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NEXTnc Gift Guide: The art of giving - Holiday Gift Guide |
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Written by Erin Frustaci
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Thursday, 23 November 2006 |
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Page 4 of 8
 DECOR GETS FUNKY, RETRO
By Erin Frustaci
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The homemade popcorn garland has gone stale and Christmas trees are turned upside-down this holiday season. You may even see a house plant cleverly disguised under sparkly garland, lights and ornaments.
And while tradition drives the holiday season, funky retro decor gives a fresh makeover.
“The trend is really glitzy this year,” said Emily Lemesany, a salesperson in the crafts department at Hobby Lobby in Fort Collins.
Garland that looks more like beaded necklaces and black and magenta poinsettias now hang next to traditional red  garland and silver tinsel.
Amie Knable, department manager at Michael’s in Fort Collins said tin foil trees are still really big this year.
Foil trees date back to the ’50s and now come in vibrant shades like pink, purple, silver, red and gold. Ornaments also brightly shine in loud eye-catching colors.
“A twist on that would be the feathery trees,” Knable said.
To really make a statement, Lemesany said a lot of people are turning their trees upside-down.
“I’ve seen the idea in a magazine where Christmas trees are hung from the ceiling,” she said. “It’s pretty cool.”
The look, though audacious, has some practicality. The heavier branches are more at eye level to showcase ornaments and the tree is off the ground to keep ornaments out of reach of animals and small children. Plus, there is inevitably more room for presents!
Christmas trees were first turned on their heads in Central Europe during the 12th century to make a religious statement. This time around they are flipped more for aesthetics.
For those who just can’t fathom spending money on a Christmas tree this year, house plants can also convey the spirit. Some lights, a little tinsel or garland, a few small ornaments and voila! — that boring fern is transformed into a stylish Christmas tree.
So, whatever your style, don’t be afraid to try something new. Happy decorating!
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|  | "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only truth." | |
|  | We're not that bright, even though in our own little world, we're geniuses. We like 80s hair bands and one-hit wonders, but among us we have respectable tastes, too. Metallica, Iron Maiden, U2. Pursuit of all things trivial is a lifestyle, not just a game. We like some sports, love other sports, and can find something to say about anything. We watch TV and movies and we've read a book or two, even a few classics (Yes, Classic Comics count!)
We call it insight, you call it what you will. | |
|  | Felix Wong is an outdoor enthusiast living in Fort Collins. A mechanical engineer by day, he is especially passionate about bicycling, running, and backpacking. | |
|  | Hola Amigos! I'm Sandra. I like to believe that people are 70 percent good and 30 percent dumb. I'm stickin to that story. Reading this blog might make you want to be good, but probably just dumb. | |
|  | Donovan Henderson is editor of NEXTnc. | |
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|  | What is up FoCo?
I am a recent college graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. After recieving my B.A. in English and Mass Communications this past August I moved down to Colorado.
I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and heavy metal. My hobbies include reading and writing, music, movies, and getting drunk. Some of my favorite contemporary authors include Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut. My top movies are anything directed by Kubrick. I enjoy listening to anything that rocks.
Right now I am just trying to get to know Colorado and FoCo better. Mostly in order to find the best drink specials on each day that ends in Y. So if you know where I can get a cheap drunk on, let me know!
--Drew | |
|  | Life's little morsels of inspiration, observation and encouragement seen through the eyes of the Nextnc reporter.
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|  | Ms. Giles currently lives in Colorado where she stars in her own private reality show. She writes aphoristic accounts of her life, taken completely out of context, and embellished with characters and situations disguised to resemble something close to interesting. | |
|  | over and out | |
| | My name is Michelle Turley and I'm 28 years old. I live in Severance with my hubbie, Brandon. We have 2 dogs and a cat. We enjoy camping, four-wheeling, and just being in the mountains. I like to cook, clean (go figure), flea market, and play poker. I have so much to say about poker... | |
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