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5 Things to do in Northern Virginia over Christmas

The Holiday season is officially here, and it’s time to start celebrating! Although this Christmas won’t be like other years, at Kelley Astore Interiors we’re determined to make it just as special. We’ve put together a list of fun ideas to celebrate Christmas in Northern Virginia, to keep ourselves and our families safe, while keeping festive spirits high!

1. Watching live performances from home

Although it’s not possible to watch many live performances this year, a lot of theatres are broadcasting their shows for you to enjoy from home. The advantage is that you don’t have to live anywhere near the theatre to enjoy the show! Make a night of it by setting up the living room with cozy blankets, and preparing plenty of snacks and hot cocoa for everyone to enjoy.

The Manassas Ballet will be live-streaming their adapted version of The Nutcracker on Christmas Eve and then again on Christmas day, available to watch for 30 days.

Similarly, the Washington Ballet has created a fun Nutcracker Tea Party at home which is available to watch now, featuring interactive activities for the whole family to enjoy!

If ballet isn’t your thing, why not stream some live Christmas music with The Folger Consort or watch an adapted one-man version of A Christmas Carol with the Onley Theatre center?

2. Ice Skating with the family

A lot of activities are still open to visitors as long as social distancing guidelines are followed and masks are worn. Look for local ice rinks near you and book a day out with the whole family! Unlike previous years, it’s very important to reserve a slot in advance, so book while you still can! The Pentagon Row Skating Rink is a fun opportunity to take a trip into town and enjoy some hot cocoa afterward.

3. DC Holiday Lights

One thing that is definitely safe and definitely still happening is the DC Holiday Lights! With different streets featuring different lights and designs, make a trip out of it. Load the car with goodies, blast some Holiday tunes, and do a drive-through tour of town after dinner one night. You can even participate in their Scavenger Hunt for an extra fun family-activity, with a chance to win great prizes from local businesses.

There is nothing like beautiful lights to get you in the holiday spirit!

4. Listening to a Radio Play

Radio plays are a lot of fun but are becoming less and less common. The beautiful thing about radio plays is how it allows your imagination to fill in the gaps. They’re great for the whole family to listen to, especially younger children who are learning listening skills. This year, Fords Theatre is presenting A Christmas Carol as an hour-long radio play. Set up the living room for everyone to listen. To engage younger children, give them the task to draw what they imagine as they listen to the play!

5. Socially distanced movie nights

If you’re still eager and itching to get out of the house, The Wharf at Transit Pier has got you covered! For the whole month, they’ll be showing Christmas Movie classics on a 20-foot screen. You’re able to attend with up to four people, seated around your own personal fire pit! There are also an array of snacks, drinks, and warm beverages available for purchase. Snag your tickets quickly before they go!

Covid-19 can’t take away our Christmas Spirit!

This year has no doubt been a long, tough, and unexpected year. We need to feel the joy and spirit of Christmas more than ever! And although we won’t be able to celebrate as usual, the meaning of Christmas cannot be taken away. We have a lot to learn from How The Grinch Stole Christmas…it can’t be stolen as long as we remember what matters most: our families, love, gratitude, and hope!

A Look Inside My Home At Christmas

The Holiday Season is always hectic for businesses: preparing everything for the New Year, fitting in as many clients as possible, and getting all the work done in time to relax on Christmas day. One thing I always make sure to prioritize is decorating my own home. It brings me so much joy, and having the festive decorations to look at while I work is the perfect motivation to get the work done. We have Christmas to look forward to! I’m so excited to share how I’ve decorated this year, and my best tips for how you can do the same.

My Christmas Tree

Having a real tree is a detail I never miss out on. They’re more beautiful, and they come with a beautiful holiday pine scent to fill my home. We always make a day out of it, going to the farm and cutting the tree ourselves. It’s the perfect family bonding activity to get everyone excited for the Holidays! This year, I decorated the tree with warm lights to create a cozy atmosphere. I always believe that ornaments should be varied and personal for a special homey touch. I’ve been collecting ornaments for years, and every year I like to add one or two more decorations to the collection.

I’ve also brought out a little Christmas tray to help tie the room together. Using Tartan items is one of my favorite ways to decorate for the holidays. I pulled out a few red coffee-table and Christmas books, tied a little tartan bow around my ceramic pup, and filled a little vase with some fresh greens, using some of the trimmings from the Christmas Tree!

My Red Room

Red is one of my favorite colors to decorate with, holiday season or not. If you’ve been following us for awhile, you know how much I love my red library! I pulled out my Tartan throw blanket and stuffed dog to make the room feel extra festive. I added some fresh green plants for some color variety and placed them on the table, alongside my Christmas figurines, and favorite Red books. This room has become one of my favorite places to curl up with a warm drink and get some reading done. It’s just so cozy!

