Cute Christmas Craft Ideas

Although it isn't exactly related to what we do, we are all about family. And what better time for family then Christmas? Our nieces, nephews and grandkids will be coming for a visit, and we are always looking for ways to keep them happy and occupied. So we went in search of a few websites and blogs that had good craft ideas.

Here's just a few we found. The Santa Hat or Tree Topper would make a great craft that'll take more than a few minutes and they'll enjoy the results of their efforts if you use this cute little craft as a tree topper like we plan to. (You can find the directions at www.enchantedlearning.com)








I think this tree offers endless possibilities! If your child has a short attention span, this would be great because it involves a little cutting a gluing. If you have an older or more adventurous child, you could have them decorate this with little strings of beads, glitter glue or anything that appeals to their creativity. (You can find the directions at www.craftideas.com).






 

And what craft project would be complete without a Reindeer! This one is adorable because it uses your child's hand and footprint. When you've finished decorating it, be sure to date it on the back so you'll know just "how big" your little darling was! You can find the directions by clicking here. Thanks HogWild!


This is one my granddaughter brought home to me last year. I don't have the directions, but it looks pretty easy to figure out: Paint a clothes pin white, add some glittery paper or have them glue and glitter some white tissue paper, add the little triangle of white material for the angel dress, and cut out their face and glue it with a halo made of glittery pipe cleaner.





This is a picture of some of the many notes she writes to me that I keep on my fridge. If you have any cute and simple craft ideas for kids, please feel free to share them. We love to hear from our friends and customers!


















Merry Christmas from the Odyssey Team! (888)564-4744

Surprise and Amaze with Gifts for Even the Hard to Please ...

We believe in surprises. Big ones! Eye-popping ones! Perfect Ones!

Whatever the size, every gift should amaze. So without further ado, below is our Twelve Days of Christmas favorite things; gifts for even the hardest to please.

 

12 Days of Christmas - a Few of Our Favorite Things ...

	Anyone can give a gift. Yours can speak! Give them the gift that will speak to their heart strings, like the Cast Iron Boot Scraper. Beautiful as well as durable, strong enough for indoor or outdoor use, a gift for the dog lover will be appreciated for many years!
	Crank up the heat with this Hand Carved Bellow. Dark stain with beautiful scroll work, building a fire has never been easier. Classic. Timeless. Thoughtful.
	Don't let too much time pass without reminding them how much their love has meant with a 23" Regency Villa Tesio Pendulum Wall Clock. Handcrafted, beautiful and functional.
	'Tis the season to let the magic, and the water, flow. A brilliant marriage of classic and contemporary, the Adelle Fountain provides the dramatic flourish your garden has been waiting for. Useful all year long; spend a cool evening cuddling under a blanket, or enjoy the stars in the summer.
	For the little darling of your lives, the Kiddie-Up Rock-A-My-Baby Rocking Horse pulls on the heartstrings when you rock with Rock a Bye Baby. The little cradle in the back will rock her and her baby!
	For the special little guy in your life, the Rock-it Spaceship Rocker has an out of this world design featuring spinning plants, stars, and a photo frame. A tiny space shuttle moves back and forth as the child rocks and the sound of a rocket blasting off when the joystick moves! So adorable!
	Give smart gifts like the Original Sunheat Room Heater, which provides comfortable, even heat and warms up the cold spots of the room with the latest infrared technology. It keeps the room warm long after its been turned off!
	For the perfect gift for your four legged friend, The Tajo Leopard and Leather Pet Bed is as luxurious as it gets. From the black and gold leopard print buckle to the hardwood sofa frame, your pet baby will rest in style. Certainly not the least expensive pet bed on the market, not by far, but if your pet deserves to live in the lap of luxury, this is for you.
	Think ahead on your wish list and be part of the solution with Eco Friendly Patio Furniture. One of our favorites is this Siesta Rocking Bench for two. Light enough to move from indoors to out, available in your choices of colors and sizes, this bench looks great on the front porch while youre sipping ice tea and reading a good book, or just cuddling up watching fireflies.
	If summertime is your season, the Royal Teak Miami Deep Seating Relax and Chill 5-pc Patio Set will last as long as your love. Elegantly functional and gracefully lined early 19th century English garden style inspires the classic design of our teakwood furniture, perfectly suited for the most casual to the most sophisticated decor. The best teak available on the market today.
	If wintertime is your favorite time of the year, The Ashley Indoor Fireplace will add warmth and ambiance to any room in the house. Vent-free, the heat comes from environmentally-friendly Gel Fuel, which crackles and pops and creates yellow, orange and red flames just like a real fire It puts off a warmth thatll make you want to put a bear rug down in front and enjoy a good martini!
	Be the light of their life with a Concord Floor or Table Lamp for either indoors or out. As versatile as it is beautiful, this weatherproof and portable lamp has an unbreakable poly carbonate waterproof light bulb enclosure, and the shade comes in your choice of 27 beautiful and contemporary Sunbrella fabric, with a two-level dimming switch to set just the right mood.

