The Magic of a Travel Christmas Tree
There are great benefits to the travel tree. They represent memories that you can share for generations. Here’s the story behind how we started our travel tree and why it means so much to us and our family!
It was a magical wedding weekend in Medora, North Dakota 28 years ago. I was with my boyfriend, now husband, at the time and was more than thrilled to be invited to his sister and future brother-in-law's wedding. They were married in an amphitheater with Elk running in the hills behind them. The September weather was cool during the day but really cold at night for this Southern Louisiana girl! I didn't mind. I was in love and so excited to be part of something really special as Jill and Tom got married. At the end of the wedding, the family asked me to join them for photos. We weren't engaged. We had only been dating 9 months. I knew right then and there I was making a choice to be a part of his amazing life. It was a moment I wanted to remember but how? Surely not with a t-shirt that would eventually get worn out. What about a travel spoon? I'm not one to like clutter so the thought of spoons everywhere made my head spin. It was then I saw it. The store that would make such a difference in my life. The Christmas Store! I knew right then I wanted to collect ornaments from the places I travel as a way to remember them. My first travel tree ornament was a cowboy holding a Medora sign made out of dough.
A travel tree was not quite what I had in mind when I bought that ornament but as the years passed by, the kids came and we traveled to more and more places....well, the travel ornaments started to dominate the tree. The kids, who hated decorating for the holidays, actually helped to decorate this tree because they loved seeing the various ornaments and chatting about the memories. This time was precious in the midst of holiday chaos! Even today as the kids are grown, they enjoy looking at the travel tree ornaments and telling their favorite stories of each trip we took.
There are great benefits to the travel tree. Ornaments are small and easy to store. They don't take up much room in your suitcase either. They represent memories that you can share for generations. You can't shrink or outgrow an ornament! And best of all, since you only see them once a year, you get a lot of joy seeing them even if you've had them for 28 years! Opening the box of travel tree ornaments is like opening the door to an old friend.
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Finding Peace in the Midst of Holiday Chaos
5:30am is when I found my kids standing next to my bed rubbing the sleep from their little eyes. I knew that once my feet hit the floor, the day’s busyness would begin. Add the holiday stressfulness and it would send me straight in to feeling overwhelmed. I knew I had to do something different to survive because the holidays were not enjoyable for this tired, working mom. Here are 5 changes I made that helped me get back to the joy of the season!
5:30am is when I found my kids standing next to my bed rubbing the sleep from their little eyes. I knew I was supposed to be appreciating these moments as one day they would be off and on their own and I would miss it but most days, I would just wish they would sleep in for 30 more minutes because I was so tired. I knew that once my feet hit the floor, the day’s busyness would begin. Add the holiday stressfulness and it would send me straight in to feeling overwhelmed. I knew I had to do something different to survive because the holidays were not enjoyable for this tired, working mom.
Here are 5 changes I made that helped me get back to the joy of the season!
Zone decorating
I stopped pulling everything out the attic at one time and expecting everyone to participate in the “fun.” I organized my decorations into zones and only brought 1 or 2 boxes down a day that I could handle myself.
2. Family calendar
I started using the Cozi app for a family calendar and grocery list so that my husband (and eventually my children when they got phones) could see all events, add groceries to the list and they even had a place where the Christmas wish lists could be made. My family was responsible for adding their own events. My rule was “if it’s not on the calendar, it doesn’t exist.” It put a lot of the responsibilities on their plate. I didn’t have to do it all!
3. Minimize time wasters
No matter how tired I was at night after kids’ soccer practice and late dinners, I made sure our evening routines were done before we went to bed. Keys, purse, backpacks, lunches were ready to go. Clothes were out the night before eliminating the “What am I going to wear?” time sucking thought process. I didn’t allow myself to get on social media because I knew it was a rabbit hole that I may not come out of until midnight. I became very picky about where I spent my time. I learned to say no because I also learned that time is precious.
4. Minimize the number of toys children have access to
Let’s be honest, kids will not clean up after themselves unless you make them. I don’t care how organized your playroom is, they hate cleaning up and just won’t do it on their own. When toys were left out, I quickly apologized to my child for trusting them with a toy that they obviously were too young to handle because it wasn’t cleaned up and put away. (A technique I learned from the book Love and Logic-best parenting book out there in my opinion.) That toy was put on a high shelf, and they quickly realized the consequences of not putting away their things.
5. Learn to be still
This is a really hard one for me because I am an Enneagram 7-the adventurer! I don’t do still! But I did. I carved out time for the kids and I to have hot chocolate and watch Christmas movies 1 or 2 times a week. I made plans for dad to take the kids to do things so I could get presents bought and wrapped. (The holiday season also coincides with hunting season so we Southern hunting wives have a whole different holiday battle happening!) I delegated the online Christmas shopping to be done by my husband (yes, I sent him the list!) I also carved in time that I could catch my breath with a walk, a bath, or an activity that was sans kids. It’s not selfish, it’s self-care.
