Here at Christmas Central, we’re obviously very well known for our Christmas items.  But, we’re so much more diverse than trees, lights, ornaments, garland and various other holiday items.  Did you know that we have Halloween, Easter, Thanksgiving and St. Patrick’s decor as well?

Halloween is a fantastically creepy time of year.  It’s a time to be scared by black bats and cats, ghosts and goblins, and witches too!  One popular method of decorating is incorporating ornaments and lights on a black tree.  Halloween themed ribbon makes the perfect garland.  There are also signs and wall pieces that add a terrifying touch to your decor.  Lanterns and candle holders cast an eerie glow on your walls!

Easter is another great time for decorating.  What’s better that a fluffy white bunny?  Many people go the religious route and display several decorative crosses this time of year.  Easter wreaths are so pretty and colorful.  What could be better than a white Easter tree, decorated with vibrant, colorful eggs?

Feeling a wee bit lucky?  Decorating for St. Patrick’s Day is becoming more and more popular.  Ornaments, stockings and lights aren’t just for Christmas anymore.  Night lights add a festive touch to your dark rooms.  Bracelets and rosaries are a great way to show off your Irish pride as well!  The Irish-themed Joseph’s Studio garden planters look lovely all year long.  And who can forget the Fighting Irish?

Finally, lest we forget Thanksgiving.  Pilgrims, Native Americans, pumpkins and turkeys…we have it all!  Many people like to go more traditional and set out cornucopias, window silhouettes or even decorative plates.  Other items that are gaining popularity include candle holders and artificial picks, garland and bushes.  All of these colorful items will get your right into the fall harvest mood, and after that?  It’s time to think about Christmas all over again!

“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.”  ~Mignon McLaughlin

Weddings are a joyous occasion.  They can also be stressful for the bride, groom, and their friends and families.  There is so much planning to do to make the big day picture perfect.  In the August 2010 issue of Brides Magazine, one of our items was featured, which was very exciting for us!  So many people associate us with Christmas, that they may not realize all of the other great items we carry!

For instance, the ornament shown at the left?  It’s currently out of stock because so many people saw us in the magazine!  But, for all of you who are still discovering us, we do have ornaments just like these in a huge variety pack, which would work perfectly.  We also have these, which are equally as festive!  If you’re looking for ornaments with a wedding theme, look no further then here. 

If you take a look around our web site, you might discover these wedding candles, which make great favors and centerpieces.   Or, you might stumble across these cake toppers.   Would you believe that you can also find your flowers and table centerpieces here as well?  Take a look and see if we have what you’re looking for.  If you type “wedding” into the search box, you’ll come up with 13 pages of wedding-related items.  Check back often, because we’re always adding new items!

It’s so easy to be forgetful at Christmas time.   There are gifts to buy and wrap, shopping lists to prepare and check twice, dinners to be planned and cooked, cookies to be baked and about a million other details to take care of.  Add to all of that, the stress and hectic pace of the holiday rush, and it can be so easy to forget some of the smaller things you may not ordinarily think about.  July is the perfect time to think about and purchase the essential Christmas items you’ll need.

How many times have you hung lights only to discover you aren’t anywhere near an outlet, or you need a bit more cord length?  We have power strips, extension power cords, ground stake outlets and plug adapters.   Anyone who’s ever hung outdoor lights knows what a chore it can be.  We have all the tools that will make it easier for you, such as light hooks, deck clip hooks and gutter & roof light holders.  Interior light and decor hanging is much easier with banister clips, window clamps for candles and suction cups.  We even have electrical timers to make your life easier!

We have many other essentials you’ll be sure to need as well, such as advent calendars, colorful ribbon to decorate and wrap packages with, jingly Christmas bells, gift boxes, gift bags and bows.  Shop now, while our warehouse is stocked to the roof and there are no long lines!

“Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree.  In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.” ~Larry Wilde

It’s July, and you know what that means, right?  It’s Christmas in July!!! What better time of year to begin your Christmas shopping?  I know what you’re thinking.  It’s hot outside, it’s summer time, the kids are at camp, the beach is beckoning…  I know.  But, if you start your shopping NOW, you beat the lines & crowds, and take advantage of the best selection of Christmas merchandise, anywhere!