 

The beauty of a Christmas gift

Cannot be seen at all.

For the loveliness of giving

Is a feeling, grand and tall.

 

If you've found any of our gift ideas useful and decided to make a purchase, please feel free take a picture of their surprise and email to us here. We love to show our customers enjoying our products!

Happy Holidays from our Home to Yours

Odyssey Homestore®

(888-564-4744)

Swing into Cyber Monday Specials Today

Swing into Cyber Monday Gorilla Playset Sale and Save Hundreds!

Swing Sets and Swing Set Accessories

Premium Wooden Swing Sets and Swing Set Accessories at Affordable Prices
Gorilla's ready-to-assemble swing sets are designed for the customer who wants to buy today

and assemble this afternoon. These economically priced swing sets come pre-boxed and ready

to assemble. The T-nut construction of these wooden swing set kits makes home assembly

simple and safe using common household tools. These swing sets include all pre-cut,

pre-sanded and pre-drilled lumber as well as all the required hardware, accessories, slide and

detailed instructions required to assemble the unit. Your Gorilla swing set will arrive pre-cut,

pre-sanded, pre-drilled and ready to assemble. It comes with everything you need

to make your home assembly easy, including step-by-step 3-D illustrated instructions.

Click Here to view our full line of wooden swing sets.

These wooden swing sets come standard as shown. They are designed

with a child's safety in mind, yet they still provide a challenging and fun

recreational setting. All of the Gorilla wood swing sets are constructed

with choice grade wood, naturally resistant to rot, decay, and insect damage.

Unlike other pre-cut and pre-packaged wooden swing sets, Gorilla

incorporates solid framing and all bolt construction, heavy-duty

swing belts, components and slides, all of which provide maximum stability,

longevity and safety and makes the Gorilla brand wood swing sets

the heaviest duty and best-valued pre-milled kit in the marketplace.

Sale ends at 11:59pm Monday, 11/28/11 or while supplies last!

Offer does not include set up.

Birth of a New Christmas Tradition

Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans.

There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is! It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber? Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement. Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates. Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the Benjamines on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course. There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint.

Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day. My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes. Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre. Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.

THIS is the new American Christmas tradition. Forward this to everyone on your mailing list, post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments.

This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?

We'd love to hear some more ideas. Please feel free to share them with us!

Odyssey Homestore® also offers gift certificates which make great gifts all year long!

If you have any question, feel free to give us a call! (888) 564-4744

Thank you John Morris for this great email! You really made me stop and think and I hope a few other people do as well.

Full Steam Ahead with Thomas and Friends Toddler Furniture

All aboard! Engine No. 1 has arrived with style! The new Kidkraft Thomas and Friends furniture line is sure to be a hit with preschoolers. This new, brightly colored furniture collection is made of wood, modestly priced and just the right size for growing toddlers and preschool aged children. The set pieces include a wonderful toy box, table and chair set, a step stool capable of hiding treasures and an adorable Thomas the Tank Engine bed that will fit a crib mattress. Each piece of furniture is soundly constructed and depicts Thomas the Tank Engine as he goes about his daily routine.


Thomas & Friends first arrived on the children's scene in 1946 as the stars of The Railway Series written by Rev. W. Awdry. Shortly after his introduction into popular literature, Thomas, and his friends on the Island of Sodor, became favorites of kids everywhere. Rev. W. Awdry eventually retired from writing, but in 1983, his son Christopher began writing stories for his own son Richard. In 1984 The Railway Series was given the animation treatment, and Thomas was given the lead role. In 2004 Thomas and Friends received a make-over, giving fans the face of Thomas that is well-known today.


