prepare for the holidays | part 1

From the desk of Maggie / JOC

Just like a renovation project, the holidays take a lot of planning in order to have things go smoothly when the action starts. 

How do you approach the holidays? Do you look forward with joy or does your stomach immediately start to tighten. There are a lot of things that can contribute to stress at this time of year, so we thought we'd share our two cents on how we try to minimize stress and make more room for simple enjoyment. 

One memory I have of any hosting holiday was my mom scrambling to find enough serving spoons for all the dishes. Once the big day was over, the stress of insufficient serving devices was forgotten, until it happened again. As an adult, I have always made sure to have lots of serving spoons; way more than the actual number of serving bowls. But there are different things that I forget about as soon as the event is over until it happens again in 365-ish days.

What do you need to add to accommodate your holiday hosting, and what needs attention around your home before the party starts. 

Quick adds:

• serving spoons!
• self-serve beverage station - coffee, hot chocolate, cocktails, etc
• garbage / compost / recycling centre - make it easy and clear where disposables go  
• flexible seating - works in the kitchen / dining or living room 

Minor cosmetic fixes: 

• loose towel bars / toilet paper rings
• leaky faucets - replace or repair
• re-silicone around the tub / shower / counter
• fresh furnace filter
• sidewalk clearing kit - ice melter and a good shovel 

Here are some examples: leaky taps, ignored furnace filter, silicone caulking worn away around tub / shower or countertop. And don't forget that wiggly towel bar! We have an easy 10 minute check list you can use to walk through your house.