How to Get Your Outdoor Space Ready for Entertaining
It’s spring! One of the most favorite times in Southern homes! We Southerners love our large porches where we can socialize with the neighbors or our backyard outdoor kitchens where we can cook and entertain anywhere from 5 to 500 guests before we get into the raw, humid heat of summer. We are a social culture down here, but how do we keep these areas tidy and neat in between parties? Let me show you how!
“Traders en route from the Caribbean to the British, French and Spanish colonies were influenced by island architecture, rich with large open porches to accommodate the humid climate.”
It’s spring! One of the most favorite times in Southern homes! We Southerners love our large porches where we can socialize with the neighbors or our backyard outdoor kitchens where we can cook and entertain anywhere from 5 to 500 guests before we get into the raw, humid heat of summer.
We are a social culture down here, but how do we keep these areas tidy and neat in between parties? Let me show you how!
Porches are fairly simple since we don’t keep much out there. Wiping down furniture and swings with a damp cloth is usually all that’s needed. The porch itself can be swept or blown clear of any debris. If it has mildew, you may need a good power wash to get it all cleaned up. Most of us have taken our plants inside for winter so now is the time to bring them outside and spruce them up! (Y’all know a proper southern porch must have hanging ferns, right?) Make sure the railings and steps are safe and secure, especially if they are wood. Don’t forget to look up and make sure the ceiling fans are cleaned and old wasp nests and dirt diver houses are removed.
Outdoor kitchens need a little more TLC. Many outdoor kitchens have grills, sinks, stone counters, storage space, outdoor furniture, and umbrellas. Some even have refrigerators or other fun things, like pizza ovens! Mike and I spend one of the first weekends in spring getting everything wiped out and wiped down. We also power wash the concrete and outdoor rugs (when we aren’t at soccer games!) Finally, we make lists of things we need to buy for the upcoming entertainment season.
Wipe down all outdoor surfaces with a wet towel.
Tip: I keep all the outdoor items in closed containers because, well, Louisiana has a lot of bugs and critters.
Speaking of that, check your bug spray stock and sunscreen too. (Sunscreen expires, so check the expiration dates.)
Tip: If mosquitos are a big problem in your area, take old wine bottles and repurpose them into citronella lanterns! We have them hanging across our porch so those pesky little things don’t bother us!
We also make sure to have a full tank of propane for the Easter crawfish boil because if you grab that tank on boil day and it’s empty, you’ll be madder than a wet hen!
Here is my personal list:
Clean the grill
Wipe the counters
Scrub the sink
Clean out the beer fridge.
Clean out the trash cans and recycle cans.
Wipe ceiling fans
Check propane
Power wash concrete, outdoor rugs and outdoor cushions.
Uncover and wipe down outdoor furniture.
Uncover televisions (We can’t miss March Madness!)
Restock the outdoor spices (which live in a latch box inside because it’s too humid to keep them outside), paper goods, and outdoor linens.
Does any pool maintenance need to be done?
Check the fishing rods and tackle. (We have a pond. Hunting season is almost over so fishing begins. Remember, I live in Sportsman’s Paradise!)
Check out our Pinterest board to get some spring inspiration for your outdoor spaces!
Create a Spring Capsule Wardrobe
Spring is a season of renewal and rejuvenation. It's the perfect time to declutter your closet and start fresh with a capsule wardrobe. A capsule wardrobe is a collection of essential, timeless pieces that can be mixed and matched to create a variety of outfits. By investing in quality pieces that you love and that fit your style, you can simplify your wardrobe and make getting dressed a breeze.
Spring is a season of renewal and rejuvenation. It's the perfect time to declutter your closet and start fresh with a capsule wardrobe. A capsule wardrobe is a collection of essential, timeless pieces that can be mixed and matched to create a variety of outfits. By investing in quality pieces that you love and that fit your style, you can simplify your wardrobe and make getting dressed a breeze.
Choosing the Right Pieces
The key to creating a successful capsule wardrobe is choosing the right pieces. Start with a color scheme that you love and that complements your skin tone. Then, choose a mix of tops, bottoms, dresses, and outerwear that can be worn together in different combinations. Look for pieces that have a classic, timeless feel, such as a trench coat, a denim jacket, or a white button-up shirt. And don't forget about accessories! A few statement pieces, like a colorful scarf or a statement necklace, can add personality to your outfits.
