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How to Avoid Overwhelm During Seasonal Transitions And Holidays

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Filed Under: Fall & Thanksgiving, Living

Avoiding Overwhelm During Seasonal Transitions

Fall brings with it, along with pumpkin spice everything, a start of many shifting seasonal transitions. First, it’s back to school, weather changes, then thanksgiving, and then Christmas and the Winter Holidays. All of these transitions bring with them the potential for major overwhelm in your home and life and on a personal level.

Over the next month, we will be talking about how to stay focused on the different areas of your life: home, work, and self.

How to Avoid Overwhelm During Seasonal Transitions And Holidays
How to Avoid Overwhelm During Seasonal Transitions And Holidays

Here are some ways to skip overwhelm during the busy seasonal changes and holidays:

1. Prioritize Sleep

Sleep seems to be the first thing to be sacrificed to the busyness that the holidays bring into our lives.

Making sleep a priority is more natural when it becomes a habit. Set up a routine for yourself that allows you to get the sleep you need (for most people that is 7-8 hours) each night. Whether that means making a routine that allows for a later alarm or an earlier bedtime if you make sleep a priority you will feel a world of difference.

 

2. Eat Healthy Foods

Another one we surely all know is essential; a proper diet is crucial to being our best selves. It is also key to staying well and reducing stress. But all the delicious holiday food can throw us off track and creating a menu, meal planning, and meal prep can become a challenge.

Still, let’s try to plan for healthy meals as they are the best ways to adhere to a healthy diet- for you and your family. Prepping ahead also reduces chaos around mealtimes and packing lunches, so it is a win-win.

 

 

3. Stick To a Routine

One of the fastest ways to slide into overwhelm is to lose track of your daily routine. Our daily routines anchor us and allow us to feel more relaxed. Our brains like to know what’s coming next.

There is possibly no time that a solid routine is more important that during seasonal changes like back to school, Summer break, or the Fall and Winter holidays. Sit down with your routine at the start of each season and see where it needs adjusting to create a routine that works for your life in these times.

 

 

4. Plan For The Unexpected

As hard as we try to stick to a routine and plan our days, we should always make room in our schedules and our minds for the unexpected. The best way to do this is to leave plenty of breathing room in your routine.

When you pack every minute of your day full, there is no room for things that pop up.

Try looking at your daily to-do list each morning and picking three items as your top priorities. If you have these completed, you won’t feel so disrupted when the unexpected happens, and you must take care of something unexpected.

 

 

5. Learn To Say No

My last tip is mastering the art of saying no. We are trained to believe that saying no to commitments is negative and brings with it a sense of guilt. Well, if you get rid of one thing from your life, let it be this notion!

Learning how to say no will make you feel lighter, more relaxed, and more present for yourself and your family daily. The golden rule for implementing this is if it’s not a heck yes, it’s a heck no!

 

Implementing these habits now will help you to avoid overwhelm and maintain balance in your life at home and at work during the sometimes chaotic seasonal and holiday changes that will be creeping up on us before we know it.

How To Organize And Host A Brunch For Friends

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Filed Under: Entertain, Fall & Thanksgiving, Living

A few months ago, I hosted a brunch for all the Brazilian professional organizers who came to Chicago to attend the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals Conference! It was an absolute treat to have them over, as hosting always is!

It was a wonderful experience to have so many colleagues from Brazil and was my pleasure to host them and get to know them better.

Today, I’m going to list the steps I took to prepare for a gathering of about 20 people. I’ll give you my shopping list, the recipes I used, and a few tips for hosting a brunch of your own!

If you’re worried that hosting an earlier meal will require you getting up insanely early and being exhausted by the time everyone’s arrived, don’t be. By keeping these tips in mind, you can host a laid-back brunch and have enough time to enjoy your guests and the food, too.

How to host a brunch.

Figure out what you can prepare the night before.

My motto always is, “Life can be simpler,” and this absolutely applies to the prep work required for your brunch.

Set out the plates, platters, bowls, and silverware so it’s all ready to go in the morning. If you have kids and they’ll use the space where you’ll serve and have your guests, simply set things aside on a room close by. No more frantic, last-minute loads in the dishwasher while the food gets cold!

What to serve when hosting a brunch
Serving a mix of warm dishes and cold salads makes your life simpler.

The same goes to dishes like salads and desserts that can be prepped and be ready to serve the day of your brunch.

In my case, I served chicken and tuna salads, for example, and I had them ready to serve and then stored them overnight in the fridge.

What to serve when hosting a brunch

If you’re using flowers or greenery to decorate the space or table you’ll serve the food, have the vase and arrangement ready to use the day before as well.

