Design Tip #2 - Traditions

Okay, so traditions aren't really a design tip, but the purpose of our company is to make your home a safe haven and without GOOD relationships, people will never see your home as a safe place to fall.

So, on with traditions...kind of...Southern Living at Home is currently having their semi-annual sale. Items are 50-70% off. So, one of my favorite items in this sale happens to work perfectly with a Thanksgiving tradition at my mom's house that I want to share.

We have a "formal" Thanksgiving table. China, different courses, etc. In our family, one of the important things is everyone knowing where their seat is. This is the case because everyone likes a VERY, SPECIFIC drink. Some SWEET tea, some UNSWEET tea, some half/half. You get the picture. So one of the things we started doing was assigning the BORED children the task of making "nameplates," and putting them where everyone's drink was. This was twofold. One it gave the kids an activity (and got them out of the kitchen), and the kids of all ages could participate. And two, everyone knew where their drink/seat was.


So, when I saw these napkin rings in the Southern Living at Home catalog, I knew they were a perfect fit for our Thanksgiving tradition. And you couldn't beat the price of 4 for $3.96! And "Fun Rara" (that is me) is going to step the nameplates up a notch. Now that the kids are bigger, I thought I would buy scrapbooking supplies to make the nameplates. And since the kids are older now, they may be "prettier" than they have been in the past!

My next tradition is for every kitchen to have a COOKIE JAR. My mom has ALWAYS had a cookie jar, and there are always cookies in there. I want to create a home where no matter what has happened in the world, mommy is always waiting at home with cookies and a listening ear. There is a Gail Pittman cookie jar on sale for $31.48. Being from Mississippi, I believe EVERY southerner should have at least one piece of Gail Pittman in her kitchen.





My last two "traditions" from the Southern Living at Home July sale are the My Birthday Memories Book and My School Memories Book. One of my best friends, Susan, little girl turned 8 the other day. She posted a photo album on facebook about each birthday. Such sweet memories, and such a good idea, I wanted to copy it for my kids. When I saw this in the sale and saw that it had questions for you (or the child) to answer each year, I knew it was a must for me to add to my baby book, scrapbook, photo album, etc. obsession, I mean collection. Taken from p. 38 of the Southern Living at Home Spring 2010 catalog, "My Birthday Memories scrapbook has deep pockets and a yearly questionnaire spanning 12 years." On sale for $5.96. A great 1st birthday gift!

I had a My School Memories Book growing up, so I need to continue the tradition with my own kids. Plus it gives you a place to keep ALL of the school junk, I mean stuff that you just can't throw in the trash can, and the kids LOVE to go back and look at it. In fact, the next time I am at my mom's I might pull mine out and take a stroll down memory lane. Taken from p. 38 of the Southern Living at Home Spring catalog, "My School Memories is the gold standard in K-8th grade keepsake albums, including space for class pictures and questionnaires, plus pockets for extras." On sale for $6.96.



If you are interested in any of the above products, let me know. My email is dbeatty207@comcast.net . The last day to order will be July 25.

Design Tip #3...Total Home Make-over...