Decorating our lovely tree by the railroad tracks!

It's Beginning to look like a Hallmark Movie Canonsburg Christmas!

What an honor to be asked to participate in the decorating of one of the town pine trees for Canonsburg's Old Fashioned Christmas sponsored by the Hallmark Channel.  I am sharing some photos of our day spent in Canonsburg decorating the tree and hanging out with Mayor Rhome!

Lauren and I at the borough building checking out the old barn.

I always hang the largest ornaments first, even on this beautiful big pine tree!  These ornaments were huge!

Mayor David Rhome attaching the bows at the top.  We were discussing the best plan of attack for this tall beauty and these very large glittery bows.  The Mayor ended up putting two of them back to back...one on the front facing Pike Street and one on the back. 

Adding more ornaments and picturing myself in a Hallmark 
movie with our wonderful friends and family!

My shirt says It's beginning to look a lot like a Hallmark Canonsburg Christmas!  We love our town and the Hallmark Channel.  I loved these large white snowflakes we added to the tree.  They really popped on the fir.

John in the holiday spirit is attaching some large glitter striped ornaments to the side.  Notice how I am supervising this!

Lauren and I stopping for a cute photo opportunity while working so hard in the windy conditions.  It was starting to rain but we forged through the weather and got the job done.  Lonny helped us by putting wire on the balls.

Teamwork makes the dream work-look how lovely it's looking!

Mayor David Rhome on the ladder again!

A train even came by and waived at us decorating.  I bet that was a first for this engineer!

John was thrilled to wave at the engineer and see this 
large engine coming through.  He LOVES trains!

I am handing Mayor some ornaments for higher up.  
He loved putting those up high.  Perfectionist tree decorator!

Mayor David Rhome, Lauren Ruffing, Debra and John Ruffing proud of the beautiful tree we decorated for our towns celebration.

O Christmas tree, how lovely are your branches!

We had a great time volunteering with Mayor David Rhome and Lonnie Flood.  Thank you for letting us be a part of this community event.  The pine tree in the Jean Popp garden got a big "popp" of Christmas cheer this week.  We finished just in time for Canonsburg's Old Fashioned Christmas celebration sponsored 

by Hallmark Channel.    

Decorating an Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration tree today in Canonsburg!

Christmas Celebration in Canonsburg

Today we have the honor of decorating a Hallmark Channel Christmas Tree in Canonsburg in preparation for the Hallmark Channel event at Canonsburg's Old Fashioned Christmas celebration this year.  The event is being held December 6 & 7, 2019 on Pike Street in Canonsburg, PA.  Head over to their website to see the full schedule of events for the two day celebration!  You can find a map here.

My husband John, my daughter Lauren and I will be decorating this tree on Pike Street with the Mayor of Canonsburg, my cousin David Rhome.  We are so excited to be able to help with this event!  We love you Hallmark for the wonderful memories you have given our town!  Our citizens are overjoyed that you are here with us!  

We also want to thank you for providing us with Christmas programming on the Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies and Mysteries for the past ten years! And we love the new subscription service, Hallmark Movies Now.  The memories you have given families over the years by providing for sale the beautiful cards, ornaments, and gift items in your wonderful stores has been a blessing to all at Christmas and the rest of the year also.  What a joy and blessing to have you as part of our lives in so many ways!  We are so excited to see you on December 6 and 7!    

All wrapped up in ribbon!

Ribbon obsessed!

I already have 4 Rubbermaid bins of Christmas ribbon but often I can not find just what I want for a Christmas tree.  My advice is if you think you might love a ribbon design well enough to want to use it to ribbon a 7 foot or taller tree or to ribbon all your outside wreaths and/or garland, definitely buy at least 3-4 10 yard (30 feet) rolls of 2 1/2 inch wide ribbon.  If you are following the theme idea that I use for the coordinating main decor, gift wrap and tablescape along with outdoor decor, then you will want enough ribbon for all of that plus your tree.  I usually choose two different ribbons that can mix and match.    

Trying to keep snow themes and reds together.

Mad for plaid!

An entire bin for elves and Grinch.

There are only three!  Who took my other bin?!!

Love browns for the hot cocoa station and the candy bar.  Also my master bedroom is painted Branchport Brown by Benjamin Moore and I use browns for decorating trees, wreaths, the bed and garland in that room.