Prepare your flower arrangements the night before.
Prepare your flower arrangements the night before.

The goal is to have as much prepared ahead of time as possible, so on the hours before your guests arrive, all you have to do is to get things in place and make yourself pretty.

What to serve when hosting a brunch

Be creative with your presentation!

Want a simple way to wow your guests and make your serving table beautiful? Mix up the serving containers.

You can buy fun disposable options that match your theme or use what you already have at home which is what I always do.

Pull out the tartlet tins for the fruit, or skewers for the donuts holes! Even the simplest fare can seem extra fancy if it’s served in a nice dish, so swap out those orange juice cartons and syrup bottles for pitchers and small ice cream bowls.

How to organize to host a brunch.
How to host a brunch!
Tips on how to organize, what to serve and a shopping list for a fabulous brunch with friends.

Since I always use the same serving platters and cake stands, another way to make my table colorful and look “fresh” is by using beautiful and colorful napkins.

I have 4 sets – one for each season – and I use them together with the dishes and a basket with the silverware to make it very easy for guests to serve themselves.

Setting a table for a brunch.
Have your dishes, silverware, and napkins ready to roll!

You can swap the silverware caddy for fun Ball jars or even tin buckets. Have fun with it!

Don’t be afraid to delegate.

Is one of your guests known for her to-die-for cinnamon rolls? Ask if she could bring some! Keeping an eye on the oven? Ask a guest to take over on coffee duty while you pull the last dish from the oven and add it to the table.

On the day of our brunch, I accepted help from a friend to walk Tuff and from another to get the dishes rinsed. It was perfect, helpful and my friends were so happy to help.

How to host a brunch
Accept help from your friends.

Choose dishes for a crowd.

Instead of choosing a dish you have to make in small batches, like eggs or pancakes, opt for something you can cook–or better, reheat–in the oven in the morning. If bacon is a must-have, pop it in the oven, too. There are tons of easy brunch dishes you could choose from, or you could keep it fresh with an easy self-serve parfait bar!

What to serve on a brunch
Select dishes that are easy to prep and serve.

If kids are invited, be sure to serve kid-friendly food or even cereal if you know they would do better with a food they’re used to.

An easy option is to prepare sandwiches and wrap them in parchment paper or a brown bag.

You can make the wrapping even prettier by using baker’s twine. I love the look!

Finally, consider your vegetarian guests by offering them options so they can have a full meal with the green salad you’ll serve.

How to host a brunch.

 

Here’s what I prepared for a group of twenty:

  1. Chicken curry salad
  2. Tuna salad
  3. Cakes and pie
  4. Bagels
  5. Quiches, savory
  6. White bread, sliced
  7. Cold cuts and cheese board
  8. Pastries and home-baked cookies
  9. Mixed greens salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing
  10. A bowl of mixed berries served with mascarpone cheese (recipe below)
    • 2 large containers (Costco size) of strawberries
    • 1 large container of blueberries
    • 1 large container of blackberries
    • 1 large container of raspberries
  11. Mascarpone cheese cream. Here is the recipe:
    • One large mascarpone cheese container
    • Half of that container with heavy whipping cream and
    • Half of that container with confectioner sugar.
    • Mix everything gently together with a blender or a spatula. You wanted to be creamy and easy to scoop but not fluid.
    • Serve it on a container next to the fruit bowl or to make it extra beautiful serve it on a clear container creating layers of mascarpone cheese and berries.
  12. Beverages: coffee, tea, prosecco, lemonade and orange juice

How to host a brunch

Here’s the shopping list I used to get everything needed for those meals:

  • two large containers of chicken curry salad
  • two large containers of tuna salad
  • three small cakes of different flavors like vanilla, chocolate and fruit tart
  • 12 bagels – plain, everything bagel, asiago cheese etc.
  • 12 mini quiches of different flavors
  • one small loaf of white bread sliced
  • several kinds of cheese – brie, gorgonzola, and cheddar, for example
  • meat cuts like ham, salami, and prosciutto
  • olives – green, black, stuffed
  • salted almonds or mixed nuts
  • grapes
  • pastries like bear claws, chocolate croissant, mini scones, and home baked cookies
  • two large containers of mixed greens salad
  • two jars of vinaigrette dressing
  • 2 large containers (think Costco size) of strawberries
  • 1 large container of blueberries
  • 1 large container of blackberries
  • 1 large container of raspberries
  • 1 large container of Mascarpone cheese
  • 1 bottle of prosecco
  • 1 bottle of lemonade
  • 1 bottle of orange juice

I hope these tips help to simplify hosting a brunch! Having friends over for food and drinks is one of my favorite things, and I love keeping the morning simple and stress-free. Happy Brunching!