It is this much loved Thomas that is depicted so beautifully on the Kidkraft Thomas & Friends furniture line. Kidkraft's Thomas & Friends toy box is designed for placement in a child's bedroom or playroom. The toy box is a great way to keep kids' bedrooms and playrooms organized and also doubles as a handy bench. The step-and-store stool is another great multi-purpose item that can be used to store and organize odds and ends. But it is the table and chairs set and toddler bed that are the real scene stealers of the collection. Thomas's face, train car body and railway will bring life to any room; the bright colors, scenic details and embellishments on the furniture are hard to beat.


All Kidkraft Thomas & Friends furniture pieces have a sturdy wood construction and are decorated with non-toxic, lead-free paint and materials. However, it is Thomas and his friends themselves that are the true selling points of this great children's furniture. Thomas's blue tank engine, colorful friends and red color accents will make any room fun and cheery. Their friendly, familiar faces are just the ticket for sending children on a trip to dreamland.

Click Here to Shop for Kidkraft Thomas and Friends Furniture

Shop on line or call them at 888-564-4744

The Crackle and Warmth of a Fire in Every Room in Your House!

One of my favorite hobbies is going to visit model homes, checking out the furnishings, decorating styles, color schemes and dreaming about building my own brand new home some day. Most girls spend years designing their wedding, I spent my time dreaming about floorplans and French Quarter (with tons of wrought iron) exteriors, Mission Style with red tile roofs and interior courtyards or Queen Ann Gables with wrap-around porches.

While I haven't yet decided on the exterior, I do have the floor plan picked out: picture a turret-style entrance (which works great in any of the styles I just mentioned) To your left is an office with plantation wood floors, wall-to-wall bookcases and a glowing fireplace. To the right is a guest suite with every amenity needed for my guests, along with a sitting room and a roaring fireplace. Straight ahead is a large great room open to a beautiful kitchen with modern appliances, traditional cabinets and a gorgeous dining nook. 

I picture myself pouring a glass of wine and sitting on the cozy sofa in front of a roaring fire. To one side of the house is a private master suite with two large walk-in closets, a retreat with two uber-comfy leather and wicker chairs sitting in front of a roaring fire. The other side of the house has two more bedrooms - one for my favorite little girl decorated with touches of modern whimsey with, naturally, a roaring fire in the fireplace, and the other for my favorite little boy, decorated in planes, trains and automobiles. This room won't have a fireplace - little boys manage to get into enough trouble with having access to fire!

When I finally build my dream home, you can bet it will have a fireplace in every room, even the bathrooms. But I didn't want to wait until that day. Not with old man winter blowing his frigid breath in through every little crevice of my 25 year old home.

The first room which needs a fireplace is my bedroom. It isn't all that big and doesn't have a lot of wall space. So I moved my dresser into my walk-in closet to open up a wall and purchased this Ashley Fireplace for my bedroom. It's one of Real Flame's top sellers so I was glad I purchased it early in the season. The ambiance it creates is so romantic, and the heat it puts off takes the fall chill out of the air. My bedroom is decorated island style with dark, tropical woods and splashes of bright colors. The mahogany finish of the fireplace matches beautifully, although it's also available in oak, white or blackwash.

This fireplace is neither electric or gas. I'm also trying to reduce my carbon footprint, so the idea of using our natural resources for my own comfort did not sit well with me. This fireplaces uses uses Gel Fuel, which is made from clean-burning gelled Isopropyl Alcohol. It burns bright yellow, orange and red flames that crackles and pops just like real fire. The warmth it puts out takes the chill out of my bedroom and lighting it takes just a moment with the Real flame 12" Butane Lighter. It needs no ventilation, so it's just as safe indoors as it is outdoors.

The 7 oz gel fuel cannisters last about 3 - 4 hours, but most of the time I only burn mine for an hour or so, then easily put it out with the Real Flame Gel Fuel Snuffer, shown here.

I've also moved a Bali chair in front of the fireplace so I can relax at the end of the day with that glass of wine I talked about earlier and a good book. Talk about creating a zen environment. With the holidays just around the corner, I need to find a few moments to get away from it all. And this fits the ticket.

I just had a thought! At under $600 (free shipping thank goodness), it's a few thousand dollars cheaper than the built in fireplaces. Maybe I should consider putting Ventless Fireplaces in all the rooms of my new house! What do you think?

