Your holiday host & hostess deserves the best! A bottle of wine is a lovely standard gift to offer up during the holiday festivities, but there are other ideas to consider.  We searched and curated our top five items to add unique taste and show personal appreciation to your hosts.

Expert Tip:  Stock up now so when last-minute parties come up, RSVP yes and know that you have a full supply of lovely hostess gifts sure to please all.

1. For the Homemaker: Nothing makes a home more cozy than Indulgent Candles or Oil Diffusers

2. For the Stylish One: Fun Coasters are a cool necessity for any bar.  And with the right crowd, they’ll get used often! Or,  an upgrade of barware is always welcome.

3. For the Decorator:  Add to the holiday festivities and traditions by sharing a pretty ornament that will compliment any decor.

4. For the Foodie:  This is always a tough one because they know what they like and they already have it! But who doesn’t want a dark chocolate library? https://www.theochocolate.com/product/53 

5: For Anyone: Try something homemade. Are you famous for your homemade limoncello?  Or maybe everyone raves about the lavender oil that you extract yourself or your homemade soaps or granola.  Arrange into a pretty basket and present with love something they’ll never be able to find in a store. 

When in doubt, think about what your hosts would like but wouldn’t necessarily buy for themselves.

Have a wonderful holiday party season!

The very idea of a wine cellar conjures up romantic images. A dusty, hidden away room full of old vintages; sign us up for that move to a French country home right now. But while wine cellars are all the rage, regularly included in most new home design requests, if you don’t keep your wine organized they’re not practical. If you’re thinking organizing your wine cellar is a bit too OCD for you, bear with us for a moment.

Why You Need To Organize Your Wine Cellar

While you probably have some wine in your cellar you plan on drinking within the month, wine stored in wine cellars that needs to age is an investment.

Temperature changes and even movement can affect the way the wine ages and by organizing and tracking your wine you’ll know what and where the wine you can drink next week, next month, next year, is without disturbing that Barolo you’re planning on drinking when your first grandchild is born.

How to Organize Your Wine Cellar

First things first, establish a separate “drink now,” wine section for everyday wines. You should keep this close to the door so you won’t disturb the rest of your wine catalog when grabbing a bottle. Organize these ones simply: reds, whites, roses, bubbly, dessert. You may even want to add a ‘good hostess gift’ section to this.

After the “drink now,” section is set you need to organize the need to age wine. There are several ways to do this, adapt a method to your own preferences.

The most basic separation is again by cool whites to robust red wines with bubbly, roses and desserts. This method is for you if wine to drink with a particular meal is the most important to you. You can also break it down by time needed to age if you’re very worried about disturbing particular bottles.  Or you can break it down by country or region and sort by producer if you’re most interested in learning about wine regions and histories behind them.

How to Track Your Wine

After you’ve decided on an organization method you may also want to track your wine so you know exactly where it is in your wine cellar. There are a multitude of ways to track your wine. As with the organization, pick the method that will work for you. The easiest method is labels that indicate wine type, drink by date, etc. Our preferred method, though, is to number all the slots in your wine cellar, keep a spreadsheet on your computer that can be easily updated that describes which wine is located in which slot and when it will be ready to drink.

Share your tips for organizing your wine cellar with us on Facebook. 

How can a person so small have so much stuff? Babies and children need everything from books and toys to clothes and gear, and these items can quickly fill up a home. If you’re constantly controlling clutter or routinely regulating rogue messes, use these organization tips for a cleaner, more tidy home:

Minimize Crib Clutter

There’s been quite a stir about which items can go inside a crib, but the American Academy of Pediatrics has ruled: Loose blankets, quilts, bumpers, pillows, fluffy bedding and stuffed animals should be kept out of the crib. The AAP recommends parents use wearable blankets or one-piece sleepers to keep baby comfy and cozy in the crib.

Make sure your baby’s crib is a safe sleeping environment by removing the potentially dangerous items right away. If you’re worried about your baby’s comfort, look to SwaddleDesigns for a wide variety of wearable blankets. They’re perfect for when baby is transitioning from swaddling.

