BKYD Life

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Christmas Display

Lawn Decor Storage Ideas

Is it time to store your holiday outdoor decorations? A little time organizing now could make it easier next year to share the joy!

A few tips –

  • If you have any battery powered items, make sure you remove the current battery. Batteries can corrode in stored items. Also, make a list of battery size(s) and quantities you will need next year that way you can purchase them before you start decorating.
  • Wrap light strings around a piece of cardboard. It’s a great way to reuse those shipping boxes. Many storage containers that are created just for the storage of lights may come with a plastic piece to wrap the lights around, just a thought if you are purchasing storage containers.
  • Store extension cords (also wrapped around a piece of cardboard) and timers with the lights so you don’t have to go searching.
  • Keep an inventory list on your smart phone of what you have so you don’t buy duplicates. You know how retailers start putting Holiday Decor out sooner and sooner, well you don’t want to purchase something you don’t need just because they tempted you!

This is a great option for both lights and faux garland storage. It is also a perfect idea for extension cords

I like to use red and green containers for all my Holiday decor, this allows me to know quickly which bins in the garage are needed after the Thanksgiving turkey has been gobbled up.

Happy cleaning and organizing. And Happy New Year!

Christmas Traditions

When my husband and I were first dating, my grandmother asked us to take her on a drive around town in mid-December. The Arizona Republic, our local newspaper, had an article with a map attached that indicated homes and neighborhoods with Christmas light displays.

We had such a great time that a family tradition was born. For as long as we could, we included my grandmother. And to this day, we can’t help but think of her as we drive around town and look at the beautiful displays so many people put their heart and souls into creating.

Sometimes we have a plan, sometimes we just drive to the streets we know will be all lit up. We have shared this tradition with our children, friends and other family members.

We have found that when we go in the middle of the week, there is less traffic. However, when we go on weekend nights, the homeowners are often out in their yards wishing passerby’s a Merry Christmas. Sometimes they collect for a canned food drive or a toy drive. We have seen some people sharing hot cocoa and some give out candy canes.

Some streets have every house decorated. Sometimes it’s just one or two houses. We just love looking at the lights, the creativity, the effort of each and every person who chose to decorate their front yard. It is like a gift to us. They are spreading cheer from their front yard to our car.

Does your newspaper list homes and neighborhoods worth driving to for some Christmas cheer? If you are in the Pheonix metro area, here is the link for this years listing and map.

Grab a thermal cup of your favorite warm beverage (if your the driver, make it non-alcoholic!) and maybe I’ll see you somewhere on the streets of Phoenix enjoying the lights!

Not in Phoenix ~ search for light displays in your town. And when you find a listing (or maybe you create your own to share with others) let us know and we will post them on our social media channels.

Outdoor Holiday Decor

Quick question, do you decorate the outside for the holidays? If you do, do you only decorate the front yard or front of your house? Have you ever thought about spreading some of that holiday cheer to the backyard?

I don’t know how your house is laid out, but my family room (the place we spend most of our time in the evenings) is in the back of the house. So when I decorate the front porch and front yard, my neighbors get to see all my hard work. That is when they drive by because, again, their house is laid out like mine which means they are in the back of their house when all the Christmas lights are on in the evening.

I guess my real question is ~ Why not decorate the backyard? I know I would enjoy the beautiful decorations and the glow of the lights by looking out the back windows. Of course, my tree is inside. Specifically, in my family room so I can enjoy it in the evenings. But I think that setting up the backyard, spreading some of those outdoor decorations in the back of the house would be worth it. There is no rule that the front yard should get all the attention. Time to think out of the box or in this case out of the front yard!

Do we really just put up yard decorations for others or do we want to enjoy them ourselves? I know I decorate for myself and for others. How about you? Will you join me in spreading some cheer into the backyard?

Here are a few things I found that I will be adding to my backyard ~

These lights are great. Both color and clear are available. They are actually solar lights so I don’t have to turn them on or off – they just magically come in and will look beautiful in a tree out in my backyard.

These rope lights would be another great option. They can be snaked through plants or wound up tree trunks. Lots of different light color options, too.

I think adding lots of lights is my preferred way to decorate my outdoors, but you can find lots of options to add to the yard such as these light up presents.

However you choose to decorate your backyard, just have fun and do what suites you and your backyard style.