Part 2: Innovative Ideas for a Home Refresh in the New Year

Continuing from our previous discussion, let’s dive into more creative ways to refresh your home for the New Year. These tips will help you add a unique touch and make your living space more enjoyable.

Personalize Your Space

1. Create a Gallery Wall: Display a collection of your favorite artworks, photographs, or even memorable quotes on a designated wall. This not only personalizes your space but also serves as a conversation starter.

2. DIY Decor Projects: Engage in some DIY projects. Whether it’s repainting a piece of furniture, crafting your own throw pillows, or creating handmade decorations, adding your personal touch makes your home uniquely yours.

Lighting is Key

3. Layered Lighting: Experiment with different lighting sources. Use a combination of overhead lights, floor lamps, and table lamps to create ambiance and functionality in your rooms.

4. Update Light Fixtures: Changing old light fixtures can make a significant difference. Modern or unusual designs can act as a focal point in a room.

Make Use of Textiles

5. Refresh Your Textiles: Swapping out textiles like curtains, bed linens, and towels can instantly change the feel of a room. Seasonal textiles are also a great way to keep your home looking fresh throughout the year.

6. Rugs and Throws: Add or replace rugs and throw blankets. These not only provide comfort but also add color and texture to your living space.

Embrace Technology

7. Smart Home Gadgets: Incorporate smart home devices for convenience and modernity. From smart thermostats to voice-controlled lighting, these gadgets can significantly enhance your living experience.

8. Wireless Solutions: Reduce clutter by opting for wireless technology where possible. Wireless speakers, chargers, and home entertainment systems offer a sleeker look and more flexibility in arranging your space.

Refreshing your home for the New Year is about creativity and personalization. It’s about creating a space that not only looks great but also feels comfortable and represents you. Use these tips as a starting point and let your imagination guide you to create a home that’s uniquely yours. Happy New Year, and happy decorating!

Part 1: Revitalize Your Living Space for the New Year

As the New Year unfolds, it’s a fantastic opportunity to breathe new life into your home. Refreshing your living space not only revitalizes the environment you inhabit but also reflects a new beginning. Here are some innovative and easy-to-implement tips to give your home a fresh, exciting vibe for the year ahead.

Declutter and Organize

1. Out with the Old: Begin by decluttering. A clean and organized space creates a foundation for a refreshing change. Sort through your belongings and decide what you need, what can be donated, or what should be discarded.

2. Smart Storage Solutions: Utilize smart storage options. Consider multi-functional furniture with built-in storage or install shelves to minimize clutter. This step is not just about finding space for your stuff, but also about creating a more open, serene environment.

Update Your Color Palette

3. Fresh Coat of Paint: A new color scheme can completely transform a room. Choose colors that reflect your personality or the mood you want to set. Soft pastels or earthy tones can create a calm, soothing atmosphere, while bold colors can make a statement.

4. Accentuate with Accessories: If you’re not ready for a complete repaint, adding colorful accessories like cushions, rugs, or art can inject new life into your space.

Bring Nature Indoors

5. Houseplants: Incorporating greenery is a great way to refresh your home. Plants not only enhance the aesthetic of a room but also improve air quality. Choose low-maintenance indoor plants if you don’t have a green thumb.

6. Natural Elements: Use natural materials like wood, stone, or bamboo in your decor. These elements can bring a sense of the outdoors inside and add a touch of warmth and authenticity to your space.

Revamping your home for the New Year doesn’t require a complete overhaul. Small, thoughtful changes can have a significant impact. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll explore more innovative ideas to rejuvenate your home!

