April Biss: 10 Things that I learned the Hard Way When Getting Ready for the Holidays in Florida!

Tis The Season To Get a Sun Tan While Decorating For the Holidays!

10 Things that I learned the Hard Way When Getting Ready for the Holidays in Florida!

10. SPF Christmas.  Wear sunscreen when putting up Christmas lights...we found out the hard way one year while stringing outdoor lights around our Florida home for 3 hours (and no sunscreen). Needless to say, we matched some of our holiday decor by the end of the night.

9. Anytime is a Usually Good Time!  
You really don't have to wait for a warm or dry day to put out the holiday decorations...its Florida's dry season in the winter - just make sure you choose a less HUMID day to do so.   

8. Oven VS. A/C.  
Don't use your oven all day in Air Conditioning! Its counteractive and could put a spike your electric bill - choose a cool day to bake holiday cookies or that special dinner if you can.


7. Color Never Lasts.  
You can maybe get a good 2 to 3 years on certain holiday decorations if set out early during the holidays. The sun sucks the life out of all the beautiful and colorful decorations that you put outside! I wonder if you sprayed sunscreen on them every year if that would make them last longer?


6. Flip Flops and Snowflakes! I will never forget the bewildered look on my face when I realized it was actually that time of the year again. I walked into my local Target wearing flip flops and shorts...looked up to see an array of huge white snowflakes above me like a flock of seagulls. Growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I usually spent the holidays shopping with triple layers of clothing therefore, if I didn't see the holiday decorations in the stores, I would have forgot it was winter!


5. Candles + Heat = Morbid Santa's. 
Yes...I learned the hard way. I thought I was smart by packing all of my holiday decorations away in labeled organized plastic totes and stashing them into the garage for the next 11 months. What I didn't realize is that not air conditioned garages in Florida can reach over 100 degree's in the summer. Therefore, when I unpacked my totes, I found a nice surprise of deformed melted santa's which could probably be used now for Halloween. 

4. Itching to Decorate.  
One major step I learned before decorating for the holidays in Florida...apply bug spray. Or else you might be scratching yourself later.


3. Palm Tree's are Dangerous. 
If you ever tried to hug a palm tree...you will know what I am talking about! One year my husband and I tried stringing lights around our palm trees in our front yard not realizing the dangers. Not only do they have individual sharp pieces extruding out from the tree that can cut your fingers up...but they also hold those lovely "little" insects they like to call Palmetto bugs. AKA: Bugs from hell. They will literally punch you in the face.


2. New Meaning to a White Christmas. 
I have learned that white sandy gulf beaches are way better to shovel than cold, wet, white snow up north! And you can go all year round for that white stuff! Maybe this wasn't too hard to learn :)


1. 1,000 Miles Away.  
The last, but most important thing I have learned the hard way when getting ready for the holidays in Florida...even though it is like paradise here in Florida, with 300+ days of sunshine and beautiful beaches, nothing compares to waking up on Christmas day to see white glistening snow covering everything like powdered sugar and to be with family celebrating what the holiday is all about!