Our Sensible Scents video takes a look at what you might want to look for, and some to avoid, when it comes to choosing kid-smart air fresheners for your busy family home.

Tools and Materials: Fabric, Chair Cushion, Staple Gun, Scissors and a Screwdriver (in most cases)

• Step 1: Remove cushion from chair – you may need the screwdriver in this step
• Step 2: Cut fabric, allowing at least 1″ overlapping the seat base
• Step 3: Center chair cushion on fabric and staple 1 staple on each side to secure fabric in position
• Step 4: Staple fabric at corners. Start by pulling up the fabric at the point of the corner, then tuck, pull tight and staple a fold on each side of the corner. See how in the video above
• Step 5: Once corners are complete, staple the sides, pulling the fabric snug. Insert staples about 1/2″ to 1″ apart
• Step 6: Trim fabric, leaving about 1/2″ allowance to prevent fabric ripping out
• Step 7: Reattach newly-covered cushion to chair – and Enjoy!

Can you really rely on recycling numbers when shopping for BPA-Free plastic tableware?

A popular plastic, polycarbonate, has been the focus of  recent media stories questioning whether the chemical BPA, used in this particular plastic, is safe for use in plastic glasses and dishes. 

In truth, the the facts, science, pros and cons behind the BPA question could fill a lengthy article. But if you’re a concerned shopper, you probably aren’t  too into scientific arguements… you just want to know how to avoid BPA. Unfortunately, the media reports about polycarbonate and other types of  plastic are a bit conflicting, making  it tough to  choose plastic dishes with confidence.

Happily, we can offer a little peace of mind. There are many different plastics used to make quality plastic dishes and glasses, and most have always been BPA-Free! But you need to know what to look for, and what to avoid. Here are a few tips to help you in your search:

Tip 1: In Plastic Tableware, if it’s not Polycarbonate, it’s BPA-Free
Among the many different plastics used to make glasses, cups and dishes, only ONE contains BPA, and that’s polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is FDA-approved for food use and is usually found in better quality, unbreakable, dishwasher-safe plastic tableware. It’s often clear or tinted, feels rigid, and appears glass-like. 

But it’s not the only type of plastic used in plastic tableware. Acrylic, an acrylic blend called SAN, Tritan co-polyester and even corn-based bioplastics are all used to make clear, glass-like items similar to polycarbonate. Plus, opaque plastics like melamine and polypropylene are used to make a variety of dinnerware. Unlike polycarbonate, these other plastics are, and always have been, BPA-free. So, if the BPA question worries you, look for items made of these other plastics instead of polycarbonate.

Tip 2: How to tell if an item is made of polycarbonate… or not
Identifying plastic tableware by the label can be discouraging since items are not always marked by plastic type. Your best bet is to shop somewhere that clearly identifies the type of plastic used in products, like on KidSmartLiving.com.

If shopping in a store where product information is scarce, first look for items labeled “BPA-free.” With media attention on BPA, many manufacturers are clearly labeling their non-polycarbonate plastic items “BPA-Free.” These include acrylic, SAN, or Tritan for clear items, and rigid melamine or rubbery polypropylene for solid or semi-opaque items.

If not labeled BPA-Free, look at the care instructions. In clear and tinted plastics, acrylic items are generally marked “Hand-wash,” or “Top-rack Dishwasher-safe,” while most SAN items are marked “Dishwasher-safe” and sometimes “Microwave-safe.” But these plastics aren’t usually labeled “Unbreakable.” Unlike polycarbonate, acrylic and SAN can break.

In solid-color plastic items, you’ll rarely find polycarbonate on store shelves. Solid-color plastic dishes are more commonly made from melamine and marked “Not for Microwave Use.” Polypropylene is also used for solid and semi-opaque dishes, and is easily identified by its rubbery feel.

The only clear tableware plastics you’ll find labeled “Unbreakable, Dishwasher-Safe” and occasionally “Microwave-safe” are Tritan and polycarbonate. Luckily for shoppers, being BPA-free is a major selling point for Tritan, so these items are always labeled as such. If a clear or tinted glass-like item is labeled “Unbreakable, Dishwasher-Safe” but is not marked “BPA-Free,” it’s probably polycarbonate.

Tip 3: Don’t count on the numbers… because they don’t count for identifing these plastics
Contrary to some media reports, the recycling numbers printed on plastic items don’t specifically identify polycarbonate or BPA-free plastics. In fact, it’s the reverse. Almost all non-disposable tableware plastics fall under the same catchall #7 recycling code, which simply means ”Other.”

