Oh Christmas Tree!

Thanksgiving is over and it is time to set up the Christmas Tree. If you are looking for something new this year I have a fun and feminine new suggestion for you! If my husband would let me, I would have a pink tree like this Cotton Candy Pink Flocked Tree.  It is currently on a close-out sale so act now and order your perfectly pretty new tree!  Fill it with bright and bold red ornaments for a festive punch of color.  Wrap the gifts beneath in red paper with pink ribbons and serve all of the guests at your holiday party peppermintinis!  Add two parts vodka and one part peppermint schnapps in a shaker with ice and mix them together. Pour the mixture into martini glasses rimmed in red or pink sugar and add a candy cane or peppermint stir stick. Enjoy!

KSW's Tips for an Easy Move

I hate to admit it but I have become a bit of an expert on moving. My husband and I have moved five times since we married three years ago! This experience combined with my compulsive desire to organize (yes…I am a Virgo) has generated a great little list of tips that I am happy to share with you:
-Pack a suitcase for each family member and yourself. Pretend that you are headed out for a trip away from home and pack everything you would need on your vacation. Toiletries, clothing, and toys for the kids should all be included. Keep these suitcases with you and deliver them to the room where you will be spending your first night in your new home. You can also pack up a clean set of sheets and pillows for each bed in a big duffle suitcase.
-Don’t forget your pets! Pack a special box full of everything your pet will need on its first night in your new home. Food and water bowls, treats and a collar and lead are important. Moving can be very stressful on a pet so include a favorite blanket, bed or toy to provide something familiar for your pet.
-Set up “Moving Headquarters” and keep it with you at all times! A basket or medium size container should do the trick. Fill it with all of the supplies you might need from scissors, labels and tape to your Polaroid camera and some bottles of water.
-Stay organized with a system that works for you. I recommend numbering each box and writing a short description of the contents in a notebook. For more valuable things, take a photo with your Polaroid camera and number the back of the photo with the corresponding box.
-Be specific about the contents of the box on the labels. Writing “Kimberly’s shoes and belts” on the label is much better than simply “Master Bedroom Closet.”
-Never wrap your items in colored tissue or newspaper as it could stain your things. I learned this the hard way! Always use white tissue or blank newsprint.
-Develop a color-coding system for your new home. Use colored dot stickers from the office supply store to designate which room each piece of furniture and box should be placed in. Make a sign for each door that states which color dot goes in that room. Cover the sign in the dot stickers too so that there is no confusion. Using a marker in a corresponding color on the labels can’t hurt either.
-Use clear plastic baggies to attach remote controls, wardrobe keys or cords to the items they go with. Tape or tie the baggies to the item so that it doesn’t get lost in the box.

Gold and White Tablescapes

Looking for the perfect Gold and White Tablescape?  I recommend this color scheme for Thanksgiving or Christmas!  Try combining these fabulous items on a simple white tablecloth...

1. Target's Gold and White China with charming vines and little birds.

2. Colin Cowie for HSN's modern gold etched glassware.

3. A fantastic gold charger.

4. "Japanese Bird" Flatware in Gold Plate.

and don't forget to light lots of candles and take the time to enjoy your family and friends.

Thanksgiving Table Top

Thanksgiving is a time to focus on the family and that is why early preparation is key!  Start planning your table now and try to think outside the box.  You don't need to use traditional Harvest colors (olive green, brown and orange for example.)  Instead try a new crisp and clean look by starting with a crisp and clean white table linen.  Pick and accent color that works for you.  I like gold for the way it sparkles in the candlelight but chocolate brown or hunter green might be better choices for you.  Instead of a multitude of colors on the table do your table in two...white and your accent color.  For a centerpiece with style grab some gourds at your grocery store and spray paint them in your accent color.  Watch more tips for a Thanksgiving Table on Good Day LA.

Make an Entrance

When planning a party, don't deny your guests a dramatic entrance!  Whether you have a short step to your door or a long pathway, don't forget about the experience your guests will have from the moment they get out of their car.  Be sure there is proper lighting, a clear path, and some sort of decoration.  If you have a long path, you may consider setting your guest book on a table with a beautiful floral arrangement at the start of the path.  You might also set some refreshments on a table near the entrance so that your guests can have a drink and linger in lane on the way to your door.  Use your imagination and set the scene!