Christmas Mailing Deadlines

So, just in case you are one of those people that wait until the last minute for everyting, (unlike myself, ahem) it's not too late to get those presents out!

If you still haven't mailed out your Christmas gifts to Uncle Bob and Aunt Shirley, or your Christmas cards with the yearly family newsletter novella, you still have time for them to get there by Christmas!

For first-class cards and letters to be delivered by Christmas, you need to mail them by Monday, December 20th.

For priority mail, the deadline is Tuesday, December 21st and for express mail, it's Wednesday, December 23rd.

So, get out there and get going, but maybe next year to save some stress, plan ahead. Happy Holidays!

An Alternative to the Office Secret Santa

Are you tired of getting a scented candle from a co-worker that you barely know every year?

Trying something different this year. Instead of having a Secret Santa gift exchange amongst all your co-workers, call a local charity and sponsor a family in need. Have everyone in your office take the money they would have spent on specialty bath soaps, and Starbucks giftcards to exchange with co-workers and buy much needed items for a special family.

Several different charities provide lists to anyone who would like to sponsor a family. They will let you choose a family, and provide you with a wish list from that family. You will be surprised to see that how the wish lists often include very simple items that we take for granted such as mittens, gloves, coats, blankets, and books.

So won't you make a difference this holiday season? Re-think what it means to give and spread the joy, help out others in need.

Make the Most Out of Listing Your Home During the Holidays.

If your house is on the market during the upcoming holidays, step up the action plan to draw attention to it. Don’t let the holiday blues make you feel like there’s no hope. Homes are sold and bought this time of year. But the ones that get snatched up are the ones that are enticing to buyers.

Because this is a very busy time of year with personal travel and holiday celebrations, many real estate experts note that if you have buyers dropping by your open house or making an appointment to view your home, there’s a good chance they’re serious buyers.

There are some things you can do to make your home more “showable”. It's often said in the real estate industry, “the way you live in a home is not the way you stage a home.”

So, while this time of year often brings out all the holiday decor, there is such a thing as too much holiday cheer. It’s just that not all buyers celebrate the same holidays.

A good rule of thumb, is to keep decor simple and subtle. If you celebrate Christmas, go ahead and put a tree up but don’t put one up in every room. Remember that buyers will be looking at your home and imagining their own holiday celebrations there. So, be sure to leave them room to envision their lives in the home.

This goes for the outside too. Holiday lights can be placed outside very tastefully but ditch the huge inflatable characters that make it look like your yard is an amusement park. Instead, opt for a nice holiday wreath and some subtle seasonal decor. Keep in mind that curb appeal is what gets buyers in the door. If your home isn’t appealing from the outside, buyers won’t bother to stop for a look inside.

Stash the gifts. If you usually put them under the tree or around the house, save them for the day of your celebration. There are two reasons: presents take up precious floor space and they are a distraction. It’s a good idea to keep as many personal belongings as possible in a safe, private place.

Especially in cold weather areas, cinnamon pine cones or some other mild potpourris can be a pleasant welcome. But don’t go overboard with different fragrances in every room.

Another nice touch is to spruce up the mantle. However, if you usually hang stockings with your family’s names on them, you might consider using less personal ones while showing your home. It’s the same reason, stagers will put away your personal photos—to create a space where buyers can imagine their photos and belongings in.

Listing your home for sale during the holidays doesn’t have to make you blue; in fact it can truly brighten your spirits by putting some green in your bank account. Just be sure to focus on making your home a buyer’s dream this holiday season.

It's Party Time... Etiquette!

Hey kids, are now entering the holiday zone! And with that comes parties, gatherings, and family meals.

Are you unsure what proper etiquette is for these affairs? Have no fear! We have you covered.

1. RSVP: This is an abbreviation of the French term, "répondez, s'il vous plaît." It means to please reply to the host/hostess on whether or not you will be able to attend. Many guests feel these days that the RSVP is optional, but the rules of good etiquette, and thus a good guest, dictate that you reply. Among other things, it helps the host plan for the amounts of food and drink to prepare.

2. Dress Code: Invitations will generally clue you in to the proper attire. Formal, black tie, and dressy casual are common dress codes. If the event is especially important, don't hesitate to ask the host about the dress code. And always play it safe and age appropriate. It is much better to be slightly over-dressed than to show up to a formal affair in your jeans and t-shirt.

3. Bringing Guests: You may feel that one more won't make a difference at a big party, but always ask the host if you may bring a guest. Yes, that even applies to small gatherings at a friend's home.

4. Bringing Food: At large family gatherings or pot-luck meals it would be best to bring a dish of some sort with you. It need not be home-made, just thoughtful. If you ask the host what you may bring and they say everything is covered, be sure to bring a hostess gift.

5. Hostess Gift: Unless this is a work soiree or large charity event, bring the hostess a small token of your appreciation. A bottle of wine or a bouquet of flowers are time honored favorites.

6. When to Arrive: For formal gatherings the rule of thumb is to arrive within 10 to 15 minutes of the time noted on the invitation. For more informal gatherings you can arrive up to 30 minutes after the time noted. You don't, however, want to show up early. Your hostess may still be getting ready!

7. How Long to Stay: If the invitation doesn't outline when the party is set to end, it can sometimes be difficult to know when to call it a night. Watch the other guests for cues. When half of the guests have left, it's time to say good-bye. Also, look for clues that the host/hostess has had enough.

8. Don't Be a Party Pooper: It is your responsibility as a party guest to be respectful of the other guests and to have a good time. Sulking or pouting in the corner do nothing but lower the overall morale of the event. If you feel a night of party pooperish coming on, then summon your party persona or excuse yourself from the soiree!

8. Saying Hello and Good-bye: Never come to a party without saying hello to the hostess at some point. And never leave without saying good-bye. The only exception is during a large affair when the hostess is obviously busy or in the middle of a conversation.

9. Thank-you notes: Even your grandma deserves to know that the meal she slaved over for a day and a half was appreciated. Sending a heart-felt thank-you card is always appropriate.

Follow these tips this season and you and your host are sure to have a grand time!

Happy Day of the Dead!

Did you all have a fun Halloween? No, well you're in luck, you have a chance to make up for it with "Day of the Dead"!

Day of the Dead is a holiday celebrated by many in Mexico and by some Mexican Americans living in the United States and Canada. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The celebration occurs on November 2 in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2). Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts. Due to occurring shortly after Halloween, the Day of the Dead is sometimes thought to be a similar holiday, although the two actually have little in common. The Day of the Dead is a time of celebration, where partying is common.

Scholars trace the origins of the modern holiday to indigenous observances dating back thousands of years and to an Aztec festival dedicated to a goddess called Mictecacihuatl. In Brazil, Dia de Finados is a public holiday that many Brazilians celebrate by visiting cemeteries and churches. In Spain, there are festivals and parades, and, at the end of the day, people gather at cemeteries and pray for their dead loved ones. Similar observances occur elsewhere in Europe, and similarly themed celebrations appear in many Asian and African cultures.

So if you didn't have enough Halloween... get your Dead on! (This may or may not include Jerry Garcia)