Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Photo: courtesy of Warner Bros.

The first time someone decided to hang little lights on a pine tree that was chopped down and carried inside a home was in December 1882, when Edward Johnson, vice-president of the Edison Electric Light Company, wrapped a hand-wired strand of 80 colored light bulbs around his Christmas tree. It probably looked beautiful, even if it was a terrible fire hazard.

Today, Christmas lights are used by more than just one brave guy a lot more. And we have a lot more options. LED bulbs that use less energy and are much less likely to burn out. Bulbs that are outdoor rated. Bulbs that twinkle and pulse. And, in extreme cases, bulbs that people set to music.With so many choices, it can be hard to know what the best Christmas lights are. Plus, the best lights for you may be different than the best lights for your neighbor. To help navigate the choices, we spoke to Brandon Stevens, president of the Decor Group, a Texas-based Christmas light installation company with franchises in 48 states; Josh Trees, president of the Christmas Light Installation Pros Association; and Bob Young, a Port Washington, New York, homeowner who has been covering his house, bushes, trees, and lawn with Christmas lights (and causing a line of gawking traffic up and down his suburban street) for more than 20 years.

In Youngs case, we use about 300,000 individual bulbs and its probably about 20,000 total feet of wiring, he says. While you dont need to use that many bulbs on your house to make an impression, there are other tips from the pros that will help you have a beautiful display. The most important is this: Symmetry is key. You dont want your work to look haphazard.

Okay, maybe thats the second-most-important thing, right after safety. Young recommends always using ground-fault circuit interrupter extension cords and LED lights, which are safer and more cost-effective than incandescent bulbs. Plus, thousands of LED bulbs can be connected to a single outlet.

Below, the best Christmas lights and how to use them according to our experts.

Decute 105FT 300 LED Waterproof Christmas String Lights

Stevens agrees with Young that LED is the way to go when it comes to outdoor holiday lights. LED bulbs stand up to harsh weather, they last for years, and if youre going full Griswold, they can save you quite a bit of money over time.Warm white has been the standard for outdoor decoration for 25 or more years, Stevens says. You see some incorporation of color these days, but white light is still the most popular for roofs, windows, trees, and shrubs and all. Long strands like this 105-foot option from Decute are perfect for long roof lines. We use clips along gutters or that go right onto the shingles, Stevens says. They are always removable.

Novelty Lights 100 Light LED Christmas Mini Light Set

We recommend mini lights on windows because they dont overpower the window, Stevens says. You can enjoy the lights from inside and outside but still see out of the windows at night.

Everlights app-controlled permanent lighting

These are the lights you get if you want to pay a lot this year, and then never pay again (and never have to hang and remove them again, either.) Each fully customizable LED bulb in an EverLights set is rated with a 50,000-hour life expectancy, and the bulbs and wiring are fully weatherproof. Josh Trees, the president of the Christmas Light Installation Pros Association, has been installing Christmas lights professionally for 23 years. EverLights stand out with their simple customization and durability in natures elements across the country, he says. He recommends hiring a CLIPA-certified crew to install the lights. You can always call Stevens at the Decor Group, too.

Holiday Essence 60 LED Mini Christmas Lights, Cool White

We primarily use mini lights on trees,says Stevens. We do trunk and branch wrap with mini lights because you can control the effect they create so well. A shorter, 16-foot strand like these lights from Holiday Essence allow you to wrap branches without driving yourself crazy winding a long string of lights around and around and around (and around) the same branch.

Govee Outdoor String Lights

Blending mini lights with larger bulbs, especially in taller trees gives an elegant effect appreciable both close up and from a more distant view. We use a lot of larger C bulbs high up in the large canopy of trees, says Stevens. It creates a look a lot of people like better than wrapped trunks and branches alone. This strand of large bulbs from Govee is perfect for use high up in a tree because you can control the lights remotely using a smartphone app.

Lyhope 12ft x 5ft 360 LED Decorative Net Lights

On shrubs and bushes, we do a lot of mini lights, says Stevens. With a net dotted by miniature bulbs, you dont have to spend time laboriously wrapping strands of lights around bushes or hedges. Instead, just drape the net over the plants and, if needed, use twist ties to secure the wiring in a few places.

