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9 Easy Tips to Avoid Holiday Stress and Distractions

9 Easy Tips to Avoid Holiday Stress and Distractions

Have you ever wondered why, as soon as Halloween is over, to-do lists get longer, the days get shorter, and holiday stress creeps into our lives?  The holiday season has arrived, and with it comes some stress and a lot of distractions.

If you’re anything like me, the holidays are meant to be a fun time celebrating with family and friends.  I love finding the perfect gifts and tying them up with a beautiful bow.  I love getting Christmas cards from friends and family, and sending out our own.  (Though sometimes at our house they become New Year’s greetings!)  We love hosting parties.

But thinking about all the things that need to be done to make the perfect holiday a reality can be overwhelming.    Every little distraction pulls us away from “the List”.   We fall behind and begin to panic and stress out.   What a holiday buzz kill…for us and everyone in the house when it happens!

With all the craziness, and sometimes chaos, we all need some coping skills to get out of overwhelm and into fun!  That’s where some easy tips to avoid holiday stress and distractions comes in!

Start small with this list.  Choose one or two that seem easiest for you right now.  They’re here to help you avoid the holiday stress and distractions that are creeping into your life.

 

Tip #1:  Ease Holiday Stress by planning ahead and setting goals

Remember the vision you had in your head for the perfect holiday?  Now is the time to get it out of your head and onto paper.  Then you can start the action plan.

  • Get organized with your decorations.  Pull out everything  you have and decide what you need to freshen it up a bit for this year.
  • Plan your tabletop and table settings.  If you need some ideas, you can find a few on this blog post (Fall Tabletops That Set the Mood).
  • Plan your menu and your guest list
  • Start your gift list
  • Set a goal for when you want these things completed. Be realistic about these goals, give yourself enough time to finish…and then add a few hours or days.  It always seems that most things take longer than we think they will.
  • Make sure that the spaces you’ll be using for prep, meals, and guests are clean and orderly, especially your prep areas. Remember that it’s hard to get things done when the space you’re working in is a cluttered mess.  If not, be prepared for chaos, a lot of setbacks, and…STRESS!

 

fall to-do and checklist

Tip #2:  Decide what your holiday budget will be

  •  Make a budget and stick to it
  • Have the right tools and resources before you start, and list the cost.
  • What do you need to buy?
  • What can you re-use or repurpose?

Tip #3:  Say NO when you need to.   Don’t feel guilty

  • Make it your “best NO”. You don’t always have to say NO to requests from friends or family.  And you don’t always need to decline a party invitation.  But when the pressure of completing your own holiday plans is getting to you,  a gentle “NO” to the request that doesn’t make you excited  is your “best NO”.
  • Delegate your to-do list between family members
  • Your “best YES” is similar to your best NO. Use it after you’ve considered the time it will take away from your own priorities.  And you need to be excited about it.
  • Busyness is not a virtue, and it is NOT a sign of productivity. If you are taking on too much, the truth is, you’ll probably focus on none of it and risk the chance of doing a horrible job at what you manage to complete.
holiday table setting

 #4:  Set boundaries to avoid distractions

  • Ask family to stay away during specific stressful times or tasks (In my case, it was wrapping our stair railings with garland)
  • Take a break to be with them later
  • When holiday overwhelm is stressing you out, remember that you don’t have to do it all
  • You don’t have to see everyone or do all the things
  • If you’re not excited about going to an event, or if it drains your energy when you think about it….don’t do it!

Tip #5:  Create relaxing surroundings/environment

  • Have a supportive environment to keep you motivated and excited. Play holiday music to get you in the spirit.  Light scented candles.  Open the windows on a nice day for some fresh air.
  • Organize your work space to make each task you need to do simple and easy. That means having all the tools you need ready and waiting so you don’t have to stop and run to the store for a glue gun or a bag of sugar at the last minute.
  • Clear your work spaces and de-clutter you home.  Knowing that you have a calm space around you will definitely calm the chaos of the holiday season.
Christmas helpers

  Tip #6:  Maintain your healthy habits

  • Don’t skip out on your workout or walks with friends
  • Make sure you get enough sleep
  • It’s tempting to “test” all the cookies and desserts, but remember your veggies!

Tip #7:  Seek a fresh perspective

  • Take a break when you’re feeling overwhelmed
  • Make a change.  I like to call it a mind-flip.  Instead of thinking of the project you “have to do”, tell yourself that you “get to bake cookies today”.
  • Take one task that drives you crazy during the holidays and tackle it in a new way.  A fresh approach just might make a difference. For example, if you dread having to send out holiday cards, enlist your spouse or your kids and split the list.

