holidays

Image via Wikipedia

I spent a lot of years celebrating Christmas in a warm climate and although I always wished we could have just a bit of snow for just that one day, it never happened. It doesn’t snow in central Florida – except for the occasional flurry. And when it does that it is the talk of the town!

Each year we’d go to the local Home Depot or Lowes and pick out an expensive (and usually dried out) live Christmas tree to set up. Many years Christmas day was quite warm and we would celebrate with the windows open. One year it was windy enough to blow the tree over and I remember thinking that was a first.

The kids never got new sleds and there were no tobogganing parties Christmas day, but we could drive over to the beach or take the boat out if we wanted. Disney World goes all out for the holidays, but the parks are loaded with tourists so it’s a good time to stay away if you’re a local.

There are some good things to consider about having Christmas in a warm climate. Storms and ice won’t keep you from attending parties and everyone seems to be out and about visiting with neighbors and enjoying the cooler temperatures.

It’s a different way to celebrate and many people love the fact that they won’t have snow in the yard, but personally, I like a white Christmas – although there are no guarantees. I live in the northeast now and at the present time there is no snow on the ground where I live, so will it be a white Christmas this year? In Florida – no way, but for me there is still a chance.

Oh, Disney Key Chain Tree! (mouzekateerz.com)
25 days of christmas: {day 13} i’ll be home for christmas (writingjen.com)
Would You Dare Have A Christmas Wedding in a Warm Climate? (sandpiperwedding.wordpress.com)

Pre-tree — Image by justinrussell via Flickr

It’s that time again when we pull out the Christmas decorations and set up the tree and for those of you who live in a warm climate, decorating with seashells may be a yearly event. Anyone can use seashells to decorate their home, but living near beaches or in a tropical place can make it easier (and cheaper) to do since all you need to do is visit the beach or pull out that collection of shells.

For the rest of us, there are many options to buy ornaments made of shells – real or fake and they come in a wide variety of styles. You can make your own ornaments if you are crafty and tie them with ribbons or hang them with string. Seashells can be hand-painted, dipped in silver or gold or made from wire and beads. The scallop shell is often used as an angel’s dress and shells can be glued together to make whatever your imagination allows.