“Other” plastics are usually durable and have a longer useful life than disposable plastics, so they’re not collected in most recycling programs. These widely different #7 plastics include acrylic, SAN, Tritan, bio-plastics, melamine — and polycarbonate.

Even more confusing, recycling codes aren’t required for “Other” plastics and many of these items don’t carry a recycling mark at all. So, knowing how to tell these plastics apart, or shopping with a reliable seller, is really much more helpful than relying on the numbers when it comes to buying BPA-free plastic dinnerware.

KidSmartLiving.com carries just about the largest selection of high-quality plastic glasses and dishes in the nation, so we’re definitely keeping up with the BPA story. To make finding BPA-free plastic tableware even easier for our customers, we list all of our BPA-Free plastic products on one page.

Please let us know if you have any plastic dinnerware shopping tips or comments on the BPA issue.

Decorate a Safe, Festive Christmas Tree
As the centerpiece of the holiday home, Christmas tree safety is a primary concern. The tree should be set in a stable stand and can be further secured by tying twine or fishing line from the upper trunk to a hook on the closest wall. Tree needles can be a choking hazard for small children, so check a live tree closely for shedding needles, try to keep the floor clear of dropped needles, and remember to keep the tree well watered to retain freshness.

Traditional Christmas tree decorations can pose child safety risks, but parents have several safer decorating options. If using lights, wrap strands close to the trunk, well away from little hands. Pre-lit artificial trees usually have well-secured lights, so these are a safer choice if going artificial. Garlands and ribbon streamers, too, should be placed out of reach of small children because of choking and tree-tipping dangers. Fragile glass balls and ornaments, including any with small pieces, can be securely tied high on the tree, but avoid using tinsel icicles and hook-style ornament hangers around small children, as both pose choking risks.

Deck the Hall… Safely!
Parents can comfortably decorate with swags of boughs, garlands and lights placed well out of reach over doorways and in other high areas, with electrical cords secured to the wall and plugged into inaccessible outlets wherever possible. When decorating a stairway in a home with children three years old or younger, avoid wrapping boughs, garlands or light strands around the stair railing or banister. These decorations pose the risk of choking or strangulation, and they also can make the stairs inviting to play on and railings difficult for small hands to grip. For a safer holiday touch, securely tie individual decorative bows or other durable accents onto the railing or banister, on the side away from the stairs.

Decorate child-accessible areas on the tree appropriately for children’s ages. Some kid-tough ornaments to consider include mini frames made from fun foam, felt, or fabric; cloth-covered foam balls, canes and other shapes; solid wood shapes; and fabric bows.

Remember to check gifts under the tree for wrappings that may be dangerous, such as tied-on ornaments and stretchy elastic cording. For added safety around the Christmas tree, a versatile child safety gate such as KidCo’s Configure Gate or Hearth Gate can be installed to keep little ones at a safe distance.

Festive, Kid-Smart Holiday Home Trimmings
Parents can easily decorate child-accessible areas throughout the house using child-friendly items with a festive twist. Consider topping a coffee table with durable wooden bowls filled with colorful children’s blocks, or quilted holiday baskets spilling festive fabric-covered foam balls. Other kid-friendly holiday décor ideas include tough acrylic candy dishes filled with holiday cookies, and carved wooden figures and charming toys tied with bright holiday bows. A children’s wooden nativity scene can make a homey, worry-free holiday centerpiece in any room, and a child-safe dash of holiday color can be added to sofas using piles of festive holiday pillows.

Add Holiday Color with Throw Pillows or Slip-on Covers
Pillows are great, worry-free way to safely add festive color and pop to a room frequented by toddlers. Switch out everyday throw pillows for seasonal colors – or look for inexpensive pillowcovers in to slip over your everyday pillows. Bed, Bath & Beyond offers a line of removable throw pillow covers in standard throw sizes. Or you can make your own no-sew pillow covers out of festive fleece patterns. See our super-easy No-Sew Fleece Pillow Project for instructions.

Kid-Smart Entertaining and Durable Holiday Table Styles
Families can enjoy festive and elegant dinner tables even in a home full of active kids. It’s easy to adorn holiday tables and buffets with plastic dinnerware, drinkware and serving pieces in styles that mimic the beauty of fine glass, ceramic and porcelain – without the danger of breakage. And make the Kid’s table the best seat in the house with ways to serve little ones in style – and keep them happy while you enjoy dinner, too!

