Deck The Halls With Fresh Ideas
Rachel Cummins • November 9, 2020
Pretty ideas to make your holiday merry and bright!

Glamourous Gold Tones
Using gold in your holiday décor will add subtle glamour to your table. This classic metallic pairs well with traditional crimson red and evergreen shades that will give your home a timeless holiday feeling. Feeling adventurous this year? Gold tones play well with unconventional holiday colors like purple, blue and pastel pink. Using gold will anchor any holiday color palette you create this season.
Delightful Details
Life is in the details! This is especially true if you’re creating a Christmas village in your home. Taking the time to add a special touch to your miniature world will breathe life into it. Placing a mirror underneath an ice skater to mimic a frozen pond, spreading cotton for the look of snow or adding a tiny version of your favorite store will make it that much more special this year. Look for pieces that light up like streetlamps or items that move, such as a train that circles the town. Movement and lighting create atmosphere and personality. Running low on space? Stage your town on stacked wall shelves or a bookcase, which also creates an easy view of your Christmas village.
Wintry Wreaths
Are you hesitant about a DIY project? This may be the easiest one yet. Designing your own holiday wreath is easy, cost friendly and fun! Visit your local craft store for a foam ring, artificial stems, ribbon and ornaments. Buying these items individually allows you to control the cost of the supplies, while also customizing the look and feel of your wreath. To save on the price of artificial stems, buy green tinsel to mimic the look of a full evergreen branch. Take a nature walk to collect pinecones and berries to add texture and dimension. When assembling the wreath, use garden wire or a hot glue gun to secure your pieces in place.
The GBU Life Scholarship Awards support students in college, trade programs, non-college programs, and graduate school, helping them achieve their dreams, setting them on a career path and realizing life goals. Since its founding, the GBU Foundation has awarded 4,500 scholarships and educational grants totaling more than $3.2 million. In 2025, 215 members received $226,000 to support their two‑year, four‑year and graduate studies. Here’s a look at where the rubber meets the road — as we check in on past grantees to see how their scholarship awards have helped them stay on course, where they are now, and where they hope to be in the future.
To celebrate our 134th anniversary, GBU Life launched the Birthday Bash initiative, calling upon the GBU Life community to honor our fraternal legacy through service. GBU Life invited members, producers, and community leaders to assemble and deliver shelf-stable cake kits for individuals and families who may otherwise go without a birthday celebration. What can seem like a simple act of service could be the spark of hope someone needed.

