Sep 02
I’m pretty excited to report that I saw the International Space Station this week. True, it only appeared as a tiny dot of light crossing the sky, but the impact of what that dot represented didn’t escape me. I mentally pictured astronauts working together, maybe sharing a laugh in a world without geographical boundaries.
As [...] [...more]
I’m pretty excited to report that I saw the International Space Station this week. True, it only appeared as a tiny dot of light crossing the sky, but the impact of what that dot represented didn’t escape me. I mentally pictured astronauts working together, maybe sharing a laugh in a world without geographical boundaries.
As I sat on my deck waiting for the appointed sighting time to arrive, I noticed a half-dozen or so airplanes blipping throughout the sky, each representing people on the move, all with their own stories. Around me, at ground-level, I could see the glow of lights in my neighbors’ windows, headlights from passing cars, even an occasional flicker of a firefly. Everywhere I looked, light represented the comforting presence of life.
I think that’s why we add light to our surroundings…we appreciate the comfort and cheer it brings. We put candles on birthday cakes, lights on our Christmas trees, night lights in our children’s rooms. Today’s lights have become as decorative as they are functional, and shopping for the perfect source of illumination can be fun! At ChristmasCentral.com, we’ve recently received shipments of novel light styles that add a spark to any décor or special occasion!
Weddings invite the idea of using our rose or water lily lights. Or if you’d like a bit more dazzle, consider flower lights with laser foil accents, diamond stars, or beaded icicle lights.
For patios, kitchens, or restaurants, we offer strings of lights of charming designs including chili peppers, strawberries, grapes and miniature wine bottles, cocktail glasses, soda and beer. Use these styles to create a warm atmosphere year-round, or drape them on a fun themed holiday tree.
Kids will love our strings of lighted ballerina slippers, soccer balls, basketballs, or fire trucks. Do you know a Wizard of Oz fan? She’ll love the ruby slippers lights!
And, of course, we can’t forget the more novel Christmas lights we have here at Christmas Central. From gingerbread boys to candy canes, penguins to poinsettias, these fun lights will make your tree a source of joy.
So, please visit our website today and choose your shining source of comfort and cheer!
Published By Sue -
Aug 31
By George, I think I’ve got it!
I’d honestly never heard of a rain chain before starting work at ChristmasCentral.com. In my (evidently sheltered) life, I’ve only seen rain flow down from eave troughs through traditional American downspouts. Now I learn that there are decorative alternatives to this set-up!
Rain chains date back hundreds of years in [...] [...more]
By George, I think I’ve got it!
I’d honestly never heard of a rain chain before starting work at ChristmasCentral.com. In my (evidently sheltered) life, I’ve only seen rain flow down from eave troughs through traditional American downspouts. Now I learn that there are decorative alternatives to this set-up!
Rain chains date back hundreds of years in Japan, where chains were used to collect rain water from the roof, channeling the water down into a barrel or basin below. Today, rain chains are not only functional they are available in so many interesting and beautiful designs.
Christmas Central offers rain chains in a variety of styles. Link styles (which are closest to the original rain chains in Japan) range from simple link chains to more elaborate double link versions. Some of these link styles have ornamental accents, such as pineapples, teacups or flowers. Don’t miss the bamboo link rain chain. Hang this one near a tropical-themed patio! One of my favorites is the umbrella chain, where water drapes over the miniature umbrellas on its way to the ground.
The cup styles of rain chains tend to control splashing a bit more than the link types. These work great near doors or walkways. Take a look at our buttercup and tulip flower designs—they are beautiful!
Many of these chains are made of polished copper, which darkens with age, developing the familiar green patina. The blue verde rain chains we offer have a weathered look and add charm to garden areas.
And, rain chains are easy to install. Many include a standard installation clip, but the clip is also available separately, if needed. You can also add a decorative leader to direct the flow of water down the chain.
So, visit ChristmasCentral.com today and order your chain for rain!
Published By Sue -
Aug 26
I admit it. Like over half of all Americans, I drink coffee every day. In fact, I easily match the national average consumption of 3 to 4 cups per coffee-drinker. So, I wasn’t too surprised to learn that over 300 million cups of coffee are consumed every day in the U.S!
Why do so many of [...] [...more]
I admit it. Like over half of all Americans, I drink coffee every day. In fact, I easily match the national average consumption of 3 to 4 cups per coffee-drinker. So, I wasn’t too surprised to learn that over 300 million cups of coffee are consumed every day in the U.S!
Why do so many of us love coffee? No doubt, for some, the caffeine jolt is important. Other people love waking up to the pleasant aroma of this traditional beverage. For me, I think of coffee as a “comfort food,” reminiscent of my childhood, when my Grandma would sneak me a cup of milk-laden coffee and some cookies for dipping. (Of course, it came with a warning that drinking too much coffee would stunt my growth. FYI…it didn’t work!)
