Scrap Your Trip 6th Annual “Turkey Sale” – 1300 products at 40% Off
Entry Filed under: New Items Added
This past Sunday I took the kids to the Festival of Trees. It’s a charity event put on by the Orlando Museum of Art and we’ve been going every year for as long as I can remember. They auction off professionally decorated trees and gingerbread houses, but they show them off to the public beforehand.
Well, it got my kids so excited about Christmas that we “abandoned the schedule” that Lauren had made of all the things we were doing that day to get started on our Christmas decorations.
Since we are starting fresh this year, I told the kids that we could decorate the tree any way they wanted. Colored lights…ornaments that don’t match…whatever we wanted.
Well, they had a blast picking out the most colorful ornaments they could find. Pink, green, purple, turquoise, orange…they just went nuts!
We already started decorating the condo. I let them each string lights on a silk tree (thankfully I moved into a fully furnished condo). They were so excited to do it themselves. I started off trying to help Logan. The adult me wanted the lights to be straight…evenly spaced, etc. But the child me remembered how badly you want to do things yourself when you are a kid, so I decided I’d rather that they were happy than have evenly spaced lights. 
We’re going to buy our tree and put it up this weekend. Now, if you’ve been reading my e-mails for awhile, you know what a big deal this is for me. Last year…I am embarrassed to say…we put our tree up on Christmas Eve. Not this year! I am determined to be a really good single mom and for me, that means Christmas comes around a lot earlier this year.
It will be a small tree, maybe 5 feet or so, otherwise the kids won’t be able to reach the top and all the ornaments will end up bunched up together on the bottom. But even if that happens, it will be just fine. They will have decorated it themselves and that’s all that really matters.
How about you? When does your tree go up? Are you a day after Halloween person? A day after Thanksgiving? Or are there any other Christmas Eve stragglers out there? Let us know on the blog!
Today is the beginning of our 6th annual “Turkey Sale”. What’s a turkey sale, you ask? Well, I wish everything we decided to buy was a winner, but some of them are turkeys. And there is no room for turkeys in the Scrap Your Trip warehouse. (Literally, there is no room!) So, there are almost 1300 “turkeys” marked down to 40% off.
Now lots of these items have 25 or less in stock. Typically, we sell out of almost half of the items on the first day of the sale. Don’t put them in your cart for later or on your wishlist or registry. Chances are they will be gone by the time you get back. We will be removing things from the website as fast as we can, so if an item was in your cart, but then it’s not…it’s because someone else bought the last one.
Ready…set…go! Click here to get started: http://www.scrapyourtrip.com/clearance.html
And remember, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, we can always make a custom title just for you! Click here to see all our custom options: www.scrapyourtrip.com/custom.html.
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As always, thanks for your business.
Julie Swatek, President
Scrap Your Trip®
www.ScrapYourTrip.com
‘cuz life is a trip worth scrappin’®
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25 Comments Add your own
1. Karen Stevens | November 18th, 2009 at 9:39 am
I didn’t know you were from the Orlando area. So am I. I just love the Festival of Trees.
2. Mary Horvath | November 18th, 2009 at 9:54 am
We’re a Christmas Eve tree because it’s Hungarian tradition but also because my parents were Hungarian imigrants and we could pick up the tree on Christmas eve for really cheap. The angels brought the tree on Christmas eve after 5:00 p.m. My parents would secretly decorate it and then kitchen door would unlock magically. My mom would “come home” from cooking at the nuns and we’d sing Hungarian Christmas carols as we’d go into the living room and there would be the tree. The presents wouldn’t go under the tree until after we’d get home from midnight mass and went to bed. That’s when baby Jesus would bring the gifts (St. Nicholas came on December 6th with lots of fruit and some candy). I miss my parents the most during Christmas. In our family, we don’t exactly follow the traditions as much as we did when I was a kid but we still put up the tree late and baby Jesus doesn’t come until after the kids go to bed, even through they’re adults now. We did start a new tradition when they were little that we carry on even today. There is one present for everyone under the tree on Christmas eve and they get to open it – it’s new pajamas for everyone that we all wear that night. The tree doesn’t come down until after Three Kings.
