11,000 SQ FT GILBERT CUSTOM HOME SITE OF THE 59TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS IDEA HOUSE Holiday Charity Event to Assists Local Students and Families Desert Club’s 2016 Christmas Idea House will be showcased in the beautiful Seville subdivision in Gilbert, Arizona. The 11,000 square foot, multi level, custom home is situated on 1.2 acres of beautifully landscaped property.   The home near Higley and Riggs Roads will be transformed into a Christmas wonderland, open for the public to tour and purchase thousands of unique holiday gifts and décor artfully displayed. All proceeds from this event will provide need-based scholarships to deserving young students and benefit local charities. MODERN DAY ELVES AND A 59 YEAR OLD TRADITION The Christmas Idea House has become a holiday tradition and lures thousands of visitors each year. It is the primary fundraiser for Desert Club, a 70 year old, all-volunteer women’s service organization. The event is held at a different luxury home each year in locations throughout the East Valley.

Desert Club members decorate the home from top to bottom with holiday décor, unique and handcrafted gifts and gourmet goodies, all for sale and ranging in price from $5 to several hundred dollars each. One hundred percent of the proceeds are given back to the community in the form of scholarships to in-state college students and grants to local charities. To date, Desert Club has awarded almost $2.7 million. Be the first to tour and shop at this year’s Christmas Idea House before it is open to the public! Join us Thursday, Dec. 1st for the 2016 Holiday Soiree, a festive evening filled with music, cocktails and a wide array of gourmet hot hors d’oeuvres. Doors open at 5:30 pm with the Idea House remaining open for viewing, shopping and socializing until 9:00 pm. Kick off your 2016 holiday season with our Yuletide Brunch on Friday, Dec. 2nd.! Enjoy a mimosa or another beverage of your choosing, along with some quiche, gourmet croissant pastries, and a variety of delicious salads.

Join us and share this joyful event with your friends or family. Socialize and shop as you tour this year’s home before it is open to the public!best christmas houses in nj The home will be open for Public Tours and shopping on Friday, Dec. 2 from 4 – 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $12 each and can be purchased at the door. cheap bedroom wall stickers ukGuests may receive a $2 discount by bringing at least one canned food item, which will be donated to a local food bank.easy and cheap christmas table decorationsWe apologize for the inconvenience. Please try again later or contact us at 1-866-222-4626.Both David’s and my parents got married in December, which has got to be super unusual. 

When we got engaged, David was in law school, which meant that if we wanted to take a post-wedding honeymoon (we sure as hell did), we needed to plan the wedding for a law school break—December or summer. December had an immediate lure. First, it wasn’t eighteen months away (we didn’t rightly figure we could pull off the wedding we wanted in six months, leaving us with an eighteen month lead time on summer). Second, it was family tradition. For both of us. For as long as I could remember, my mom had told me to get married in December, when the church was already decorated, at no cost to you. The only trouble was, we weren’t getting married in a church. Our little interfaith family was having a Jewish wedding. When you have Christian and Jewish backgrounds, December is a minefield. So as much as I would have enjoyed a nine-month engagement and a December wedding, we nixed it almost straight away. Having, at that point, weathered several Decembers in our relationship, I could see how a winter wedding was going to play out.

There would be fights over evergreens. Is it, “simply a seasonal plant,” or “a really Christmas-y plant”? I’m smart enough to avoid Poinsettias, but it’s hard to totally avoid red. And green and red would have been out, but would blue and white be just erring in the other direction? And has Christmas taken over the twinkly white lights game, or can anyone use them? Continue fights ad nauseam. While we skipped those particular wedding-related fights, we re-visit this decor debate every single holiday season, while the Pinterest onslaught makes me feel like the most left out person in the world. Typically, by this point in November, I’ve started to feel like an (very sad) outcast from the Internet. Because while I love Christmas, David hates it with equal fervor (something about a lifetime of feeling left out). Plus, we have a Jewish household… that celebrates Christmas… and what do you even do with that? While I’m gearing up to decorate for the holidays, green and red and gold and everything Santa is not helping me out.