Child Safety On-the-Go
If spending the holidays away from home, parents with small children should take a quick moment to rearrange for safety upon arrival. Consider packing a few portable childproofing devices such as removable cabinet locks, electrical outlet covers and a pressure-mounted gate like KidCo’s Center Gateway. If playing host this season, ask houseguests to keep medicines and toiletries safely hidden out of children’s reach, or consider clearing an inaccessible shelf for guests’ use. A careful moment will make holiday visits safer for children and more relaxing for all. See our Child Safety on the Go Checklist entry for more tips on traveling with little tykes.

Home Safety Never Takes a Holiday
Whether celebrating baby’s first Christmas or maintaining a home full of busy older kids, all parents should remember that safety never takes a holiday. But a little caution and creative planning can make an inviting, safe and stylish home easy to achieve for merry family holidays.

The National Fire Protection Association reports the number of home fires started by candles is on the rise. Three main factors contribute to candle-related house fires; unattended candles that are allowed to over-burn, candles placed near combustibles such as wall hangings, and children playing with lit candles.

Fortunately, some clever candle makers now offer safer display options for traditional and jar candles. Plus, worry-free alternatives like battery-operated candles have made great strides in appearance and styling in recent years. So it really is possible to enjoy candles, or the look of them, without the safety worries.

First things First — Basic Candle Safety
This almost goes without saying, but to be thorough…

• The first rule of candle safety is to never leave a burning candle unattended
• The second rule - do not position it near or under anything combustible, or where it can be tipped or knocked off a surface
• The third rule - keep them out, out, out of the reach of children

Other factors that will minimize fire danger include trimming the wick to about 1/4″ prior to lighting, and not overburning. For more burning safety tips, see the The National Candle Association’s Safety Page

The Kid-Friendliest Way to Burn Candles…

Get the Look Without the Worry using Flame-Free Candle Alternatives
Battery-operated candles have come a long way in the past few years. The best styles are crafted in real wax for a realistic glow and have a flicker-style light bulb that mimics a flickering flame. Most battery-operated candles come in pillar or votive styles, including realistic drip-rim designs and even scented varieties.

Another advantage of battery operated candles is that you can enjoy them wherever and whenever you want them — on the dinner or coffee table, outdoors on a windy day, on buffets or side tables, around paper decorations — and even around kids! While battery-operated candles certainly aren’t toys, they are the safest way to add ambiance without a flame to any space accessible by little hands.

Love the Burn? Try Wall-mounted Candle Sconces
Affixed to the wall and designed to keep votives, pillars and jars securely in place, candle sconces are an ideal out-of-reach solution. Install sconces with safe placement in mind; not in a tight or highly trafficked area, and far from drapery and other combustibles. Also, if you have small children, position sconces away from furniture so they can’t reach them by climbing.

When painting interiors in a busy family home, paint formulation and finish have as much impact on long-term satisfaction as color choice. Happily for parents, selecting paints and finishes that can stand up to busy kids is not difficult, as long as you’re armed with a few facts about interior paint types and decorative faux finish options before shopping.

Here’s a look at the basic differences between interior paints commonly found in home improvement stores, plus some low-maintenance ideas for painting high-traffic areas and busy kid spaces.

The Basics: Interior Paint Types and Finishes
Latex paint and oil-based enamel paint are the two most common paint types used for home interiors. Latex is water-based thus easy to clean up with water when painting, versus oil-based enamels which clean up with thinners. There are some differences between the two paint bases, some may argue that oil-based paints are more dirt-resistant, but for interior home painting purposes durable, fast-drying and easy-cleanup latex paints are usually ideal.

Interior paints also come in several finishes, referred to as “sheen,” which describes the amount of reflection or shine the painted surface has when dry. Listed here from the lowest sheen to the highest sheen, paint finishes range from; flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, gloss. Semi-gloss or gloss is usually reserved for trim and bathrooms where you might want a brighter, harder finish. Walls generally are painted in a less glossy finish, usually flat or eggshell.

Best Choices for Durability and Cleaning
Years ago, people chose a shinier satin or semi-gloss wall finish for dirt prone or high-traffic areas since it was easier to clean. Nowadays, flat and eggshell wall finishes are desirable for most home decorating looks and paint manufacturers have responded with easy-cleaning “scrubbable” versions of these low-sheen finishes. So style-conscious families no longer need to sacrifice finish for function, the new scrubbable flat or eggshell paints are ideal choices for use in both high-traffic areas and kids’ rooms.