Mimiviva Christmas Laser Lights Outdoor Projector

Light projectors are popular with homeowners and theyre great for commercial applications as well, says Stevens. They install in seconds and can be removed just as quickly, and once the sun has set, these laser light projectors create dazzling effects on walls, in trees, and on roofs. This remote-controlled LED projector can beam out thousands of red and green dots and can also create patterns of images such as a snowflake or a Christmas tree. It can cover an area as large as 3,500 square feet when set back 50 feet from the surface its projecting on.

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The Best Christmas Lights, According to Experts and a Very Festive Homeowner - New York Magazine

State of Tennessee Treasury Department boosted its stake in shares of Installed Building Products Inc (NYSE:IBP) by 24.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 23,232 shares of the construction companys stock after acquiring an additional 4,563 shares during the quarter. State of Tennessee Treasury Department owned 0.08% of Installed Building Products worth $1,332,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in IBP. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its stake in shares of Installed Building Products by 527.7% in the second quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,588 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $94,000 after buying an additional 1,335 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can boosted its holdings in Installed Building Products by 178.7% in the second quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 2,954 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $175,000 after acquiring an additional 1,894 shares during the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC bought a new position in Installed Building Products in the second quarter valued at about $209,000. Janus Henderson Group PLC bought a new position in Installed Building Products in the second quarter valued at about $226,000. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Installed Building Products in the second quarter valued at about $278,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.27% of the companys stock.

In related news, COO Jay P. Elliott sold 20,000 shares of Installed Building Products stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.83, for a total value of $1,416,600.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 23,529 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,666,559.07. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Vikas Verma sold 10,000 shares of Installed Building Products stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.00, for a total value of $600,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 151,935 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,116,100. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 60,000 shares of company stock worth $3,966,600. 25.20% of the stock is owned by insiders.

NYSE IBP opened at $70.46 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $2.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.39, a P/E/G ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.52, a current ratio of 2.69 and a quick ratio of 2.39. The stocks 50-day moving average is $68.87 and its 200-day moving average is $59.03. Installed Building Products Inc has a one year low of $30.54 and a one year high of $76.60.

Installed Building Products (NYSE:IBP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 1st. The construction company reported $0.99 EPS for the quarter, topping the Zacks consensus estimate of $0.86 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $396.40 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $385.46 million. Installed Building Products had a return on equity of 45.94% and a net margin of 4.47%. Installed Building Productss revenue was up 13.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.72 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Installed Building Products Inc will post 3.07 EPS for the current year.

About Installed Building Products

Installed Building Products, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the installation of insulation, waterproofing, fire-stopping, fireproofing, garage doors, rain gutters, window blinds, shower doors, closet shelving and mirrors, and other products in the continental United States. It offers a range of insulation materials, such as fiberglass and cellulose, and spray foam insulation materials.

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State of Tennessee Treasury Department Has $1.33 Million Stock Position in Installed Building Products Inc (NYSE:IBP) - Mitchell Messenger

Brokerages expect Installed Building Products Inc (NYSE:IBP) to announce earnings of $0.87 per share for the current fiscal quarter, Zacks Investment Research reports. Five analysts have provided estimates for Installed Building Products earnings. The lowest EPS estimate is $0.83 and the highest is $0.88. Installed Building Products posted earnings per share of $0.72 in the same quarter last year, which would indicate a positive year over year growth rate of 20.8%. The company is scheduled to issue its next quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 27th.

According to Zacks, analysts expect that Installed Building Products will report full-year earnings of $3.22 per share for the current year, with EPS estimates ranging from $3.16 to $3.25. For the next fiscal year, analysts anticipate that the business will post earnings of $3.70 per share, with EPS estimates ranging from $3.58 to $3.91. Zacks Investment Researchs EPS calculations are an average based on a survey of sell-side analysts that that provide coverage for Installed Building Products.

Installed Building Products (NYSE:IBP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 1st. The construction company reported $0.99 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.86 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $396.40 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $385.46 million. Installed Building Products had a net margin of 4.47% and a return on equity of 45.94%. Installed Building Productss quarterly revenue was up 13.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.72 earnings per share.

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Deutsche Bank assumed coverage on shares of Installed Building Products in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. They set a buy rating and a $82.00 price target on the stock. Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of Installed Building Products from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating and set a $81.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. ValuEngine upgraded shares of Installed Building Products from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. SunTrust Banks lifted their price target on shares of Installed Building Products to $71.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Monday, November 4th. Finally, Nomura lifted their price target on shares of Installed Building Products from $50.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. The stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $58.33.