Organize Toys

Organizing your kid’s toys can be quite the task, especially if there are more toys and playthings than storage space in your home. First, pack up a handful of the toys that are rarely played with, place them in a box and store them for a couple of weeks. Every so often, bring the toys out and rotate out a different set of toys. By doing so, you’ll be able to surprise your little one with “new” toys instead of bringing more items into your home from the store.

Each day (and with the help of your child, if he or she is old enough), spend a few minutes picking up toys and putting them away. Clear plastic over-the-door shoe holders can be used to neatly store Barbies, and Rubbermaid bins can be used to house Legos.

Once your children outgrow their favorite toys, talk to them about donating to another child in need. This will inspire them to be charitable as they grow up and can help instill a set of values at a young age.

Recycle Clothing

All the cutesy outfits, jumpers and bodysuits that fit just a month ago may be too small for your little bundle of joy today. It’s an all too familiar dilemma for many parents — what should you do with all those clothes?

One way to recycle outgrown baby clothes: Transform them into a keepsake baby blanket or quilt. Crafty moms and DIY dads can take on this project and have it finished in a single weekend. Quilt Keepsake recommends using ironed clothing that has minimal wear. The crafting experts also suggest sewing on fun embellishments like baby’s hats, socks or bibs.

If quilting isn’t quite your forte, consider donating baby’s outgrown clothing. Pack up clean, wearable items and give to a friend or family member who is expecting, or donate these items to a local nonprofit, such as Goodwill. There are plenty of charities out there that would be happy to take baby’s old clothing.

Thinking about remodelling your ancestral home? The best thing about renovating old houses is that the foundation for the home design is already present, and you only need to enhance and refurbish what needs to be polished again. Restoring an old home is like going through your old stuff in the attic, filtering what you still need, keeping items with sentimental value, and checking out what you can still use.

It’s exactly the same with home restoration. You can’t just take everything out and then put in a new one. For practicality and sentimental measures, you can make use of what you already have. Here is what you should know about restoring an old home.

1. Floor Plan

When you restore a old ancestral home to its natural beauty, the floor should be easy to deal with because you barely have to do anything with it. Old houses commonly used hardwood or marble floors and the common theme is a Victorian style. You can keep the floor plan as it is and just polish any floor board that are creaky or damaged. That is going to be a huge save for your restoration budget.

2. Staircases

Homes with upper levels are not that hard to restore also. The staircases need not to be fully extracted and changed a new one. Just like with the floor plan, you can use the original staircase and just restore it to its original state, or you can even enhance into a more modern design that would still go with your home theme.

3. Windows

Windows around the house can stay in their position. Normally, the windows of a home are already strategically placed around the house to give the best lighting and air. Unless, of course, there have been changes in the structures around your house, you can stick with the original window frames and just enhance the window glasses.

4. Woodwork

Most ancestral homes used materials that are now antique and therefore sturdy and hardwood materials. If you want to restore your old home that’s mostly filled with woodwork materials, you can opt to keep them as they are because hardwood are built to last long. You can repaint and improve the design that would fit your new home theme.

5. Frames

The door frames and other frames around your home can remain as they are. Frames are commonly one of the sturdiest part of a home, thus they will take longer to deteriorate too. You can keep the frames and just remodel them with new paint or theme for your home reconstruction.

Some ancestral homes have withstood many years of servicing and sheltering its owners and the age will mostly show – on the paint, walls and other visible parts of the house. You can restore these with minimum costs by focusing on what you already have and fixing or enhancing them. You can seek help from ACR Construction INC to help you out with the renovation and bring back your old home to life.

Well, if you’re like me and are recuperating from all the shenanigans this past New Year’s, I’m sure you’re admiring that your drink can still fit on your belly without it moving like a Tempurpedic Mattress. Nevertheless, I hope you all had a tremendously successful New Year’s weekend. I know I was thinking of all of you –

I wasn’t.

