot, too! 😉
Diane Roark says
Janine,
I love Honey Bunches of Oats too but I have never thought of making cookies with it. Your Oatmeal Craisins Cookies sounds extremely delicious. Oatmeal cookies are one of my favorite cookies.
Please remind me again where you get your precious ornaments with your names on them. I love them!
Many blessings,
Diane
Janine says
Aw, just another thing we have in common as I have always been a huge Oatmeal cookies fan, too. Oh and I have gotten the personalized name ornaments in the past from Ornaments with Love 🙂
Mary says
Wow! I read this post and actually said “THIS IS AWESOME!” out loud. I haven’t had my own Christmas Tree… ever! It’s crazy but true; I usually go to the east coast to enjoy Christmas with my family, but this year I’m staying home and hanging out with my Mother, which means…. I get to buy and decorate a tree, but I don’t know where to start. Thank you for this list, I needed it and didn’t even know it.
Janine says
Aw, Mary so happy I can share with you and can’t wait to see your decorated tree, too 🙂
Dana says
My kids love Honey Bunches of Oats! I think I’d leave out the craisins and add a few chocolate chips to the cookies 🙂
Love your new(ish) design, by the way!
Janine says
Chocolate chips could totally work, too Dana!! 🙂
Aunt Gloria says
Helpful hints for tree trimming Janine. I know your tree is very beautiful! Happy Holidays to all!
Janine says
Thanks Aunt Gloria and Happy Holidays right back at you!! 🙂
Aunt Gloria says
Thanks 🙂
Janine says
🙂 🙂
The Rambler says
I LOVE LOVE decorating the Christmas Tree. Normally, we start out with all of us…and then slowly teeter off until it’s just me. But I’m okay with that. I’m singing and dancing to my Xmas music (Pentatonix at the moment). The puppy hung in there until the end, I should say. Probably conspiring to see if this tree will be on her destruction list.
Janine says
Aw, my dog I am sure is plotting to see what she can eat even I type this LOL 😉
Kristi Campbell says
We LOVE Honey Bunches and now I am so resolved to decorate for Christmas this weekend!!!! THANK YOU!!!
Janine says
Aw, you are so welcome, Kristi!! 🙂
Nellie says
Oatmeal cookies are my favorite so I’m excited to try this new twist with Honey Bunches of Oats! Yummy!! Plus, your special ornaments are so cute!
Janine says
Thank you so much, Nellie and so glad to share this Oatmeal cookie recipe with you, too 🙂
Tamara says
Scarlet calls garland “garling” and we never want to correct her!
Ok, this is my most consistent favorite cereal. And that movie looks SO GOOD. We totally quote it already from seeing all the trailers for it.
Janine says
Aw, I wouldn’t correct her either and so quoting the movie here, as well 😉
Marilyn Lesniak says
Thank you for sharing your delicious recipe at the #RecipeSharingParty. I look forward to what you will share next week! We hope you’ll come back again next Thursday when we open our doors at 9:00 AM EST. Pinned, Yummed, Tweeted!
Janine says
Aw, thanks Marilyn and have a wonderful Sunday night now!! 🙂
Bev says
Ooh, Honey Bunches of Oats is one of my favorites cereals. I bet it tastes delicious baked into cookies!
Janine says
Bev, same here and baked into a cookie it is truly so tasty and yummy, too 🙂
Christine Carter says
Aw I just LOVE your ornaments and those were excellent tips on decorating the tree! And those cookies look DELICIOUS! I want to see a full picture of your beautiful tree!!
Janine says
Thanks Chris and happy to share!! 🙂