Confession here...I have often purchased 12 rolls of the same ribbon because I was madly in love with it!  I am so obsessed that when I took a vacation to Lancaster, PA to visit the Amish I had to visit all the craft warehouses to buy ribbon.  That took 3/4 of the day.  We did also visit the York Markethouse for food and took some photos...BUT I just had to find ribbons!

Lots of ribbon online here and easier than looking everywhere for what you need!

Craft Outlet

Mardi Gras Outlet

Trendy Tree

Karaboo Ribbons

I will be putting up 23 trees this year.  I mean to say that I will be adding to that number-ha!  I am certainly behind this year.  Usually I have most of my trees up and dressed by now.  Thanks heavens I have two daughters and two granddaughters who will help me finish the trees.  The outside is done and I have been working on what I want for the tablescape.  I have almost two weeks to finish.  And then it will be time to wrap gifts on my gift wrapping station in the loft.  This is a treasured tradition.  My daughters helped my Mama wrap gifts in her game room every year.  She would set up a gift wrapping station and have cookies, candies and cocoa for the girls while they worked with her.  The boxes would be taped shut with a code name written on them so they could wrap with no anxiety from Mama that they might discover what gifts Santa would bring.  And in case you are wondering why Mama and her granddaughters would be wrapping for Santa, watch for a later post with the story I wrote about that!

Christmas Theme 2019

It's Christmas Time in the City

I love this theme!  I am so thrilled to be doing It's Christmas Time in the City for my theme this year.  I love to think of the families back when my parents were younger and when I was a child.  There is something undeniably special about the 1940's and 1950's eras.  The way people carried themselves when doing their shopping was so perfect in my opinion.  They actually dressed up and fixed themselves neatly to go out for a day shopping or eating or visiting friends and family.   I found this photo of me with Santa.  How adorable!

Debra with Santa at G.C. Murphy in Washington, PA

I have been dreaming of spending Christmas in a large city this year.  It is not possible, but the dream is compelling.  I love the idea of looking down on the shoppers rushing home with their treasures as in my favorite song, Silver Bells.  I love imagining the gifts they bought and how they will wrap them with care for their loved ones on Christmas day.  It is fascinating to see those shoppers in my mind.  The ladies dressed in heels and wool coats and gloves, smiling and greeting friends on the street to discuss the shopping they are so enjoying.  The men in their suits and overcoats with collars turned up against falling snow and looking a bit concerned and unsure of this shopping experience to get the perfect gifts.  I imagine mothers with children bundled up against the snow, hurrying to finish and get the children home for their dinner.  The young people searching for gifts for family members with their friends...feeling excited for this first Christmas shopping excursion and happy to have help to choose the perfect present.  I can see the taxis lined up outside Macy’s picking up shoppers who have an armload of packages and a way to go to get home.  I love to read the name of the shops on the bags in my dream.  Macy’s, Bergdorf Goodman’s, Saks, Pandora, FAO Schwartz, Elizabeth Arden, Harry Winston, Tiffany’s…and so many others.  I imagine what might be in those bags and who they are purchased for.  I dream of beautiful gift wrap and bows and twinkling trees at their homes.  

It is wonderful to look around at my suite with the large windows to gaze out and daydream.  I love seeing the decorations in every store window through the falling snowflakes.  I will bundle up my family and head out for my own shopping, dining at Saks 5th Avenue Restaurant and gazing in awe at the tree at Rockefeller Center.  We will send our precious packages back to the hotel and head for Radio City Music Hall to see the Rockettes!  It is so exciting to see the Christmas Spectacular!  The snow is still falling gently as we head back to our hotel, The Plaza.  We are so happy to have had our gifts wrapped so we can snuggle in and have hot cocoa and cookies and relax while watching a Hallmark Christmas movie.  

Hotel-$920 per night

Gifts-$3087

Dinner-$924

Rockettes show-$1175

Christmas Day-Priceless!

Photos of New York City Fifth Avenue shopping at Christmas!

My wrapping paper, ribbons, tags, tissue paper, and package tie ons.  I bought the city paper and red woody cars at Target in 2018 in preparation for this year.  I plan my themes out for two years ahead so I can be on the lookout for just the right paper and tags, and other items needed to complete the theme.  The gold glitter trees came from WalMart.  The tissue paper collection is from Sam's Club.