More Style Than Cash

Coming and Going- Having House Guests - Day 43

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

One of the great things about Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays is that many of us get to see relatives or friends that live far away.

If you are having house guest this year then you might have to do a bit more than just throw a sleeping bag on the couch for them.

We all want people to stay in our homes and have a great time. Part of this is making them feel at home while still making them feel special.

Holidays can be busy and having house guests should not add to your stress but to your enjoyment.

Continue reading Coming and Going- Having House Guests - Day 43.

Five Little Gift Ideas for Under $2 - Day 44

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

By now your gift list should be finalized and you are noting that there might a more people than you really have budgeted for.

There are so many people that you probably want to reach out to and just give them a little something to let them know that they are in your thoughts this Christmas.

No one wants you to go broke buying them gifts so here are five ideas for little gifts that cost under $2.00.

Continue reading Five Little Gift Ideas for Under $2 - Day 44.

That Wish List - Day 45

By Ingrid Talpak on November 10, 2012 5:00 AM | 1 Comment | 0 TrackBacks

Have you been working on your gift list? Don't you hate it when you ask loved ones, "What do you want for Christmas?" and they answer, "Oh don't get me anything much," and then don't give you any ideas at all!

You need to have some clue of what they would like you to get them even if it only costs a few dollars.

Do you know what you want for Christmas? How do you let your family know?

Continue reading That Wish List - Day 45.

Santa Writes Back - Day 46

By Ingrid Talpak on November 9, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

Most of us know of the tradition of having children write to Santa Claus so they can make sure that they get the toys they want from him.

When children are left to their own spelling and grammar the results can be quite interesting. It can be extremely amusing to read these letters especially years latter. (I never posted the letters my children wrote but kept them and I set them out some years at Christmas time for the family to read). These days it is almost as likely that children will just e-mail or twitter Santa as to write a letter to him.

But does Santa write back? Having a letter from Santa delivered in the mail can be a astonishing experience for a child, it can also be an unexpected surprise for any adult.

Continue reading Santa Writes Back - Day 46.

Christmas Ornament Tradition - Day 47

By Ingrid Talpak on November 8, 2012 5:00 AM | 1 Comment | 0 TrackBacks

There is something so personal about a Christmas tree.

If you were to walk into 10 homes on the same street you probably would not find two trees that were decorated alike.

You might love to fill your tree with co-ordinated colors, your neighbor with all natural materials. There is no wrong way to decorate a tree.

I am very much about Christmas traditions and one that our family started years ago was buying our children a tree ornament for them every Christmas.

Continue reading Christmas Ornament Tradition - Day 47.

Keeping It All Organized - Always Have a Plan B - Day 48

By Ingrid Talpak on November 7, 2012 4:10 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

I am a firm believer that on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the best, if you can keep your self organized at a good 7.5 or 8 then you will be able to handle anything that life throws at you.

Perfection is hard, exhausting and rarely satisfying, you should always strive towards doing your best but the number of times that you reach perfection will be rare and fleeting.

So what. I would rather be sitting around laughing 'til my sides ache with my friends and family with a few errands not done in my day and some messiness around the house, then to be sitting exhausted and resentful in a perfect house with everything I had to do checked off with military precision.

Strive to have a really good core organizational plan but if life offers you a bit of fun and merriment go for it. (On the flip side of this, if you are always out for fun and merriment it is time to grow up and take on your responsibilities.)

Continue reading Keeping It All Organized - Always Have a Plan B - Day 48.

Recap and Reminders - Day 49

By Ingrid Talpak on November 6, 2012 8:57 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

As we are now into November everyone is realizing that Christmas is around the corner but I hope that you have been following this series since the beginning and feeling that you have everything in control.

If you are just joining us recently then don't worry, with a little bit of reading you will be caught up in no time.

Most of us will now really start getting into the spirit of the holidays and while we will be busy we will also be enjoying ourselves.

Continue reading Recap and Reminders - Day 49.

How to Make a Fall Flower Arrangement

By Ingrid Talpak on November 5, 2012 10:40 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

There is a easy way to add a little bit of color and grace to your home for Thanksgiving by making a simple fall arrangement.

I happened onto these everlasting flowers (helichrysums) and statice at my local farmers market and bought two bunches for $7. I also added Dusty Miller leaves that were still in my fall garden as extra foliage.

If you don't have a farmers market near by you can check out to see what you local florist might have in stock that is in these fall colors of yellows, oranges, dark rose and other colors that the leaves are in this time of year.