Mixing and Matching
Once you have your capsule wardrobe pieces, it's time to start mixing and matching. Look for ways to combine different pieces to create new outfits. For example, a chambray shirt can be worn with jeans, a skirt, or even a pair of shorts. A black blazer can be dressed up with a skirt or worn casually with jeans. And a simple white t-shirt can be paired with just about anything. By focusing on versatile pieces that can be worn in different ways, you'll be able to create a variety of outfits without feeling like you're wearing the same thing over and over again.
Staying Organized
One of the benefits of a capsule wardrobe is that it's easy to stay organized. You'll have fewer pieces to keep track of, and everything will be coordinated, so you won't have to spend as much time deciding what to wear each day. To keep your capsule wardrobe in tip-top shape, store your pieces in a way that makes sense for you. Some people prefer to hang everything in their closet, while others like to fold their clothes and store them in drawers. Whatever method you choose, make sure that your pieces are easily accessible and that you can see everything at a glance.
A spring capsule wardrobe is a great way to simplify your wardrobe and make getting dressed a breeze. By choosing the right pieces, mixing and matching, and staying organized, you'll be able to create a collection of outfits that you love and that make you feel confident and stylish. So why not give it a try? Your closet (and your mornings) will thank you!
Need help creating a SPRING CAPSULE WARDROBE?
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Make-Up and Mardi Gras
Makeup and Mardi Gras have a lot to do with organization! Keeping a well-organized makeup drawer can save you time and money when getting ready for a night out. When it comes to Mardi Gras, organization is essential for making sure the celebration runs smoothly.
Makeup and Mardi Gras have a lot to do with organization! Keeping a well-organized makeup drawer can save you time and money when getting ready for a night out. When it comes to Mardi Gras, organization is essential for making sure the celebration runs smoothly.
Use the C.H.A.O.S Method to get your makeup organized
C- Categorize
Take everything out of your drawer and put like items with like items. That means mascara with mascara, lipsticks with lipsticks, etc.
H- Hurtful or Helpful
What emotion does your makeup elicit? Do you like wearing it; does it make you feel good?
A- Action
Take action once you’ve decided how you feel about each item. Keep the Make-up you love and Discard expired make-up (so you don’t get a nasty rash on your face) and what you don’t like.
Here are some common make-up expiration dates
O- Organize
We like trays like these to help keep our makeup organized. They come in various sizes, so be sure to measure the space before ordering.
S- Simplify
Label each tray to set yourself up for success in the mornings and for ease of retrieval.
After the parades, costumes, and other festivities, ensure your mardi gras decorations are organized.
Three tips to keep it organized:
Use a Storage bin with dividers – this will make it easy to separate different colors and types of beads. Keep your costumes in good condition for next year by wrapping in plastic for next year.
Go Vertical – Use a pegboard so you can hang your mardi gras jewelry and beads on the wall free of tangles
Use Space bags – to keep your costumes in good condition for next year and free from dirt and debris.
Above all else, make sure you use a purple bin!
Have extra mardi gras beads? Donate them here.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR METHOD OR WOULD LIKE OUR HELP WITH GETTING ORGANIZED, GIVE US A CALL.
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How to Prepare Your Home for Guests: Southern Hospitality
Are you excited to open your houses and have guests for the holidays again? We sure are! It’s been a while so here are some great reminders about bringing a little Southern Hospitality into your home. This year will be exciting as guests finally get to come to visit so let’s get ready!
Are you excited to open your houses and have guests for the holidays again? We sure are! It’s been a while so here are some great reminders about bringing a little Southern Hospitality into your home. This year will be exciting as guests finally get to come to visit so let’s get ready!
We hope you enjoy our two latest blogs on preparing your home for guests this holiday season. You can let us know by clicking the like button at the bottom left corner of this blog or, even better, forwarding it to a friend to enjoy! We appreciate your feedback!
Southern hospitality is definitely a thing down here in Louisiana! We relish in being “extra” as my daughter would say. So, no matter if you are having family or just a few friends, here are some extra special touches to making them feel welcome.
"There are no strangers, just friends we haven't met yet."
A small vase of flowers in the guest bath or just around your home in general.
A small gift bag with local, trial size products. I love to give a trial size Tabasco sauce, small Community coffee and a locally made praline. What can you get locally that they might not be able to get where they live?
Be aware of their food likes and dislikes, or allergies. (Not everyone can tolerate our seafood.) Sure hope they like Community Coffee because there is no compromising on that!
