More Style Than Cash

Just In Case - Day 4

By Ingrid Talpak on December 21, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

No matter how prepared we are there always seems to be something that goes wrong. These moments are what Christmas memories are made of so don't worry about them.

One year when I was growing up our oven stopped working and we ended up making our Christmas eve dinner over at a neighbors!

Another year we were about an hour away from my in-laws home when our toddler NEEDED TO GO! We were driving through farm land and miraculously there was a port-a-potty at the side of the road. Not only was it open and clean but there was toilet paper in it.

Continue reading Just In Case - Day 4.

Spreading Some Christmas Cheer - Day 5

By Ingrid Talpak on December 20, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

When do you start wishing people a Merry Christmas?

I started about a week ago when I picked up my Christmas tree from a very jolly tree seller.

I have on my silly little Christmas broaches on my sweater and later tonight I will be going out with a Santa Claus hat on.

Reindeer antlers on the dog?

Why not. It doesn't cost anything to spread a bit of Christmas Cheer.

Happy Holidays is appropriate to wish anyone and I have always found if you are smiling and cheerful people appreciate the greeting.

Aren't you happy that the holidays are almost here?

Continue reading Spreading Some Christmas Cheer - Day 5.

Last Weekend of Shopping - Day 6

By Ingrid Talpak on December 19, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

This weekend will be the last one before Christmas and if you need to go and pick up a few more things be prepared for the shopping malls to be packed.

Retailers know that people are not just shopping for gifts but they are out there to see if there are any great bargains for themselves.

This might be a case for every gift you get for some one on your list you are buying two gifts for yourself. What deals should you be looking for?

Continue reading Last Weekend of Shopping - Day 6.

One Week to Go - Day 7

By Ingrid Talpak on December 18, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

This time next week most of us will have opened our presents and getting ready for Christmas dinner.

Will you be handing out your thank you gifts to all the people that have been helping you with services this year?

While I usually try to find the same boxes for the same gifts this year I had a mix of small boxes that I had saved so I just used the same wrapping technique for all of them.

When in doubt, go simple, it will always look elegant and appropriate.

Continue reading One Week to Go - Day 7 .

The Last List - Day 8

By Ingrid Talpak on December 17, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

You know what your last minute things are. What ever it is, try to get it done as early in the week as possible.

If you have been lucky enough to be invited to some last minute parties remember that a bottle of bubbly always makes for a perfect hostess gift at this time of year because it can be saved and savored on New Years Eve.

If there is any food preparation that can be done before hand try to do it. I personally always make my trifle the day before we eat it so that the flavors blend together and my cheesecake I make 48 hours ahead of time because it keeps so well in the refrigerator.

Continue reading The Last List - Day 8.

Making Way for Christmas Loot - Day 9

By Ingrid Talpak on December 16, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

Maybe one of the best things about Christmas is having little ones around to buy neat stuff for.

Kids grow out of their clothes and toys so quickly. Before they start getting more stuff for Christmas this is a really good opportunity to do a bit of de-cluttering.

Even if you don't have children this is a good time for you to do some de-cluttering yourself. It's hard to enjoy the new and shiny if it is getting lost amongst the old and no longer shiny.

Continue reading Making Way for Christmas Loot - Day 9.

Your Christmas Table - Day 10

By Ingrid Talpak on December 15, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

After all the presents have been opened Christmas morning your family will be expecting the Christmas Feast.

Organizing some of the logistics now will save you time latter and keep everything running smoothly.

It doesn't matter if you are cooking for 4 people or 14 the basic strategies will be the same, plates on the table and food on the plates, but being Christmas you want it to look special.

Continue reading Your Christmas Table - Day 10.

Christmas Bits & Pieces and Odds & Ends - Day 11

By Ingrid Talpak on December 14, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

Use the next few days to finish off the little bits and pieces that you just have not gotten around to or to pick up the last odds & ends.

You might have found that some Christmas light have stopped working or that you need another extension cord.

You might need to run off to a specialty shop because you can't find cream of tartar for your Gingerbread House call first to make sure that they have it). Or you might have just discovered that there is not an inch of scotch tape left in the house because someone was a little too thorough in wrapping their gifts.

This is the time that you should be writing your list and checking it twice so that you know everything will run smoothly next week.

Continue reading Christmas Bits & Pieces and Odds & Ends - Day 11.