While I used these flowers fresh you can also make this arrangement with dried varieties of the flower.

Continue reading How to Make a Fall Flower Arrangement.

Dust Horrible Dust- Housework Plan - Day 50

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

Why is it in all the holiday movies everyone's houses are perfect? No recycling to be put out, no dirty laundry jammed into a closet, no piles of paper work on the dining room table.

It is hard to get in the Christmas spirit when the house around you is in a mess.

There again, one persons mess is another person's "Hey this looks not bad."

You have to decide if you are a perfectionist and you could let a few things slide or if you really are out of control and need a better plan.

Continue reading Dust Horrible Dust- Housework Plan - Day 50.

Food Glorious Food - Daily Menu Planning - Day 51

By Ingrid Talpak on November 4, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

We are into November and can see the craziness beginning to approach. One of the hardest things about the holidays is that the world does not stop and we have to maintain our regular routines with all the rest of the stuff that is going around.

Yup it's great that we are going out to dinners and parties but if we have a family that means that we still might have to be planning for something for the kids to eat while we go out or we might be rushing home for a quick bite on our way out to do something fun.

While you think that stopping by a fast food joint might be your only option there really is a better (and healthier and cheaper) way.

Continue reading Food Glorious Food - Daily Menu Planning - Day 51.

Decorating Outside- Keeping it Simple - Day 52

By Ingrid Talpak on November 3, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

We have all seen examples of houses that think that Christmas decorating means going over the top.

They are the houses that have enough lights on them to make the skyline glow at night, with animated Santas on the front lawn and a sound system piping music to passersby.

While these are fun (maybe not if you live next door to them) you don't have to go overboard with how you decorate your home. Some times the simplest decorations can be the most beautiful.

Continue reading Decorating Outside- Keeping it Simple - Day 52.

Out door Wreaths, Garlands and Swags - Day 53

By Ingrid Talpak on November 2, 2012 5:00 AM | 1 Comment | 0 TrackBacks

Since you are looking at the lights that you are going to be putting on your home start thinking about the other decorations as well.

A home that is bedazzled by Christmas lights looks great at night but can seem undressed during the day. Wreaths, garlands and swags are a great way to add some charm.

Don't think that you have to just use the traditional pine or spruce wreaths, if your home is modern then you can make or buy something quite contemporary looking.

If you have a specific hobby or trade then why not incorporate that into your front door decorations.

A musical family could have a wreath made from old sheet music (as long as the wreath is protected from the elements) and a family with a lot of dogs could wire dog biscuits into their wreath.

Humor is a great way to greet the visitors to your front door.

Continue reading Out door Wreaths, Garlands and Swags - Day 53.

November Deals

By Ingrid Talpak on November 1, 2012 10:35 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

The beginning of November generally means that Halloween candy is now on sale.

The quality of the chocolate that is used in this candy is not the finest but if it is on a deep discount then think of buying it to melt down and use in cookies, deserts or molds to make other candies.

Chocolate usually sells for about $4 a pound or .88 cents for 100 gr. for a acceptable quality, if the regular price is cheaper than this then the taste might not be very good. Solid chocolate can be stored for a year with no harm to it ( see my article Storing Chocolate) but I only suggest this to people that truly have the will power not to eat it through out the year.

Continue reading November Deals.

Outdoor Lighting - Day 54

By Ingrid Talpak on November 1, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

I hope you had a Happy Halloween!

As you are taking down your Halloween decorations from outside now is a good time to start planning what you want to do with your Christmas outdoor decorations.

Christmas lighting is the decoration most people have the biggest concerns with as you need to attach your lighting to something and have access to electricity.

Have you been doing the same thing year after year and now find if doesn't have the same wow factor it did years ago? Have you never really decorated outside and don't know where to start? Do you not really have access to outside but you want to do something?

There are lots of options for you to consider.

Continue reading Outdoor Lighting - Day 54.

While Waiting for Trick or Treaters - Day 55

By Ingrid Talpak on October 31, 2012 5:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

It's All Hallows Eve today so...

May you be protected from Ghosties and Ghoulies and long legged Beasties and things that go BUMP in the night.

If you are handing out candies you'll find that there is long lulls between the trick or treaters. Since you can't wander to far away from the front door I generally use this time to get started on one of my Christmas chores.

Continue reading While Waiting for Trick or Treaters - Day 55.