There is only a week of school in December, so it doesn’t make much sense to go and spend a lot of cash to decorate your apartment, house or residence hall for the holiday season. It is nice to be able to come home to that wonderful holiday feeling, and it can be achieved without breaking the bank.
Some paint can transform your ordinary view into a winter wonderland.
Mix one tablespoon of ordinary hand soap with acrylic paint and it will wash off windows easily. Test it on a small section of the window first: Your landlord or resident assistant will not be too happy if it doesn’t come off.
Stores like the Dollar Tree and Hiron’s are great resources for the cheap knick-knacks that commercialize the holidays. Reindeer, menorahs and snowflakes are a bit frivolous but help brighten a room.
The biggest symbol for Christmas is the tree, but most people don’t have room for one. You can buy a tiny one with the roots still attached and then replant it after the holiday, or you can at least decorate an ordinary houseplant. Be careful of the number of ornaments you put on your makeshift tree, though; it could end up drooping like Charlie Brown’s and killing your poor plant. Ornaments can be made out of paper, photos and pipe cleaners to ensure they won’t damage the plant.
Many people hang Hanukkah and Christmas lights all year for decoration, but you might consider switching to a different color during the holiday season. Multi-color lights look especially festive.
The simplest way to welcome visitors to your home is with a wreath. To create an authentic wreath, walk to the many evergreen trees around campus almost any morning. Branches and sticks blow in overnight winds and fall onto the ground. Gather these together in a circle and wrap with twine to keep together. Do not break branches directly off trees for any reason; there are plenty of good ones on the ground. A garland can be made the same way. But if you want something a little less messy that will last longer, make one with any other cheap material; I recommend felt, which can be cut out in the shape of holly leaves and glued together along with little red circles to represent the berries. Finish with a bow for an artistic touch.
If you really dig the smells of chestnuts roasting on an open fire and cookies baking in the oven, these can be obtained with candles and incense, many of which can be replicated quite well. Cost Plus World Market across from Valley River Center carries a wide variety of holiday-scented candles and incense ranging from candy cane to evergreen aromas.
Finally, take the holiday spirit with you wherever you go with an obnoxious, festive sweater. December is the only month out of the year where you can walk around in the most hideous sweater alive and receive compliments. Extra props if it keeps you warm through the cutting winds. Old Navy and Fred Meyer usually offer cozy finds.
Bring the season inside
Daily Emerald
December 2, 2007
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