Tip #8:  Be OK with Good Enough

  • Be willing to focus on what’s most important
  • Be willing to modify family traditions. Decorating our stair railings to the hilt always looked beautiful.  My family begged me to do it every year.  Since I couldn’t compromise by letting them help (It’s a designer/perfection thing!) I finally used my best “NO”.  Holiday decorating is much nicer with that stressful task no longer on my list.
  • Don’t always go for bigger and better, when planning your holiday. Do you really need the 10’ Christmas tree when you’re going to be away for most of the holiday?
cookie helpers

Tip #9:  Remember to Have Fun Along the Way

  • Let’s face it.  It’s a lot more fun to be with people when you’re not stressed to the max, or so exhausted from working yourself to the bone that you just want to sleep.
  • Turn off the devices and start building positive memories.  When you think back over your life, you’re not going to remember that you didn’t get everything finished or you missed a text message.   Though everyone might  still be talking about the turkey that was burned, or the time your pies were eaten by the neighbor’s dog.   But that’s just part of the cherished memories created in your home during the holidays.  And isn’t that what life is all about?
Thinking about a home renovation or makeover project, but don’t know where to start?  Now is the time to get those ideas out of your head and onto paper, so your plans are finished when you’re ready to start!  And the best place to begin is with this free guide.
Bring The Colors Of Santa Fe Home

Bring The Colors Of Santa Fe Home

 

I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for. – Georgia O’Keeffe

When I think of Santa Fe, I think of Pueblos and pottery. I think of art. But mostly, I think of the beautiful colors of the earth, sky, and mountains at Ghost Ranch and the surrounding area. Each time I visit, a sense of calm washes over me and I feel at home walking around looking at the turquoise and blues, the corals, purples, and tans. They remind me of Fall…my favorite time of year.

                                                                   

So it was no surprise to me, when we moved to our last house and I discovered that everything I unpacked was turquoise, coral, blue or tan! People who know me best could see it, but it took starting fresh…with a clean slate…to make me see it. Now I realize, that except for the years of trying to follow the latest color trends, I always seem to go back to the colors that make me happy. Maybe this is why I get so excited to decorate for Fall. It’s the time of year when everyone wants to make their home a little cozier by adding deeper, richer colors and textures.

                                                                                     

                                                                                     

Here’s a checklist of some favorite ways to bring the colors of Santa Fe home this Fall:

  • Add a bit of nature by collecting pinecones, acorns, or wildflowers and placing them in bowls or vases.
  •  Visit your local craft store for dried or silk flowers to add to your favorite piece of pottery.

  • Change your pillows from summer colors to fall colors and patterns.

  • Mix and match your dishes by adding salad plates with beautiful Fall colors. If you’re lucky enough to find 2 or 3 patterns with the same colors, your table top will have more interest. I found a really nice collection at Pier 1, but it’s even more fun to search flea markets for the perfect plate.

  • Coordinate your new dishes with colorful, Fall placemats and napkins.
  •  Add a textured throw to your sofa or favorite chair to snuggle in on a crisp Fall evening.
  • Bring in nature’s own with heirloom pumpkins and squash. I love the new colors of heirloom pumpkins ranging from sage to deep greens, white, and deep orange.

  • Remember that anything you add to your home should be more about being true to your lifestyle and budget than trying to out-decorate your friends…it’s all about Authentic Living Interiors!!!

 

Fall Table Tops That Set the Mood:  How To Do It Yourself

Fall Table Tops That Set the Mood: How To Do It Yourself

 

I have to admit that Fall is my favorite time of year.  Why do I love it?  Because, finally the temperatures begin to cool down and the leaves change to vibrant gold, orange, and red.  I love spending time on the porch having a glass of wine with my husband in the evening, enjoying our tree house view that changes daily with different colors.  But most of all, I love entertaining and creating Fall table settings that set the mood for the evening.

The moods you create can be endless…completely your choice!  One mood might be warm and cozy like the table setting above.  I loved it the minute I discovered it on One Kings Lane.  The swag draped down the center with glowing candles and fresh flowers make me want to pull up a chair and sit there all evening!

Have you ever gone to a dinner party at a friend’s home and they’ve really taken the time to create a beautiful table setting?  How does it make you feel?  I hope that it makes you feel as if you’ve entered a special place that welcomes you, because they want you to feel special.

Remember that you don’t have to hire a professional floral designer to create it for you when it’s so easy and so much fun.  But there are a few things you need to keep in mind if you want to learn how to do it yourself.