IBP traded up $0.14 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $70.46. 241,693 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 200,350. Installed Building Products has a fifty-two week low of $30.54 and a fifty-two week high of $76.60. The company has a quick ratio of 2.39, a current ratio of 2.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.52. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $68.63 and a 200 day moving average price of $58.96. The company has a market capitalization of $2.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.39, a PEG ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 1.16.

In other Installed Building Products news, Director Vikas Verma sold 10,000 shares of Installed Building Products stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.00, for a total transaction of $620,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 131,935 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,179,970. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, COO Jay P. Elliott sold 20,000 shares of Installed Building Products stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.83, for a total value of $1,416,600.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 23,529 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,666,559.07. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 60,000 shares of company stock worth $3,966,600 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 25.20% of the companys stock.

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of IBP. Nuveen Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Installed Building Products during the second quarter valued at $8,511,000. Bamco Inc. NY lifted its holdings in shares of Installed Building Products by 9.1% during the second quarter. Bamco Inc. NY now owns 1,636,712 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $96,926,000 after acquiring an additional 136,712 shares during the period. Eagle Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Installed Building Products during the third quarter valued at $5,753,000. Allianz Asset Management GmbH bought a new position in shares of Installed Building Products during the second quarter valued at $4,974,000. Finally, Panagora Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Installed Building Products during the second quarter valued at $4,888,000. 68.27% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Installed Building Products

Installed Building Products, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the installation of insulation, waterproofing, fire-stopping, fireproofing, garage doors, rain gutters, window blinds, shower doors, closet shelving and mirrors, and other products in the continental United States. It offers a range of insulation materials, such as fiberglass and cellulose, and spray foam insulation materials.

Further Reading: What moving averages are used to define a golden cross?

Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Installed Building Products (IBP)

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Analysts Expect Installed Building Products Inc (NYSE:IBP) Will Announce Earnings of $0.87 Per Share - DFS Caller

Equities analysts expect Installed Building Products Inc (NYSE:IBP) to report earnings per share (EPS) of $0.87 for the current quarter, according to Zacks. Five analysts have provided estimates for Installed Building Products earnings, with estimates ranging from $0.83 to $0.88. Installed Building Products posted earnings of $0.72 per share during the same quarter last year, which would suggest a positive year-over-year growth rate of 20.8%. The business is expected to report its next earnings report on Thursday, February 27th.

According to Zacks, analysts expect that Installed Building Products will report full-year earnings of $3.22 per share for the current financial year, with EPS estimates ranging from $3.16 to $3.25. For the next fiscal year, analysts expect that the business will report earnings of $3.70 per share, with EPS estimates ranging from $3.58 to $3.91. Zacks EPS calculations are an average based on a survey of research firms that follow Installed Building Products.

Installed Building Products (NYSE:IBP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 1st. The construction company reported $0.99 EPS for the quarter, topping the Thomson Reuters consensus estimate of $0.86 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $396.40 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $385.46 million. Installed Building Products had a return on equity of 45.94% and a net margin of 4.47%. The firms revenue was up 13.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.72 earnings per share.

Several research analysts recently commented on IBP shares. Deutsche Bank started coverage on Installed Building Products in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. They issued a buy rating and a $82.00 price target for the company. Zacks Investment Research upgraded Installed Building Products from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating and set a $81.00 price target for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. SunTrust Banks lifted their price target on Installed Building Products to $71.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. ValuEngine upgraded Installed Building Products from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Finally, Nomura lifted their price target on Installed Building Products from $50.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, August 9th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. The company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $58.33.

In other Installed Building Products news, COO Jay P. Elliott sold 20,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.83, for a total value of $1,416,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 23,529 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,666,559.07. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Vikas Verma sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.00, for a total transaction of $620,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 131,935 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,179,970. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 60,000 shares of company stock valued at $3,966,600. 25.20% of the stock is owned by insiders.