3. Anne Summerville | November 18th, 2009 at 10:01 am
I just thought I would comment on decorating the Christmas tree.I am an old grandma(memaw) and we have always gotten together on Thanksgiving(after a big meal) and decorated the tree.Don’t worry about it being perfect.I emphasized I wanted the icicles put on one at a time and so my 2 year old grandson(at that time)put them on one at a time but they were all on the same branch.It was awesome.Of course I took pictures and they are now in his scrapbook.He is now 22 years old.Happy decorating and God Bless! Anne
4. Kathy Joyner | November 18th, 2009 at 10:06 am
My husband is a “real” tree person. Me… i would love to have an artificial one that looks real and the lights are already attached. Wam, bam, out of the box and it is up! He if from Central Florida and says he went too many years without a real tree because that is what “tree tradition” is in Florida– artifical! And… now that we are retired and moved from the east coast to the west coast and to the “evergreen” state none the less (Washington)… he really wants a real (evergreen) tree! I must say… we have a small tree farm not far from our house. It is located in the middle of a neighborhood that overlooks a Puget Sound inlet. Last year on our way to the farm… a sumarine passed us in the water. Not too many people can lay claim to that kind of story as a part of their Xmas traditions.
5. Darlene Chavers | November 18th, 2009 at 10:09 am
It depends on my mood. Sometimes the 1st weekend in December and I have even put it up on Christmas Eve. The year my Son went into the Marines, I bought a real tree and left it out side until about the 22nd of December, then brought it inside and never decorated it. Last year dealing with Chemo due to breast cancer my Husband put it up the weekend before Christmas.
6. Martha | November 18th, 2009 at 10:11 am
Hey, just wanted to say that I have used the custom order options for a few special scrap book pages…I ordered several designs for my son’s high school in their colors and then made a few for his college to start that off! Great idea and option…..you get to pick colors and words….so we used the mascot name and everything…can’t get better than that!
7. Martha | November 18th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Oh BTW, we have a vaulted ceiling in our house, so our tree is a pre-lit pencil tree 13 feet tall. We have gotten to the place that we start Thanksgiving weekend…it takes the weekend to get it up and put together…it has white lights, but the kids light colored ones, so I run a long strand down through the middle…..it “glows”…you almost need sunglasses!
By December first, we have decked the halls and are ready to go!
We also keep a little skinny 5 foot tree up year round, sometimes in our kitchen and sometimes I will move it to our great room. We decorate it for all the holidays…it only takes about an hour or so.
The Halloween Tree is our favorite, but we have one for St. Patty’s day, Easter, 4th of July, summer, etc.
Happy Holidays!
8. Tammy | November 18th, 2009 at 10:29 am
All our decorations will be up and finished by this Friday 5pm because we are HEADED TO FLORIDA FOR TWO WEEKS!!! My husband, two boys and I are on vacations! I’ve been needing this for over two months. Going to the ICE at Gaylord Palms for first time. I’ve heard mixed reviews but am dying for some photo shots. I have 5 trees, a slim 10′ tree, an upside down tree over the dining room table, and strands of garland everywhere. And that’s not counting the lights outside. So I tend to start in October so it’s done by vacation time over Thanksgiving. Otherwise I’m overwhelmed when we get back. Happy Holidays to you all!
9. Martine Hamilton | November 18th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Usually we put our tree up on my husbands birthday, 13th December, twelve days before christmas, but not this year, this year we will be on holiday in Orlando then – woohoo!! I think ours might be going up christmas eve this year!
10. Kristine | November 18th, 2009 at 10:46 am
We start our decorating the day after Thanksgiving. This tradition has been going on for my family for over 17 years. All the family members that have live trees (and some members that like to be in on the fun) meet at the farm and we all pick and cut our tree. After the search for the “perfect tree” is complete (usually takes 30 minutes to decide that we like the first tree we saw), we pay and all go back to our cars. Then the fun begins. We tailgate! We have hot chocolate, coffee, donuts, bagels etc.! It is a fun day with the family. As our kids are getting older (we have teenagers now), they like to spend more time with their friends than with their parents, but this tradition is something that we ALL look forward to.
