We can’t help but have a few favorites each decorating season, and this season one of them is Maggiano’s in Bellevue.  If you aren’t familiar with Maggiano’s, it’s a fantastic Italian restaurant on 8th Street in Lincoln Square.  They have a huge dining area and private banquet rooms for receptions and meetings.

Maggiano’s is all about great food and an inviting dining experience, which is one of the reasons they hired us to decorate the entire restaurant for the holidays.  They wanted to create a festive atmosphere for their guests so they could share in the spirit of the season and enjoy their delicious food while in the company of friends and family.

Maggiano’s is one of those exceptional businesses that truly focuses on customer experience.  While some restaurants are cutting back on ingredients, waitstaff and decorations, Maggiano’s is going that extra step to keep their customers truly satisfied.  It’s no wonder that Maggiano’s is a local favorite and a restaurant that we at Holiday Assistants enjoy eating at!

Best,

Heather

I have seen some amazing decorations this holiday season – from botanical garden displays and a snow lane in Bellevue to the grand tree in downtown Seattle to unbelievably imaginative light displays on peoples’ homes.  What a fun time of year to share in the delights and decorations of the season!  There is a lot of work that goes into making these magical displays something for everyone to enjoy.

I am definitely one of those people who loves seeing the result of my work.  That’s one of the best parts about working at Holiday Assistants – the gratification is always there!  The gratification is of course sweeter when putting up the decorations, but it’s also there when packing the decorations away and relieving our clients the hassle of organization and packing each ornament carefully.  It takes a fraction of the time to pack away as it does to decorate and our clients always ask us how this is possible because it takes them forever!  It’s pretty simple, we love organizing which means we do it with a positive attitude and we aren’t personally attached the decorations.  Isn’t part of the time spent reminiscing about the ornament before packing it carefully away? ” …remember when Aunt Hilary gave this to us just after you were born?  She was visiting us from Oklahoma where she was working at the time as a ….” and so the story goes on and on.  While we do appreciate beautiful ornaments, we stay focused in the task at hand.

Why not relax in the bliss of the season and leave the packing away to professionals?  We love doing it, and you can keep the memory of how great your home looked without thinking about how long it took you to put all those decorations away and how you have no idea how you managed to get that tree back out the door!  We’re here (and happy) to help!

Best,

Heather

If your among the thousands of people around the world who wait till the last minute to do their Christmas shopping, mail packages, and in general get ready for the holidays your time is up! The last day to mail packages with the US postal service is December 20th and guess what? That’s this Saturday.

If you haven’t done your shopping yet, there are a few options still available to you, but be aware they are limited and might cost you more than you had originally budgeted.

Sending flowers is one way to share the holidays without the time crunch. A good tip for those thinking of this option is to let the florist be creative. If you give them your budget and let them work chances are you will get something far better than you would if you lay out exactly what to go into the arrangement.

Another option for those who have chosen to procrastinate to the very end is gift cards. Keep the persons in mind when choosing the card as there are hundreds to choose from. Most gift cards are available at your local grocery store these days making them even more convenient.

The last option is probably the best, but will take you some time to put together. Hand Made Gifts are always appreciated and can be put together whenever you have time. Whether you put together cookie mix from your favorite recipe, an ornament for someone’s tree, a wreath for someone’s door, or anything else you can dream up these gifts are sure to please.

Happy Holiday’s Everyone,
Kristi

It’s time for the holiday parties with all the smells and sounds of the holidays. This year make your party memorable with a special cocktail. Whether you go for the sophisticated elegance of a martini, the warming comfort of rum, or something a little simpler a cocktail is sure to be remembered well into the new year.

A few classics are: Hot buttered Rum, Coconut Martini, White Christmas, Frosty Noggin, Ginger Snap and Peppermint Twist. But our favorite and the most versatile is the Chocolate Milk Whip. This warm and comforting drink can be adapted easily to suit partiers of all ages.

8 oz Hot Chocolate
1 oz Baileys or Kahlua (whichever you prefer)
Whip cream

Does it get any simpler than that? This drink and many more are sure to warm your guests on these cool winter nights. Whether your out partying or hosting your own shindig, please drink responsibly and have a safe holiday.

For more cocktail recipes visit www.whattodrink.com.

With budgets tighter than ever and stores offering what seem like unbeatable deals it can seem impossible to stick to your holiday list. But there are ways to stick to the list and make everyone happy this season. Just follow these five simple tips and enjoy the experience.

Tip#1: Know who you are shopping for and what you want to get them. It’s harder to spend what you don’t have when you don’t have a means to do so with you. Leaving these items safely at home will help you avoid temptation.

Tip#2: DO NOT bring credit cards, checkbooks, or anything other than cash.

Tip#3: Have a Plan of Attack. Know where the items are that you want to get so you aren’t wandering around the mall. The more you wander, the more susceptible you are to store sales, ads and gimmicks.

Tip#4: Never Shop Alone. Whether you bring your best friend, your mother or the neighbor it is a good idea to bring someone with you to help you avoid getting things that are not on your list or in your budget.

Tip#5: If shopping online follow the same tips except #2. Just because you don’t want to brave the crowds does not mean you will be any less susceptible to sales and gimmicks. Online stores want you to spend just as much as the brick and mortar do so be prepared.

I hope these tips help you stick to your list and your budget this holiday season.
Kristi

With all of the recalls and product warning from last year, how do you know the toy your getting this season is safe? Especially since the new guidelines the CPSC passed last year have yet to fully take effect. The answer is to be careful in what you choose. Here are some basic questions that will help you find the safest toys for kids of any age this season.