What Santa Likes to Eat - Day 12

By Ingrid Talpak on December 13, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

If you have little ones in the house I hope that they sent off their letter to Santa and that they have received one back (for ideas read Santa Writes Back.)

Do you know what you are going to be setting out for Santa on Christmas Eve? Typically it happens to be a glass of milk with some cookies but you could add something different if you like.

What about the reindeer, they probably could do with something as well.

Even if you children are not that little anymore it is fun to follow the tradition.

Continue reading What Santa Likes to Eat - Day 12.

Checking Christmas Clothes and Finery - Day 13

By Ingrid Talpak on December 12, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

You can almost see Christmas now and you probably have all the events and parties that you are going to on you calendar. Your kids probably also have a variety of outings that they are going to be on.

Did you get yourself something gorgeous to wear? Do your kids have everything they need to look great as you go out during the holidays? What about your accessories and jewelry?

This is a great time just to double check that all those outfits that you had planned to wear and that you planned the kids to wear are in great shape.

Continue reading Checking Christmas Clothes and Finery - Day 13.

Christmas in Control? or Christmas in a Crisis - Day 14

By Ingrid Talpak on December 11, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

Two weeks to Christmas and how do you feel about it?

Are you having a lovely time and going to parties, meeting friends, sipping on hot chocolate (or something stronger) late at night with your sweetie or are you, um, not....

Everyones Christmas planning is somewhat different and there probably have been chores and plans that you have needed to do for your specific situation.

Even if you are super organized sometimes even the best laid plans get messed up, cars break down, kids get sick or the dog eats the gingerbread house. You can use this Sunday to pull things together.

Most of all, remember to have fun, there are little moments even in the most hectic times to enjoy the season. What might seem like a minor disaster now can be a cherished memory years to come.

Continue reading Christmas in Control? or Christmas in a Crisis - Day 14.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Christmas Day - Day 15

By Ingrid Talpak on December 10, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

So many of us have different traditions on what and when we eat our meals on Christmas Day.

For most the tradition is to have a large meal mid afternoon for the whole family that consists of turkey with stuffing, ham, potatoes, vegetables and a bevy of desserts.

You might have the tradition as my family does that the main meal of Christmas is eaten Christmas Eve and we have all of the above plus our Rosolje and Swedish Lingonberry Jam instead of Cranberries.

What ever the traditions are you want to get the logistic down pat so no goes hungry waiting for the big meal and that there is plenty to eat on Christmas Day when all the stores are closed.

Continue reading Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Christmas Day - Day 15.

Checking that Everything is Ready for Visitors - Day 16

By Ingrid Talpak on December 9, 2012 5:00 AM | 1 Comment | 0 TrackBacks

If you are going to be having people in and out of the house over the next few weeks make sure that all the little details are taken care of so your house shines and everything runs smoothly.

If you are super organized then you probably stay on top of a lot of these things but there are little items that we all seem to forget about or don't check on.

You don't want to have a home full of people and realize that there is only one roll of toilet paper left in the house.

Continue reading Checking that Everything is Ready for Visitors - Day 16.

Keeping Healthy and Looking Gorgeous - Day 17

By Ingrid Talpak on December 8, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

Hey there good looking, are you looking your best for the season?

If you get a call out of the blue from an old friend are you ready to go at a moments notice or will you be scurrying off the to bathroom to do an all out maintenance?

How are you feeling? Getting enough sleep? Eating healthy? Keeping the seasonal colds and flus at bay?

There is nothing worse than looking like the sick poor cousin during the holidays because you haven't been spending time on yourself. You want to glow no matter how busy you are.

Continue reading Keeping Healthy and Looking Gorgeous - Day 17.

You've Got Mail - Day 18

By Ingrid Talpak on December 7, 2012 5:00 AM | 1 Comment | 0 TrackBacks

From those friends of your that are sooo organized you are probably already receiving Christmas Cards.

A Christmas card can really show a persons personality by what they decided to send you.

From my dear friend Brenda I am not surprised to receive a lovely one showing a little girl pulling her dog on a sled because that sums up her relationship with her dogs perfectly, she would do anything for them.

Any ideas of how you are going to display your cards?

Are you ready to send out your cards yet? Have you even got started?

Continue reading You've Got Mail - Day 18.