10, 9, 8, 7 . . .

Midweek, we’ll say goodbye to 2013 and usher in a new year filled with opportunities unknown.  So to give this year a proper sendoff and 2014 a great jumpstart, let’s celebrate!

If you are a keepsake compiler, a great way to archive not just your things but your memories is to sit down and take a little time to jot down or type out some highlights from the past 12 months.  Flip through your planner or scan your photo files on your computer.  And then make some notes, just for you or for posterity, and slip them in with your keepsakes.  If this tradition is kept up, it would a neat collection to go back over years down the road and look back at what you found special and noteworthy.

Make some New Year’s resolutions.  What may seem like an old tradition could be the catalyst you need to boost you toward action on an issue.  If you share your list with someone close to you, that accountability factor could help you work out a manageable pace to accomplish something important to you.

Speak up.  If you owe someone a thank you, an apology, or simply a spoken “I love you,” don’t let more time pass without voicing it.  Because this time of year is a time of reflection, there’s no time like the present.  Take the time to acknowledge and celebrate achievements and learn from missteps.  Start the New Year with a clean slate.

Mark the occasion.  Maybe you want to enjoy a quiet New Year’s Eve at home, or maybe you want to invite some friends or family over to ring in the New Year as the ball drops.  You can keep it simple and celebratory at the same time.  A selection of hors d'oeuvres can stand in for a sit-down meal.  A bubbly punch can be raised in a toast instead of a flute of champagne.  And a fancy dessert isn’t needed when some juicy strawberries dipped in dark chocolate line a serving tray made for passing. 

Count down along with those huddled in Times Square, wave glowing sparklers in your backyard, wear the pointed hat and blow on the noisemaker with gusto, or watch the skyline at midnight for pretty pops of light.  However you choose to celebrate, make it a safe and Happy New Year.  Here is to turning the page on a 2014 full of promise, joy, love, and hope to last all year long . . . 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 . . . Happy New Year!     

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star December 29th.

Merry, Bright Ideas

As you tie up your holiday cheer with ribbons and bows, here are some concepts to add some extra twinkle to your Kris Kringle this week.

Again taking a page out of some great commercials’ playbooks this season, there are some cute ideas literally floating out there that would leave memorable marks on your Christmas morning.  I love the concept of tying smaller, lightweight and unwrapped presents to the strings of helium balloons and allowing them to float to the ceiling.  You’d have the kids truly jumping up and down over their loot.  Another alterative gift presentation idea is to wrap up one gift to completely look like another.  They may think they know what they’re in for by the wrapping’s shapely appearance, but tearing into it comes up with something unexpected.  Fun shapes, crafty use of wrapping paper, and some imagination is all you’ll need to pull off this undercover project. 

Make Christmas morning magical with sweet and special plans for breakfast.  Use cookie cutters as pancake batter molds for anything-but-standard shapes, like a pancake snowman with chocolate chip features and a piece of bacon for a scarf.  Shape your cinnamon rolls into a pull-apart Christmas tree on a sheet pan, or layer waffle quarters to make one Christmas tree per plate.   

As you enjoy some time at home, you can fuel the sugar rush likely going on by turning snack time into party time.  Set up a sundae bar, a hot chocolate station, or a s’mores station to get the kids involved and excited about a special treat.  Make the everyday snacks more enticing by cubing fruit and turning them into kabobs or building fun designs out of crackers, pretzels, sandwich cutouts, and vegetables for dipping.  Make a meal of bite-sized appetizers instead of going the full plate route one night.  

Pile on the couch and have a Christmas movie marathon of your favorites, whether older traditional movies or more cult classics top your holiday list.  Don’t forget the popcorn dressed up with chocolate and peanuts or grated parmesan and dried minced garlic.  You can make up your own trivia games, taking turns offering a snippet of a Christmas song, leaving a blank for others to shout out and fill in.  The one with the first correct answer gets to offer the next song selection.  Or you could base trivia questions on family history, using past holiday experiences, stories, funny memories, previous gifts, or other applicable remember-when memory joggers. 

It doesn’t take a guest list or even a houseful to create a fun and memorable atmosphere to share with your family this week.  After all, this is an incredibly joyous time as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and that, the ultimate gift, is more worthy of celebration and merriment than anything else this time of year.  So I wish you a very Merry Christmas, and may the greatest gift we give to others be, above all, filled with love.

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star December 22nd.

    

Wrap It Up, Santa

Oh, the woes of still having gifts-to-give unchecked on your list halfway into December!  When you really want to give thoughtful gifts, but think time is trickling down, turn to some unwrap-worthy ideas from this Santa’s list:

Customized Gifts, ordered online and shipped with a little more speed

Coffee mug, customized with a monogram, name, logo, or funny saying between you and the recipient • Set of monogrammed coasters • Cutting board with an engraved initial •   Custom throw pillow printed with your own design • Barware glasses with letter or wording etched in • Custom phone case • Personalized luggage tags • Serving tray with family name or initials • Personalized stationery • Customized guest hand towels • Framed print of a special photo or place • Custom wall calendar with your own photos •  Labels or stickers with a name or monogram • Monogrammed cosmetic tote   

Gift Options bought locally or online

Glassware set • Ceramic or porcelain jars • Throw blanket • Clutch purse or wristlet • Decorative boxes • Set of chargers, placemats, or napkins • Serving platter, tray, or bowl • Modern figurine or small statue • Pretty tealight candle holders • Throw pillows • Makeup brush set • Cosmetic travel bag • Decorative salt and pepper shakers or sugar bowl and creamer • Ceramic cake stand • Dessert or appetizer plate set • Glass vase or bowl • Set of small hostess knives/spreaders • Tea kettle • Decorative frames • Set of kitchen or bath soaps • Cookie cutter set • Set of attractive notebooks or journals     

You want the thought to count and the gift to be well received.  You don’t have to think so big you break the budget; some simple, affordable pieces can be under-the-tree favorites when the bows come off and the torn paper starts piling up.  The countdown is at 10 and ticking down.  So be swift, crafty, and wrap it up, Santa! 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star December 15th.