11. Cathy | November 18th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Christmas was huge when I was growing up. Christmas was My Dad’s holiday. He was in charge of putting the lights on a real 6ft + Balsam Fir (nothing else would do). He would then help Mom get the decorations out and she would tell the stories behind the decorations, while we listened to Bing Crosby etc. and put them on the tree. Since my father died Christmas has not been the same. Mom never puts up a tree, doesn’t really decorate and doesn’t get into the spirit. I miss it, but have realized that Dad would want me to have my own traditions.
When I moved out I swore that I would always have a Christmas tree. I put it up every year on December 1st. See, my birthday is November 30th and I like to be able to celebrate my birthday BEFORE I start Christmas. That day if you stand still too long you might get decorated! I honor my Father’s memory by putting all of my spirit into the Holiday he loved the most
12. Jodi | November 18th, 2009 at 10:53 am
It all depends on how much help I get from the kiddos, and since they are grown and married or living out of state – it’s usually Christmas Eve before I can talk my hubby into getting everything out of the attic. I keep saying, I’m going to put the inside decorations in one of the spare rooms but it hasn’t happened yet.
Now that the kids have left home everything has changed. When the kiddos were small, decorations went up right after Thanksgiving. Not now.
13. Hilary | November 18th, 2009 at 11:05 am
I always think Americans “go to town “over Christmas.In case you do not know the expression it means making a lot of it.I think us in the U.K. are only just doing this with people now decorating gardens and outside their houses.When we have holidayed in Orlando usually in September we have enjoyed looking at all the decorations for sale and have always bought some home.
I put the tree up around the 14th of December but it is considered bad luck if taken down before Epiphany .My husbands family put there decorations up in November so it always causes an argument between us about the timing!
14. Amy | November 18th, 2009 at 11:21 am
My family is a day after Thanksgiving tree trimming family. Although it’s harder every year to not get started earlier. I do start Christmas crafts earlier – usually mid-October, but the tree and other decorations go up on Black Friday! I really enjoy the Christmas season and we don’t take down our decorations until the latter part of January.
15. Emily | November 18th, 2009 at 11:45 am
growing up we always had a real tree as we grew them on the farm, it would go up around 21st december and stay up until 12th night… but has to come down that day otherwise it is bad luck.
This year I am not sure, I’d like to put a tree up a little earlier & may get an artificial one.
16. Diane Herman | November 18th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Our tree usually goes up day after Thanksgiving – but this year I am hosting my family for Thanksgiving on Sunday, not sure when tree will go up. Used to go and cut one with our sons, but a few years ago we couldn’t get a day that all were available so we bought one. This will be a very tough Christmas for us, too. My mom died last year, Christmas Eve afternoon. part of me says — no tree, just get through the month of December, then the Mom/Grandma steps in and says we have to have the tree and remember my mom because she always had a beautiful, real tree, even last year. Happy Holidays to all — whether you have a real one or not, whenever you put up that tree!!
17. Tricia | November 18th, 2009 at 11:57 am
We usually put up our tree sometime during the first week of Dec, but I am considering putting my tree up this week. My husband is in the Navy and is getting ready for deployment right after Christmas. He is gone right now but thankfully will be home right before Thanksgiving. I love snowmen, and having my snowmen decorations and Christmas tree up just brightens my mood and will help keep my mind off the upcoming deployment.
18. Christie | November 18th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Hi there,
Well, I have been a single mother twice and guess what? I still celebrate Christmas!!! HAHA. We all know we women are the glue that holds alot together and for me, it was business as usual. Get that tree up the day after Christmas and make it as special as can be. My daughters were always in the mix “helping” and we would break for cocal or watch Miracle on 34th Street…a tradition that still stands today with a now married 30 year old and a 21 year old! It is a great time of year and there will always be good memories past, present, and future. Julie, I think you are an amazing mother, friend, and business woman. You truly do have it all and yes, Virginia, there is life after divorce. Good things happen to good people.
