Your House ... Your Home Adding Color For The Holidays

Adding Color

for the Holidays

As we enter the holiday season, our thoughts turn to decorating our home with our holiday best. Trees and stockings and all kinds of items that remind us of tradition and family will be displayed.

The traditional red and white colors make our home feel warm and comfortable. A flocked tree adds the feeling of the outdoors and makes a perfect backdrop for classic red ornaments. The stockings are hung on the mantel and red-andwhite-checked pillows, wicker baskets, a sleigh and stuffed animals set the stage for a wonderful night in front of the fire and a morning spent opening presents with the kids. Set your table with simple white dishes accented with pinecones and sprigs of pine, and serve hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows, candy canes and sugar cookies. These are traditional holiday decorations at their best!

My sister and her family love to decorate with blue, silver and white ornaments and décor at the holidays. Blue is such a bright and lovely color to use in your home and especially at the holidays. This tree is perfectly decorated with its blue ornaments, silver stars, and the addition of the ladder and teddy bear nearby makes this area feel warm and cozy. Twinkle lights draped down the wall and casually over the ladder give a feel of simple casualness and whimsy. The table is set with blue linens and place cards, and the centerpieces are simple yet elegant with greenery and blue candles. You could add more twinkle lights to the table for even more brightness! Whatever your inspiration for the holidays, carry it through from your front porch to your tree and to the table, as well. Pick a color or theme and build upon it. Whether traditional red and white or a bright color like purple or blue, fill your home with what you love. The holidays are a wonderful time to try out some color in your holiday decorating. Dark purple and lavender mixed with white and silver make for a beautiful color combination for the holidays! I love the addition of several strings of twinkle lights hanging over the sheer curtain and bright white lanterns filled with more candles to fill this room with color and light. Take the opportunity to really embrace this color and add matching wrapping paper, stockings and set your table with a beautiful purple tablecloth, lavender napkins and decorations and accent it with white dishes, crystal glasses and more twinkle lights. A bright and beautiful mix of colors for a bright and beautiful holiday.

Cutting Through the Noise

A Pediatrician’s Holiday Toy-Buying Guide

By Dr. Beth Garrett, Freeman Health System Pediatrician

Who among us hasn’t at least been tempted to remove the batteries from a loud, light-flashing, noise-making toy? We know our children are having fun, but to adult ears, the noise is all but overwhelming.

While children are certainly drawn to sensory-stimulating toys that light up and make noises, these toys take away from the social engagement play is meant to provide, meaning parents and children alike talk less when electronic toys are in use. Even toys marked as educational elicit “fewer adult words, fewer conversational turns [and] fewer parental responses than during play with traditional toys or books,” according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Like sugar, these toys light up the reward centers in our children’s brains without providing any real value to help them grow. So, what’s a parent to do with Christmas around the corner and all the shiny, new, battery-powered toys on display? Our advice is to go oldschool! And if that makes you think of wood-grain building blocks and tinker toys, remember there are plenty of non-electronic toys that are also fun and exciting. Here are some examples: • PRETEND-PLAY TOYS: Think Barbies, action figures, animals and dinosaurs. Many franchises have their own line of toys, including low-tech options, your child will get excited about. These are a great option for toys that have a “wow” factor while still giving children the opportunity to use language and stories to learn about the world around them. • MANIPULATIVE TOYS: While this category does include those wood-grain blocks, it also includes things like Legos, building kits, puzzles and trains. These toys foster children’s fine motor skills, and some can build early math skills, as well. • ART SUPPLIES: Crayons, markers, coloring books and paints all make great gifts children can have fun with while building their creativity. If you want something more elaborate, art supply stores often have kits for activities you can do with your child. • EXPERIENCE GIFTS: Does your child love sea creatures? Give them tickets (or even a membership) for a nearby aquarium. Are sports more their thing? Consider tickets to a game. Art classes, martial arts classes, concert tickets or a ticket for a camping trip can all make great gifts your child will be excited about. In short, choose toys that spark your child’s imagination, give them the chance to explore their world and bond with others in their family. (And, of course, make sure the toy is age-appropriate for your child.) In the process, you can save your sanity from the roar of noisy toys.

For more information about play and development, visit healthychildren.org for American Association of Pediatrics recommendations. Visit freemanhealth.com/pediatrics for more information about pediatric services at Freeman Health System.

Holiday Etiquette Tips for Surviving the Season

By Kristi Spencer

‘Tis the season to be jolly, but it is also a time to mind your manners. Whether you are attending an office holiday party or wondering who you should tip at Christmas time, I am here to get you into the holiday spirit and avoid the stickiest holiday situations.

Family Matters

For some of us, the holidays can be a time of year when expectations run high. We expect everything to be perfect from our decorations to our relationships. If you find yourself dealing with a difficult family member, keep in mind the only thing you can control is your reaction. Do your best to avoid difficult conversations by avoiding off-limit topics (politics, money, religion and past relationships). It is fine to limit contact by keeping visits short. Also try to practice tolerance and focus on having the happiest holiday possible.

Tipping

Office Parties

The office party is not just an opportunity to socialize with co-workers, it is also still considered a work function. This means you should dress professionally and appropriately so your outfit does not distract from the rest of the event or give off any inappropriate vibes. Even if there will be free alcohol flowing, you do not want to end up making a fool of yourself in front of your colleagues. Take the opportunity to interact with a variety of people at the party, including your boss. This is a great chance to get to know them better and build relationships that can help you in your career. Just don’t overdo it - nobody likes a kiss-up.

Regifting

Regifting can be a fantastic way to save money and reduce waste, but there are a few etiquette rules you should follow. Make sure the gift is something the recipient would actually like to receive. The gift should be brand new and come with its original packaging and instructions. You also want to make sure to put the gift in a new gift bag or wrap it in a box. Handmade and personalized gifts should not be regifted. Make sure your regift will not hurt anyone’s feelings—either the original giver’s or the new recipient’s.

The holiday season is the perfect time to show your appreciation for the people who provide you with year-round services. This includes your newspaper delivery person, dog walker or housekeeper. If you do not tip someone regularly, the holidays are an ideal opportunity to show your thanks. The quality and frequency of the service you receive are both key factors in deciding how much to tip. Additionally, your relationship with the service provider may influence the amount you choose to tip. Holiday tipping is about saying thank you, so any tip should be accompanied by a handwritten note of appreciation.

Kristi Spencer is the founder of The Polite Company and an etiquette expert. Kristi provides personalized in-person or online etiquette lessons that build social skills and self-esteem. She helps clients find success at work and in personal relationships. Kristi is a graduate of the Emily Post Institute, the gold standard of etiquette training. Kristi is the exclusive Emily Post Institute-trained etiquette instructor in the Four-State Region. She lives in Carl Junction with her husband and two sons.