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Comerica Bank raised its stake in shares of Installed Building Products by 0.8% during the third quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 20,298 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,305,000 after acquiring an additional 156 shares in the last quarter. Mason Street Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Installed Building Products by 3.2% during the third quarter. Mason Street Advisors LLC now owns 7,237 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $415,000 after acquiring an additional 224 shares in the last quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund raised its stake in shares of Installed Building Products by 1.7% during the third quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund now owns 14,506 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $832,000 after acquiring an additional 248 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System raised its stake in shares of Installed Building Products by 0.9% during the second quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 32,589 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,930,000 after acquiring an additional 284 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Prudential Financial Inc. raised its stake in shares of Installed Building Products by 0.8% during the second quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 34,174 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $2,024,000 after acquiring an additional 288 shares in the last quarter. 68.27% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

IBP traded up $0.14 on Wednesday, hitting $70.46. The company had a trading volume of 241,693 shares, compared to its average volume of 200,350. The company has a market cap of $2.15 billion, a PE ratio of 26.39, a PEG ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 1.16. Installed Building Products has a 12-month low of $30.54 and a 12-month high of $76.60. The company has a quick ratio of 2.39, a current ratio of 2.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.52. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $68.63 and its 200 day simple moving average is $58.96.

About Installed Building Products

Installed Building Products, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the installation of insulation, waterproofing, fire-stopping, fireproofing, garage doors, rain gutters, window blinds, shower doors, closet shelving and mirrors, and other products in the continental United States. It offers a range of insulation materials, such as fiberglass and cellulose, and spray foam insulation materials.

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$0.87 Earnings Per Share Expected for Installed Building Products Inc (NYSE:IBP) This Quarter - Trent Times

After two weeks bearing no changes, Wizards of the Coast has finally made the decision to ban more cards from the Pioneer format ofMagic: The Gathering. The three cards banned from Pioneer as of yesterday are Once Upon A Time, Field of the Dead, and Smugglers Copter.

Wizards of the Coast had exactly this to say on the subject:

Over the last several days, a series of Pioneer PTQ tournaments were held as a part ofMagic Onlines Pioneer week. The results of these tournaments, and data from league play, show how the environment has evolved under further competitive pressure.

While the results look promising and changes so far have been moving the format in a good direction, our data shows three outstanding issues that are preventing the metagame from arriving at a better balance. These are:

As a result, were choosing to banSmugglers Copter,Field of the Dead, andOnce Upon a Timein Pioneer. We believe that these changes will result in greater diversity among aggressive decks, a clearer role in the metagame for reactive and controlling decks, and a push toward better color balance among competitive decks.

While its a surprise that some other standout cards such as Oko, Thief of Crowns (a common complaint!), Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx, or Nissa, Who Shakes The World havent been called out, its still great that Wizards has taken the initiative to remove some troublesome cards in a nondiverse meta from the format.

What do you think should also be banned from the Pioneer format? IsMagic: The Gathering a healthier game without some of the newer overpowered cards released recently? Let us know in the comments!

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Wizards of the Coast Bans More in Pioneer - "Magic: The Gathering - Bleeding Cool News

Even though she appears to be warming up to deckhand Brian de Saint Pern, Courtney Skippon from Below Deck shares she wasnt really into anyone on the boat.

The Below Deck season 7 crew has been touted as the hottest crew to date. Although a few of the men on the deck team appeared to be interested in Skippon shes been very cool with her response to their flirtatious comments. However, when de Saint Perns leg infection worsened, Skippon showed him some affection. She even kissed him while he had to lay in bed before the rest of the crew went out on the town.

But in the Below Deck After Show, Skippon made it clear she wasnt into anyone on the boat romantically. That likely includes de Saint Pern, who is now dating one of the former charter guests.

During an interview with stew Simone Mashile, Skippon was asked what she thought of Tanner Sterback. Mashile and Sterback finally hooked up on the show and producers wanted Skippons thoughts. I mean, Ive said this, I didnt think much of anyone on board, she said laughing.

But the producer wanted to know if she had made any snap judgments either. No, I mean Im not ignorant enough to make assumptions about people based on the way that they look, she replied. Mashile jumped in and added, Man I thought Tanner was fine as hell.

Skippon has had to put a few of the deckhands in their place for making sexist or obnoxious remarks. She also recently responded to chef Kevin Dobsons remark about how her tastes for the finer things in life are funded by her parents. Its crazy that b/c I expressed a taste for quality, everyone assumes its paid for by someone. While I consider myself v. lucky, & have parents who instilled in me the importance of quality: I dont come from some pony-riding, Warbucks family we just have different priorities, she tweeted.

