Annie from Annie Hearts is popping in today with her favorite time-saving holiday shortcuts. Take it away, Annie!
Thanks for having me back again Casey! Today, I have some tips to make life easier around the holidays. Let’s start with these two cute Christmas snowflakes.
The first is a Christmas Tree Touch Switch that lights a tree with just a touch. I used to have to reach behind the prickly tree to get to the extension cord. With this little snowflake, I place it at the front of my tree and all I have to do is touch the snowflake to light the tree. So much more convenient! It has four settings, increasing in brightness with every touch.
The snowflake switch is available at Home Hardware in Canada, and the tree switch is available on Amazon.
The second snowflake is a Christmas tree water sensor called the Thirsty Light Snowflake. We always get a real tree and it soaks up water like nobody’s business. When the tree stand is empty of water, the needles drop a lot faster, and sometimes the ornaments—with no needles supporting them—drop right after them. No one wants to see Frosty lying on the living room floor without his head. Not to mention—and even more important (sorry Frosty!)—a dry tree can also become a fire hazard. This sensor, which can go on the tree skirt or right in the tree, flashes red if the stand needs more water.
My last tip involves Christmas baking. I’m a mad baker for most of the year, and during the holidays, I really let loose in the kitchen. Plus, my husband loves chefing it up all year round, so our kitchen sees a lot of traffic. Our utensil holder used to be a jumbled mess of cooking utensils mixed with the spatulas and wooden spoons I use for baking.
One day, after I finally found my smallest spatula buried under all the bigger utensils (it had “gone missing” for what seemed like a year), I went downstairs to my vase stash and dug out this white ceramic one I found for a buck at the thrift store.
I put all the spatulas and wooden spoons into it. Now no spatula is getting lost. AND the wooden spoons are right there. Ain’t nobody misbehaving in my house!
My husband is quaking in his flannel Christmas jammies!
Happy holidays everyone!
Wow–I had no idea those Christmas tree switches existed! I just ordered two, one for me, one for my parents. I often don’t bother to turn on the lights on my tree because I hate crawling underneath and behind it, so this could solve a big holiday annoyance.
I’m ordering one, too!!
I’m so glad to hear you like it! I’ve had mine for a few years now and I really love it!
p.s. Casey – anyone ever tell you that you look like Sarah Richardson in that profile pic? Gorgeous girl!
Annie XO
Lol thanks, Annie!!
Just what I needed right now…and I never knew such an ornament existed. Thanks Annie and Casey!
You’re so welcome Sandy!
Annie XO
ha! i have a similar vase that i stash my spoons in! i’m thrilled i share utensil holders with a famous design blog! when you don’t have a designer bone in your body,these kind of things become so important!!
touchlamp technology for ornaments… whatever will they think of next.
Uh huh, Sarah Richardson and I are just dodging the paparazzi left and right. When I get my own TV show, you’re totally getting a free home makeover!
Annie XO
The Thirsty Light Snowflake is a great idea. Thank you so much for sharing it!