For those living in the US, I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving holiday and all of the food, merriment and shopping that might have gone along with it. As you know, I am all about giving people simple solutions to help make life flow with ease & grace in all areas of living; be it creating an inspired Home, healthy Body, calm Mind & connecting to inner Spirit! This can sometimes be challenging during the holiday season, so it is my goal to provide easy & quick tips to give you home harmony and joyful living in the coming weeks. I hope this helps you move with effortless grace throughout this season of light.
In our culture, the holidays are a time focused on family, friends, parties, gift giving and an assortment of additional activities to add into the daily mix of every day living. In the next few weeks I will share a few simple solutions to tame the tension and relieve the stress that can escalate at this time of year. My hope is that these easy tips will help bring inner calm in the midst of the chaos allowing you to enjoy tranquil times ahead.
Let’s look at three ways to make your holiday STRESS-LESS. By now you have probably heard me talk or seen my writing regarding the importance of color in our homes. The first item to discuss is color because it plays such an important role in determining our degree of happiness. Secondly, you might have seen the CBS segment on Holiday Home in Harmony and heard me explain a simple solution to help organize gifts that will help to alleviate stress and tension. We will look at that here. Third, I will share an easy way to make your holiday table look fabulous! I hope these three helpful hints will have you feeling harmonious this holiday.
Consistent Color:
Choose an overall theme for decorating. Start with color. Which colors are resonating with you this year? Carry this theme through out your home from the wreath that welcomes you to the wrapping paper under the tree. This will create a more cohesive and harmonious feel to your home. I often choose 3 colors to work with before I begin to take out the decorations from last year. If there is a decoration that doesn’t fit my color theme I put it away for next year or I don’t buy it. This helps me stay organized and feel less scattered.
Wrapping Paper:
Wrapping can be helpful in maintaining order and calm in the holiday hoop-la! I often choose and stock up on three wrapping paper patterns (or colors ) which has two advantages. First, from an aesthetic perspective, it helps to harmonize the look of my house during the holidays. This cohesion has a calming effect on my psyche. It also helps to keep the gift giving process organized. Which, of course, helps relieve the tension! I will use one pattern for the kids, one for my husband’s side of the family and one for my side of the family. This helps eliminate some of the stress associated with the “Did I remember everything?” as we are scurrying out of the house after the frenzy of Christmas morning, and it eliminates the likely hood that a present could be left behind when heading off to grandma’s house on Christmas Eve! You can breath easy knowing you are organized and prepared.
Tablescape:
I have certain go-to strategies that help me to create fun, festive looks whenever we entertain. I love preparing the holiday table and look at it as an art. How creative and beautiful can I make it each year? In holidays past, I use to love watching my grandmother’s reaction, as she would enter our home on Christmas Eve and see the table. The sparkle and delight in her eyes as she would explore the Tablescape always brought joy to my heart. One simple solution that can have a big impact on your next Tablescape is the use of chargers. Chargers are a great way to change up your holiday table! Actually, they are great to use for every occasion! I collect different color chargers and have an array of beautiful colors. If you are going for a warm intimate look use rich browns or textured golden-flaked chargers. For a glam look use metallic silver or red. Don’t be afraid to choose two colors and mix-and-match, this will lend excitement to the table which can make it unforgettable.
Planning ahead can help you feel more organized and empowered. Consciously incorporating color, organizational elements and beauty into your holidays will create a Home in Harmony.
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Happy Soaring!
XOXO
