A Little Decorating....

It was a warm day in mid-summer. The people all wore colored hats as they crouched behind chairs, hid in closets and waited anxiously in crepe-strewn doorways. Upon entering the room, the sound of kazoos and noise-makers thundered at her like a run-away demon train as she.... Have your parties started to read like a second rate suspense novel? It happens to the best of us. In this on-the-go age of drive-thru food and instant deposits, we barely have time to remember holidays, much less decorate for a great party. Before investing in any more crepe paper, poster board or magic markers to dress the house up, invest a few minutes in these tips that will bring the house down!

• Want a new idea for those out-of-date noise makers? Grab some clear plastic ornaments and drop a handful of popcorn kernels or jelly beans in, put the top back on and top it off with a colored ribbon.
• Need unique mood lighting for your harvest party? Tape small white holiday lights under a glass table and cover it with sheer fabric or table cloth to give a festive, starry effect.
• Want to make sure all the ghost and goblins find your house this Halloween? Let jack-o-lanterns lead the way! Carve each number of your address on a separate pumpkin and use battery operated bulbs or low-burning candles for light.
• Need centerpieces? Stick some ornaments of various colors and sizes onto skewers and arrange them as you would a floral arrangement. Fill in any gaps with tree clippings or other greenery.

Submitted by Hedi Silva