If you love the crackle and warmth of a roaring fireplace like I do, click here to check out our huge selection of Ventless Fireplaces, or give one of our Fireplace Specialists a call at 888-564-4744. 

For our bloggers, we have a 10% off coupon on any Vent Free Fireplace now through November 30th with coupon code: ventfree

Order Your Artificial Christmas Tree Early. Supplies May be Limited.

A few years ago, on December 23rd, my sister noticed her live Christmas tree was dead. Dead as a door knob. Dead like the legs of a table. Dead as a tree stump, (sorry, I couldn't resist). Literally ... dead. It had died a slow, agonizing, untimely death sometime between Thanksgiving and the biggest party of the year for our family! It was almost completely brown and the needles fell off if a slight breeze hit it. With about a dozen kids expected the next day for the big family holiday party, there would be a virtual whirlwind in the house ... forget a slight breeze! My sister knew she had to do something. So, she told mom.

"Mom, the tree is dead!" she yelled upstairs as mom was getting her pajamas on in preparation for bed. And of course mom, always practical, yelled down the stairs, "Well, we'll have to get another one."

So at 7pm, they trekked to the local Discount stores and Home Improvement Centers, in search of the perfect live tree. All that was left, of course, were Charlie Brown trees! So they went into one of stores to buy an artificial Christmas tree. Or so they thought. Inside, they found 3 or 4 trees strewn around in various stages of dismemberment, their limbs thrown willy nilly as if a hurricane had torn through the store. Pieces, nothing more. So they hunted around for enough pieces to make a whole tree, and ended up with a pretty decent 9 foot Artificial Tree. They took a chance that the lights would work, but the branches matched (more or less). While it wasn't the style they wanted, it would work in a pinch. So at about 9pm that night, they completely unloaded the ornaments from the dead tree and re-decorated the new artificial tree. By the way, the lights didn't work. Nothing stopped mom: an unlit tree just wouldn't do, so she draped it with the lights she'd taken off the live/dead tree. Needless to say, it was a long night. For my mom and sister. Not for me. I was home wearing my Mrs. Santa apron, making pumpkin bread and listening to Christmas carols, happily unaware of what they were doing at that very moment.

My husband and I bought an artificial Christmas tree about three years ago, and now I decorate the tree within a few days of Thanksgiving (sometimes just after Halloween if you want to know the truth), and never worry about it drying out or having to water it.

The lesson from this: Buy your artificial Christmas tree early. Like NOW! If you think about it, by the time late November or early December comes around, money is always tight. If you buy it now, your wallet will thank you when you're trying to find Christmas presents and baking supplies. And of course, so will we! Plus, like big box stores, supplies may be limited. Ordering online also has another major benefit: you can choose the style and size you want from literally hundreds of trees (unlike a big box store you walk into that might have five or six different styles).

Shop a huge selection of Artificial Christmas trees now at www.OdysseyHomestore.com. Or call our Christmas Tree Specialists at 888-564-4744.

If you have a funny story about your Christmas Tree, we would love to hear about it, and share it with our bloggers!

Although this won't be the last Blog for the year, we hope you enjoy the coming months. Spend more time with friends and family, and less money on meaningless gifts. They'll appreciate it so much more!

Happy Holidays!

from,

Odd Blogger

Now That's a Patio Heater

Lava Heat Italia provides attractive and radiant outdoor heaters that help illuminate an inviting ambiance. Industry Leading 61,000 BTUs!

Electroplated Heritage Bronze Lava Patio Heater: Lava Heat Italia supplies new age outdoor heaters that are as stylish as they are efficient. Designed in Europe, our Lava Heaters are one of the mainstays at fashionable outdoor patios, restaurant - cafes and trendy social spots all across the continent. We even cater to home residences as well. For the first time ever, Lava Heat Italia is proud to introduce our beautiful products to the long awaited United States. Lava Heaters are much more than just outdoor heating devices. Touch the remote control button and you'll see why. They quickly become the centerpiece for people gathering together, be it for lively conversation, quiet reflection, companionship or camaraderie. Lava Heaters will transcend your outdoor experiences forever. Size is 24" x 24" x 96". Professional installation recommended.