Tips on How to Prepare for Stree-Free Holiday

Preparing for a stress-free holiday involves a combination of planning, organization, self-care, and managing expectations. Here are some key steps to help you:

  1. Start Early: Begin your holiday preparations well in advance. This gives you more time to plan, shop, and organize without feeling rushed.
  2. Make a Plan: Write down all the tasks you need to accomplish. This can include gift shopping, meal planning, decorating, and travel arrangements. Having a plan helps you stay organized and focused.
  3. Set a Budget: Determine how much you can afford to spend on gifts, food, decorations, and travel. Stick to your budget to avoid financial stress.
  4. Delegate Tasks: Don’t try to do everything yourself. Delegate tasks to family members or friends. This can make the workload more manageable and involve others in the holiday preparations.
  5. Simplify Traditions: Consider simplifying your holiday traditions. Sometimes less is more, and you don’t need to do everything you’ve done in past years.
  6. Shop Online: Try to shop locally when you can, but to avoid crowds and save time, you can save time shopping online.
  7. Take Care of Yourself: Make sure to take breaks, get enough sleep, eat healthily, and engage in activities you enjoy. Self-care is vital during the hectic holiday season.
  8. Manage Expectations: Remember that not everything has to be perfect. It’s okay if things don’t go exactly as planned. The holidays are about enjoying time with loved ones, not perfection.
  9. Stay Flexible: Be prepared for last-minute changes or challenges. Staying flexible can help you adapt and reduce stress.
  10. Remember the Meaning of the Holiday: Focus on what the holiday means to you and your loved ones. Whether it’s about gratitude, family, or relaxation, keeping the true meaning in mind can help reduce stress.

By following these steps, you can prepare for a holiday that’s enjoyable and as stress-free as possible. Remember, the goal is to enjoy the season and the company of those around you, not to create the perfect holiday scenario.

Embrace Autumn in Arizona: Fall Decorating Tips for Your Home

Autumn in Arizona may not have the quintessential falling leaves and crisp air that are synonymous with the season, but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring the cozy vibes of fall into your home! With a few creative touches, you can transform your living space into an autumnal oasis, perfect for enjoying a pumpkin spice latte while basking in the warmth of the Arizona sun.

  1. Play With Color: Arizona landscapes are filled with rich, earthy tones that can easily be incorporated into your fall décor. Opt for warm shades of orange, red, and yellow, and complement them with neutrals like beige, brown, and cream. Think burnt orange throw pillows, terracotta vases, and mustard yellow blankets.
  2. Incorporate Natural Elements: Take advantage of the beautiful natural elements found in the Arizona desert. Incorporate succulents, sand, and smooth stones into your fall décor. For instance, create a centerpiece with a wooden bowl filled with sand, topped with a collection of different succulents and stones.
  3. Texture is Key: Fall is all about cozying up, and texture plays a big role in creating a cozy atmosphere. Add textured elements such as woven baskets, knit throws, and plush rugs. Don’t forget to layer up with cozy blankets and pillows for the perfect snuggling spot.
  4. Scent-sational Fall: One of the best parts of fall is the delicious scents that come with the season. Incorporate fall scents into your home with candles, potpourri, or essential oil diffusers. Opt for fragrances like cinnamon, pumpkin spice, apple cider, or even desert-inspired scents like sage or cedar.
  5. Light the Way: As the days get shorter and the nights longer, lighting plays a crucial role in creating a cozy fall ambiance. Add string lights, lanterns, or candles to create a warm and inviting glow. You can also swap out your lampshades for warmer tones to enhance the cozy fall vibe.

Embracing fall in Arizona may require a bit of creativity, but with these tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating a cozy, autumn-inspired oasis in your home. So go ahead, grab your pumpkin spice latte, and enjoy the beauty of fall in the desert!

Halloween Decorating Ideas for Arizona Homes

Arizona may be known for its scorching heat and beautiful deserts, but that doesn’t mean you can’t embrace the spooky spirit of Halloween! There are plenty of unique and creative ways to transform your home into a haunted desert oasis. Here are some ideas to get you started.