The Most Beautiful Thanksgiving Decoration Ideas

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Filed Under: Fall & Thanksgiving, Living

Easy And Creative Thanksgiving Decoration Ideas

Thanksgiving is fast approaching and, if your family is anything like mine, celebrating Thanksgiving usually means having guests over for a delicious meal! To make your prep work simpler this holiday season, I went online and compiled a few favorite Thanksgiving decoration ideas to share with you. 

I chose decorations that are simple and don’t require a lot of storage so you can spruce up your space without the stress!

Decorate Your Table With Some Greenery

A little bit of eucalyptus can go a long way! Greenery is such a simple way to liven up your space, and eucalyptus seems to be the fan favorite this season.

Doesn’t it look great paired with a neutral table runner, candles, and a few festive pumpkins?

Pick up a spring or two a few days ahead of time, and tuck it into a vase or wreath for a few days before you’re ready to add it to the table!

I love keeping a variety of white and simple candles around that work with all seasons. Doesn’t everything look lovely together?

pumpkins, candles, and greenery on a Thanksgiving table

Create a Custom Backdrop with a Metallic Banner

It wouldn’t be the holidays if you didn’t snap a few family photos, right?

A simple metallic banner can spruce up the narrow entryway when you’re first welcoming guests, and it can easily serve as a backdrop for holiday photos.

A gorgeous neutral like this gold can transition easily from season to season, and interchangeable letters can turn this piece into a year-round staple.

Gold "Give Thanks" banner above a festive table
Photo by 1111 Light Lane

Create Giftable Pumpkin Flower Arrangements

The sweetest thing about this Thanksgiving decoration idea? It’s also a gift!

Hollow out a few leftover pumpkins from Halloween, add greenery and a few seasonal blooms, and voila! Adorable centerpieces that your guests get to take home.

These are adorned with white berries, russet mums, and rosemary, and you can check out this post for more floral arrangements for Thanksgiving centerpieces.

P.S. Peep that eucalyptus–told you it was a staple this season!

Pumpkin Floral Arrangements
Photo by On Sutton Place

DIY a Tablecloth with Kraft Paper

I love this little DIY because it makes the table settings perfect for a buffet-style meal!

If your guests are all going to pick up their dishes to fill them in the kitchen, why bother setting everything out on the table? With $3 Kraft paper from Walmart, you can have a simple tablecloth that’s also kid-friendly.

And, if you’re feeling crafty, you can decorate the place settings to make each guest feel extra special. However, if you’re in a pinch, putting out a few candles, pumpkins, and greenery can go a long way.

Kraft Paper tablecloth decorated with guest's names
Photo by Lemon Thistle

There are a lot of pieces that need to come together when you’re planning for Thanksgiving, but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep things simple, beautiful, and stress-free.

These gorgeous and creative Thanksgiving decoration ideas are proof of that!

Organizing Your Calendar For The Holidays

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Filed Under: Christmas & New Year, Fall & Thanksgiving, Living

Skip The Stress And Make Your Holiday Season Happy Again

The holidays bring many social gatherings, expenses related to gifts, and festive parties to attend. However, the holidays can be quite a stressful season. But the good news is: they don’t have to be! Here’s how to organize your calendar for the holidays:

Start by hosting a family meeting at a table where you can all see your month-at-a-glance calendar. Have everyone take turns to share what is most meaningful to them for the upcoming holiday season.

They should also mention any events that should be included in the planning process. Set aside time for special family activities like ice skating, putting up lights, and selecting your tree. The holidays can stretch over a few months, so you may want to download this 6 month view calendar.

Once you have a better idea of what’s happening for the month, organizing your calendar in these three areas should be a snap! First, we’ll look at organizing your budget, then your time management, then any changes in your routines you might need to make in order to fit in all the events.

Organizing your calendar for the holidays.

Money and Budgeting Tips

Buying Christmas gifts can easily become overwhelming, so here’s a simple tip to make sure you’re not splurging on too many gifts this holiday season. Start by writing a list of everyone you’re shopping for or go ahead and grab The Ultimate Holiday Planner.

Next, with your gift shopping list in hand, select a budget for each person. By setting aside a certain amount of cash for each person and intentionally looking in catalogs and online shops ahead of time, you can avoid much of the last-minute holiday rush.

