BillyKnowsBest

Holiday Novelty Clothesline Garland

I've often written about Avon's Anew skin care products, which I like so much, I started selling them 11 years ago.  But what many people don't know is that the Avon catalog (just like your local Walmart or Target) is filled with inexpensive, mass-market fashions, jewelry and home decor products.  And just like shopping at Walmart or Target, you sometimes find a truly inspired gem of an item among all the mundane stuff that starts stacked on their shelves, and ends up buried in your basement.  These Clothesline Garlands are one of those inspired gems.  Real wooden clothespins hold miniature fabric coats, pants, mittens and such, amusing everyone with clever details such as the button back flap on Santa's long underwear.  $9.99 each, or two for $15, they come in three different variations: Santa, Elf and Mrs. Claus.  Whether they end up on your tree, mantle, stairway, or in your laundry room, they will bring a smile of holiday cheer to everyone who sees them.  Order quickly, they are sure to sell out.  Use coupon code FSANY for free "direct delivery" shipping.

The Best Artificial Christmas Trees: Balsam Hill

The first time I saw Christmas items in Costco... in September... I gasped.  Though I love a Christmas bargain as much as the next person (and buy most of my decorations on December 26th), there's something plain wrong about shopping for them in September.  And while there's no stopping commerce, on principle, I've waited until October to start the holiday crush.  With only!?! 84 shopping days left, there are a few reasons to start planning your holiday decor now.  One is the early-bird discounts, like those offered on these trees.  If you're in the market for an artificial Christmas Tree, check out BalsamHill.com, the best overall trees as rated by Good Housekeeping.  Save 5% with coupon code LS1P001 through December 10, 2008. 

Monogramed Christmas Stockings from Neiman Marcus

I'm Jewish.  But I spent most of my childhood in a Catholic neighborhood, jonesing a Christmas tree, which my father adamantly refused to provide.  (The "Chanukah Bush" was a nice gesture, dad, but really didn't cut it.)  As a teen-ager, I reveled in my friends' family Christmas celebrations, and adopted the holiday as my own when I shared an apartment in New Haven with my Protestant pal Bill Dodge.  Ironically, I celebrate it now with my siblings, step-mother Chris and my Dad, who, in marrying the second time out of the faith, brought Christmas home.  Yay!  My favorite part is the filling and emptying of the stockings, which thanks to my friend Tracey's family I embraced fully, with my own special stocking,  monogrammed by me with glue and glitter.  If you're not feeling so crafty, you can let Neiman Marcus do the work for you, and order one of these needlepoint-monogrammed stockings.  The remaining Angel and Bear motifs are on sale for $38.