Simple Decors and Ways in Designing Your Home This Christmas

(By: Nia Denise G. Pangue)

Christmas season is highlighted with decorations and blinking lights. It heightens the atmosphere of festivities. Decorating your home can become expensive if you are really going to go into details and extravagance. However, if budget is of concerns then you might consider alternatives that can save your money but create an equal effect. Here are the following tips that you can use in decorating your house without costing too much.
    
* Christmas lights come in different sparkling colors that improve the look and ambience of your home. There are several places where you can put them strategically to create a magical atmosphere. It can be placed around your windows and doors, hanged by the porch and put around the railings of the stairs. Those are not expensive but twinkling lights brings a great deal of excitement to the children.
* Christmas balls come in different sizes and colors. Filling some glass bowls and vases can make an attractive display. Putting them in several places can extend the look of Christmas in every corner of your house. Making your personalized Christmas balls is also a good idea. You just need some ordinary balls, glue and glitters, then you are off to a good start in creating a nice set of decor.
* Wrapping boxes is also a good idea. It comes with varying sizes and you just have to buy different wrappers and ribbons to create a different look on each. This is most probably the easiest on the pocket when it comes to adding decoration for your home. It does not cost too much and it does not take long to wrap boxes, so this is definitely a good idea. You can also surprise your children by putting on top of these boxes the letter Santa has sent for each one of them. During Christmas Eve, you can have a little game in finding their respective letters from Santa.
* Presence of Christmas cards around the house is also promoting the spirit of Christmas further. It gives warmth knowing that people are remembering us also, during this season. Place them by the Christmas trees and corner tables. Christmas candles are also part of the decors that should not be missed. Light it on early evenings and let the smell linger in the air. It is one way of getting the good feeling for Christmas.
Prior to the decorations that will be needed are the ways on how to start decorating your home. The following are as follows:1.) Think of a theme. Would I like a Winter Wonderland look? Or would I want it to be like Santa's Toy Factory? No matter what theme you decide on putting up, it is best to stick to one and work hard in creating it. You would not want your guests to get all confused as to what you are trying to portray, would you?
2.) You should be able to identify what materials you need to decorate your home. Of course, you should start with those that you already have. It would also be helpful if you come up with a budgetary scheme. This way, you would not have to go through the hassle of going over your allotted balance.
3.) Be aware of the space of your house. Yes, be realistic. If your home offers little space, do not crowd it too much with bulky decorations. A medium-sized tree decorated with bows, ribbons, and even crystal ornaments could do well. If your home has more room, do not under-decorate it-if there is such a thing. Do not leave bare spaces.
4.) Make sure to seek help from either from a family member or friend. It is never wrong to ask someone else's opinion. Who knows? They might help you better your work.
Decorating for Christmas need not be expensive. It is already expensive as it is, with all the buying of presents for everyone. Taking inventory on what art materials you have in stock can be a good start. Think of objects that can be used before making a shopping list for your decoration project. You just have to let that creative juices flow in order to make interesting display for Christmas.




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Gov't eyes $250-M loan from World Bank: Funds to support budget requirements for 2011

(Feature Story...)
According to Finance Undersecretary Gil S. Beltran,  Malacañang is in talks with the World Bank on a $250-million program loan to support budget needs for 2011. This program will serve as the development policy loan for budget support. If this would be approved, then the Philippine government would not have to borrow anymore the amount from commercial lenders. Probably, based on the news I have read, the loan may be released by the first quarter of next year. In relation to the loan that will be released, hopefully, the World Bank was looking at the satisfactory performance of the Philippines' overall economy as well as the government's reform programs in considering whether to make or not to make the fund available. The efforts of the administrative reforms to the bureaus of Internal Revenue and of customs as well as reforms to basic health services will be observed. 
For me, I agree that before the fund will be given to support budget needs for 2011, the bank company should observe first everything, everybody most especially the administrators of our country now if we deserved their support. Of course I am a Filipino too, and somehow I can feel poverty. But still, I am not in a hurry to have their support for budget requirements. I can understand that it is not easy for them to give away $250-million easily. They need to have several observations so that there will be no regrets at the end. They must see that we deserve what will they give to us. It is their right. Malacañang should accept this fact. On their part, they must be prepare enough for the time the bank will observe. The said reforms also must be ready for whatever interview they will encounter. Administrators should show that our economy is worth receiving a million pesos. 
I asked one of our friendly neighbor if what is his perception that there is a possibility that a bank will support the budget needs for the next year, 2011. He answered that it is a good thing that through this program, the poverty will be lessen and he is hoping that if ever this would be made into reality, there will be improvements occurs and that every Filipinos should appreciate this "blessing". Filipinos should be responsible enough in showing that It is really for us.
  
(Philippine Daily Inquirer,Nov.8,2010)