And after years of trees and garlands decorated with blue and white ornaments (our ongoing compromise), I’d really like something a little more… creative? With that in mind, the APW staff decided to round up the best not-red-and-green-all-over holiday decorations. Here are our picks for seasonal decor that doesn’t scream, “SANTA CAME OVER AND I HUGGED THE REINDEER WHILE HE ATE COOKIES, AND THEN WE TALKED ABOUT BABY JESUS AND DRANK SOME MULLED WINE.” Except for the mulled wine. We’re all obviously very into that. So let’s bring on the subtle, and the sparkles. I hope these tutorials help you decorate your house (if your reason for the season doesn’t happen to be Jesus, or if you’re just tired of red and green), or plan the hell out of your winter wedding. Hot buttered bourbon cheers! Fall leaf escort cards, via once wed, photos by Ali Harper Perfect for your friendsgiving feast. Bonus: leaves are basically free! Dried Wild Feather Bouquet, via Curious Fair

Dried flower bouquets have really beautiful texture and depth. And, you can buy them farther in advance of your wedding and quit worrying about how you’re going to keep them alive long enough in the winter. Gilded Fruit Centerpiece, via APW, photos by Allison Andres Metallic spray paint + fruit = instant fabulous party centerpiece. Neon Pinecone Place Cards, via Camille Styles, photos by She-N-He Photography We are all about any DIY project that you can do while watching Parenthood. Gold Leafed Pine Cone Garland, via The Sweetest Occasion, photos by Alice G. Patterson You could also match your garland to your place card holders by painting them neon. Painted Pumpkin Centerpiece, via APW, photo by Allison Andres Pumpkins don’t have to disappear after Halloween, y’all! They’re still perfect for November (particularly when spray painted). Bird’s Nest Ring Holder, via Francis and Joan’s Snowy Canadian Wedding on APW, photo by Photobox Photography

One of my favorite ideas for an unconventional ring “pillow.” Bird’s nests are home, and you’re making a home together. Quartz Place Cards, via Ruffled, photo by Love Is A Big Deal This has got to be one of my favorite wedding decor pictures of the year. By which I mean obviously you should steal i. Gold Branch DIY, via Pop Sugar Branches spray painted gold is one of my favorite winter decor statements. Plus, it will add some height and glam to your centerpieces on the cheap. Lighted Aisle Backdrop, via Alexan Events, photo by Frances Marron and Julia Timmer It’s called the season of light for a reason.  The reason is it’s real pretty. Glitter Gold Floral Centerpiece, via APW, photo by Allison Andres It’s like glitter exploded and made glitter babies. Is that so wrong? Make it ahead, stash it somewhere, and bring it out whenever you want to look extra fancy. Star Floor Runner, via Martha Stewart Weddings You can’t go wrong with sparkly stars.

And for those of us negotiating the Jewish/ Christmas divide this time of year, you can make six pointed stars, and stop the argument before it starts. Glitter Welcome Signs, via A Glittery Homemade Catholic Wedding, photo by Eyes & Hart Sparkle that won’t leave with your guests at the end of the night. Tinsel Cocktail Stirrers, via Style Me Pretty, photo by Nancy Ray Photography If you invite me to a party and give me a fancy drink stirrer, I’ll be so impressed with you I won’t even notice the unfolded laundry in the corner. Glitter Donuts, via Glitter Guide, photo by Kate Ann Photography Not technically decor, but who cares, they’re glitter donuts. Mercury Glass Centerpieces, via Ruffled, photo by Brooke Schultz DIY your own mercury glass, or thrift it, but either way you’ll end up with instantly pretty centerpieces. Adding sequins on the table is optional, but recommended. Garland Centerpiece, via APW, photo by Allison Andres