So, why all this java talk from ChristmasCentral.com? It’s because we now have some wonderful coffee-themed accents you can add to your kitchen to create the atmosphere of a cozy café!
First, perk up your walls with our coffee cup paintings. Next, add some of our coffee-scented candles to provide that wonderful aroma even when you aren’t brewing a cup of joe! Not only do these candles smell great, many look like real coffee drinks. Then, how about tossing a coffee-inspired throw pillow or blanket on a corner kitchen chair?
Some of the cutest coffee items we sell at Christmas Central are ornaments. Recently we received a large shipment of adorable styles perfect for trees and wreaths. But these ornaments are great year-round embellishments for your coffee kitchen—no need to limit their display to the Christmas season. Grace a twig tree or wreath, or even a small white Christmas tree, with charming coffee, espresso and cappuccino trimmings and keep it up all year long!
So, take a coffee break, grab your computer, and shop ChristmasCentral.com now!
Published By Sue -
Aug 24
Or, rather, I’m making a statement about our blankets—because Christmascentral.com has a great selection of afghans and throws!
One stroll through my own home and it’s obvious that I’m a fan of keeping a throw nearby. One chair sports a quilt sewn by a relative, and an arm of each couch holds a crocheted afghan. A [...] [...more]
Or, rather, I’m making a statement about our blankets—because Christmascentral.com has a great selection of afghans and throws!
One stroll through my own home and it’s obvious that I’m a fan of keeping a throw nearby. One chair sports a quilt sewn by a relative, and an arm of each couch holds a crocheted afghan. A quilt rack in the family room supplies another (decorative) blanket or fleece appropriate for the current season. What began as mere additions to our décor have become indispensable items in our Buffalo-area home. Of course, Buffalo’s infamous winters do make for perfect blanket weather, but even in summer, with the air-conditioning blasting, we’ve learned that one person’s ideal temperature can differ from another’s, so it’s nice to have that fleece or afghan handy!
Whether you’re looking to buy an accent for your own home or as a gift for someone else, Christmas Central is sure to have what you need! Take a look at our beautiful solid-color throws in a range of hues and sizes. They also include interesting textures and patterns.
For friends, relatives, or other honored people, we have blankets bearing special messages. Do you know someone in a branch of the military? How about a nurse, doctor, lawyer, or firefighter? Or, do you want to send a special message to Mom, Dad, Grandma or a treasured friend? Check out our “friends and family” blankets to find the perfect match for that special person!
Need a baby gift for new parents? Along with solid pastels, we’ve got Boy and Girl styles, well-known prayers and sayings, and other adorable designs.
Other themes depicted on our throws include animals, states of the USA, and sports. And, it just wouldn’t be right if Christmascentral.com didn’t offer Christmas afghans and throws! Browse through our large selections of both religious and jolly holiday blankets.
So, whether you’re looking for a crib blanket, a snowman afghan, or a warm throw to wrap around yourself at a football game, Christmas Central has you covered!
Published By Sue -
Aug 19
Sure it may only be August, but with the kids heading back to school and Labor Day just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to plan for fall decorating. And, here at Christmas Central, we’ve added wonderful new items to help you create a warm autumn glow in your home or office.
Nothing says harvest [...] [...more]
Sure it may only be August, but with the kids heading back to school and Labor Day just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to plan for fall decorating. And, here at Christmas Central, we’ve added wonderful new items to help you create a warm autumn glow in your home or office.
Nothing says harvest home like the welcoming aroma of scented candles. This year, we have beautiful gel varieties, pumpkin-, gourd-, and leaf-shaped candles, as well as pillars with leaf designs. These are long-burning candles with lead-free cotton wicks.
Once you’ve got your place smelling like apples, cinnamon or pumpkin spice, why not add a fall wreath or tin sign to your door or wall? (Or hang them throughout the house!) Drape enticing autumn garlands across the mantel or use them to outline doorways.
For heart-warming floral arrangements, Christmas Central offers many leaf, berry, and floral sprays. Choose your favorites and create a gorgeous centerpiece for any table. (Or, make it easy on yourself and get one of our stunning, ready-made centerpieces!) Dress up that table a bit more with a delicate leaf-design table runner.
Nothing says autumn like pumpkins! Place a festive pumpkin night light in every room with our handy pack of 6 lights. Or, toss a pair of pumpkin throw pillows on your couch or bed, and scatter artificial mini-pumpkins throughout your home for small splashes of fall color. You can even present cookies or treats (how about pumpkin bread??) to guests on our pumpkin-shaped serving plates!
So sure, it’s still summer, but autumn is just around the corner. Plan your decorating now and fall into the season with ease!