First, let’s talk trees.  Whether you are looking for a 2 foot tree or a GIANT 50 foot tall commercial tree, we carry it.  We have pre-lit trees, unlit trees, green trees and pink trees.  We even carry upside down trees and whimsical trees.

Interested in lights?  We’ve got those too.  If you really want to go cutting-edge this year, go LED.  If you’re more traditional, we have mini lights, icicle lights, net and trunk lights for your outdoor decorating, and retro bubble and C7 lights.  We also have novelty lights, night lights and globe-style lights too.  Any color you can imagine, we carry.  Now is the time to stock up on these as well.

On Christmas overload yet?  It happens.  We carry so much, it can be overwhelming.  But, if you start now, by Christmas time you’ll be all set!  Now is also the best time to peruse our ornament selection.  From glass and shatterproof balls, to Inge-Glas, Fontanini, Department 56, and any type of ornament you can imagine, we have it!  While you’re busy shopping and stocking up, don’t forget to check out our wreaths, stockings, garland, tree toppers, tree skirts & tree stands.  You’ll be glad, come Christmas, when you can sit back satisfied knowing you are all set for the holidays!

I know you may not want to start thinking about it now, but the holidays are coming very soon!  Christmas Central is the place to stock up on all of your holiday essentials.  And, we know how busy people can get, so we like to make things simple.  If you’re pressed for time, check out our theme shopping.   What is theme shopping?  It’s just about the easiest way to find groups of merchandise without having to sort through our HUGE stock of over 27,000 items.

For instance, check out our Casino theme.  We have all sorts of items from ornaments, stockings and even patio chair cushions.  Another popular theme is Tuscan Winery.   Here you’ll find something for the wine lover in your life.

Under the Sea is another theme you can shop by.  What makes theme shopping so great is that you can find so many unique items you probably never knew we had, like seashell garland for your Christmas tree!  Imagine finding large groupings of items all themed around something you love!  Theme shopping rocks!

My personal favorite theme category to peruse is the Pretty in Pink category.  Imagine getting a pink tree, and decorating it with pink lights, pink ornaments and hanging a pink wreath nearby.  Totally pinkalicious.  You can also go totally green and shop the Luck ‘O the Irish category.  Let your imagination run completely wild as you shop with our massive theme catagories!

Working here at Christmas Central, sometimes I get all consumed with holidays, be it Christmas, Easter or even Halloween.  It’s easy to forget some of the lesser-known holidays that are super important to remember!

For instance, did you know that this week marks International Chicken Wing Week?  Seeing as how Christmas Central is located near Buffalo, NY, and we ARE the birthplace of Buffalo Wings, this is an important holiday everyone should celebrate!   We’ve got these great chip and dip platters that work perfectly to hold some bleu cheese and Buffalo wings!  Of course, you CAN use it for its intended nacho-holding purposes, too.

Nothing washes down a platter of chicken wings or nachos like a frosty cold beer.  Speaking of beer, have you ever seen our Corona and Budweiser merchandise?  The snack tubs are my personal favorite.  And now that I’ve gotten on the topic of beer, it’s the perfect way to discuss my next strange holiday discovery, National Hot Dog day on July 17th.

Everyone loves a good hot dog!  What’s even more fun than just a plain grilled weiner?  One that you grill an impression into!  Have you see the grill topper grilling plates?  You can sear your favorite sports team’s logo into a hot dog, sausage, chicken breast, burger or steak!  How cool is that?  You can make all sorts of interesting discoveries spending a little bit of time on Google and Christmas Central!!

Mega Picnic Mat

One of my favorite things to do on the weekends is visit Niagara Falls.  Christmas Central is a short 30 minute drive from the Falls.  On Friday nights, it’s great to bring along a picnic basket, spread out a blanket, and enjoy a nice picnic.  When the sun sets, you can enjoy the sound of the Falls and the sights of glorious fireworks.

