I’ll be the first to admit I get really excited about the little things.  Winning $100 or tucking a cord out of site…about the same reaction! Especially around Christmas…the art of cord hiding is not to be ignored.  Right after Thanksgiving we will be getting our Christmas lights out, and since my husband hasn’t quite approved my budget to install underground electrical… I will just have to hang in there until the snow covers all the cords.  Toughest few weeks of the year…OK maybe not that bad, but I definitely cringe a little inside every time I see a bundle of cords laying around.  

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Christmas is definitely a busy time, so anything we can find to make it a little easier is worth sharing.  Gadgets…I had no idea how many cool gadgets were out there.  Most of the time it is my husband who tells me about them!  Did you know there was a front door with an outlet in it?  Lighted wreath with no cords….amazing!  Unfortunately we are not quite ready to replace our front door yet…but someday I will have a plug in my door.  In the meantime, here are the gadgets that we currently use at Christmas time to help make life easier!  

Wireless Remote Control Outlet

A couple years ago, I had a lighted wreath that I wanted to hang on an antique window above my fireplace.  I have a plug on my mantel, so it was perfect…so I thought.  The problem was I couldn’t reach behind the window to plug the wreath in.  It was really difficult and wasn’t going to work on a daily basis. 

After doing a little research, I came across this wireless remote control outlet.  Almost with a gasp, “Wait so I can turn my wreath on with a remote!”  I was hooked!!  The two days it took to ship my Amazon package seemed like forever!  I plugged the receiver into the mantel, then plugged the wreath into the receiver.  I walked back to the remote in the kitchen and click….the wreath was lit.  It is possible that I may have clicked it on and off a few times in my excitement.  And maybe didn’t let the kids try it for a few minutes…remember I warned you I get excited about the little things.  However, in all reality, it was exactly what I needed!

Turning the lamps on manually, which I had been doing for a year, now seemed so tedious.  If it was that easy to lite my wreath, why not use a remote for my lamps too! 

Just keep in mind the receivers are a little bulky, and you cannot fit two receivers in one outlet without a multi-plug adapter.  So we bought an adapter, and I plugged both lamps into one receiver and my wreath into the other.  It was so much easier to turn everything on (below is the multi-plug adapter with one receiver in it….when we put the Christmas decorations up next week, I’ll add the other receiver for my wreath).

It didn’t stop with the mantel.  I plugged our Christmas tree into a receiver and I placed a receiver out in the garage and plugged the outdoor lights into it.    Standing in the kitchen I can click, click , click and all my Christmas Lights come on!  Amazing right! 

Not Just For Christmas

After, I had already jumped on the band wagon, I saw Costco sold them too (which we bought a set there also).  Since our house only has plugs in our dining and living room, we now use wireless outlets for all our lamps, all year round.  Once you buy them, you’ll never go back!

Light Bulb Socket Adapter

I hang wreath’s over the outside lights of my garage and I wanted them lit, but refused to have cords dangling down the brick.  One day my husband picked up a couple light bulb socket adapters from a local hardware store….that is true love!  I had never heard of or seen them before the day he brought them home. 

You unscrew your light bulb from your fixture, and then screw in the adapter, which has a plug on it.  Now you can plug your wreath into your light fixture and use your switch inside to turn your lights on and off!  No cords hanging!  I used three adapters, two for my garage lights and then one on the light outside my front door.  You can see just a small amount of the cord as it plugs into the adapter.  If you really wanted to cover it, you could put a piece of tape over the cord to match your light fixture.  However, when you stand back you hardly see it.

Keep in mind, you do remove your outdoor bulbs, so your only light with these adapters are the Christmas wreaths. If you do need the light from your outdoor fixture, they have an adapter that allows you to have a light bulb and adds a plug.   

Are you just in Awe?  Amazing right, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard about all these gadgets!  Apparently, I need to walk around a hardware store more. 

Christmas Tree Watering System

It’s not Christmas without the fresh smell of pine in our house.  Every year we go cut down our own tree at a local farm.  So watering the tree is another thing added to our to do list.  It is totally worth it, but getting down on your hands and knees every day to check the water isn’t the most glorious part.  We have seen the tree funnels for a few years now and wondered if it would be worth it.  Last year we finally broke down and purchased one in the store at the tree farm. 

I could not find the exact same one on Amazon, but am recommending a similar one.  

I think my husband and I were both surprised with how much we loved it.  It made watering the tree so much easier!  We marked the tube when it was full, as a gauge, and then could easily see if the water was getting low. 

It was so nice, not having to get down on our hand and knees all the time.  Another convenience is not having to move your tree skirt and presents every time you water the tree.  A watering funnel is worth every penny!  

It’s the little things that make a big difference sometimes, and these three gadgets do just that.  Plus if you are like me, you’ll have fun just clicking on and off all your Christmas lights everyday! I hope this inspires you to get creative this Christmas and find ways to make the everyday things a little easier!

If you have any great gadgets that make Christmas easier, I would love to know about them!  Please share them below.   Thanks for checking out my post.

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