Published By Sue -
Aug 17
Wrap it around a gift, a Christmas tree, or a wreath for your door. Or, loop it to make decorative bows for centerpieces, floral arrangements, and packages. The uses for ribbon are as plentiful as the types of ribbon available. And, at ChristmasCentral.com, we have loads of ribbons, with even more arriving soon!
As might be [...] [...more]
Wrap it around a gift, a Christmas tree, or a wreath for your door. Or, loop it to make decorative bows for centerpieces, floral arrangements, and packages. The uses for ribbon are as plentiful as the types of ribbon available. And, at ChristmasCentral.com, we have loads of ribbons, with even more arriving soon!
As might be expected from a Christmas store, many of our ribbon designs are perfect for Christmas decorating. We offer both unwired and wired varieties. Take a look at our wide selection of holiday solids, plaids, and prints! Remember that the beautiful red ribbons available at Christmas Central are not only perfect for yuletide embellishments, but work great for Valentine’s Day, too.
Because our inventory now includes year-round home décor, we also sell ribbon for occasions other than Christmas. For example, add elegance to your home or wedding arrangements with dazzling burgundy or green paisley ribbons. The wired edges make them so easy to bend and shape.
With fall quickly approaching, it will soon be time to add autumn and Halloween accents to your home, office or classroom. Check out our fun Halloween ribbons!
Winter fun continues with our snowflake ribbon options…a charming way to warm up your décor during those cold months of the year!
Over the next several weeks, we will be adding many more ribbon choices to ChristmasCentral.com! Be sure to visit us often so you don’t miss out on these beautiful new trimmings for your decorating and wrapping needs!
Published By Sue -
Aug 12
This week nearly passed by without me realizing its full significance. Sure, we all know it’s Elvis Week, and National Smile Week (you knew that, right?) but I just about missed that—according to several sources—it is also National Apple Week. My research leaves me wondering if this is truly a tribute to the fruit, or [...] [...more]
This week nearly passed by without me realizing its full significance. Sure, we all know it’s Elvis Week, and National Smile Week (you knew that, right?) but I just about missed that—according to several sources—it is also National Apple Week. My research leaves me wondering if this is truly a tribute to the fruit, or if the celebration is a result of the Beatles 1968 proclamation of this time as National Apple Week in honor of the creation of their Apple record label. No disrespect to John, Paul, Ringo, and George, but for the purposes of this writing, I’ll assume we’re celebrating the edible apple. And, therefore, what better time to discuss Christmas Central’s apple-themed items?!
First, let’s talk apple candles. Choose from gel, jar, or filled candles in a variety of apple scents. You can feel good about environmentally safe soy candles and lead-free wicks in our products.
Once you’ve got your apple-scented candles adding wonderful aroma to your home, how about some apple accents for your décor? Fill a bowl or basket with our realistic artificial apples and you’ll have delicious-looking fruit for as long as you wish! Pick from Red Delicious or Empire varieties.
If you prefer more ornate apple trimmings, consider our filigree and ceramic apples for your table, or a delicate apple angel for a shelf. Add an apple cider jug lamp, an apple mosaic plant stand and some artificial apple blossoms. And, don’t forget the Lemax “Apple Pickers” figurine to add to your collection.
National Apple Week is a great time to stock up on gifts for those favorite teachers! We’ve got some neat teacher ornaments and apple-shaped pins.
And finally, you’ll become the apple of Fido’s eye if you remember man’s best friend with our sweet apple flavored dog treats.
Happy picking!
Published By Sue -
Aug 10
After spending last weekend moving our daughter from one college apartment to another, I realized a couple of things. First, it’s good (and easier on one’s back!) to encourage your child to live in the same dwelling for all of her years of higher education, and secondly, that college fans love [...] [...more]
After spending last weekend moving our daughter from one college apartment to another, I realized a couple of things. First, it’s good (and easier on one’s back!) to encourage your child to live in the same dwelling for all of her years of higher education, and secondly, that college fans love to display symbols of their school spirit.
At Christmas Central, we’ve got loads of NCAA products for students, faculty and alumni to boast their allegiance. On Game Day, how about adorning your yard with a large, inflatable decoration? Picture the Syracuse Orange or Wisconsin’s Bucky Badger out front welcoming guests to your pre-game gathering. Or, consider a light-up football player shining from the window.
Greet visitors at your door with an NCAA brass door knocker and a welcome mat. Once inside, college decorating possibilities seem endless! At ChristmasCentral.com, you’ll find pillows, picture frames, rugs, lamps and clocks. For kitchen and bar, there are cookie jars, chip and dip platters, salt and pepper shakers, and more. Add a team desk lamp, pencil or business card holder and pens to your office or student dorm room. There are even toothbrushes, plush toys and piggy banks for the kids.
