.
Feedback

Ask the Patch Pro: Local Experts Answer Your Holiday Decorating Questions

Our panel of experts are waiting in the comments to answer your questions in the latest installment of Ask the Patch Pro.

It's time for another edition of Ask the Patch Pro, where each week we tackle a different topic and open up the comments section for questions.

Our team of experts stop in to help you out and answer your questions. This week we're talking all about decorating for the holidays. Patch wants to help find the answers to all your questions about decorating for your work holiday party, putting lights on your house and local deals to help you decorate your home, but we need a little help. 

We've compiled a team of experts to help us out. Meet the experts:

If you have a decorating related question, ask below in our comment section and one of our experts will answer!  If you consider yourself a local expert and would like to be added to the list, let us know! jordan.lanham@patch.com

Newsletter & Alerts

Get the best stories each day and important breaking news

Subscribe

Not from O'Fallon Patch? Find your Local Patch »

Heather Kemper-Hussey December 6, 2012 at 11:17 am
We just moved into new home where the roof is too tall for our ladders ... without having a porch or overhang, I've been seeking front yard decorating ideas that don't resort to blow up Santas.
Kalen Ponche (Editor) December 6, 2012 at 02:47 pm
Where can I find a tiny live Christmas tree that I could replant in the spring? The only ones I've seen are pretty big, but I'd love to have one I could put in the center of my kitchen table.
katie December 6, 2012 at 03:20 pm
Kalen -
Sunshine Christmas Tree farm at the lake st. louis exit has them.
Claire Chosid December 6, 2012 at 03:24 pm
Hi, Heather! Do not, under any circumstances get up on your roof! My brother did that a few years ago and ended up at Mercy with a concussion! I love to decorate for the holidays by using fresh greenery, colorful bows, and natural elements. If you have some evergreens at home, put those pruners to work. Holly, White Pines, Spruce and Red Twig Dogwood make a great statement placed in last summer's containers. Don't remove the garden soil, just place your greens in the container and have fun! Some inexpensive, plastic ornaments ($29 for 100 ornaments at Sams) bundled together add a little sparkle. Finish it up with a glittery bow (50% off at Michaels!) and you've got a festive look. Also, pine roping is relatively inexpensive. Pop a few nails in the corners of your front door frame, add some LED lights to the roping and revel in your creativity! Hope this helps! Have fun with it!
Lauren Kopp December 6, 2012 at 03:59 pm
Aldi had some for 9.99 that were pretty small.
Rob Schaefer December 6, 2012 at 04:34 pm
Heather, You can create a dramatic look by using the wire trees from Home Depot with white lights and all white lights on low bushes or as trim. By massing out one color light, you get a full, dramatic look. If there is a window above the front door, hang the wreath above the door so the wreath is very visible against the house...and you don't need a ladder! Just use a ribbon loop attached inside. The window should still close properly. Rob
Heidi L. December 6, 2012 at 05:05 pm
I plan to make a centerpiece out of fruit for my Christmas Eve open house this year, any ideas that will help to keep my fruit from turning brown?
Bryanna Hampton (Editor) December 6, 2012 at 05:32 pm
Good idea! I'm on the lookout for some scented pine cones that I can "glitterize" and place in a glass bowl on my table. Anyone seen some for cheap? Maybe some already decorated?
Julie Brown Patton (Editor) December 6, 2012 at 06:40 pm
Bryanna, have you tried Gordman's for the pine cones? I thought they had some in the past.
Candace Jarrett (Editor) December 6, 2012 at 07:14 pm
Michael's Bryanna. They have 20 percent off coupon in the Saturday paper each week.
Claire Chosid December 6, 2012 at 08:44 pm
Hey, Heidi! Great idea about using fruit for a centerpiece! If you have a pretty tray, silver, gold or crystal, you could begin with a fresh pineapple in the center, surrounded by pomegranates, apples, oranges studded with cloves some lemons and limes, too. I would also place some whole walnuts and pecans under the fruits to stabilize them, using more around the edges for added color and texture. Why not add some velvet ribbon, placed around the the fruit to and another element. If you purchase fresh fruit, it should last at least 5 days, up to a week.
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Jim Frain June 17, 2013 at 08:17 am
I rest my case that there are nearly not enough comments on articles that we read in the Patch...IRead More asked for a comment, got no comment.
Jim Frain June 13, 2013 at 04:55 pm
This is an important opportunity for all residents who want to have input on Civic Park and theRead More changes that they want to see now that Civic Hall is gone. The men and women of the city council and parks department who are making these decisions need to hear from us.
Jordan Lanham (Editor) June 11, 2013 at 02:46 pm
Thanks for the reminder Jim! Sounds like the perfect concert to kick off summer!
Jim Frain June 12, 2013 at 09:05 am
A Great "Love the Beatles" crowd last night at Civic Park...We all had fun...the City ofRead More O'Fallon does a great job in putting a nice, relaxing and family oriented concert for all of us. O'Fallon Jammin' is a great thing to do every tuesday all summer.
Jim Frain June 7, 2013 at 12:51 pm
We all need to get out there to cheer the Rascals on to some long extended victories!
Mike Kromer June 7, 2013 at 08:52 pm
Agreed...love watching a good ballgame, even a bad one, on a warm summer evening!
Joe Barker (Editor) June 3, 2013 at 03:31 pm
She's on vacation at the moment. When she returns she'll still be here, but in a different role.Read More Instead of just working with O'Fallon, she'll be working with multiple Patch sites across St. Louis. While she's doing other things, Tammy Duncan and I will be posting often around here. Basically Jordan is still very much involved, but she just won't be writing as many stories.
Malarkey Jones June 4, 2013 at 01:05 pm
We've been away from O'fallon for a couple years but plan to return next summer...please tell meRead More they have put in a Chick-Fil-A in O'fallon!! That is fantastic news...can't wait to get back home and see what has changes since we left!
Jason and Mike standing in front of Extreme Gun Care
Michael Linhardt June 4, 2013 at 09:18 am
Congrats! I've met Jason and he is a super nice guy with tons of knowledge about their products.
E. Holloway June 4, 2013 at 10:55 am
Gourew? Try Guru.
Jim Pepper June 3, 2013 at 08:15 am
Joe, any chance they have figured out how to port the past news stories over yet?
Joe Barker (Editor) June 3, 2013 at 09:58 am
@ Jim Pepper -- No word yet. Most of the stories came over just fine, but the stories from earlyRead More last week seem to be stuck. All I know is they are working on it.
Daniel 'Cubby' Moynihan June 4, 2013 at 02:18 am
Just a heads up... while browsing on my phone I have to click leave a comment link above instead ofRead More the box which is typical... just an fyi