Dear Christmas Decorations Quickly,

You don't have to spend hours on a ladder putting up Christmas lights in order to have your house holiday ready. Decorating for Christmas can be done in no time at all...and your party guests will be none the wiser.

1. Fill a bowl (think clear glass, although any will do) with a single fruit or vegetable. A bowl full of lemons or a bowl full of apples gives a monochromatic, festive look to your coffee table or dining room table. And it's just as good if not better than a floral arrangement from the local shop.

2. Clip branches from your yard. They don't have to be flowers, in fact beautiful pussy willows, fir tree branches or holly that grows in the winter are all beautiful decorative pieces that you can use in one place, or draped along the mantel.

3. Nothing says home and festive like candles. Arrange your stash of votives or any other kind of candles around the mantel piece, kitchen table or window sills for a beautiful, warm and decorative boost.

4. If it smells good, it might as well look good! Take advantage of cinnamon, cloves and allspice by making a pot of tea with these spices in them, and your home will smell delicious for hours after.