How I Discovered the Perfect Solution for My Airblown Santa Candy Cane

I wish I could say I was one of those people who love decorating for the holidays. In reality, December sends me straight into a weird mix of guilt and dread.

Here’s what ruined it for me: the storage wars.

Every year, I’d haul out three huge boxes—one with a clunky plastic snowman, another full of tangled string lights, and a cheap fake pine wreath I never liked. By January, those boxes would migrate, unopened, under my basement stairs, quietly judging.

No matter what I did, it always ended the same: “Having them take up space 11 months out of the year is driving me crazy.”

It sounds petty, but that nagging stress built up.

"It’s like Christmas time has become dull? I want to get the magical feeling back."

Turns out, I wasn’t the only one who felt this way. But honestly, it took two major fails for me to realize something had to change.

My Over-the-Top Attempts (and Embarrassing Fails)

Last year, I tried to level up and book a holiday decorating service. I imagined sipping coffee in my pajamas while someone installed a winter wonderland for me. Instead, I ended up awkwardly chatting with two frazzled college students who arrived late and managed to snap my gutter bracket with their plastic ladder. The whole house smelled like burnt extension cords, and the outdoor lights flickered like a haunted house special for the rest of December.

Not the cozy scene I’d envisioned.

My second attempt was even more ridiculous. I bought a DIY gingerbread house kit online, planning to make a Pinterest-worthy centerpiece. Three hours later, my kitchen looked like a frosting crime scene. Biscuit crumbs everywhere. Iced sugar on my socks. The final product? Sloped, sticky, and listing at a precarious angle. I found myself muttering, "I just don't like the act of getting them out, putting them up, maintaining them, then having to take them down and store them again." I ended up tossing the whole thing before New Year's.

I still wanted some holiday magic. I just didn’t want the drama, the clutter, or the setup-takedown marathon.

Professional decorating: Too costly, and unpredictable quality
DIY projects: More stressful than festive
Doing nothing: Felt a little sad, honestly

So I started searching for something easy, low-maintenance, and—if I’m being honest—not ugly.

Is that too much to ask?

Stumbling Onto the Airblown Santa Gift Candy Cane Solution

After weeks of scrolling forums and sighing at Instagram, I kept noticing photos of those big inflatable yard decorations. Usually, I rolled my eyes. Aren’t those for people with perfect lawns and way too much storage space?

But the Airblown Santa Gift Candy Cane was…kind of adorable. The thing is, at about $119, this wasn’t an impulse buy. Plus, the little voice in my head kept reminding me: You already hate clutter. Why add more?

I checked the dimensions twice (width and length at around 14.7, height at 12.5) and pictured it in my front yard, under the dying porchlight. Would this actually solve my problem, or just create a supersized version of The Box in my basement?

For comparison’s sake, I also checked out:

Light projector displays (looked cool, but felt cold—no character)
Classic wreath rentals (convenient, but easily missed from the street)
Scented candle subscription boxes (honestly, barely festive)

Against my better judgment, I ordered the Airblown Santa.

When Santa (and My Sanity) Finally Arrived

It showed up on a gray Saturday. To my shock, the setup was so easy. I dragged it from the box, zipped it up, plugged it in, and watched it wobble its way upright—all in under ten minutes. No tangled lights. No thumbtacks. Zero cursing.

The best part? When December faded away, deflating Santa was just as painless. He folded up tighter than my old backpack. That storage anxiety? Gone. My basement stayed organized, and there wasn’t a mountain of holiday junk giving me grief for eleven months.

This time, it actually looked festive, too. Neighbors slowed down to smile. Kids pointed. “It’s like Christmas time has become dull? I want to get the magical feeling back.” That line kept popping into my head as I realized: sometimes just one fun, easy thing is enough to turn things around.

"I want to get the magical feeling back."

What Actually Changed?

For the first time, decorating was simple. Ten minutes up, five minutes down.

No garbage bags full of broken ornaments. No post-holiday regret over wasted money or messy drama.

My living space stayed uncluttered
Setting up and storing was painless
Neighbors actually complimented my holiday spirit
I even looked forward to plugging Santa in every evening

I started to notice more people in my neighborhood picking similar solutions—one family switched to a projector, another just set up a lantern display. Everyone was trimming the hassle, not the magic.

Less became so much more.

What I’d Tell Anyone on the Fence

If decorations have started to feel like a burden—you’re not alone. I was convinced I’d learned to hate holiday cheer, but it was really just the setup and storage that ruined it.

If you want a quick win and you’re willing to spend about $119, give the Airblown Santa Gift Candy Cane a shot. It changed my whole perspective. For minimalists or stressed-out folks who want some sparkle, this is worth it.

If budget’s tight or you still dread the idea of even a compact inflatable, try a light projector or simple plug-in lantern—anything that avoids endless untangling or complicated storage. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s joy.

Stop dreading December.

Whether it’s this airblown Santa or a simpler alternative, just take one step. Your future self (and your basement) will thank you.

How I Discovered the Perfect Solution for My Airblown Santa Candy Cane