But, as 2015 is now in full swing I know many of you have many questions and I’m here to help! In the following article, I want to help lift you up to a new level of success & organizing, bringing you a new you that you can’t find in the Container Store.

1. Divide, Conquer, & Label

We’re all visual people (except blind people) and there’s always something magical that occurs when you throw something of the same nature into one singular, compact, plastic piece of magic & label it. So you know what’s inside it even when it’s closed! It gives me chills just typing it. Start by purchasing a set of any of the same type of container, throw stuff in it, & then label it! Simple. Sure it’s not organized yet, but at least those items aren’t bedding for the cats anymore.

2. Detox Your Inbox

If I asked you if you receive junk email on a day-to-day basis, that would be like asking if Hilary Clinton is running for President next election. Anyway it can’t hurt to set some time aside, start your 2015 year off right, and go through your entire virtual life. Deleting unanswered emails, un-subscribing from all those stores you think will send you coupons and sales notifications but never do, and create folders for emails you want to keep. I bet it will lift a load off you’ve never experienced before.

3. The P Word

We all know the famous P word when it comes to getting tasks done, say it out loud with me… no not procrastinating…. but positivity! It’s amazing what positive thinking does to the brain and the entire limbic system. It’s a scientific fact that when you’re positive about the most minute thing, it balances out the opposing sides of your brain and creates a sense of peace & order. No matter what challenges come your way this year, I want you to meet them head on with positivity and a thankful heart. I promise it will open new doors and create more successes for you than you thought possible.

4. Set Goals

Well now that you’re all suddenly positive, I want to encourage you all to set goals. Not yearly goals, this isn’t a bucket list before you’re cremated I want you to make visually attainable monthly goals. Something you wish to accomplish by the end of each month that you know you can achieve if you set your mind and time to it. It could be the smallest thing like bathing or going to that AA meeting. If you’re wanting to accomplish it, it’s important. Go ahead and make a goal!

5. HealthCARE

So for the ten of you that listened to what I just said in the above paragraph, thank you. The rest of you, keep reading. I’m certain that a majority of you all marked losing weight for your January goal. Well, as nice as that goal is, I like to think of the big picture. Instead of losing weight for a month and then gaining it back in February eating all those chocolate covered roses on Valentines Day, I want to challenge you to not care about just losing weight, but being healthier period. Losing weight is a short-term goal, but bringing your own meaning to the CARE in Healthcare means a happier and healthier life. Eat smarter, drink less, go to your local GNC & start taking daily multivitamins, and know that your body is a temple and deserves to be respected.

6. RSVP On Life

Alright! It’s 2015, you’re positive, your containers are labeled, you’ve set goals, you’re healthy, NOW I want you to show up. Be accountable for you, be respectful to everyone, and show up to your life. If something in your life is too cluttered or not making you happy, rectify it. You have control over you, no one else. The only thing certain in life is death (and taxes) so why not get focused, organized, & in control. A new life, party of one? Your tables ready!

7. Don’t Contain Yourself

We all as humans have natural-born weaknesses…. But nothing, I repeat nothing! Not even the Lord Jesus & his lambs were prepared for the creation of the greatest weakness of all – The Container Store. Yes, you read right! The. Container. Store. As many times as I walk into that magnificent place, all I can do is fall to my knees crying in exaltation, “I’m not worthy!” and carefully overt my eyes from the light glistening off of the pristinely organized isles. Do yourself a favor this year and beckon in the divinity that is The Container Store.

8. Color My World

I don’t know about you, but I like my life with color! A splash of this and a splash of that here and there can change your perspective and your psyche in an instant. One of my favorite things to do in organizing, is to create a cohesiveness with color in a space. You can achieve this in so many ways. Either color-coded containers, color-coded dividers, color-coded file boxes, the list goes on and on. Try it and see if it doesn’t lighten up your life and spaces.

