• Use throws: Use cozy throws for table toppers, or drape them on chair or sofa arms.
• *Light your fireplace: Nothing’s more beautiful or soothing on a crisp, cool day or evening than the orange glow of a fire. Be sure to place some cookies and tea or cider on a nearby table for visitors to snack on. It adds to the overall visual effect.
• *Use candles: Place a few autumn leaves on a surface and then start piling on a grouping of a few candles in staggering heights. (Make sure that you’re not piling so many on that you cause a fire hazard!) Toss a few nuts (in the shell), cranberries, and/or some moss at the base of the candles, and you’re set. Even better, use battery-operated candles for worry-free ambiance.
• Reuse uncut Halloween pumpkins: If you used an assortment of pumpkins for Halloween decorations, and they remained uncut, reuse them in a fall arrangement. You can also place these in a simple grouping of three or more for an impact of color in your décor, or stack them vertically (on top of each other on a sturdy garden urn) for an instant pumpkin topiary.Core apples and mini pumpkins for impromptu candleholders: Carve out the centers of each and place taper, votive, or tealight candles in each one. If you’re worried about tipping, place each apple or pumpkin in a martini glass, or wedge them into the cups of an old muffin tin and cover the exposed tin areas with moss and small red berries.
• *Add a table runner to a dining or sofa table: Purchase or make one in velvet or soft, scrumptious chenille in autumnal colors such as dark gold or aubergine. This tiny splash of color adds a big punch to your décor.
• *Arrange a few bare branches in a pot or urn: Place them in a corner or on top of a dining table for a dramatic statement. If you have a chandelier, weave the branches in between the arms to reach toward the ceiling. The light will cast shadows and highlight the branches beautifully on a cool Thanksgiving evening.
• *Gather birch logs, twigs, and pine cones in large baskets: Set them by the fireplace. Not only are they great for stoking the fire, but they also add a casual touch of nature in a beautiful way. Scent them by adding a few drops of cinnamon or vanilla oil for an added bonus!
• *Add small touches in neutral colors: Filling a tall clear glass vase with acorns, pecans, and other assorted nuts in shells adds an autumnal touch that really makes a big statement in smaller spaces.
• Enlist the kids for these decorating tasks:Gather autumn leaves: Shove a rake in the hand of every willing and able body to gather autumn leaves for decorating. Freshly fallen leaves are perfect ¯ flaws and all ¯ for spreading out on a table around candles and centerpieces or stringing one on top of the other for a stacked leaf garland.Create centerpieces: Kids will love creating individual centerpieces. This project is quick and easy to do ¯ perfect for placing on small tables and keeping little hands busy. Gather an assortment of mini pumpkins, gourds, nuts, batter-operated candles, and baskets or plates for each child. Place a large pillar candle in the middle of the basket or plate and then let each child start placing the items around the base of the candles until he or she gets the desired look.

The holiday season will soon be here. You don’t even need a calendar to know this – you can simply tell by the number of ads in your Sunday newspaper.

Yes, everyone and their brother are pushing their products in hopes that they will get your business by having you shop at their place.

So with all these stores advertising so much stuff, how do you know where or how to get the best deal in the most efficient amount of time. This is a long way of saying you could go store to store to store comparing prices and items and after a few hours of comparison shopping you finally decide on something, when you realize that you only saved a few dollars after spending a whole day shopping. Not a very good way to spend your precious time during a holiday season.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when you start your holiday shopping.

As stated above, it is good to shop around, but there is a limit on how much of this you want to do. A little preparation beforehand goes a long way.

If you are looking for a specific item, make sure to take along the model number, manufacturer and other details about the item you want. This is one way stores get you. They say they will match their competition on any product, but, it has to be the exact same model or item, and, as you probably can guess, this very seldom happens when multiple stores carry the same identical make and model of a particular item. It happens, but more often than not, it doesn’t.

Before you leave home, check the ads again. Make sure the store actually has what you want. If you know exactly what you want, call ahead and see if they have it in stock. Sometimes they sell out and sometimes some stores may not even carry what is advertised in a flyer.

Weigh the costs of traveling all over the city to save a few dollars to buying the same item, for a little more, at your local merchant. Your time and gas are worth something so consider it when doing a lot of shopping.

More and more stores are offering price matching., i.e., they will match the price of an identical item advertised at a competitor and give it to you at the lower price. While this sounds good, it sometimes is, but again you need to know the fine print and policies of this policy.

If you are computer savy, check out the online stores. There are a bunch of sites who compare prices between stores (although they might be online stores) Then again, sometimes the merchant’s web site will have their actual store prices of an item. Also as web site technology continues to improve, merchants may also have the actual number of products they have in stock listed on their web site. Lastly, at some merchants, you can order online and have it delivered to your local merchant to which you can go and pick it up.

Things you need to be aware when shopping online like this are the shipping costs. Sometimes you have to pay them and sometimes not. It all depends – but you need to check it out.

Don’t be swayed by “super” deals. Sometimes the merchant will offer “two for one”, or “buy one get something free”. Make sure you really need it. Don’t buy it just because it is free.

If you follow these few things, your holiday shopping will be much more pleasant and you’ll end up with the best deals possible.

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