Consider Faux Finishes for Worry-Free Kids Rooms
Faux finishing, such as ragging or sponging is a fun, creative and less-worrisome finish for kids’ and family rooms. In addition to the variety of textures you can easily create, faux finishes tend to hide dirt and fingerprints. And if disaster strikes in the form of a crayon, it’s easy to camouflage with a few strategic sponge pats. When painting a base coat to faux finish over, choose a satin or semi-gloss which won’t absorb the top coat too quickly, allowing you to get creative with the faux finish.

It’s easy to achieve kid-smart style by choosing decorative accents designed in tip-resistant shapes and crafted in durable, break-resistant materials. Here are a few kid-friendly decorating tips to get you started…

Vases and Containers
To reduce tipping, select containers and accents that feature a substantial base and avoid top-heavy vases and floral arrangements. Square containers are naturally tip-resistant, (always check for sharp corners) and offer the added benefit of not rolling off the table if pulled over by curious hands, as do oval, oblong and rectangular shapes. Bowls and such that are wider at the bottom than the top are an ideal shape to resist tipping.

Bowls
Large, low wooden decorative bowls (not too heavy) can be a good selection as they tend to roll back to an upright position when upset. Also look for bowls comprised of straight sides, such as octagons, that inhibit rolling if turned on the side.

Look for Durable Materials
Wood, metal, polymer clay, fabric, woven and even glass-like acrylic containers and accents are available in a wide range of looks, and offer a safer and more durable alternative to glass and ceramic decor. When selecting accents that will be accessible by little hands, do check for sharp edges, corners or any loose weave, just to keep little ones safe.

Decorative Details to Keep Out-of-Reach

Handles
Containers with handles pose several problems. Handles just beg to be grabbed by little hands and make it easier to pull or carry a object, which creates potential for breakage and injury. Also, handles often are weak points on an object and are easily broken.

Footed Objects
Many wonderful containers sit atop tiny feet that lift the base an inch or so off the surface. These can pose a problem for two reasons; one, the space is the perfect invitation for little fingers to hook the object and give it a tug. Two, like handles, feet often are weak points on an object and are easily broken, and if broken off, can pose a choking hazard.

Twisted Wire and Wrought Iron
Open, curly-cue designs made from twisted wire and wrought iron are inviting spots to stick little fingers, and once hooked are easily pulled off a table. Plus, little fingers can get stuck or pinched in the tight spots where wires meet.

Top-Heavy Vases
Low, wide, roll and break-resistant shapes are the name of the game for tabletop décor accessible by curious hands. Elegant slim-footed vases should be displayed on an inaccessible shelf.

Shelves of every variety are a decorating and organizing staple that fulfill numerous roles throughout the home. Aside from how they look and how they’re used, most people don’t really give them a second thought… until a small child is introduced to the scene! Suddenly shelves are redefined as either a safety hazard — or a parent’s last resort for hands-off display

Here are several ways parents can address the safety issues posed by certain types of shelves, plus a few tips for adding stylish storage and display space to any room without adding safety hazards.

Safety First! Avoid Tipping, Climbing and Falls
Any tall or heavy wall unit should be secured the wall with easy-to-install furniture anchors.  Anchors or furniture straps secure the full unit and are effective in preventing dangerous tipping accidents — but safety concerns still remain. Often, the individual shelves are not secured and can be flipped or pulled out by a curious toddler, and shelves beginning at floor level just beg to be climbed! You can solve these problems — and add a decorative twist — in a number of ways…

Reconfigure Built-In and Full Wall Shelf Units
If the shelves are permanent in the unit, be sure to move fragile or hands-off items to higher levels, or out of the unit entirely if your child is prone to climb. Storing a selection of toys or kid-friendly decor on the lower two or three shelves may divert attention from the upper shelves and reduce the urge to climb. If shelves are removable, remove the lower two or three shelves, leaving an opening about three feet high at the bottom of the shelf unit. Create stylish storage with a mix of decorative storage boxes or baskets – these can even be used as stylish toy boxes – or add durable decor items.

Keep Decor and Fragile Items in Place with a Museum-Tested Solution
Keep fragile items displayed in upper shelves in place by securing them with Museum Gel or Quake-Hold Putty. This can help prevent tipping, falls and breakage if the unit is shaken, pushed or pulled. Multi-shelf units that mount directly to the wall are ideal for out of reach storage. Ready-made units are available in a variety of sizes and styles, or you can fashion a shelf unit using inexpensive bracket shelving materials found at any hardware store.
Add Smart Space with Wall-Mounted Shelves
If you don’t have enough space to display fragile decor out of your child’s reach, consider adding wall-mounted shelves or ledge-style shelves.