Some viewers wondered why Skippon hasnt warmed up to de Saint Pern. One person tweeted that she was icy and not warm and fun. She responded, So sorry for deviating from the social script of how women should behave!We are expected to be warm, fun, friendly & nurturing. I am, but I dont have to be to be lovable. We can also be smart, assertive, decisive & demanding of respect. If that makes me bitchy & icy, sign me up.

After de Saint Pern appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, he was asked about his relationship with Skippon. @courtneyskippon can actually be an awesome, caring person when she wants to be and I was lucky enough to have seen that side of her. Shes not as bad as you guys think, he tweeted. Skippon responded, Ive never seen someone who knows me undersell my personality so much in my life.

The two then lobbed comments back and forth. One person asked if de Saint Pern was sweet. He can be when he wants to be. I was lucky enough to see that side, she wrote. You forgot #sarcasim, he responded.

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'Below Deck': Courtney Skippon Shares She 'Didn't Think Much of Anyone on Board' - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Since leaving Below Deckfollowing Season 6, third stew Caroline Bedol definitely hasn't had it easy. In October 2018,Radar Onlinereported that she'd had a run-in with the law, claiming a warrant had been issued for her arrest after the reality star allegedly "skipped out on a mandatory court appearance for a case involving her pitbull." The gossip site claimed that Bedol's pitbull had attacked an Australian shepherd dog in the street after the stewardess allowed her canine to run off without a leash.

By March 2019, further hardships had befallen Bedol, who told Radar Onlinethat she had become homeless since leaving the show. "I'm not looking for a homeless shelter to stay in, but I am homeless in the sense that I am in between homes," she said. "You get motels or hotels when you can, you sleep in your car if it's warm."That June,the third stew found herself in another spot of trouble. According to court documents obtained byPage Six, the Bravo star had been arrested for "larceny in the sixth degree in Danbury, Connecticut." Thismisdemeanor charge of larcenyrelates to stolen property worth under $500, which led to Bedol requiring no bond upon her release. As of this writing, the shoplifting case remains ongoing.

Basically, it's impossible to deny that Bedol's life has been filled with challenges since exitingBelow Deck.

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Dark secrets of the Below Deck cast - Nicki Swift

Yes, I am one of those people.

About 30 minutes after Labor Day has officially ended, I feel a strange compulsion to binge on my mothers iced sugar cookies shaped like snowmen while listening to Nat King Cole croon about chestnuts. I usually resist breaking out my collection of international Santa figurines including Las Vegas Santa indulging his gambling addiction on the slots until after Halloween. But once Ive polished off my kids trick-or-treat candy, I go into full-out Christmas-prep beast mode.

I realize that my premature Yuletide activities irritate some folks, and I place the blame partly on the retail economy, which starts celebrating HallowThanksMas around the time when we East Texans are suffering from acute Eskimo envy in the sweltering month of September. And I must admit that its a little disconcerting to go to Walmart for a new giant unicorn pool float and walk past a tempting display of Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes. Thankfully, I can usually limit myself to five or six family-size packs.

Another reason for my pre-season holly-jolly spaz attack is the sheer magnitude of our Christmas swag. I spend most of the year expecting our ceiling to collapse under the mass of nativity sets, Christmas villages, and countless other seasonal dust magnets stockpiled in our attic. In fact, Im resigned to the probability that Ill eventually be taken out by a Rubbermaid tub full of decorative nutcrackers. Seriously, though, I figure if I dont start dragging out the dcor soon enough, Ill still be stringing up lights when its time to overdose on Velveeta dip and chicken wings during the Super Bowl.

As an example of our fanatical festooning, we dont allow Santa to squeeze out of our gas-log fireplace until weve erected not one, but two Christmas trees in our living room. One serves as our fashionable tree, adorned with ornaments accumulated from several trips my wife and I took overseas before we had our three daughters and started hemorrhaging wads of cash on dance lessons, cell phones, and salted-caramel iced mochas.

The other tree features mostly homemade ornaments, many of which include photos of our daughters at various ages. This tree is a favorite of my wife and me, and when the girls arent vociferously expressing their unmitigated disgust at the pictures of themselves with toddler bangs or missing baby teeth, they secretly compete to see who can maneuver their own photo ornaments to the highest and most visible branches.