Being organized was extremely helpful overall because it allowed my family to know where groceries went when they came inside. They knew where items coming out of the dishwasher went in the cabinet or drawer. With everything having a home, the piles on the counter could be delegated and put away by each member of our family. It wasn’t all on my shoulders. Being organized helped me find peace in the holiday. I hope these tips help you find some too.
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Thank You to Our Chaos Organizing Family
Do you find yourself thinking about all of the things you are grateful for this time of year? Here’s a few things we’re thankful for this year.
Dear Chaos Organizing Family,
Do you find yourself thinking about all of the things you are grateful for this time of year? It’s one of my favorite seasons for that reason alone but pair with it a break from the Louisiana heat, add a little football, holiday lights and music, and you can see why I love fall and all that comes with it. And the eggnog…there’s that too! As we head into our 9th year in business, I want you to know how thankful I am for each and every one of you who believe in our abilities to bring peace to your home. 9 years of clients becoming friends, less clutter, more family and fun, and so many people loving their homes! Chaos Organizing has far exceeded the small dream I had in 2013. We now are a team of 7 amazing women who know how to make your home function so you can enjoy it. I truly can’t wait to see what opportunities (and families) lie ahead! Thank you for joining us on this adventure. Don’t forget to get on the calendar for 2022 to help get your year started on the right foot. We have a few January spots left.
Kindly,
Your Chaos Organizing Team
Martha-Carol, Melanie, Junita, Lydia, Megan, Julianne and Mary Catherine
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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How to Prepare Your Home for Guests
Are you as excited as I am to be celebrating the holidays in person again? What really struck me is this is the first time many of us have had guests in 2 years! Let me give you a quick refresher on tips for having guests!
Are you as excited as I am to be celebrating the holidays in person again?
I’m currently in the airport waiting to board a plane to Austin for an organizing convention but on the way, I forewarned my hubby that when I get back….game on for Holiday decor! I can be thankful and joyful at the same time!!!
What really struck me is this is the first time many of us have had guests in 2 years! Let me give you a quick refresher on tips for having guests!
Guest bedrooms –Southern Style
YOU WILL NEED CLEAN AND COMFORTABLE BEDDING FOR THE GUEST BEDROOM.
Clean being the more important of the two! Make sure all bedding is washed and the bed is made neatly. Yes, they might mind the Louisiana Catahoula hound hair on the pillow! Make sure to have enough pillows and an extra blanket if needed. Here is a link to “How to Make a Bed,” in case you need some help.
CLUTTER FREE SPACE IS IMPORTANT.
Of course, they want to see the 72 photos of you and your kids at the Saints game displayed on the nightstand, but they’d also like a space to rest their own personal items. Make sure the bedside table is clear enough for them to have space for their phones, ipads, laptops or other personal items. Be sure to have a spot for their luggage. Maybe just 1 photo of Drew Brees hanging on the wall will suffice? Having a little hanging space in the closet is considerate too. Move the debutante dresses to the other closet!
HELP ENTERTAIN YOUR GUESTS THAT HAVE DIFFERENT SLEEPING HABITS THAN YOUR FAMILY BY PROVIDING SOFT LIGHTING, WATER, SNACKS AND ENTERTAINMENT.
Lamps, books, Southern Living, Garden and Gun magazines, local brochures for nearby attractions as well as a Wi-Fi password provided for late night or early morning reading are a just few nice touches. Water and snacks like pralines, Satsuma’s or Zapp’s chips help a guest feel cozy and may make them forget that it’s 90% humidity outside on Thanksgiving Day. Did I mention they might need hair ties? Do they need space for a C-Pap machine, medications, baby to sleep or nurse?
Guest Bathrooms
PLACE A CLEAN BATH TOWEL, FACE TOWEL, AND WASHCLOTH ON THE GUEST’S BED SO THEY DON’T HAVE TO GO SEARCHING FOR WHAT THEY CAN USE.
In my house, I like to designate certain towels as guest towels so that my family members don’t use them to wash the dog or clean up the mud on the floor (Can you relate?) My guest towels don’t look like the others. They are actually white, for one (not dingy white and well loved). I have put these in baskets, tied them with a ribbon or just stacked them nicely. Any of those options makes the guest feel welcome.
A NICE BASKET OR CONTAINER OF TRAVEL SIZE TOILETRIES IS HELPFUL IF YOUR GUEST FORGOT AN IMPORTANT ITEM.
This basket can include but is not limited to shampoo, body wash, conditioner, toothbrush, razor, mouthwash, toothpaste, dental floss, comb, hair ties or bug spray (mosquitos are like hawks, y’all). If your guests have small children, include toiletries geared for children as well.
MAKE SURE THAT THE BATHROOM IS CLEAN.
This is especially important if your guests share the bathroom with my children. Uhm, I mean children. Any children.
All of these tips can help your guests feel relaxed and pass a good time while staying in your home. They let your guests feel that they are wanted and welcome. But be careful, if you are too kind, they might not leave. And as my Mother-in-law likes to say, company and fish stink after about 3 days!
Most importantly, y’all have a good time, cher! Laisses Bon Temps Rouler!
DOES PREPARING YOUR GUEST ROOM FOR COMPANY SEEM OVERWHELMING? LET US GIVE YOU A HAND!
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