Time Management Tips

When you’re planning out your month, take a few minutes to find out what time the post office closes each day and when the grocery stores start getting really busy. By planning to intentionally avoid long lines, you won’t waste time rushing or waiting in line!

Tips for Handling Changes in the Routine

In addition to asking your family members what events will be the most meaningful to them during the holiday season, list key holiday responsibilities and figure out who is most interested in which ones.

These could include decorating the tree and home, baking and cooking for guests, and shopping for presents and wrapping them! By giving each family member the opportunity to pick the responsibilities they would most enjoy, you’re giving them the opportunity to take initiative on the traditions they love best.

Even better, you can create checklists of the specific tasks required to complete each job so nobody overlooks an important detail.

By keeping your holidays simple, you can make sure to focus on spending time together as a family. Instead of stressing, organize your calendar to make sure the work is balanced, take time for yourself, and focus on the spirit of the season this year.

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How to Decorate a Narrow Entryway for the Holidays

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Filed Under: Christmas & New Year, Entrances & Mudrooms, Fall & Thanksgiving, Organizing

Tips & Tricks For the Long and Narrow Entrance

The entryway, or foyer, is an important component of your home that can often go overlooked. Because it’s the environment that greets you at the end of each day and the first impression guests receive of your home’s interior, you’ll want to give this space some special treatment.

The elements of a great entryway are simple. You can enhance them during this time of the year to really add some festive flair or warm comfort. A few small changes can make all the difference and help to create the kind of vibe you desire. Adding fun decor doesn’t have to be tricky just because your space is limited. Let’s take a look at some ways to decorate a narrow entryway for the holidays.

Start With the Mirror

 

 

A mirror should be part of your foyer if at all possible. It adds both a decorative and practical element to this slender spot.

Along with giving you a way to take one last look at your appearance before walking out the door, your mirror also reflects light to give your entryway a more spacious feel. You can capitalize on this at holiday time by adding lights to or around it.

A lighted garland can be just the thing to add some holiday cheer to a home with traditional holiday decor.

A beautiful candle scape placed on a tray in front of your hall mirror can be an elegant touch that adds sparkles of reflection, along with a lovely scent, to your entryway.

Don’t Forget the Door

 

 

Lots of folks add a wreath to their front door on the outside. It’s easy to neglect the interior of your door’s surface, though.

If you didn’t place a wreath in front of your mirror, adding one here is a suggestion.

Another idea is to cover your door in a wrapping paper that complements your other decorations. You may also wish to dangle some sparkly crystals, jingle bells or decorative balls from the doorknob. The sky’s the limit.

 

You Can Have a Tree

 

 

You might think that a Christmas tree would be too much for a narrow entryway. Not necessarily. If you love the look of a tree in the entrance, you don’t have to go without.

A slim pencil tree can fit nicely in a nook. Even a short and stout one might sit unobtrusively in a corner.

You can get creative and use your wall surface to create the look of a tree with objects such as wrapping paper, wire or ribbons. Think outside the box to include the elements you desire.

 

 

 

Use Your Landing Space

 

 

The place where you throw your keys, mail and other small items is the perfect palette for a holiday-themed display.

Adding just a few items can make a nice tablescape, while still allowing you to have room for the practicality of bowls and boxes to hold your possessions.

In fact, you can decorate those things temporarily for the holidays or replace them with catch-alls to fit your theme.

 

 

Dress Up Your Light Fixtures

 

 

Good lighting is important for the foyer, so you probably have either an overhead fixture or a few lamps in this space.

As long as you’re being careful about fire hazards, your light sources can be decorated as part of your overall holiday makeover. Add ribbons or crystals to a lampshade. String garland of nearly any material around your overhead fixture to extend your decorating up above and raise the eye.

Whether you’re going for a glitz and glam look or prefer a rustic theme, you can decorate your narrow entryway for the holidays without adding stress to your life.

Adding personal festive touches doesn’t have to leave your small space looking cluttered. Using your existing decor pieces and adding some strategically sized items can give you an inviting foyer during the most wonderful time of the year.

7 Thanksgiving Centerpiece Ideas for Your Holiday Table 

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Filed Under: Fall & Thanksgiving

Create a Stunning Thanksgiving Table

When you first begin to plan your Thanksgiving table, your thoughts may be of who will gather there and what you will serve them. While the feast is of course, an important part of the tradition, a memorable centerpiece will bring your Thanksgiving table decor together and enhance the meal.

Create a Stunning Thanksgiving Table

These ideas for a Thanksgiving centerpiece are both visually stunning and creative. They feature the most beautiful flowers of autumn (think dahlias and ranunculuses) as well as unique edible accents like persimmons, blackberries, and pomegranates. No matter what your personal style, there is a centerpiece that will impress your guests. It’s easy to imagine the smiling faces of friends and family as they gather around your beautifully prepared Thanksgiving table.

