READER'S ROCK LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE VOL 2 ISSUE 4 NOVEMBER 2014 VOL 2 ISSUE 5 DECEMBER 2014 | Page 69

Holiday survival guide: quick tricks to
eliminate hassles and headaches
(BPT) - 'Tis the season for family gatherings,
dinner parties, gift exchanges and the sound
of laughter coming from around the table.
With the hustle and bustle surrounding the
holidays, finding ways to reduce stress can
help you survive the season. Here are six
simple tips that will help your holidays go
from hectic to holly and jolly, with even a
little time left over to relax before your guests
start arriving.
Clean sweep your to-do list
Getting a jump start on your home's
preparations will keep you from burning out
early. Clean the house thoroughly a few
weeks prior to your big event instead of
waiting until the last minute. Check for any
light bulbs that need to be replaced, carpet
stains that need treatment, and pesky cobwebs
in your fixtures. Discard old condiments in
the refrigerator and add more to your
shopping list. Baking soda and a warm rag
left on a glass cook top for 15-minutes leaves
your surface sparkling - no elbow grease
required. Don't forget your oven - the selfcleaning option saves you time so you can
move on to the next task.
Own the tradition
While the tradition of celebrating holidays is
passed down from one generation to the next,
there's no need to hide your personal flair.
Forgo a traditional centerpiece and create a
tablescape reflective of your family's
personality instead. To add dimension to your
dessert table, glue candlesticks to mismatched
plates to create holiday treat pedestals. Only
have a few minutes before your guests arrive?
Use Krazy Glue Craft Gel to create
centerpieces and personalized place settings
out of beads, gourds, holiday baubles and
handwritten name cards. Even if your

handwriting didn't score an A , your guests
will appreciate the special touch.
Decorate like a pro
A tchotchke here and garland there can soon
lead to decoration overload. Choose a color
scheme ahead of time and stick to two or
three colors. Decorating with colors that
complement your existing decor will bring
holiday cheer into your home seamlessly. If
you have outdated decorations that you just
can't part with, consider giving them new life
with a fresh coat of metallic spray paint.
Wrapping gifts with similar colors, ribbons
and metallics add the finishing touches to
your decorating scheme. For added costsavings, potato chip bags turned inside-out
can be repurposed as metallic wrapping paper
or bows. Cut open the empty bag, wash with
soap and water and let dry. Then wrap your
present and finish with a colorful ribbon or
gift tag.
Satisf