Last weekend, I got to test out one of these picnic mats, and I have to say, they’re great!  The mats are padded and waterproof, which is a fantastic feature.  The mat was large enough to comfortably sit a family of three, with room to spare! The best part is that it quickly folds up and has a handy carrying strap.

Thinking about how much I love to picnic with my family, I started browsing some of the other picnic items on our website.  You’d be amazed at how unique some of these items are!  How about a wine clutch to carry a bottle of wine safely?  These carriers not only tote around a bottle of that fine grape beverage, but it also comes with a corkscrew and two acrylic wine glasses.  These compact picnic totes are perfect for dining outside.  They come with everything you need to eat your meal, plates and utensils included.

Worried about your drinks spilling if you’re on unstable ground?  No need to worry about that anymore!  We carry stakes that actually hold your can of soda or wine glass in place for you!

Don’t forget your citronella candles and sunblock if you’ll be outdoors during the day!  Of course, you can always block the sun with these portable sun protectors!  We’ve got all of your picnic needs covered.

“Summer afternoon – summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.”  ~Henry James

Summertime is warm breezes, lemonade, sitting on a porch swing and catching fireflies.  Summertime is gathering with friends and family, and enjoying the outdoors.  Summertime is also light and airy; fresh.  Sometimes, here at Christmas Central, it’s hard to remember it’s summertime, especially with some of our Christmas merchandise arriving.  That joyous feeling of summer can last all year long, though, no matter where you live!

Decorative silk florals are not only bright and colorful, but they let you keep your favorite blooms in season all year long.  We have sunny wreaths, bouquets, stems, sprays and plants that showcase brilliant blossoms throughout the year.

Carry that fresh feeling throughout your entire home.  Organza table cloths are not only light and airy, but they look great on kitchen, dining room or side tables and add a delicate touch of color to your decor.  Paired with a decorative table top fan, the summer breeze will transcend through your entire home.

Still need inspiration?  We have an entire Summer Bloom collection of household decor items that are colorful and fresh.  If being on the water is more your style, our nautical collection is for you.  Creating a summertime atmosphere is easy!  Visit our website and type “summer” into the search box to see what great summer products you can find!

Let’s face it; most of us are dependent on our cars for our everyday transportation.  I know I’d be lost without mine!  So why not trick out your ride and cruise around in style?  We’ve got the perfect auto accessories for you, if you’re looking to add a little flair to your car.

You might as well be comfortable driving around, so these car seat covers with light-up neon will have you looking very sharp.  Speaking of looking good, we’ve got neon tube lighting for the interior and exterior of your car, in a variety of bright colors.

These neon windshield washer lights are pretty spiffy and will definitely get your ride noticed.  You can also deck out your car radio and gear shifter knob in shades of bright neon.   Hungry for more neon?  How about light-up dice that you hang from your rear view mirror?  We even have neon string lighting that you can place anywhere in your cars interior.

This fun neon pulses to the music from your car stereo.  Talk about pimping your ride!!  You’re sure to get noticed with all of these awesome accessories.

Dripping Icicle Light

Here at Christmas Central, it’s always Christmas time.  We sell artificial trees, bright lights and ornaments all year round.  We’re just starting to get some of our stock in for the holidays, and there are some very cool new items this year I’d love to show you!

My favorite new light item that we have are these dripping falling LED icicle lights.   The bulbs screw into any standard C7 socket set, and have the look of dripping icicles.  We also have ones that burn steady and don’t have that dripping affect.  These are the perfect bulbs for designers looking to add the hottest new trend to their Christmas displays!

Another of my favorite new light products are color changing LED lights.  Not only are these lights brighter and more energy efficient, they change colors and are just fun to look at and decorate with.

You’re going to LOVE these shatterproof balls!  These specific balls are all pre-drilled and wired.  We have them in a huge variety of colors and sizes.  They’re perfect for crafters, commercial decorators, or anyone looking to add some larger flair to their decorating.  What makes them even better is that they’re UV treated, so no matter if you use them indoors or out, they won’t fade or lose their color.

Decorating for the holidays has never been this much fun before!