And To All A Good Night
Surviving the Holidays
Hope everyone is hanging in there. We are nearing the finish line; it’s almost Christmas! Everyone’s house is packed to the brim with decorations, presents, food, and visitors, which typically makes for a messier house and things being out of order. In order to keep my house running smoothly and making sure it stays clean, there are things I do weekly that I try not to let go to the wayside during the holidays (otherwise it piles up for after and I regret it every time). For me, having a house in order allows for my mind to stay clear and helps mitigate added stress.
Weekly House Rituals
Water indoor plants (more than usual right now with poinsettias and lemon cypress trees for the holidays)
Water potted boxwoods on front and back porch
Change water for flowers (or replace if they’re done)- I love having fresh flowers in my house every week
Wash bath towels and kitchen towels
Wash/change sheets
Vacuum high traffic areas
Go through fridge and toss anything that has gone bad
Make grocery list (go through fridge, freezer, and pantry). If any social events, make sure to grab a bottle of wine or whatever else is needed (to avoid doing so at the last minute)
Pick up dog surprises in the backyard
Also here is a list of things to do during the holidays to lighten load/lessen clutter/extra cleanup/etc.
Decorate right after Thanksgiving little by little in case something breaks, needs to be replaced, and so you can ENJOY the joy as long as possible
Declutter and put things away to make way for decorations
Put decoration storage boxes away but in an easily accessible place for when decorations are taken down
Immediately put up Christmas cards on the fridge or in the glass bowl I keep them in
Stay on top of taking out trash and recycling (I break down boxes immediately)
Note if any lights need new bulbs or batteries, so I’m prepared for next year when I put them back up (load up that Amazon cart)
Vacuum often (this makes a big difference mentally for me when there is glitter everywhere and especially if you have a live tree or garland)
Consider using high end paper plates and bamboo utensils if entertaining to minimize cleanup. A friend of mine also rented glassware to minimize cleanup from her holiday party, which was brilliant and highly recommended.
Drop returns off at post office, Fedex, and UPS weekly to avoid getting behind on those.
Learn to say no and practice boundaries when you feel overloading, run down, or things are getting to be too much!
Here is a palette cleanser with some gorgeous interiors I’ve been drooling over…
1. Swoon over this chic bathroom. I love the skirt on the sink. . . Neisha Crosland House, James McDonald (image)
2. I love how clean, warm, and chic this space is. I love how it’s traditional with modernity. . .Anahita Rigby (designer), Ollie Tomlinson (image)
3. The wall color is divine and I love the contrasting trim color. . .Catherine Cazalet House, Christopher Horwood (image)
4. I’ve never met an animal print I didn’t like like these walls. . .Catherine Cazalet House, Christopher Horwood (image)
5. Soothing and classy. . .Turner Pocock (designer), Paul Massey (image)
6. I love the paint color. It’s giving jewel box vibes. And the marble is sexy. . .Studio Duggan (designer)
7. Soothing and fun. I love the paint color, the layered rugs, and the bed. . .Marie-Louise Sjogren (designer), Paul Massey (image)
8. This room feels like a cloud to me. I love the paint color, the fireplace, and the chair. . .Marie-Louise Sjogren (designer), Paul Massey (image)
9. A gorgeous, bright, classic entryway. And OMG that storage. . .Ben Pentreath (designer), Paul Massey (image)
10. I love how dark, rich, and moody this office is. It’s not out of date, but modern and cool with the hairpin chair. . .Heidi Caillier (designer), Haris Kenjar (image)
Here are this week’s interior finds…
1. Etched Scroll Gallery Tray 2. Brass Scalloped Handle 3. Diva Pickle Dish 4. Artemis Side Table 5. Cassandre Black & Gold Andirons 6. Small Bowl in Silver 7. Seeded Glass Catchall 8. Animal Print Trio 9. Trip Portable Lamp 10. Chapati Board 11. Massager by Acera (really want to try this face massager) 12. Rosetta Sour
13. Double-Wall Glass Coffee Mugs (I have some of these and they are amazing) 14. Tulip Coupe Glass 15. Diva Tea Cup (I want to start collecting tea cups) 16. Bud Box in Oyster 17. Izara Sculpture (fun!) 18. French Concrete Planter 19. Vintage Glass Vase- Pair 20. Faux Shearling Stool 21. Chippendale Planter 22. Sirens Vase 23. Gossip Needlepoint Pillow (I love when humor is injected into a home) 24. Pas Coffee Table 25. Parea Chair
Here are this week’s fashion finds…
1. Knit Jacket (so chic) 2. Anya Knit Top (I have my eyes on this) 3. Long Tailored Black Skirt 4. Rhinestone Purse (thanks for this gem, Nellie!) 5. High Low Mock Neck Fisherman Sweater (I ordered this as it looks delicious) 6. Dulce Cashmere V-Neck Sweater 7. Cashmere Headband 8. Ussi Pullover (this is sexy, someone please get this) 9. Stretch Knit Straight-Leg Pull-On Pant 10. Cecile Brush Jacket 11. Knitted Sweater (lovely neckline) 12. CashSoft Cropped High V-Neck Sweater
13. Spot On Bomber Jacket 14. Women's Leisure Studio Sweatshirt (go off Target) 15. Track Pant in Felted Wool-Cashmere 16. Erewhon Tie-Dye Sock 17. Mushroom Gilet 18. High Rise Barrel Jeans 19. Longline Padded Trucker Jacket 20. No.6 Low Shearling Clog Boot 21. Diana Cardigan 22. Mini Espresso Martini Bag 23. Como-Denim/Black 24. Liam Sweater 25. Cropped Duvet Wrap Puffer Jacket 26. Rowan V-Neck in Cashmere
If you’re looking for anything for NYE or party clothes, remember to check out the holiday fashion finds that I continually add to.
HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
To make things easier, I have created a ShopMy Page with all the goodies from today’s newsletter and previous newsletters. Full disclosure, I may earn a small commission from a retailer if you make a purchase through any of the affiliate links sprinkled throughout this newsletter, which helps me run this newsletter and technology associated with it. As always, if you need help finding something or need ideas for a project, feel free to reach out!
Current Obsessions
-The brand, Rhode Resort, is shutting down.
-What a funky and cool house!
-Prada is opening a restaurant above where the famous (and delicious) Lure Fish Bar is. Will it survive?
**DEAR STYLE SNACKS: If you have something you need help finding, troubleshooting, or are curious about, please leave me a comment or send me a message, and I will be sure to feature your question (with the answer) in an upcoming newsletter.**