by Teddi Wilson

Created on: June 16, 2009

Ornament Your Life

Aluminum trees? Christmas emails? U2 on UTube singing "Silent Night?" For those that long for a Christmas that is a little more natural and traditional just visit your local grocery store!

All the ingredients for a natural festive centerpiece are waiting at your local grocery store. Pick up some pears, pomegranates, artichokes and apples. Arrange them in a favorite bowl with a few pine cones and evergreen cuttings. To formalize this type of arrangement just add a few gold or silver ornaments for a bit more holiday glitz.

While your at the grocery store pick up a few fresh apples in red and green cut holes at top of apples just big enough to fit tea lights! Group the fruit on a platter and surround with pine boughs.Finish this great country look, use plaid scarves as runners/place-mats across the table and red or green mittens to hold the cutlery and napkins!

Raid the china cabinet and fill a few bowls or mason jars with candy canes, cinnamon candies, peppermint candies and spearmint leaves or Swedish berries they all look very festive, especially in clear glass or white containers. If any of your jars are tall and narrow, tie red ribbons around the outside to further emphasize the holiday theme.

Clove-studded oranges, silver jingle bells and sprigs of mistletoe are sure signs of the season. Add to them to your house plants or decorative containers for a festive look and don't forget the fresh flowers, including vibrant colored poinsettias, brilliant white amaryllis, and Narcissus, chrysanthemums or roses add to any room for instant holiday decor. Line up red foil covered pots of mums, gerberas or poinsettia on your fireplace mantle or down the center of you buffet or dining table add a few pine cones, Christmas ornaments or fresh nuts in their shells mixed with cranberries for a living arrangement.

Nothing says Christmas like the color red. Fill a clear glass with cranberries and top it off with a white poinsettia or white roses . Float cranberries and floating candles in a silver bowl or some small stylish bowls. Fill dishes with cranberries, cloves and a couple of cinnamon sticks and place them throughout the house for a wonderful natural aroma. Cranberries and clove studded oranges nestled together in a holiday bowl also fill the air with Christmas.

Tabletop groupings can be placed on any flat surface and bring the colors and smells of Christmas to any room you choose to decorate. Depending on the containers and contents you choose, you can create many different styles all natural affordable and straight out of the reusable grocery bag or box, Happy Holiday Decorating

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