The best hostess gift idea!

My friend, Lisa, always has the best gift ideas.  Recently we came home from a week at the beach to find the best hostess gift idea EVER on our kitchen table.  

There were 4 insulated tumblers, each with a sign attached to the top.  Wouldn't these catch your attention and make you smile?

Here are the tumblers:

Oh yes, I WILL be filling my tall tumbler with water during the workday and the short one with Proseco  on some lucky Fridays!  And Mike will be following the directions on his tumblers too!  Lisa knows us well!

She also included a wire whisk for me and a colorful dishtowel because we recently visited a store together and I mentioned needing a new whisk and my love of pretty dishtowels.  Lisa is one of those friends who listens to what you say and tucks the info away for occasions like this.  She always has the best gift ideas and I think listening is probably the key to her skill, don't you?

We got the "hostess" label because we had taken her uber-adorable son to the beach with us as he's our Grandboy's buddy.  At 13 years old, Grandboy needs to have more than our sparkling company to make a trip fun.  Lisa's son is a fun guy (as you can tell by the green hair) and we love having him along. Please don't tell the boys that their photo is on the blog. 13 is a tough age--I'm not allowed to show them off anymore! 

Do you have any creative hostess gift ideas to share?  I'd love to hear about them!

Ciao,

Anne

Moving Tips From The Experts

I haven't had a chance to post on the blog lately, so when I received a request from a moving company called Bellhops to write post for me, I was all ears!  While I haven't worked with this company yet, I checked them out and was impressed.  They're a moving company with a very updated vibe, and, since moving is something that many of us have done (and sometimes many times), I thought you would all enjoy hearing what they have to say.  So here it is!

THINGS TO DO AFTER YOU’VE MOVED IN

One of the best things about moving into a new house is making it yours. Take the opportunity to flex your creative muscles and decorate in the style you’ve always wanted. Whether it’s a fixer-upper or turn-key ready, there are an endless amount of things you can do that can transform a house into a home.

PAINT

A fresh lick of paint has the power to quickly start putting your stamp on your new space. If you just want a quick freshen, go for colours like white, creams or greys.  Neutral palettes give a clean, crisp base to build upon.

But, saying that, a bit of vibrancy is always a good thing. Colour is a powerful tool.  Colours can influence our emotions and perceptions, so this is an opportunity to try some out.  Do a bit of research into your favourite shades and see if they match the vibe you want your home to have.

If you are game to take some risks, and are thinking about bold or unusual colour combinations then you should go for it! However, before you commit to something like a fuschia kitchen, it’s always advisable to chat to an expert first. They will be able to advise you on what will suit the shape, size or style of your rooms. A professional will work with you on all the different factors that determine what will work best.  

GET COZY

Unless you are super minimalist, you’ll probably want to make your new home as cozy as possible, as quickly as possible. And when it comes to comfort, little things can make a huge difference.

Treat yourself to things like a new set of mugs and everyday glassware.  New dish towels for sure!

Candles, cushions and throws will all add to the ambiance. A gorgeous new table lamp or light shade works wonders for creating a warm atmosphere.

Maybe most important are your prized possessions. Hang your photo frames, wall art and mirrors straight away and it will really start to feel like home.

UNPACK

It’s tempting to unpack the things you need and ignore the rest. But you will never feel truly settled if you ignore stacks of boxes. Set aside time to properly sort your stuff. Find a home for everything you want to keep and sell it or donate what you don’t.

It’s always best to eliminate clutter from the start. This will help you to keep your new place clean as you go on too. Storage is essential. There are so many inexpensive solutions available these days, not just closets, but storage boxes, shelves, drawers, stackable containers. There are loads of awesome hacks out there that help to make the most of your home.     

LIGHTS OUT

They say home is where you lay your head down at night and so a bed is one of the most important things in any house. If you have brought your own, maybe it’s time to think about an upgrade and if you have moved into somewhere where your bed no longer fits, it's time to go shopping!

When decorating your home, there will always be things you will want to add to and tweak as time goes on. But tackling the bigger things and creating an inviting environment is best done at the beginning. Then you can spend your time exploring your new neighborhood!

I hope these tips are helpful and that you'll consider Bellhops for your next move!

Thanks,

Micheal Brennan

Bellhops