Festive decorations make our homes & businesses feel oh-so-magical over the holiday season! Putting them up & soaking in their joyful ambiance is something I look forward to. Taking them down on the other hand....not so much! 

We left our decorations up until New Years Day and have been plugging away bit by bit until today. Here's a few tips & tricks that have made the process run a little more smoothly for us this time around...

• Sort by type ornament & use for easy peasy set-up next year. 
  • ​As we 'un-decorated' we placed similar items together on our dining room table: garlands & wreaths, lights and tree decorations, musical decor/snowglobes, stockings etc. 
  • ​​Bonus tip: Clear bins & labels make for quick identification when you pull these bad boys out next year!
• Keep your decorations in holly jolly shape for next year with these storage tricks:
  • Store fragile items safely in egg cartons or cardboard tubes 
  • Use ziploc bags for small items like mini tree ornaments
  • Wrap lights around a piece of cardboard to limit a stage 5 tangle situation
• If you send greeting cards, send yourself an email with anyone you’d like to send cards to next year as you're taking down the ones you received this year.
  • Most email platforms have a search feature that will allow you to easily find the email. I like to use subject lines like Greeting Card Contact List. With gmail, you can also assign labels or move into folders for speedy access.
• Donate or toss any unused, broken or just plain annoying decor. ​
• Leave any “seasonal” decoration for last - porch planters, twigs, snowflakes can still make winter a little more fun!
• Don’t be afraid to break your demo into a few sessions. When there's much to accomplish, start with one piece at a time!

​Do you have any favourite tips? Share them in the comments below!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season! Happy New Year & Happy Decoration Demo-ing! As always, if you could use a hand, we're here to help!

Nicole

At our house, the holidays mean lots of quality time with family & friends. With varying schedules, the celebrations will be starting in the coming weeks.


I absolutely LOVE hosting and having a good plan always takes the pressure off for me. Here's a few of my tips to get your self in shape at home before the new year, and stress less while you're at it!

​Create Your Canvas

This time of year, I like to a deep clean in my house. We often talk about spring cleaning, but I love a good autumn update. It's nice to have a clean slate if you're putting up any decorations too! 

The 2-minute Blitz

I do 2 minute cleaning blitzes throughout my day. Little spot cleans or decluttering a section of counter/chair/table can really make a big difference when it comes to doing the deeper cleans...+keeps things looking fresh and makes the larger routine less daunting. Stashing your go-to cleaning products where you need them most saves time too! I keep spray bottles(full of my signature, Fairy Water) and microfiber cloths, within reach, in my bathrooms & kitchen. When I'm in the 2-minute blitz zone, it gives me a few more moments to grind.

Focus on the Kitchen & Entry Way

If you're anything like me & my peeps, you tend to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. If you're short on time, concentrate on your kitchen and your entry way.

• Remove any unnecessary food, papers, dishes etc from your counters. This really opens up your space and makes more room to prepare snacks!
• Have a diffuser? My favourite holiday scent is the Arbonne Warrior Blend. It has a spicy, festive scent AND promotes a sense of well-being and support in the
  midst of changing environmental and seasonal stressors that can occur during the fall and winter months. Bonus!
• Store summer shoes & outerwear for the winter, leaving extra space your your guests' threads & kicks.

Work that Green Thumb!

Putting up a Christmas tree this year? Even your tree wants to be loved over the holidays! Don't neglect your tree and ensure it has adequate water. This will minimize the millions of prickly little needles from finding their way under your feet prematurely. They're also a pain to suck up in the vacuum!

Don't Go Crazy with Wrapping

Not only is it better for our dear Mother Earth when we conserve disposable wrapping paper, it also makes for a lot less clean up and clutter when if you are exchanging gifts. Consider using bags that can be reused and easily stored away to mitigate post-holiday garbage overload.

Schedule Downtime

With all the hustle, bustle & excitement, it can be easy to lose your self care rituals and put your feet up from time to time. Shortly after my son was born, I read a great book called I Know How She Does It. Laura Vanderkam's ressearch and insights provide fantastic, actionable tips on making the most of your time. One of my favourite takeaways is how scheduling your priorities can make a huge impact in your career, home life and health. When we intentionally make time for the things that matter most, we benefit greatly.

I wish you all the best as you navigate through the holiday season!

Need support? My fairy godmothers & I have you covered! Book a free consult, or support appointment today!