  

What's Cool This Christmas

If you want to be in-the-know for the top decorating trends this Christmas season, the key word is “DIY.”  Here are some popular themes you should see plastered all over online boards like Pinterest that could pretty handily make their way into your home.

Chalkboard Art – Chalkboards continue to be all the rage, whether it’s a framed chalkboard hanging on the wall or a section of wall painted in chalkboard paint.  For Christmas, drawing out scripted seasonal messages, as well as adding chalk accents around a wreath or a series of hanging ornaments will both be attention getters.

Lettering – Using a computer program like Publisher or Photoshop to make your own Christmas wall art (or simply ordering someone else’s completed piece online) is a simple DIY decorative idea.  Using different lettering sizes, colors, and fonts, words and phrases of the season are grouped together in collections, typically in paragraph form with justified margins, allowing you to make and print an 8”x10” or 11”x14” and then frame as a single or a collection of a few pieces of wording wall art.  These would look great in the dining room, near the Christmas tree, or as part of your entryway décor.

Feathers – Four colly birds, three French hens, and two turtle doves get a fresh take this season with feather décor being a popular trend.  Feather wreaths hanging on the front door or from the mantle add a modern twist on the typical greenery. 

Open Frames – We’ve seen them before, and they are still hanging around; open frames make great backdrops for loose ornaments hanging from thin ribbon strands.  Spread them out along the top of the frame, or bunch them together and tie a grouping in the middle.  Hang the 3-D art on the wall or in place of a wreath on the door.  Frames also set the scene for string strands strung (say that 5 times fast) from side to side with small clothespins holding little squares of cardstock with the days of the month printed on them.  Let the kids count down the days to Santa by removing one number each night.   

Off-Season Collections – red and green are traditional, but a whole collection of bright colors like pinks and blues, summery seashells, or a monochromatic theme can deck your halls, walls, and tree as well.  You may not be into snowmen and reindeer.  Find alternative decorations, carry your theme throughout, and have an off-white Christmas all your own.

Crafts – Crafts in general are popular this month, and they go beyond classroom artwork of the past.  Look into options for making your own accents and accessories like small Christmas trees made out of a wide variety of materials, painted or decoupage ornaments, handcrafted wreaths, and custom centerpiece components.

Your imagination’s the limit when it comes to options for making your home merry and bright this holiday season.

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star December 8th.

     

In a Jar

You have plenty of time not to get yourself in a jam and instead work on some DIY Christmas gifts before the month is up.  A popular trend this year for homemade exchanges will be centered around the Mason jar.

“Fill ‘er up” applies to more than just the gas tank.  Turn a simple Mason jar into a modern, thoughtful Christmas gift fitting for kids, neighbors, teachers, family, and friends.  Showcase half of your baking skills by layering the dry ingredients of a cookie, cake, or brownie recipe in a mason jar, decorate the outside with a ring of craft paper or fabric, and tie it off using twine with a recipe card with all the details attached.  Be sure and add a cute “To” and “From” tag as well.  If you’re sharing an old family recipe, that makes it even sweeter.

Use a Mason jar like a twist on a gift box by using one or a small bunch to house a gift of art supplies for the crafty one or kitchen utensils for the cook.  Decorate the jar’s exterior with layers of craft paper rings, ribbon, and string, or decorate with paint by spray painting the inside of the jar, making sure the outside stays clean.  To have a monogram show through, use a glue stick to carefully adhere one to three letters you’ve printed and cut out to the inside of the jar, then spray paint the inside.  When it dries, carefully peel away the letters to reveal the outlines in the clear glass.  Pop in paint brushes, sponge brushes, colored pencils or markers, or go the route of spatulas, spoons, and kitchen shears. 

Mason jars of varying sizes can also be used like a snow globe.  Use your crafting skills for this one.  Create a mini outdoor scene on the underside of the lid, affixing your items with hot glue.  You could find inspiration in the miniatures’ section of a craft store, like a little Christmas tree, other trees with a park bench, or a little house.  You could even use some fake grass for the yard of a miniature house or moss for the floor of a forest.  Add a scoop of the sprinkley kind of fake snow or bigger pieces of glitter, twist the jar onto the lid carefully, and test your snow globe effect (once the glue is firmly set) by gently turning the jar upside down and back – no water needed.  If you’re happy with your design, use a little hot glue along the rim to secure the lid permanently. 

Your options are only limited by your imagination . . . and your online searches for more ideas.  Plant a succulents garden in a jar and give as a no-fuss green thumb gift for Grandma.  Make batches of cookies and give them away one stack at a time in jars for your neighbors, co-workers, or the kids’ teachers.  Wow the kids with brightly colored hard candy or lollipops in their stocking.  Layer in banana pudding, homemade pie, or even a layered green salad to give a tasty treat straight from the fridge or to serve at a gathering.   

A single Mason jar can be transformed into any number of thoughtful, simple gifts.  Add an extra layer of homemade sweetness when you share your creations this Christmas.  

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star December 1st.