  1. Desert-Themed Haunt: Embrace the beauty of the Arizona landscape by incorporating desert-themed decorations. Use sand, rocks, and desert plants like cacti and succulents to create a spooky desert scene. Add in some fake skulls, bones, and cobwebs to turn your front yard into a haunted desert.
  2. Southwestern Spooks: Add a southwestern twist to your Halloween decorations by incorporating elements like Dia de los Muertos skulls, colorful Mexican banners, and southwestern-patterned fabrics. Hang string lights and lanterns to create a festive atmosphere.
  3. Creepy Cacti: Turn your cacti and succulents into creepy Halloween decorations by adding fake spider webs, plastic spiders, and tiny Halloween-themed props. You can also carve faces into your cacti to turn them into desert jack-o-lanterns.
  4. Ghost Town: Transform your home into an abandoned ghost town with wooden signs, old lanterns, and tumbleweeds. Use sheets or white fabric to create ghosts and hang them from trees or your porch.
  5. Glow in the Dark: Since Halloween in Arizona can still be quite warm, take advantage of the balmy evenings by incorporating glow-in-the-dark decorations. Use glow-in-the-dark paint to create spooky signs, and hang glow-in-the-dark skeletons and ghosts around your yard.

Be sure to check out our Pinterest boards on Halloween and Fall Recipes!

No matter how you choose to decorate, the key is to have fun and let your creativity run wild. With these ideas, you’re sure to have the spookiest house in the neighborhood this Halloween season. So go ahead and embrace the spooky spirit of the Southwest!

Preparing for the Holidays

‘Tis the season to get ahead on your holiday decorating.  December is officially tomorrow and if you haven’t already started the home decorating process, here are just a few quick tips that may help you this year!

Make lists: Figure out what tasks you need to complete.  Ask the kids what they want to do and make a to-do list for them. This will help you spread the joy and have everyone do a little something for the house.

Set Deadlines: Make each task in your list have a deadline.  It’ll make the holiday decorating process a little less daunting, and it always feels good to complete something!

Plan ahead: Remember when you’re taking out all of the decorations for this holiday season, that you’ll need to put them back.  Make it easy on yourself and make a note of where the decorations all go.  After the season, remember what a pain it was taking everything out of their boxes and take the time to package them up the way you want.

Organize Decorations: Put them into piles according to which room they will go in and get the kids to help put them up! It’s great for you and makes it a family affair, which can eventually become a fun family tradition.

It’s a great time of the year so have fun with your decorating this year!

Thanksgiving Favorite: Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe!

Thankgiving is tomorrow! If you’re still looking for the perfect side dish, we thought we’d share one of our favorite with you for to help you be a holiday hero! Happy holidays from our family to yours.

Let’s get cooking!

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound elbow macaroni
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1 tablespoon powdered mustard
  • 3 cups milk
  • 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 large egg
  • 12 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Fresh black pepper

Topping:

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 cup panko bread crumbs

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente.

While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and mustard and keep it moving for about five minutes. Make sure it’s free of lumps. Stir in the milk, onion, bay leaf, and paprika. Simmer for ten minutes and remove the bay leaf.

Temper in the egg. Stir in 3/4 of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese.

Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat. Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving.

Hosting a Successful Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is the time of year that friends and family all gather together and celebrate the good things in life. This festive time can be a blast, but it can also become quite stressful when you are hosting it yourself. Hosting any major event comes with its set of challenges. From planning the event, meal prepping, ensuring a good time, and much more, this task can feel overwhelming. In order to have a successful Thanksgiving, you need to plan ahead of time. Here are some things you need to consider to make your Thanksgiving flow as smoothly as possible.

Prep the Night Before the Event

Any big event takes time. Try to prepare your Thanksgiving dinner as much as possible the night before the event. Set your table for all your guests and have all the groceries bought. Consider baking anything you can one day prior. The more you can accomplish before the day of the event, the better.

Consider Help

Do not pass up on the opportunity for help. You may have a couple of friends or family members willing to help cook or bring side dishes! Hosting does not mean you need to do everything yourself. Allow others to help. With everyone having different assigned tasks, you will be able to focus more time on the event itself and the people you’ve invited to sit around your table.