Don’t forget to offer them something to drink! Nothing says welcome like a glass of sweet tea or a mimosa!
Be sure to greet your guests and put them at ease. This year, this may include, having masks available in case they forgot theirs. It also might include having hand sanitizers spread around your home.
Anticipate their special needs and be accommodating to them. Do they need a place to make bottles or prefer privacy to nurse a baby? Will they need a place for a baby to nap? Will they need the Wi-Fi password?
Let them know it’s an honor for you to have them as your guest, not a burden, by having a beautiful tablescape and using your finest dishes and glassware (Grandmother’s china and crystal is always a welcome sight for the holidays!). Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating a tablescape!
Need help getting your home ready for guests? We would love to help!
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A Hurricane Prep Guide
Certain sounds from hurricanes stay forever embedded in our mind. The loud thud of trees hitting the ground, screeching and howling as the winds whip around your house and the waves of pounding rain as the hurricane bands pass by. It can get scary at times for sure and you have to be ready to evacuate or hunker down. Here are a few tips from this seasoned southern organizer that can help you if you are new to this season.
HURRICANE PREP
Certain sounds from hurricanes stay forever embedded in our mind. The loud thud of trees hitting the ground, screeching and howling as the winds whip around your house and the waves of pounding rain as the hurricane bands pass by. It can get scary at times for sure and you have to be ready to evacuate or hunker down. Here are a few tips from this seasoned southern organizer that can help you if you are new to this season. It’s certainly not everything but it’s a good start! It may just be refresher info for those of you seasoned Gulf Coasters.
The CDC breaks down prep into 2 categories: Prep before and actions after. I am addressing the prep before the storm here.
PLAN
Review your homeowner’s insurance. This needs to be done prior to storm season because by the time it’s in the gulf, it’s too late to change anything. Here’s a link with some great questions to ask your agent.
Make sure you have emergency numbers stored in your phone. This includes but is not limited to your doctor’s numbers, local police or fire and rescue numbers, local hospital, utility companies, your veterinarian, animal control, family members, insurance agent, boss, school/daycare, and neighbors. I keep a printed backup copy with my important papers just in case something happens to my phone. Here is a free printable from Apartment Guide so you can have these numbers on hand.
Personal papers such as insurance papers, passports, birth certificates, immunization records, wills, vet records and anything else deemed important should be kept in waterproof bags or containers. See example here.
Create a First Aid kit or order one online. These can include non-prescription meds. Talk with your doctor about getting an emergency supply of essential meds as well as a list of current medication, dosages, allergies and any other pertinent medical information that you may need to know.
Have emergency power sources in case you lose power. Make sure your electronics are charged ahead of time. (Extra battery phone chargers, flashlights with extra batteries, hearing aid batteries, generators, car chargers.) Here is a list from the CDC.
Have a printed evacuation plan (in case your phone isn’t working) and an emergency plan for tornados. If you have pets, be sure to include them in this plan. This includes names and phone numbers of hotels that allow pets.
Protect Home-board windows and secure anything that might fly away. This is when my kids realize I have a million potted plants! lol
Clean your shrimp boots.
Clean your margarita machine.
STOCK UP
Infant care items
Pet care items- medicines, leashes, bowls for food and water. They will need good collars with their tags attached. Make sure their vet records are with your important papers.
Emergency food and water. CDC recommends 1 gallon of water per person per day. Food that needs little to no prep and no refrigeration is recommended because you may not have utilities. Plan for people with special dietary needs such as the elderly or infants. Here is more information about emergency foods.
Don’t forget to include contacts, contact solution, asthma inhaler, blood sugar monitor or any other items that you or a family member will need if you have to evacuate.
Gas-For car and generator!
Paper goods-Be sure to include a manual can opener.
Covid-19 protection-Masks, hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipes, and gloves.
Ziploc bags filled with ice or freezing water bottles can help keep your freezer and refrigerator cold for a little bit if the power goes out.
Hurricane drink supplies.
Toilet paper-I may become a toilet paper hoarder after the Covid-19 shortage!
WE NEED AS MUCH PEACE OF MIND AS WE CAN GET NOT ONLY IN THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES, BUT ESPECIALLY IN HURRICANE SEASON AS WELL. IF YOU ARE FEELING OVERWHELMED WITH ANY SPACE IN YOUR HOME AND NEED HELP GETTING ORGANIZED, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT US AT 225-205-6400. WE ARE HAPPY TO HELP!
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