Eventually the tree develops a distinct top-heavy list, threatening to topple over and impale our full-figured Siamese cat, who spends most of the holiday lounging at the trees base and wistfully gazing upwards, wondering what it might be like to muster the energy to climb it or even paw at a low-hanging baby Jesus made of Styrofoam and pipe cleaners.

The pinnacle of our home decorating frenzy involves the death defying installation of exterior lighting. Each year, I entertain the neighbors and risk permanent paralysis by hanging several strings of C-9 bulbs from the unnecessarily steep eves of our house. This process inevitably requires that I actually climb onto our roof for a public performance of uncoordinated acrophobia.

Taking the advice of my dad a veritable Rembrandt of domestic holiday displays I stay as low as possible while Im scuttling around up there and trying to avoid hurling on the housetop. And Im usually able to pick all of the shingle grit out of my ears and teeth by the new year.

Once all of the decorating is done and Im in my easy chair nursing a pulled groin and a mug of hot cocoa with extra mini marshmallows, I look around at the twinkling lights, the radiant poinsettias, and the stockings hung by the chimney-insert with care, and I realize that its worth all of the trouble.

And if I start packing all of this away shortly, I can re-decorate the house in time for Valentines Day.

Contact Jase Graves at susanjase@sbcglobal.net.

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Graves column: Deck the halls and hit the deck - Glenwood Springs Post Independent

Melania Trump paid special attention to detail when decorating the White House for Christmas.

Christmas spirit, in the form oftwinkly lights and bright red bows, has arrived at the White House.

The walls, windows and grand rooms have been adorned with holiday traditions, thanks to first lady Melania Trump,who paid special attention to the Spirit of America-themed detail.

Heres an inside look at how some of the most eloquent details emulate American tradition.

The official White House Christmas tree is from Pitman, Pennsylvania, and stretches more than 18 feet in height. The Douglas fir tree is decoratedsymbolically with floral emblems, each representingone of the 50 states and territories. The tree portraysthe beauty and diversity of America.

The official White House Christmas tree decorated in the Blue Room on Monday, Dec. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

HOTEL SPREADS CHRISTMAS CHEER WITH DECKED-OUT BUDDY THE ELF-THEMED SUITE

The White Houses gingerbread house is an exact replica of the South Portico of the White House. Some other national landmarks are featured next to the house, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Space Needle, Mount Rushmore, the Alamo, Gateway arch, Liberty Belland Statue of Liberty. The columns of the gingerbread White House are made of pasta noodles and the display used a total of 200 pounds of gingerbread.

The gingerbread house is seen in the State Dining Room of the White House. Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

Each year, Melania Trump has carried out her tradition of hanging Christmas wreaths on the faade of the White House. There are a total of 106 wreaths hung throughout. Some other traditions that have returned include the Gold Star Family Tree, with more than 400 stars arranged, the Christmas card display and the White House crche.

The Red Room of the White House. Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

TIFFANY MARKETS THE $112,000 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

The East Room is decked with dcor inspired by the American flag. Decorations include gilded eagle tree toppers, mirrored stars, and red andblue ribbons. Decorative elements in the East Colonnade highlight American innovation and architecture.

The East Room of the White House, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

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Two hundred twenty-fivevolunteers,representing all 50 states, were selected to participate in decorating this year. Volunteers helped hang, dress and place the following:

And, everything elsementioned above.

The Grand Foyer of the White House, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

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The White House will host open houses, receptions and tours throughout the month of December for all to enjoy this years decorations.

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What it takes to deck the halls for Christmas at the White House - Fox Business

This holiday season you can visit the nation's oldest residential street right in Philly. This Saturday, Dec 7 from 3pm to 7pm, you will have the opportunity to go inside the houses onElfreth's Alley for "Deck the Alley."

Elfreth's Alley is a National historic landmark. Every single house on that street was built in the 1700s and early 1800s. This Saturday they will all be decorated for the holidays. According to Philly Voice, on the cobblestone street, there will be colonial carolers and traditional loom weaving. Don't forget to bring the kids as well because Santa will be there as well. This is your chance to get pictured taken with Santa onnation's oldest residential street. Iconic!

According to Philly Voice, ticketsfor this event are $25 for adults and $10 for children.You can also get agroup discount and a $60 family bundle are available, as well. The best part about it is you will automatically get free admission into the pop-up exhibit"Making Christmas."

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Deck the Alley is Happening this Saturday in Philly - 94.5 PST