Style Tip: A secret to making less expensive bracket-style shelving more attractive is painting the brackets the same color as the wall on which they’re mounted. Then cover the shelves (unfinished wood or melamine) tightly in fabric, or attach a pre-made decorative edge using finishing nails and/or glue, then paint. Easy and decorative!

Ledge-Style Shelves Display Accents Out-of-Reach
Ledge shelves easily install directly to the wall, out of reach to eliminate climbing concerns. Ledge shelves are available in many sizes and styles to complement any decor, and add interest just about anywhere. Try one over a window; stagger, stack or align three on a spacious wall; create a tiered mantle by stacking two or three above your fireplace; or embellish the walls of a wide hallway with a collection of different styles and sizes.

Jar recipes for everything from cookies to soups to hot drink mixes can be found on the internet and even in some cookbooks. In most jar recipes, you’ll simply measure dry ingredients into a standard one-quart canning jar, and then tie a card with the cooking instructions to the lid. You can also adapt some of your own recipe favorites, but try a few jar recipes first to get the hang of the proportions.

Here are three classic Recipe Gifts-in-a-Jar to get you started. Build your layers in a 1-qt canning jar in the order written. For the prettiest finish, pack each layer flat before adding the next – a small ladle or meat hammer works well – then secure the lid, add a decorative ribbon and attach the cooking instructions.

Oatmeal Chippers Cookies
Jar Mix:
1-1/3 C old-fashioned oats or quick-oats
½ C granulated sugar
¾ C semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ C brown sugar
1/3 C chopped pecans
1-1/3 C all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp salt
variations: substitute chocolate chips for mini M&M’s, or cut pecans and add more chips
Print Oatmeal Chippers cooking instructions to include with jar gift

Confetti Soup
Jar Mix:
1/3 C beef bullion granules
¼ C dried minced onion
½ C dried split peas
¼ C barley
½ C dried lentils
1 tsp. dried thyme
½ tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. dried basil
1 dried bay leaf
1/3 C long-grain white rice
1-1/2 C Tri-color spiral pasta (rotini)
Print Confetti Soup cooking instructions to include with jar gift

Cocoa Steamer Instant Hot Cocoa Mix
Note: this recipe yields about 5 quarts of mix. It’s a way to make bulk gifts for teachers, neighbors and co-workers, and you can package it in just about anything, from canning jars, to clean recycled food jars, to food gift bags. 

1 Box Nonfat Instant Milk (8-qt yield size)
1 1-lb. jug of dry nonfat dairy creamer
1 large jar Nestle Quick, Ovaltine or another chocolate milk mix
1 1-lb. box powdered sugar
1 container Hershey’s Powdered Cocoa (Dutch Processes is best)
variations: add 1 jar instant coffee for Mocha Steamer mix

Blend first 3 ingredients together in 1-2 large mixing bowls. Add powdered sugar and cocoa powder, sifting if lumpy. Blend mix thoroughly and spoon into jars, bags or store in airtight container. Tie on instructions together with a candy cane or a small bag of mini-marshmallows for a holiday treat.
Print Cocoa Steamer Hot Cocoa instructions to include with gift jars or bags

No… seriously, I have a pretty easy Thanksgiving planned this year, we’re taking it on the road and going camping – turkey, new puppy and all. So, I have managed to sidestep house prep woes this year – but that has not always been the case!

I love hosting Thanksgiving, I think even more than hosting Christmas. I love cooking Thanksgiving dinner in all its glory, the russet-hued decorations and the football games afterwards. But, I am a working mom and though I manage to keep our small home uncluttered and tidy, if I put a “Martha” eye to it, I’m sure there would be lengthy list of homekeeping wrongs.

Happily, I learned years ago that my guests were not concerned about dust bunnies under the sofa, as long as the turkey was succulent. Here’s how I’ve managed to host  Thanksgivings for more than 15 people on a working mom’s schedule and in a house that seats, say 12 on a good day.

Step One – The Weekend Before Thanksgiving: Organize your kitchen and get your shopping list together.
A cluttered, disorganized kitchen can become a Thanksgiving horror story. The weekend before, determine if you need to spend a few hours tidying and organizing the pantry and fridge. If that seems overwhelming, just assemble your Thanksgiving essentials in a handy place so you know what you have, where it is, and what you’ll need to shop for. Also make sure you have enough dinnerware, flatware, napkins and placemats for all guests; enough serving bowls, casseroles and platters for the dishes you’re preparing; plus enough serving utensils for contributions from guests. This sounds like alot of work, but really, it takes about an hour or two at most.