MOOD:  Do you want your dinner party to be formal or casual, rustic or festive, simple or elaborate?  The food that you plan to serve for the evening may be the deciding factor.  Don’t you love how the rustic setting above uses food in fall colors as part of the setting?  Even the use of fresh herbs in a vase adds to its farm-to-table appeal.  But I especially love how this table setting makes me want to sit down with friends, share a delicious meal, and have great conversations.

The table setting below, shared from Better Homes and Gardens, takes the opposite approach from the traditional settings above.  I call this “opposites attract” with its use of the sky blue tablecloth pared with a simple arrangement of autumn leaves.  Doesn’t it make you feel a little more festive and ready to party?

FOCAL POINT:  It’s important to have a focal point to your table.  And it’s a lot more fun to ditch the traditional floral arrangement to be a little more creative.  That’s right!  It’s time to think outside the box.  Take a walk in the woods.  Shop your pantry and cabinets.  Stretch your imagination!!!

Keep placement in mind when you create your focal point.  Remember that guests like to see your face when they’re talking with you.  Arrangements that are too high or too wide are beautiful to look at when you enter the space, but not so practical during dinner.

INDOORS OR OUT:  When the weather is beautiful and the air is crisp, it’s nice to have the option of setting your table outdoors.  My friend, Donna, has a lovely front porch that’s perfect for a long table to fill with friends.  Tom and I love serving cocktails and appetizers on our porch since the table there is too small for a large dinner crowd.  But that doesn’t stop me from creating a Fall table setting that sets the mood for the evening!

Each time I see this Southern Living outdoor dining space, my heart sings!  I love the lights, the pots filled with mums and grasses, and the rustic setting.  What a fun way to spend an evening with friends!

Planning your table setting can be fun.  But if the rest of your holiday is beginning to stress you out, or you feel like your being pulled in a million directions, be sure to check out this post.  9 Easy Tips to Avoid Holiday Stress and Distractions  offers ways to help you get out of overwhelm and into action. 

In the end, when all is said and done, the table you set and the food you serve is never as important as the people who share the table with you.  Remember that life is about the moments spent with people you love, the laughter shared around the table, and the memories you create when you’re together.  Happy Decorating!!!!

 

3 DESIGNER TIPS FOR PUMPKIN DECOR

3 DESIGNER TIPS FOR PUMPKIN DECOR

 

After extreme heat, high humidity, and two hurricanes, the Fall season has officially arrived.  It is finally cool in the South!!!  We home décor lovers are ready to go, and excited to get moving on our Fall decorations.  Are you someone who loves to use hand-picked apples, Indian corn, and autumn leaves?  Or are you like me, and are addicted to adding pumpkins in every size, shape, and color?  I don’t know about you, but the minute PSL (pumpkin spice latte) arrives at Starbucks, I’m ready to decorate for Fall.  

Saving and re-purposing fall decorations from one year to the next gives you a jump start on your holiday prep.   But I always go back to these 3 Designer Tips for Pumpkin Décor when I’m starting my list.

Pair It With Fall’s Bounty

Colors found in nature play well together for your home’s decor.  Consider incorporating deep, rich colors like persimmon, rust, amber, and butterscotch.  Remember that’s it’s all about variety.  So play with it and have some fun!

Anything that reminds you of fall can be used. 

  • Autumn squash
  • Indian corn
  • gourds,
  • colored leaves
  • pinecones
  • mums
  • apples
  • cornstalks

Plan It to Last Until Thanksgiving

If you want to create a lasting impression of Fall, remember to use items that you can add or subtract for each holiday.  The perfect carved pumpkin or scary witch for Halloween can be replaced with pilgrims and cornucopias for Thanksgiving.

When you’re taking the time to create something beautiful, why not plan ahead to make it last for a few months.  Don’t be afraid to use faux pumpkins, vines, and leaves.  The money you invest today will save you a time and money year after year.

Place It Creatively

Mixing pots of beautiful mums with colorful heirloom pumpkins is a super easy way to decorate your porch.  With so many shapes, sizes, and colors available at markets, it’s fun to get creative.

Using a large platter or tray as a base, it’s easy to add small gourds and candles.  Take a walk in the woods to bring the outdoors inside by adding some pinecones, leaves, and acorns.

I love finding examples of how creative people can be.  Here are my favorite finds for this season:

I discovered this unique jack-o-lantern appetizer on Pinterest, and can’t wait to make it!

Pumpkin man on his tractor just makes me smile!