** Put a Logo on it! Call (888) 564 - 4744 for details **

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Choice of 5 Finishes: Metallic Grey - $1399 Platinum White - $1399 Satin Black - $1399 Heritage BronzeBronze - $1599 Stainless Steel - $1599 Any Color Powder Coating - call for details Portable and stationary outdoor heaters Can be used all year round - for warmth in thecooler months or as an ambient gas flare for the warmer months Radiates 360° degrees of satisfying warm heat Two options to ignite Lava Heater: 1. Hand held Infra-red remote control - electronic igniter (battery operated) 2. “Easy Start” - Manual push button ignition located on device Lava Heaters are energy efficient yet provide powerful output Adjustable flame and heat level control -with 5 settings (ON/OFF, Low, Med, & Max) Exceptionally durable & weather resistant all year round Constructed of all metal parts and components, including aluminum, powder coated metal & stainless steel Diameter of Lava Heater heat reflection hood (Top of Lava Heater): 33.5" Lava Heater height from top to bottom: 8' Ft Greatest width at the base of Lava Heater: 2’ Ft Lava Heater Weight: 70 Lbs Operated by propane gas, with the tank being safely concealed within the inside of the Lava Heater’s base Flame is contained in a specially designed glass tube made from Borosilicate Glass that can produce an astounding 61,000 BTU (Hot Stuff!). This unique type of glass is incredibly strong and shatter resistant Hand held Infra-red remote control - electronic igniter (battery operated), which offers the option of igniting multiple Lava Heaters in unison through the use of one single remote control Shatter resistant glass Fits 20 lb. propane gas tanks (not included) Average useage 12 - 14 hours which is 30% more efficient than a standard propane heater Costs approximately $ .30 an hour to run

Lava Heat = Safety First Our client’s well being is of the utmost importance to us. Below please find an essential list of Safety Features for your attention: A safety "tip-over" switch that will disconnect the gas supply to the flame in the event that Lava Heat is knocked over accidentally "Flame Failure" protection is standard with all Lava Heaters, meaning that if the gas flame is blown out or extinguished, the gas supply is automatically disconnected “Safe to Touch” powder-coated steel safety grill provides protection against glass tube and flame Each device is individually tested & gas certified to meet the highest industry standards Lava Heaters are fully CSA-approved

Lava Heat - Background A few years back the founders of Lava Heat Italia realized that outdoor heating needed a fresh start. The industry was producing unattractive and undervalued heating products and it needed to change. These companies were and still are overcharging and under delivering their products and services to customers in need of quality outdoor heating products. People deserved a superior product. We saw an opening to create something new and attractive that would help this fading industry reignite the spark for all outdoor heating devices. After years of creative research, hard work, and dedication Lava Heat Italia was formed to introduce its world renowned Lava Heaters. Their goal was to create attractive and radiant outdoor heating devices that would help illuminate an inviting ambiance. Lava Heat Italia went to great lengths to build a brilliant outdoor heating device that looked and worked like a million dollar machine but was still affordable for all to purchase. Lava Heat also comes with an unprecedented 10 Year Limited Warranty.

Why Lava Heat Lava Heat is constructed and manufactured with the highest quality parts and by some of the world’s most brilliant engineers. We wanted to beat the competition flat-out, by providing our loyal clientele a magnificent outdoor heater that is intelligently functional, beautifully designed, and affordably priced for all. Using real-flame technology, Lava Heat Italia provides radiant heating that is significantly stronger than the coverage given by typical and outdated "old mushroom style" heaters. Its unique and innovative architecture creates an attractive visual style that brightens and enriches any setting, at any time of the day, all year round. Lava Heaters were built to produce and project positive energy by creating added value within the locations it dwells in. Finally, you’ll be able to enjoy your outdoor living and dining all year long with the new portable outdoor Lava Heater. While other old-fashioned outdoor heaters can be gathering dust in storage (Wasting valuable dollars) for up to 9 months of the year, the Lava Heater is ready and able to serve you all year round. Lava Heaters are great for use during the cold winter as gas heaters for warmth; in autumn, spring and summer, use Lava Heat for warmth on those occasional chilly evenings, or use the gas flare to attract a beautiful fire-lit ambience and atmosphere. Lava Heaters are energy efficient and feature an optional infra-red electronic remote control (Battery operated) with three (3) separate heating and flame settings. When creating the remote control, the engineers behind Lava Heat Italia wanted to introduce a new feature that would help save people valuable time and serve as a more convenient method when igniting the Lava Heaters. As a result, multiple Lava Heaters can be controlled through the use of a single remote control, thus significantly reducing the time and headache it would normally take to ignite several heaters spread through a wide area. For example, rather than wasting time by individually engaging and igniting more than a dozen heaters on a large rooftop patio, a single push of a Lava Heater’s remote control button can do the same job instantaneously. Moreover, the beautiful dancing flame, which is wind-proof, serves as a unique and attractive visual display to any area. It provides just the right light in the dark, emits 360° degrees of heat, and is perfect for any terrace or patio. Lava Heaters can conveniently fit between a couple of tables or stand proudly at the front entrance to any establishment or home. The Lava Heater was born to do it all.

