Holiday Survival 101

The chill is in the air and the smell of fallen leaves and shorter days mean autumn is quickly turning to winter. That means the holidays are right around the corner.

Save yourself from the last minute "crazies" and consider these tips to make your life easier the week of Thanksgiving.

Survival Tip #1:

The fastest way to give your home a harvest theme:

Just change out bathroom towels, sofa pillows and throws to reflect seasonal colors. Earth tones such as cinnamon, persimmon, pumpkin, curry, gold, sienna and terra cotta are timeless colors that never go out of style. Don’t forget to add lightly scented candles to set the mood.

Survival Tip #2:

Don’t wait! Put those little extra finishing touches in the guest room NOW! Make sure the closet has extra hangers. Place bath linens within easy reach. Clean out one drawer or provide temporary storage where guests can put personal belongings. Be sure there's a mirror and a trash can in the room and a drinking glass for the bathroom. Then, just before your family guests arrive, add a harvest bouquet of flowers in a favorite vase.

Survival Tip #3:

Hate to polish serving silver, but really need to? Do a piece as you have a spare minute and keep it tarnish-free in plastic storage bags, or silver storage bags. (Find them at Bed Bath and Beyond, or Linens and Things.) Go ahead and wash special-occasion table settings and serving platters now to save time later.

Survival Tip #4:

Hire someone else to help! If you can already tell you won’t have time for everything, make calls now for the help you need before everyone is booked for the season. From yardwork to serving. From carpet cleaning to candied yams, the help is there for the asking. Remember, do the things that only you can do, and find help for the rest. That includes seasonal décor, too. If Trade Secrets can be of help to ready your home for a stress-free, elegant holiday season, let us know. We still have a few spaces in our calendar.

Why Make Your New Year's Resolutions in January?

Welcome to Autumn!

September 24th was officially the first day of Fall. Summer is over and a slight chill is in the air. I’ve always thought Autumn – not January 1 - is the best time to make my “resolutions.” The beauty of autumnal resolutions is that no one else knows we're making them! They don't require horns, confetti, or champagne....only that we be open to positive change.

As I've been working with my clients this past month a few ideas have surfaced that you might want to think about:

Start making your Christmas list this month so you're not frantic in December. Then, as you attend Fall Festivals/Bazaars, you can check off a few people on your list. A beautiful piece of artisan pottery, a small painting, even handmade candles and soaps are a fabulous way to support the arts, and enhance every gift recipient’s home for the coming year.

If you have kids now is a great time to decide on Halloween costumes. Don't get hung up on thinking you have to make them. They still don't divide up the kids at school : those that have store-bought costumes versus those with home-made ones! If you do it now you can order from a catalog and it's done. While you’re at it, scout the shops for pumpkin pieces that can carry your seasonal home accents from Halloween through Thanksgiving with only some minor changes... Drop the witches and skeletons and add some Indian corn and seasonal leaves and you’re right in step without a lot of hassle.

Look at farmers' markets for dried flowers to create your own bouquet. It’s much less expensive than purchasing prepared bouquets, and creating your own on a quiet Sunday afternoon can be a relaxing restorative. Having it in your home through the winter will be a lovely reminder of the relaxing afternoon you spent creating your lovely arrangement.

Need to refresh a room? Paint interiors while it's still warm enough to leave windows open. The same goes for shampooing or replacing carpets. The cleaning services and installation teams will only get busier the closer the holidays come!

Now that the kids are back in school, go ahead and get started on some of those decorating projects you've been dreaming about all summer. Sometimes just a change of fabrics or adding a few updated accessories can give you a whole new look.

Here's an easy one... One that’s just for you...take a drive in the country to revel in Mother Nature's flamboyant fancy dress. Remember, the best things in life are the things you already have... Even when it comes to your home. Sometimes it just takes a little "rearranging" to take your home from “same old” to SPECTACULAR!!!

If I can assist you or a friend with an interior makeover, readying your home for sale, design and decorating evaluations, color consultations, new home move-ins, seasonal room refreshers, downsizing or combining households or shopping, please give me a call while I have time in my schedule. Together we can have your home looking its best for the upcoming holidays!

And...Don't forget October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month!!