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!

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!

Let’s face it, how many home parties can anyone host in their lifetime?  Would you love to get our fabulous merchandise free, but don’t have time to clean the house, make hors d’oevres, and have a crowd of people over?

Throw an e-party! Now you can host a home party in your pajamas and without the trouble of having a large group in your home with our ChristmasCentral online home party plan!

What is a Christmas Central online home party?

With an e-party, you invite your friends, family, neighbors and coworkers to shop at Christmas Central.  We offer over 27,000 unique items including home décor, giftware, candles, religious goods for all occasions, patio furniture & accessories, outdoor umbrellas and much, much more!  We also feature licensed sports products & team merchandise which includes the NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, NCAA and NASCAR!

For the duration of your online home party, your invited guests can come and go as they please on ChristmasCentral.com, at their own convenience.  This is the key to your online home party’s success!  With hectic lifestyles, there are no demands on your guests’ time.  They join the online home party whenever it is convenient for them, shopping from their own computer and at their leisure.

You may be wondering what’s it in for you.  A lot, actually!  You will receive 20% of the sales (before taxes and shipping charges) as additional merchandise credits! The more people you invite, the more free merchandise you earn!  You can spread the word about your party on Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace!  You can visit evite to create invitations for your e-party!

Interested yet?  You’re probably wondering how it works.  When you book a Christmas Central online home party, we’ll supply you with a unique party promotion code just for your party.  You supply the code to your party guests for them to use.  Your code is active for a two week period, during which time it can be used an unlimited amount of times.   When your guests use your online party promotion code, they receive a 10% discount off of their purchase!

About 4 weeks after your party closes, you’ll be e-mailed a sales report including all of your merchandise credits.  You then select your free merchandise!  It’s as easy as that!

Email eileen@christmascentral.com or call toll free at 1-800-433-0038 or 716-706-0320 to book your Christmas Central Online Home Party today!

“No shoes, no shirt, no problem.  Blues, what blues…hey I forgot ‘em.  The sun and the sand and a drink in my hand, with no bottom.  No shoes, no shirt, no problem!” ~Kenny Chesney

When I tell people that I work for Christmas Central, they often times assume that it’s all Christmas, all of the time.  Even though I can’t get away right now for my tropical vacation, a girl can still dream!  Plus, I can set the mood with all of the funky tropical-themed items we carry.

See Santa up there?  He gets a vacation because he works so hard.  I can at least create a tropical atmosphere on my patio with some artificial palm trees and beach candles.  When I really get crazy and want to go all out, I’ll string some of these tropical ornaments on my palm trees!

I love to carry that tropical feeling inside, too.  We carry pillows, tapestries, nightlights; you name it, we’ve probably got it.  My favorite is the tropical Santa tree skirt.  This looks so fun and festive wrapped around a palm tree at Christmas time, or any time, really!

I’m making my lasting impact on the fashion industry. I’m going to make the traditional Santa hat into a year long head-accessory.

Think about it, this is the perfect hat for our generation.  It’s got a little razzle-dazzle on the end with the puffy white ball, a fur rim that would make Snoop Dog jealous, AND its functional!  You ever wear one of these babies in the dead of winter?  It’s like your head is encompased in koala bears. 

But what about the summer weather?  Wouldn’t the hat get too toasty?

Well friends, FASHION IS PAIN.  So you might get a little sweaty in the summertime, that’s a small price to pay for looking so fantastic all year long.  You wear this hat during a job interview?  BAM.  They’ll make you CEO overnight.  How about out at the club?  You’ll be making it rain in no time.  No matter what the situation, friends and strangers alike will be in awe of your sense of style.

We, your fantabulous friends at www.christmascentral.com, have a wide collection of Santa hats for all of your daily needs.  Stock up now…cause they’ll be gone soon.  I suspect its only a matter of time before Hollywood gets in on the trend.

Oh…I guess you can use them to celebrate Christmas too.  Remember you saw it at Christmas Central.com first!