Once you’ve made your shopping list, make space in the pantry, fridge and freezer for what you’re buying. If your kitchen is storage-starved like mine, just store dry goods in an out-of-the way spot (like the dining room) until Thanksgiving morning. You’ll need to keep your turkey frozen (depending on size) or refrigerated, but you can slowly defrost your turkey safely in a cooler if fridge space is maxed out – just follow the defrosting instructions.

Now is also the time to consider oven space. I have small ovens to go with my small kitchen, so to manage Thanksgiving day cooking, I use a turkey roaster on our covered patio to free oven and counter space. I have even used roasters in the garage and while camping! Sometimes an unconventional answer is just what’s needed when hosting large dinners.

Speaking of unconventional, I roast my turkey upside-down. The dark meat juices cook down into the white meat so it’s never, ever dry! This was a great joke on my first hosted Thanksgiving dinner as I heard my new father-in-law ask my mother-in-law if they should mention that the turkey was upside down. They did not want me to feel bad, so said nothing – other than how juicy the turkey was during dinner! Guess who else cooks turkeys upside-down now?

Step Two – Shopping for the Meal: Pick your day and stick to the list.
I shop no later than the Monday before Thanksgiving. I made the mistake once, for my first hosted Thanksgiving, to shop on Wednesday after I left work at noon. Woopsie! Thankfully, my mother then lived in town and her well stocked pantry saved the day. So I recommend a relaxed shopping experience. Get your list, check it twice, maybe grab a Starbucks and give yourself time to shop for the big day. Most stores make it easy by assembling popular ingredients on islands or endcaps. If you’re combining shopping with a longer outing, just stow a cooler in the trunk for the turkey. He’ll keep other perishables cool, too.

A few things you might include on your list are, plug-in air fresheners for living areas and bathrooms, toilet paper, paper towels, carpet stain remover (for before and during!), and some holiday coloring books and crayons for any young kids that are coming. (See our Holiday Kids’ Tables blog entry for more kids’ table ideas). 

Step Three – House Prep on Tuesday and Wednesday: Clean, Prep and Decorate
How clean is clean? I follow the old adage, dust, mop and vacuum any surfaces that can be seen. I do include in that a quick dusting of baseboards, blinds, lampshades, windowsills and picture frames. Plus I hit any unsightly carpet stains that I have until now ignored. It can take a while, but if completed on Tuesday or Wednesday, your house will still look great on Thursday and you can concentrate on dinner and your guests.

Don’t forget these few amenities to make guests feel spoiled – and keep you from leaving cooking to fix problems… In bathrooms, add extra hand towels (roll a few up in a cute basket), make extra toilet paper rolls handy, check the hand soap (liquid is best, and maybe add a hand lotion dispenser), and pop in an air freshener. For overnight guests, have beds made up (or have bedding together for fold-outs), make hanging space and hangers available in closets, and have fresh bath towels and bath soap.  
  
Decorating certainly adds flair to any occasion, but if you’re not decor-inclined or do not have a ready stash of seasonal accents to pull from, you can still easily add Thanksgiving charm to your day. Just pick up a few handfuls of fall-hued artificial florals and a roll or two of coordinating wired ribbon. Leaf and floral picks can be wound onto light fixtures, around candlesticks on tables, or hot-glued to wreath forms for quick and easy Thanksgiving style.

Step Four – Start Meal Prep on Wednesday: Baking!!!
Everyone who hosts Thanksgiving has their own cooking schedule, but if you have not yet developed one, I heartily recommend baking pies and cornbread for stuffing the day before. From a cook’s perspective, the holiday basics such as sweet potatoes, green bean or corn casseroles and stuffing really aren’t difficult to pull together as the turkey roasts, but if you add baking chores and clean-up that morning, the day can be busy indeed. So I do my baking on Wednesday evening. Also – pop any white wines into the fridge now to be sure they’re not forgotten on Thanksgiving morning. 

Step Five – Thursday: Enjoy Your Thanksgiving Day!
If prepared, Thursday should be relatively low-stress. You’re prepped, guests are comfy and all you need to do is enjoy preparing and sharing you meal. Now, for doing the dishes…. I leave that assignment up to you!