Adding Festive Touches to Decor Already In My Home

Of course making Fresh-Greens arrangements and placing them around the house is a trick I’ve been using for years. It allows you to make a space look festive without spending too much money. I always use trimmings from the Christmas Tree and my garden, so I don’t have to spend any money on these decorations. Additionally, it lets me spruce up a space without accumulating too much clutter. These greens won’t have to go into storage at the end of the season, they can simply go in my compost! Here, I’ve made a simple arrangement on this suspended shelf. The plate in the background provides a lovely frame, and I love the way the greens look in the wood vase. The little lion man is now looking ready to drink some eggnog and open presents!

Outside My Home

Of course the decorations aren’t just limited to inside. I always make sure to add some classy Christmas decoration at my door entrance to welcome any guests. And I simply love how they look covered in snow! I made this arrangement using the urns that live outside my door, and I love how they turned out. The pop of winter berry in the center provides just enough color. Using fresh greens and plants is such a simple way to decorate the exterior without looking too flashy or gaudy. Check out my article on how to make a Fresh Greens Arrangement.

Kelley's Home part 2

How Did You Decorate?

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook and send us pictures of your home this holiday season! We can’t wait to see what you have all done to prepare for Christmas.

Needless to say, this year has been long and hard on all of us. The Holiday Season is a perfect time to remember what matters most: family and love. Take time to relax and pause this season, reflecting on and remembering what’s important to you!

Decorating for the Holidays: 5 Ways to Incorporate Tartan

Tartan has been around for a couple hundred years. It originated in Scotland, used to wrap and make souvenirs. In recent years, tartan has made a comeback, especially around the holiday season. It’s traditional green and red colors lend a festive spirit. Today we’ll be showing you 5 ways to incorporate tartan into your holiday decorations!

1 – Tartan Christmas tree skirt

The first way to incorporate tartan into your Holiday decorations is to use it as your Christmas Tree skirt. The traditional deep green tones in tartan compliment the green of the tree beautifully. If you prefer, finding paler tones and shades of Tartan for under your tree provides an elegant and welcoming stage for all your gifts! Tartan Christmas skirts are available online. Alternatively, use a tartan throw blanket or, if you have some Tartan fabric on hand, don’t be afraid to make your Christmas tree skirt yourself! This allows you to tailor the skirt to the exact right size. There are plenty of online tutorials on how to easily make your own Christmas skirt. And remember to keep the fabric scraps!

2 – Tartan Wrapping Paper

If you’re not using a tree skirt, try wrapping your presents with Tartan instead. This is reminiscent of how tartan was traditionally used: as paper to cover souvenirs. You can easily order tartan wrapping paper online for a few dollars. Be sure to get other wrapping paper in different shades of tartan, as well as other complimenting patterns and colors. Once the gifts are wrapped, add a solid colored bow and place it under your tree! Having all the gifts under your tree coordinate with each other adds sophistication, is beautiful to look at, and will get everyone excited for the gift exchange!

3 – Make Tartan Bows and ribbons

If you’ve made your own Tartan Christmas tree skirt, use the fabric scraps to make bows! You can also purchase pre-made tartan ribbons and bows to use for decorating. The advantage of simple bows is that you can attach them to items already in your house to give them a festive style and to save money. Tying tartan bows around vases, pots, on the backs of chairs, and even hanging them on doors is sure to transform your house into a beautiful winter wonderful!

4 – Use Tartan Throw Blankets and Cushions

One of our favorite ways to use tartan during the holidays is switching out cushions and throw blankets with their tartan alternatives. There is nothing more welcoming than an armchair with a thick tartan blanket for curling up by the fire. Get Tartan cushion covers to avoid having to buy totally new cushions. Take this to the next level by using tartan bedding in your bedroom. Pairing a tartan duvet with some red and gold pillows will have you even more excited to take some time off for the holidays!

5 – Wear it

Our last tip for using tartan for the holidays is to use it on yourself! Tartan scarves are a mark of wintertime and a timeless piece to add to your wardrobe. Not only that, but they’ll keep you cosy! A tartan skirt paired with a black blouse is a classic holiday look. But if you’re afraid of looking like a schoolgirl, go bold and opt for other tartan statement pieces such as tartan pants, shirts, or blazers for your office holiday parties. The trick is to let the tartan take center stage. Pair it with solid complimenting colors to have it really stand out. If you’re unable to get these pieces, try getting a tartan hair bow, for a subtle holiday touch.

Love Tartan?

If you’re like us and love tartan all year round, check out our article on the history of tartan and ways to use it in your home, holiday season or not!

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