Christmas Outdoor Lights
As the end of the year approaches, many 'To Do' lists include getting Christmas outdoor lighting set up. Television shows, sitcoms and Hollywood movies often portray the humorous side in this task, with outdoor lighting often posing comical activities.
 Multicolour Solar Chinese Lantern Wedding Party Outdoor Light Garden Lamp Decor  $3.99 Time Remaining: 17h 29m Buy It Now for only: $3.99 Click To Buy Now |
 Hardware House 461368 17 3 4 In by 6 In Outdoor Lighting Fixture Cast Bronze $0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 17h 59m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 BLUE 23 LED ROPE LIGHT CHRISTMAS 120V 1 2LOWEST SALE $24.99 Time Remaining: 4h 28m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 Light Sensing Outdoor Timer w Dusk to Dawn 2 Outlets GE Jasco $16.89 Time Remaining: 27d 9h 41m Buy It Now for only: $16.89 Click To Buy Now |
 VERY RARE Cactus Schlumbergera SOL BRAZIL plant $8.75 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 16h 21m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 Solar 60 100 LED Fairy Light String For Xmas Party Wedding Garden Decor 6 Colors $19.99 Time Remaining: 22d 22h 55m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 Click To Buy Now |
 60LED Shiny Solar String Fairy Light Outdoor White Rope $1.56 Time Remaining: 1h 9m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 NEW Good Blue 10M 100 LED Christmas Fairy Party String Lights Waterproof $0.99 Time Remaining: 50m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 White 100 LED Solar String Fairy Light Christmas Party Light New $18.50 Time Remaining: 9d 18h 55m Buy It Now for only: $18.50 Click To Buy Now |
 TropiShade TropiLight 9 Foot Lighted Bronze Aluminum Market Umbrella Beige $10.51 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 18h 3m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 3 HEART SHAPED FIRE SKY CHINESE LANTERNS BIRTHDAY WEDDING PARTY 40X24X16 $5.99 Time Remaining: 25d 5h 19m Buy It Now for only: $5.99 Click To Buy Now |
 Purple Haze Cotton Balls Fairy Light String 3 Meters 20 Globe Hendrix Haze $13.32 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 2h 16m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 VERY RARE Christmas Cactus Schlumbergera ENIGMA cutting $8.50 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 2d 16h 18m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 Solar Power 100LED String Fairy Light Christmas White $14.73 Time Remaining: 19h 41m Buy It Now for only: $14.73 Click To Buy Now |
 VERY RARE Cactus Schlumbergera CAMPINAS BRAZIL plant $8.50 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 13h 25m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 100 LED String Fairy Light Lamp Halloween Christmas 5W 110V White US Plug 10M $1.00 Time Remaining: 10d 17h 17m Buy It Now for only: $1.00 Click To Buy Now |
 RARE Christmas Cactus Schlumbergera AMAZONAS BRAZIL plant $9.01 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 16h 29m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 COOL WHITE 50 LED ROPE LIGHT CHRISTMAS 120V1 2LOWEST SALE $49.99 Time Remaining: 4h 28m Buy It Now for only: $59.99 Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 Solar Powered 65 Planter Lamp Post w 3 Lanterns NEW $124.99 Time Remaining: 10d 9h 35m Buy It Now for only: $124.99 Click To Buy Now |
 RARE Christmas Cactus Schlumbergera SAMBA BRAZIL plant $7.50 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 2d 16h 22m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 40 White LED BATTERY String Fairy Light Christmas Party $5.99 Time Remaining: 8d 17h 39m Buy It Now for only: $5.99 Click To Buy Now |
 Lot of 6 Sylvania PAR38 Ultra LED Light Bulbs $91.00 (17 Bids) Time Remaining: 11h 22m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 VERY RARE Cactus Schlumbergera ROSSMORE HARRY plant $20.45 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 13h 54m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 New Romantic Bright Lights 30 LED Battery Outdoor String Light Purple $6.49 Time Remaining: 26d 6h 31m Buy It Now for only: $6.49 Click To Buy Now |
 COOL WHITE 150 LED ROPE LIGHT CHRISTMAS 120V1 2LOWEST SALE $99.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 4h 28m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 Solar Power 100 LED String Fairy Lights Outdoor Party $12.49 Time Remaining: 3d 18h 21m Buy It Now for only: $12.49 Click To Buy Now |
 VERY RARE Cactus Schlumbergera EVA MARIE McKEEN plant $10.00 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 16h 9m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 VERY RARE Christmas Cactus Schlumbergera FRAU SILLBER $10.50 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 16h 38m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
 Blue 20 LED Solar String Fairy Light Christmas Party $56.46 Time Remaining: 3d 18h 44m Buy It Now for only: $56.46 Click To Buy Now |
 20 Snow White Cotton Ball Fairy Lights String Lights 3M Party Decoration Wedding $11.05 Time Remaining: 8h 21m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
For example, in the 1989 comedy, "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," viewers laugh as Clark Griswold Jr. (aka Chevy Chase) wires his home to the max, killing the power in the rest of the neighborhood and misdirecting flights as his wife finally turns the right switch on, connecting what appears to be nuclear power to light the display.
With Tim the Tool Man from sitcom, "Home Improvements," viewers witness equally funny episodes during Christmas where Tim tried to outdo his neighbors with The Best display on the block. Yet he often electrocutes himself or others, or somehow destroys the project.
While Christmas outdoor lighting may pose funny issues, there are really not many basic steps involved. To complete this task, try these simple steps:
1) Begin with lighting - do you have what you need from last year? Have a hearty breakfast, lunch, dinner or at least a snack, and then go look! Find any lights you have available. And gather them into one area.
2) Testing time! In a safe manner (i.e. not standing in a puddle of water), test the strings of lights to see how many work, how many need new bulbs and how many are just ready for retired - the trash. Separate your work, placing strings that are ready to go in one area, strings to toss in another, etc.
3) Next either plan a design using what you have on hand, or check your budget to add more lighting for the season, and review current ads and websites to find the best deals. To determine how many strings you'll need for your home, you can measure the length of the area you want to light up, then add on about another 30 or so feet for extra, just in case. Include not only your house in this measurement, but any trees, shrubs, etc., as well.
4) Once you find the best deal for your lighting, use your measurements to see how many strings of lights you'll need. You'll generally find strings that boast a minimum of 25 lights up to a maximum of 200 lights, with 50 lights per foot with regular bulbs, double with miniature bulbs. Choose your colors and get extra connectors (3-pronged, if needed - check the strands).
5) Decorate in a safe manner, with someone holding your ladder. Or hire this done by local contractors who advertise this time of year on the classified ads (check Craigslist, too!)
6) When the holiday is over, gently wrap the strands around cardboard to keep strands from getting tangled. Then store in safe, dry place. You can find sturdy plastic and other types of containers at local Wal-Mart and other family stores. Search warehouse odd lots, too, for good buys.
For more ideas and information on Outdoor Lighting System visit http://www.outdoorlightingsystem.org