Drat. Just when I thought my only obligation was to bring a pie (thank you, Village Inn) and some wine to Thanksgiving dinner, my mom assigned me the task of decorating the kid’s table.  It’s time for mama to get crafty…luckily little turkeys are easy to please.

A little inspiration from Fiskars.

I love the pilgrim hat crayon holder and the turkey leg. The turkey clip is cute but I don’t think I will be getting that detail oriented.

My centerpiece.

Who doesn’t love a Popcorn Turkey.

The Turkey Tutorial from One Charming Party

Chalkboard placemats from Flamingo Toes.

These are awesome and not only for Thanksgiving. What a great way to calm the fidgeting before mealtime.

But how much simpler would it be to just draw a ‘placemat’ on the table. The common theme for all the tables has been the butcher paper table ‘cloth’.  I see an easy clean-up in my future.

My kid’s table will in no way resemble this alfresco heaven but I still had to share. Maybe I’ll try it next Thanksgiving…

Written by Lea Barlow • Leave a comment

I don’t know about you but this time of year I spend money on clothes and shoes like some sort of circus freak on crack. Turning to Rent the Runway for my holiday dress supply is the only way Christmas morning for my children will be salvaged. The dresses and accessories are beautiful, the rentals are inexpensive and the whole process is very simple.  Here are a few of my favorite LBD picks…

Death By Seduction Rental $150 Retail $1295

Very sexy. I would pick this one if only I had bigger boobs.

Flirty Flapper Rental $75 Retail $675

Please don’t rent this one for the weekend of December 10th. It’s my favorite.

Embellished Shoulder Dress Rental $75 Retail $465

So Kyle Richards from the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, don’t you think?

I love rompers. Just can’t help it. Rental $75 Retail $598

Granted, this one may not be appropriate for the office holiday party but it is perfect for a girl’s night out.

Wine-colored sequin shift on black silk – lovin’ it!  Rental $100 Retail $875

Not really an LBD but I’m digging on sequins this season.

Open Back Noir Dress Rental $100 Retail $925

The draping here is perfect on this dress if you feel, well, a little less than perfect.

Written by Lea Barlow • Leave a comment

by Alexis Novak

Last Christmas, I swore I would be in a larger house by the next holiday season or I would stab out my eyes. Well it’s Thanksgiving next week and here I am searching my clogged garage for those damned knotted-up Christmas lights. My now family of four in 1440 square feet with our belongings bursting out of the windows is my definition of cluttered chaotic hell. Objects jump out and smack you in the face when you try to open any cabinet door. I can’t even mutter the words closet space without tearing up. Even my dog Max is becoming claustrophobic.

But In 2005 when I moved into my circa 1930 bungalow that I called “My Old Lady” I was smitten. She charmed me with her history. I wrote this about her:

“She stands a strong and noble ship, an almost-antique lady with curvy arches and a spunky spirit. How did the former owners paint her that flat blue-gray? To me, she yearns to sing and dance in greens or even red. She peaks out from behind the massive oak and calls ‘Hello’ from the street, in a southern tone that invites you in for tea- an offer my husband and I couldn’t refuse. She teaches us her moods and her how’s. How much plastic surgery will she take to achieve the perfect balance of history and modernity, all the while still respecting her beautiful bones.”

Now My Old Lady just pisses me off. Today my sentiment would sound more like this:

Dear Old Lady,

We tried to give you a facelift and make you pretty but you are set in your elderly, archaic ways that we no longer find charming. Older people need way more upkeep than we bargained for. Their bones break and they spring terrible surprises on you. As they age it keeps getting worse…everything malfunctions. Our modern needs cannot be met. You are stubborn! It is never enough for you! Please hang on a little longer though so we can find you a more suitable caregiver.

Fondly,

The Novaks

I know that’s cruel and not entirely fair to My Old Lady. We are to blame for our current state of house bloat too. We dramatically underestimated the illusive kid factor. Somehow small people have a magical power of shrinking square footage to an extent that defies all logic. We planned on starting a family in this house. We planned on all the accompanying baby gear that Babies R’ Us told me we had to register for or else face parenthood ill-prepared. Still the kid stuff has beaten up my frail house. This was not the plan. Every room looks like a playroom, something I’ve always detested. Of course this makes my small house feel even smaller.

There is a real art to living happily in small spaces that I am still studying up on. Some methods that I have gleaned from smarter neighbors similarly-situated- purging and editing your belongings often, not buying too much superfluous crap, and not birthing throngs of children.

But, it is Thanksgiving, so in that spirit I will quit my bitching and serve a little gratitude about my so-called messy and cramped life.

We are living (insert big yawn here) within our means. While we dream big, we live small- a lifestyle that only financial people like my husband and Suze Orman can appreciate. It isn’t sexy but we are debt-free. We won’t foreclose, short sell, or float two mortgages until bankruptcy like many people did. My children have decent college funds. We will not move up in square footage until we sell our current house. Sigh. We can sleep at night.

For now, I will care for My Old Lady and try to remember what it was that I loved about her in the first place. (It is difficult to do this while the children are running over my toes with their doll strollers). That is when I can retreat to my daydream about my future rewards of delaying instant gratification, like an organized, delicious, walk-in closet worthy of Carrie Bradshaw. One day. Soon.

Written by Alexis Novak • Leave a comment

Here is a snap shot of the next 6 weeks: Parties, food, booze, harried shopping, food, holiday decorating and food.  Did I mention food? This is the absolute hardest time to keep your diet on track but it is not impossible. Stop rolling your eyes and stick with me. Follow these tips and I promise you will be able to button those skinny jeans come January 2.

1. Start Now. I like to go into the season in fighting shape. Step-up your workouts before the whirlwind begins. Add a few extra minutes to your cardio, workout 5 days instead of 4 and don’t forget to pick-up those weights.  Also, make it a goal not to eat out AT ALL during the week. The better you feel and look the less likely you are too splurge come the weekend.

2. Eat. Okay, I probably just confused you. One of my stay-slim diet tricks is to always eat before I leave the house. You never want to go to a party hungry. This will only lead to bad food choices. Bad food choices lead to big butts. Big Butts lead to skinny jeans that cannot be buttoned. So, eat a small high-protein meal before you head out the door and I guarantee you will choose wiser and less fattening food to munch at the party.

3. Drink…Water. No matter the season, staying hydrated is crucial. Drinking water will curb your appetite and help balance out the extra holiday sodium intake. ie: no morning sausage fingers. Additionally, drink a glass of water between each cocktail. This is a two-fold strategy: 1. you won’t be acting a fool  2. Your fingers and your head will thank you in the a.m.

4. Quell the Voices. Indulging here and there is healthy and frankly, fun. The problem with the holidays is the occasional indulgence becomes less occasional and more common-place. We all have a voice in our head that says “Oh, I can have another piece of pie. I’ll just be good tomorrow.” That would be all fine and dandy if there wasn’t yet another party to go to tomorrow, dinner with relatives two days after that, followed by the office holiday potluck and then topped off with the neighborhood holiday block party. It all adds up and before you know it – those skinny jeans won’t button. Pick the event you want to enjoy a little extra in advance. Mine is Thanksgiving at my parents. Be prepared to lose an appendage if you come between me and my mama’s homemade mac n’ cheese and rum cake. It’s okay to indulge just don’t use every party as an excuse to do so.

Written by Lea Barlow • Leave a comment