The Christmas season presents a great opportunity to display NCAA team affiliation! Perhaps a tree full of Iowa Hawkeye ornaments? Or a Florida or Virginia Tech tree skirt? College stockings and wreaths round out a spirited theme. It’s easy to decorate a home, office, or dorm room for the holidays! Why not fill a college care package for your student with a mini-tree and team ornaments? Decorating the tree would be a most welcome diversion from writing final papers and studying for exams!
So, whether you’re an LSU Tiger, a Tennessee Volunteer, or a Penn State Nittany Lion, Christmas Central can help your school spirit soar!
Published By Sue -
Aug 05
King Arthur had a round one. School cafeterias normally stock rectangular varieties. Bridge and Bunco players use square versions. It’s so true…there are as many types and shapes of tables as there are uses for them!
At Christmas Central, as we’ve expanded our inventory to include home and garden décor, we’ve added many beautiful [...] [...more]
King Arthur had a round one. School cafeterias normally stock rectangular varieties. Bridge and Bunco players use square versions. It’s so true…there are as many types and shapes of tables as there are uses for them!
At Christmas Central, as we’ve expanded our inventory to include home and garden décor, we’ve added many beautiful and useful tables to our list of products. Whether you’re shopping for a decorative accent table, a coffee table, or patio table, you’re sure to find plenty to choose from at ChristmasCentral.com!
For your patio, take a look at our vast selection of Earth-friendly tables, constructed from recycled materials. Built to last and easy to clean, these tables are available in a multitude of shapes, sizes, and colors. Or, perhaps a resin wicker coffee table better suits your needs (again, durable and low maintenance!). How about a decorative scroll or butterfly design table with inlaid glass? Take a look and choose your favorite!
For children, check out our Build-A-Bear or NFL kids’ tables, as well as the indoor/outdoor picnic tables available in a rainbow of colors. The youngsters in your life will love them!
Complement indoor décor with tables of any style…natural cedar log designs, ornately scrolled tables, or more contemporary versions. Consider our semi-circular tables which fit nicely against a wall for useful, space-saving beauty. Or, one of our sets of matching tables, which allows you to add continuity to your decorating scheme.
We invite you to enjoy the convenience of sitting at your own table while you shop for that perfect new table from ChristmasCentral.com!
Published By Sue -
Aug 03
It’s not surprising that most of Christmas Central’s ornaments are sold in multi-packs. It also makes sense that replacement Christmas light bulbs, silk flower stems, and artificial fruit are packaged in quantity. Interior decorators and television set designers love the convenience and cost savings of this volume shopping. But if you’re an [...] [...more]
It’s not surprising that most of Christmas Central’s ornaments are sold in multi-packs. It also makes sense that replacement Christmas light bulbs, silk flower stems, and artificial fruit are packaged in quantity. Interior decorators and television set designers love the convenience and cost savings of this volume shopping. But if you’re an individual consumer, you may find yourself asking, “Why would I want to purchase a pack of 6 coffee bean mug candles?” or “What do I do with 3 Atlanta Falcons chip and dip platters?” These are excellent questions with excellent answers!
Over the years (and we’re talking more years than I care to recognize!) I’ve learned that a little advanced planning can save a lot of money when it comes to buying gifts. It used to be when I needed a hostess gift or something to welcome a new neighbor, I’d buy something on the spur of the moment and pay a chunk of money to get an appropriate gift. Now, instead, I purchase items in quantity—ahead of time—and pull from my home inventory when needed.
For example, consider those 6 coffee bean mug candles mentioned earlier. At 6 candles for $71.99 (before tax and shipping, which we’ll discuss in a minute), they are about $12 each. If, at the time of giving, you add a small bag of flavored coffee and some homemade cookies or bakery biscotti to each candle, you’ve created a half-dozen charming gifts for less than $20 each!
Or, how about those Atlanta Falcons (or insert your favorite team here!) chip and dip platters? Add a packet of homemade (or purchased) dry dip mix, and a bag of chips, wrap it up in cellophane with a bow and you’ve got a great gift for that sports fan to enjoy during the next game! With the 3 platters selling for $49.99, they are less than $17 apiece. With the chips and dip, your total expense per gift is less than $25!
Let me say a word about tax and shipping. Remember that ChristmasCentral.com provides free shipping on orders over $77, if they are shipped to one of the lower 48 states. Also, if you live in any of those 48 states other than New York, you pay no sales tax. Therefore, if you plan ahead, you can save some serious money on future gifts!
Be sure to check back in later posts for additional gift ideas using our handy multi-packs!
Published By Sue -
I’m pretty excited to report that I saw the International Space Station this week. True, it only appeared as a tiny dot of light crossing the sky, but the impact of what that dot represented didn’t escape me. I mentally pictured astronauts working together, maybe sharing a laugh in a world without geographical boundaries.