Click Here for Lava Heat Manufacturer Limited Warranty Information. Click Here for Lava Heat Product and Installation Information.

How to Buy an Artificial Christmas Tree

Real Christmas Trees have gotten so expensive! Not to mention the fact that, in order to have a real Christmas tree, you have to cut down a living tree. Really!?

It’s way past time to consider buying an artificial Christmas tree, isn’t it! Think about this:
Artificial Christmas trees come in every size and shape imaginable. From tall and thin, to short and fat and everything in between. In our home, we have only one space for a slim Christmas tree (unless we want to move a bunch of furniture to the garage). Our space requires something thin, but I love a big tree. So I looked for a tall, thin Christmas tree with plenty of branches from which to hang my many ornaments.

Listed below are a few things for you to think about when buying an artificial Christmas tree. You probably already know all of this but these are reminders:

• First, decide on a budget for the tree. Add up the money you would spend on a real Christmas tree and multiply that times 5 – the average lifespan of a pre-lit artificial Christmas tree. Now you have your budget
• Next, think about the kind of Christmas tree you usually buy. Everyone has a favorite: cypress, spruce, grand fir, noble fir, balsam fir. My favorite type of tree is a Noble Fir, which isn’t all that easy to find a tall, think Douglas Fir tree. It took a while, but I found it online here
• Find a retailer that sells artificial trees. You can find them at many big box stores, but at most you’ll find 12 – 18 different kinds, and we knew we wanted a larger selection. That’s why we decided to carry them on our store. We knew we wanted one that looked real, so we found these “Feel Real” trees here.
• Think about the number of branches you like. Do you like a tree with room between branches so you can see each and every one of your ornaments, or one with branches that are fuller than normal? Some artificial trees that are “affordable” in big box stores actually have very sparse branches, so it’s important to know how many branches and tips your tree has when making the decision
• Check the quality of the needles. PE and PVC tips are the highest quality needles for artificial trees. Stay away from plastic. One great tree is made with "Feel Real" technology, which not only looks real, but feels real too. Click here to see a Tiffany Fir "Feel Real" Christmas tree that's amazing!
• Make sure the cord is UL listed for maximum safety
• The number of lights a tree has affects the price. Buy a tree with as many lights as you can afford to create a warm, homey feel. You’ll enjoy it so much more with tons of lights! Think also about whether you want clear or colored lights. Clear lights definitely give off a more traditional look while colored lights add festivity and a modern touch
• You have a few other options as well. You can purchase artificial Flocked Christmas Trees which have become very popular again in recent years, especially in those of us who enjoy a white Christmas but live in an area where little, if any, snow ever falls. Also available are Fiber Optic Christmas Trees which add fun to any room!
• Look for coordinating Wreathes, Swags, Decorations and Centerpieces. Buying on line allows you to find just the right Christmas decoration, as well as storage and accessories
• Finally, measure the space! This is the most important component you need to think about. If you have one, leave yourself enough room at the top of the tree for your favorite tree topper. Measure the width of the space you have and be sure the tree you buy will fit
• Check the return policy. Make sure that if you get the tree and you’re not happy with it you know ahead of time what the return policy will be
• Last, have fun decorating and feel free to send us a picture of your beautiful Christmas tree. We would love to post them!

If you have any further questions, please call one of our Christmas Tree specialists at (888) 564-4744 to help you find just the right tree. We offer “Legendary” products and services that you just won't find anywhere else. We also offer a low price guarantee, so if you find it anywhere else for less, call us and we'll match the price, plus send you 15% of the difference in a gift certificate for future use.