I walked in this morning and my cute Christmas tree that I light every morning was already plugged in!  It’s a conspiracy!  I asked everyone in the office if they plugged it in, even the dog…no one would admit to doing it. So it’s either the biggest mystery in the world…or you know…I forgot to unplug it before I left last night.Whatever, it’s the principle of the thing!

I decorate my tree with all the ornaments that were once part of sets.  It’s coming along nicely.  For example I have my favorite electric guitar ornament, an adorable candy cane one and reindeer one as well.  We’ll be getting new ornaments in soon so I can’t wait to see what my tree will collect.  I cleverly used a sparkly gold butterfly clip for my tree topper as my tree is only about 2 feet high.  It works perfectly.

I guess I need all the decorating practice I can get before Christmas rolls around! I love it and it makes my surroundings more fun and enjoyable.

As the weather gets warmer and the sun stays out longer, the last thing most people are probably thinking about is Christmas.

Why would you? You’ve got months to worry about Christmas shopping, Christmas decorating, Christmas clean-up and Christmas stress.

But it is always good to get your Christmas planning (and shopping) out of the way early. Why? It’ll save you time, worry and, ultimately, money.

Sales:

Last season’s Christmas designs might be dated by retailer standards, but really, does Christmas ever go out of style? Check sales or closeouts – especially at online retailers like Christmas Central - to find Christmas decorations, Christmas lights, Christmas trees and more for much, much cheaper than you would, say, in November when demand is at its highest.

Plan your decorating:

It’s November, the day after Thanksgiving. And it’s time to hang your Christmas lights. You initially think you could do the same thing you do every year – wrap your trees in lights, cover the bushes, etc. But one strand is dead, three more are missing bulbs, and your wreaths disintegrated after your basement flooded last spring. How are you going to decorate your house?

That’s why it’s a good idea to have a look at how your Christmas decorations, lights and more are stored – you’ll have a better idea of how you want to decorate, and what you have that will make it work. Need to buy new lights? Get them now, while they’re cheap. Planning ahead will only save you headaches.

Those are a couple tips we have for saving yourself Christmas stress in May. Have you got any others?

Christmas lights are a bear to put away (as we mentioned before), but instead of simply stowing them away, why not get some more use out of them? Christmas lights can be repurposed for other uses – accent lighting, crafts, school projects and much more. The best part of reusing them is that you don’t have to deal with putting them away.

The Patio Party

We here at Christmas Central are always up for a good party, and with warm spring and summer weather on the horizon, the patio is where it’s at. Our favorite way to light up the patio? Well, other than tiki torches and lanterns, we’ve found Christmas lights are the best for mood lighting on our patio. Forget a bright, harsh spotlight; just string lights along the railing of your deck or patio for subtle ambient lighting perfect for an evening party.

Got colored Christmas lights but at a loss for making them work out of season? Try this patio light project, courtesy HGTV, using water bottles to jazz up the look. It looks like a pretty simple project, and one that can add a unique look to your patio.

More than just a patio

The Home Improvements Depot has a list of other alternative uses for Christmas lights: Try using them as under-counter lighting, the tried-and-true dorm room decoration route, or (my personal favorite) television backlighting.

Got a bar? Try a project similar to this liquor bottle lamp set up, but instead of an LED touch lamp, try stuffing a bundle of Christmas lights in the bottle – set those bottles up behind your at-home bar and you’ve got a sweet set-up for entertaining.

Another cool DIY decoration: grab a Mason jar (or a mayonnaise, pickle or peanut butter jar, empty of course) and spiral a strand of lights along the outside of the jar. Then fill the empty space with glass beads, marbles or even potpourri. Cap it off, plug it in, and you’ve got a cute little kitchen decoration. With the potpourri, the warmth of the Christmas lights even help spread fragrance.

Have any other ideas? Leave us some comments!

(Photo courtesy the StateHornet.com)