9. Advance On Your Finance

Technology is a pretty amazing thing. Sure it can remember your Credit Cards & speak to you in different languages, nevertheless if you’re wanting to organize your finances, technology might just be the solution. There’s a plethora amount of outlets that can help you succeed in getting everything in order such as mint.com, mobile apps for your specific bank, & Venmo can all compartmentalize expenses, make everything digital, & compare financial trends month by month.

10. Inspire

Please, for me if nothing else has stuck in this article, know that you matter. That you are enough. And that you are more than what you think you are. You can do anything. Inspire yourself and the Universe and do something extraordinary this 2015 season. I believe in you. I’ve been surprised by one or two people before in my life. Who knows, maybe you’ll be next. Never say never when you don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Thanks for reading.

As a new year approaches, many of us take the time to make resolutions to change our life for the better during the new year. One resolution that could help you feel better about yourself and your home and also help you take charge of your time and finances is home organization. Here’s how.

Feeling Better About Your Home

An organized home is a clean and tidy home. If given the choice, many would not choose to live in a messy, dirty environment. But a home that is not organized is an invitation for clutter and dirt. When you organize your home, there is no dirt or mess hiding in corners or cupboards. You can also find things more easily in your home. When you organize your bedroom closet, you know where your work clothes are and where your casual clothes are.

Feeling Better About Yourself

Home organization can help you feel like you are more in control of your life. Instead of coming home to a chaotic mess, you can come home to a place where you know where things are. If you are not rushing around once you get home to try to figure out what to make for dinner, you can just bring out the ingredients for the meal you planned over the weekend and make it. When you know where your clean work clothes are, you will not worry about being late to work or scramble around your house in the morning trying to figure out what you have clean that you can wear. Getting organized can help you reduce stresses like this in your life.

Taking Charge of Your Time

Time is the one thing none of us gets more of in life. When your home is organized, you can use this precious commodity more productively. No more wasting time trying to find your keys in the morning because they are hanging neatly on the key rack near the garage door. No more wasting time trying to find a document in your home office because they are all organized in a filing cabinet. You can use this extra time that you have to do the things that you want to do.

Taking Charge of Your Finances

Home organization can help you with your finances in a few different ways. When you get organized, you do not need to spend money on duplicates of items that you already have. I know that when I was not organized, I ended up buying more of the same thing because I simply did not realize that I already had it. When you get your home office organized, you create a system for your bills. This way they do not get lost when they come in and you make sure that each one gets paid on time and in full.

This week we’re focusing on your dining area. Just a few tasks this week and you’ll be good and ready for next week’s flurry of activity.

Monday: It’s time to clean up, de-clutter and do you have enough settings? Is your silverware polished and is your centerpiece picked out? Now’s a good time to delegate those tasks.

Tuesday: Nine days until Thanksgiving. Solidify your menu and seating arrangements, delegate some dishes to family members.

Wednesday: If you’re going to participate in the Black Friday, #ShopSmall and Cyber Monday deals, gather the circulars and go online to check out the offerings. Then make a game plan and recruit assistants. Download the Black Friday app to stay up-to-date on the latest deals www.blackfriday.com and make sure your home is organized for Black Friday.

Thursday: Add the necessary leaves to your dining table and set the table ahead of time. That way you know what more is needed and you’ll know what you have space for.

Friday: Are you attending some cocktail and holiday parties this season? Now’s a good time to jot down your hostess gift ideas so you’re not running out at the last minute. There are tons of great ideas out there, you can start here: http://tinyurl.com/mbjsoxs

Resources:

Do you have all your tried and true Thanksgiving recipes in one place? Are you looking for a new dish this year? Either way, here are some tools to help you organize and easily share more of those dishes everyone can’t get enough of:
Check here for inspiration for table decor and sooo much more…http://tinyurl.com/6vbucgm
Simple and festive ideas for holiday decor. http://tinyurl.com/ljr4smb
For more holiday organizing tips visit In Order to Succeed on Facebook and on Twitter.