Holiday Tips and Product Reviews for Simple Holiday Prep Problems.

 

Tired Of Crawling Through, The Holiday Light Cords? Three Easy Solutions!

 
I love the bright, twinkling lights of my Christmas tree. I adore wreaths. I get so happy when I look out my window at night and see my little lighted Christmas figures! So what’s the problem? Not only do I hate fighting with all the electrical stuff, it is actually dangerous for me with my poor balance and general clumsiness to tiptoe in between difficult places to reach the various lighted objects. Also, having to plug/unplug them every day is a huge hassle. Here are some wonderful products I have found that have actually made my holiday decorating a JOY this year!


1) Battery Operated Wreath, Garland & Mini Trees With Timers
I picked these up from Bethlehem Lights via QVC. I got the products, put a few “D”batteries in them, set the switch to my desired setting, and I was DONE. I mean, done for the MONTH! These decorations have settings for on-twinkle, on-steady, timer twinkle, timer steady… All you have to do is turn them on the timer setting the first time at the time of day you want them to come on. They stay on for around 8 hours and then go off. Since they are on a 24-hour timer, they will then come on at the same time the next day… and the next day… and so on! Supposedly the four “D” batteries will last for around 30 days on the timer setting. Cost? Wreath and mini 36″ trees each around $30.
2) Extension Cord With Step Switch
Never knew this little jewel existed until I happened to see it the other day at Wal-Mart. This is an extension cord with a tap switch halfway down the cord. I plugged my big Christmas tree into it and laid the tap switch on the floor in front of the tree. Now all I have to do is step on the little switch and on or off goes the tree! No more crawlng behind the tree and knocking off half the ornaments in the process!

3) Outdoor Extension Cord With Photo Cell Timer
Oh, did this one solve a 30-year ongoing argument! My husband has griped during our entire marriage about my leaving the Christmas lights on outdoors all day. Well, the plug-in for my giant display of two candy canes is behind a fountain on the porch and is difficult to reach. It’s a pain! The solution – a nifty little outdoor photo cell timer that you can plug into the outlet and then plug your lights into. You then set it as you wish, to come on at dusk for a specified number of hours, or to come on at dusk and go off at dawn (my choice). Took less than a minute to set up and now I will never have to hear him gripe about this again!

With help from the products above, I am going to enjoy a safer and much less stressful holiday season… at least where decorating with lights is concerned.

 
Happy, Stress – Free Holidays!
Article submitted by: Sheila Talley, ButYouDontLookSick.com

  • Those do all sound like conveniences for doing a big lights display. I used to have a little battery operated set of lights with a switch, it took two AAs and was pretty cool, but I lost it in a move.
    I wonder though, if this year is going to see as many of the grand lighting displays of previous years or if people will cut out display in favor of gifts or trim back altogether. I’m going to take a glance out the window and see what the neighborhood looks like, it’s ten days away today.
    My subliminal impression was confirmed.
    None of the houses along this street have any lights up yet. Either they’re doing it late or not at all this year. It’s a little spooky, actually.
    I don’t see wreaths or anything either, not even homemade ones — it’s definitely dark enough that lights would be on in previous years. But by day I didn’t see any of the usual decorations or even the construction paper sorts of things that people can do when they don’t have a lot of money to spend.
    Robert

  • Ann

    Good save… This year we have been simplified our Christmas decoration
    displays(due to the same challenges you mentioned).
    Thanks for the great ideas.