Lush & Eclectic Thanksgiving Table Idea

Wild blackberry branches and petite persimmons make this arrangement lush and remarkable, but the true star of this show is a fall favorite, the dahlia. This arrangement combines large semi-cactus dahlias and smaller decorative dahlias with the romantic and nostalgic garden rose. Rust-tinged oak leaves and delicate eucalyptus add color and volume to an already luxuriant centerpiece. Seasonal fruit, dahlias, and oak leaves are abundant and easy to find in the fall and are perfectly in tune with the harvest spirit of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving table ideas

Fresh & Simple Thanksgiving Table Idea

Fragrant and bold, this centerpiece is rich with the color orange. Bright ranunculuses serve as the center of interest and are perfectly accented by the creative and rustic addition of kumquat branches. Crocosmia a relative of the gladiolus plant, provides another eye-catching burst of color. The orange pops against lush foliage, and the fresh fragrance of mint and the sweet perfume of jasmine vines, combined with the citrus scent of the kumquats, add to the visual beauty of this Thanksgiving arrangement.

 

thanksgiving table ideas

Chic & Elegant Thanksgiving Table Idea

Entire branches of live oak trees and various colorful fall leaves add drama and dimension to this tasteful arrangement. The main focus here are the dinner plate dahlias, which are known for their impressive size and layered petals, and attractive, richly colored ball dahlias. With their bright orange and red blooms, marigolds are a perfect choice for this arrangement. The dusty pink and cream hues come together with burnt oranges and vibrant reds for a classic centerpiece that imbues refined luxury.

 

Thanksgiving Table Idea

Vibrant & Creative Thanksgiving Table Idea

Fuchsia, white, and dark purple chrysanthemums anchor this casual yet polished arrangement. This dramatic look is created by bunching chrysanthemums with fuchsia colored globe amaranth, golden brown and green magnolia leaves, and bright orange persimmons in small arrangements along the length of the table. Persimmons have been called “the fruit of the Gods,” and their brilliant golden hue adds a striking effect to a creative and thoroughly modern centerpiece.

 

Vibrant-and-Creative

Rustic & Wild Thanksgiving Table Idea

An enchanting medley of semi-cactus dahlia, whimsical sea holly and delicate Queen Anne’s lace flowers come together in a distinctly memorable arrangement. Its palette of traditional fall colors combines pastel pinks and greens with rich maroons and purples. Dried ornamental grasses and fresh flowers bridge the old and new for the ultimate rustic centerpiece. Not only do stock flowers represent a happy life and contentment, making it perfect for a Thanksgiving celebration, but they also add a spicy-sweet fragrance that complements the crisp scent of eucalyptus.

 

Thanksgiving Table Idea

Dramatic & Wild Thanksgiving Table Idea

This arrangement boasts rusty orange tones to complement your Thanksgiving decor, an asymmetrical silhouette, and an impressive yet understated presence. It highlights the best of nature’s offerings in the fall season, with decorative dual-toned dahlias and bright green branches of bright, colorful, and bold firethorn berries. Balanced with the delicate visual appeal (and intoxicating scent) of tuberose and showy Snow on the Mountain leaves, this fall centerpiece is sure to be a crowd favorite.

 

Thanksgiving Table Idea

Stylish & Exotic Thanksgiving Table Idea

There is no flower more apt for Thanksgiving than the beautiful calla lily, which symbolizes gratitude. It pairs perfectly with seasonal fall fruit and the Cream Mink Protea, with its creamy white petals and dark maroon border. The dramatic effect of cascading magenta Elephant Head amaranth adds to the statement. Pomegranates have been known as the “fruit of life” since ancient times, and are revered for their high levels of antioxidants and many health benefits. Display an open pomegranate as part of your centerpiece, revealing their alluring and beautiful jewel-like seeds.

 

Thanksgiving table Ideas

Thanksgiving Day is all about the experience of celebrating with family and friends and sharing your gratitude for the year’s blessings and the beauty of the season. A great centerpiece elevates the mood and highlights the beautiful bounty of fall. You can add your creative touch with any of these Thanksgiving centerpiece ideas to make them the most meaningful for your holiday celebration.

These Thanksgiving centerpiece ideas come from our friends at FTD. I haven’t received any form of compensation for this guest post.

7 Thanksgiving centerpiece ideas for your holiday table.
7 Thanksgiving centerpiece ideas for your holiday table.