19. Liz Lowe | November 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to all the nice people who shared their Christmas tree and other traditions. Scrapbook people, being creative, always tell the most vivid details and have the best stories !! We “downsized” last year from an 8 foot fake to a little 2 foot tabletop model. I saved the most special ornaments and put the rest in the “poor box” at Church. We always decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving. We always go to NYC to Rockefeller Center to see the big tree and all the store windows. Also try to go to a Christmas show, like Nutcracker or Radio City. Last year went to WINTUK by Cirque de Soleil…WOW !!! This year hoping to go to “White Christmas” on Broadway. ALWAYS watch “A Christmas Story” on TV. LOVE Ralphie and the gang !! Enjoy the Bumpus Hounds, too !!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING to the scrapbook community. May your family and friends be blessed with good health and happiness always
20. Cheryle | November 18th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
It was a family tradition to put up the tree the day after Christmas. It was a stretch for my mom as St. Nicholas always brought the tree & presents. We usually leave the tree up until January 14th and celebrate two Christmas.
This year traditions are going to change a little! My daughter also moved into a Condo with my grandson last weekend and he saw “his Christmas tree box” and had to have their tree up!
We will put a tree up on the 28th in Mexico as we’re flying down on the 27th and when we return we’ll get our tree up here. This year, we will finally have a Christmas train circling beneath the tree.
I’m looking forward to celebrating Christmas in Mexico with family there and returning for family Christmas in the states. It is one of my favorite holidays.
Besides the tree and Gingerbread houses/cookies, our other family tradition is to make candy cane reindeers! My nieces and nephews love to make those in Mexico and look forward to making them each year.
21. Cheryle | November 18th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
ps and does my dear hubby make Chevy Chase tame in Christmas vacation! I’m sure the pilots and passengers see our house as they’re planning for their landing at the airport!
22. Claudia | November 18th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
We always put the tree up the first weekend of December. Typically, our son would even come home from college, just 90 miles away, to help. It’s tradition. We don’t just do one tree, each of our two children had their own tree with their own ornaments. (Each year since they were little we’d go the the Hallmark store where they would pick out that years ornament.) And we would decorate a small tree for the dining room table with mini ornaments. This year will be a first, he has a job this year. We’re thankful for that, but will still miss him putting up the tree.
23. Vickie | November 18th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Last year was a ‘no spirit’ year for me. The kids are grown and have families of their own. There was no plans for the furthest ones to come up. I didn’t want a tree and refused to put one up. Christmas morning I looked into the living room and there stood a ‘tree’ that my husband had built out of a pine tree branch from the neighbor’s tree that had fallen into our garden. Charlie Brown would have been proud. That thing was about 4 ft. tall, had a few ornaments on it, but it felt like the best tree ever. My black mood disappeared & I laughed until I cried. I loved it.
24. Kristyn | November 19th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Ever since I was a little girl, my family has always put up our Christmas tree on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. This has become one of my very favorite days of the year. We’ve always had the same, very traditional tree with white beads, red ornaments, and red bows and I wouldn’t have it any other way. As a little girl, I was also given my very own small tree to decorate as I please. Every year, this is filled with handmade ornaments, ornaments I’ve received as gifts, and of course, my beloved Boston Bruins ornaments. This year, even though I have moved out of my parent’s house, my brother and I will be returning home the Sunday after Thanksgiving to keep the tradition alive.
25. Karen Cox | November 19th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
we put our tree up after Thanksgiving and my oranaments are crochet Christmas Rings I make in the center is a picture of my children..grandchildren friends ..granparents etc..my 7 ft tree is loaded withmemories from years past..my youngest daughter has a beanie baby tree..she has been doing this every year since my granson was little he is 10..makes for a very special tree..no breakage and no words of no if they want to rearrange..my oldest daughter foolws the same but with my little pony..special trees are awesome
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