Relax

Stress can easily make some individuals get agitated when things are not going accordingly. Make sure you do not become a “negative Nancy” when hosting the event. The host energy can contribute to the energy of the entire event. If you are becoming stressed, your guests will be able to see this easily. Relax and have a game plan. From cooking and meal preparation to dessert and after dinner activities, all these should be thought out ahead of time. Just be sure to be adaptable as the day unfolds and make sure to relax.

Planning ahead of time is vital. Remember, your guests will most likely be drinking. It is essential to remember your guests’ safety. Have a plan in place if guests cannot return home or need a place to stay. Enjoy the opportunity to spend time with everyone, and remember to relax.

Winter Crafts for Kids

As the days start to get shorter, kids can start to feel bored and pent up indoors, particularly when the holidays end and schedules return to normal. When this happens, consider making some fun winter crafts that you can use to brighten up your house and make it a little more cheerful inside. Depending on when you start, you can even use a few of these as decorations over the holiday, or save them for next year to put them out and get some additional use out of them.

Painted Pinecones

Create some beautiful winter decorations with pinecones and some iridescent paint medium. Iridescent medium can be applied to the pinecone spines just like paint. When it dries, however, the medium becomes transparent, leaving behind only a sparkling shine that makes it look as though the pinecones have been left outside in the frost. You can also add the medium to any paint to make your blues, reds, and greens sparkle as well. Tie a ribbon onto the ends of your finished pinecones and use them as ornaments, or hang them in the windows to catch the light.

Salty Snow Scene

This is a fun craft for with children who enjoy the process of watching an almost magical change in their handiwork.  Have your kids draw a snowman or other winter picture on a piece of heavy construction paper. Make sure that they do not cover all the areas of the paper with crayon; some of the paper needs to stay bare for the effect to work.

Dissolve a cup of Epsom salts into two cups of warm water; this needs to be fairly thick and heavy when you are done mixing. Have your child paint the salt water over the finished drawing. When the water dries, it will leave behind salt crystals on the paper that will make it look as though it has been snowing in their scene. If you’d like, you can also add a drop or two of blue food coloring to the water to give the entire picture an icy blue sheen to it at the same time.

Thanksgiving with Style: Part 2

Planning for Thanksgiving involves more than a trip to the grocery store. Many stressful holidays occur because only the food is planned. By taking the time the day before to handle the other aspects of the holiday, you can have more time for your last-minute food preparations.

Thanksgiving is often the one holiday when people bring out all their best china and silver. It’s also a day when you may have many dinner guests. The best way to plan for this is to set the table early. If you have silver that needs polishing or you can’t find Aunt Lavine’s cranberry compote dish, Thanksgiving morning is not the day to discover these problems. Spend today pulling out everything and setting the table. (You can eat in front of the TV tonight!)

Prepare for any potential problems or accidents. Your dining room floor and table linens are at risk with a Thanksgiving dinner. Pre-plan for spills with a good collection of white towels and your favorite spot remover if needed. Quick attention fo spilling protects your rugs and tablecloths without unduly embarrassing your guests.

You may want to serve food buffet-style, reducing the demands for passing everything and allowing more space at the table. Plan which serving pieces will be used, and layout your buffet ahead of time. Then just add the food on Thanksgiving day. This will leave room for decorative elements on the table itself.

Finally, plan ahead for the meal itself. Check your recipes when you make your shopping list and prepare anything you can today. Are there any bakeries or stores that make great pies? Consider buying them and saving yourself some time and trouble. Make a plan for Thanksgiving morning that factors in any oven or stove-top space limitations. Give yourself a spare half-hour to hour in your calculations to cover the unexpected.

With these plans you have a good chance of experiencing a fun and lower-stress holiday. Maybe you’ll even be able to watch a little football!