Where was the toy made? Most, but not all of the security problems associated with toys are from those manufactured in China where regulations are lower. Also looking for toys with either the good housekeeping and/or CPSC logo on the box will let you know the product has passed multiple safety checks.

What is the toy made of? Toys made of natural woods are better for all of us than those made from plastics due to the chemicals most plastics emit long after the manufacturing process ends. Toys made from flexible plastics tend to emit more of these chemicals than hard plastics.

You should also try to find toys painted with low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints or dyes. Paint can also emit chemicals that are especially harmful to small children. A good rule of thumb to go by when choosing the right toy is: If you can smell it, leave it behind.

What’s in the toy? For older children and adults this isn’t as big a concern, but small children are more prone to putting things in their mouth and chewing on them which can release smaller parts inside. As a parent you will know when your child is ready for smaller toys. For young children it is a good idea to stay away from toys with small magnets or sharp parts. Magnets, if swallowed, can cause major internal problems requiring a doctors attention and in some cases hospitalization, surgery, or worse.

We hope these questions will help you choose the safest toys for your family and friends. For more information on choosing safe toys visit this http://kidshealth.org .

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday,
Kristi

Sparkling Pear Wreath

So you’ve decided you do not want to have a wreath like everyone else’s on the block. That’s fabulous, but you also don’t want to spend $250 per wreath for a custom designed masterpiece. Who could blame you? So how do you create a holiday wreath? There are three basic steps.

Step 1: The Store
Whether your going with an artificial or real wreath the first step is going to be to purchase the wreath and any accessories you like to go on the wreath. Make sure to measure the area you want the wreath so that you know it will fit. Almost any item you can put on a Christmas tree can be secured to a wreath. Make sure you have a needle and thread for securing items. It is also a good idea to have a wreath hook of some nature that will be able to hold your finished product. (3M makes some great removable hooks, but be sure to get one that will be able to hold the weight of your loaded wreath. If your wreath will be over 28inches in diameter I would suggest using a metal hanger.)

Shopping list:
Wreath
Ornaments, accents, and/or bows
Thread
Needle
It is also a good idea to have a set of gloves available to avoid skin irritation from repeated contact with your wreath.

Step 2: Decorate
The first thing to do is to fluff the wreath. This means adjusting the branches so that the wreath appears full and vibrant. Since wreaths are shipped bundled together they can become compressed and a few minutes of fluffing can make all the difference.

Now, figure out where you want your items on the wreath. If you have garland to go in or around the wreath, this will need to be put on first. Use string to attach the garland at different points around the wreath so that it won’t move as you get everything else into place. (Wreaths usually have a ring in the back that everything is attached to. This is where you will tie the string to secure each item.) The next item would be the bow or ribbon if you’re design uses this element. Just like the garland this will need to be secured to the wreath from behind. The last items are floral blossoms and ornaments. As with everything else, these will need to be secured so they won’t fall off when you hang your wreath. When you have everything secured stand back and look at your masterpiece. Make sure everything is where you wanted it and if not, make adjustments.

Step 3: Hang Your Wreath
That’s it. No one said creating a wreath was difficult. It is a wonderful way to express your creativity and share the holiday spirit with friends and family.  If your comfortable with your children handling a needle and thread, get them involved.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Kristi

Whether you are intentionally trying to be a part of the new eco culture or just like  the idea of being able to put your holiday wreath in the yard waste bin at the end of the season without worrying about removing this and storing that, building your own wreath can be a fun and rewarding time for you and your family. Building an eco-friendly wreath is fairly simple and the elements can be changed up year after year so that your wreath will never look the same as your neighbors.

If you plan to buy a wreath, buy from your local florist or nursery and make sure they can tell you exactly where the wreath came from. Though most fresh wreaths are local, some are trucked in from other states.

What to decorate with? There are many things you can add to your wreath. Some of these items will need to be removed after the season, while others can be left to be composted with the wreath itself. I will list these in two columns so you know which is which.

Keep On:                                     Remove:
Cranberry garland                                   Ribbon or bows
Poinsettia (or other floral) blossoms      Beaded garland
Pinecones                                               Ornaments
Paper Bows/Raffia                                   Plaques or Signs

When you decorate you will need to have string on hang and if you are using ribbon (fabric or paper) you will want a sewing needle so that you can secure everything to the back of the wreath. You can string your own cranberry garland with a needle and thread. This is a great task for children whom you are comfortable handling a needle.

Happy decorating everyone,
Kristi

Everyone loves a sale and what better time to get the last of your holiday shopping done than on the biggest sale day of the year? Besides that, what else are you going to do with Aunt Maude for an entire afternoon? This year the sales are supposed to be the best ever, but don’t think that gives you a license to spend. There are still a few rules to keep in mind in order to stay on your budget, get everything you want, and enjoy your time at the mall.

First, read the fine print. Sales do not necessarily last all day at the same percentage. Some stores have early bird specials on top of their sales for shopping who arrive before a certain hour. It is also important to know the return policies on sale items just in case that wonderful gift is more for you than its intended party.

Second, have a list. If you don’t know who you are shopping for and what you are looking to find you’re going to spend way too much and get next to nothing on your holiday list. Even if your shopping for yourself, spend some time figuring out what you need so when you get in the stores your not draw to the glitter and away from your target.

Third, Go Early. Even if the sales last all day, it is still going to be easier to find a parking space and take your time shopping and enjoying yourself if you leave early. Taking a break at mid-day is also a good idea as the stores will be packed and the risk of theft increases at that hour. Take some time out to have lunch with those you came with and save yourself the crush of late shoppers. (Those who slept in and have just spent the last hour looking for a parking space.)

Lastly, Be Cautious. If a sale looks too good to be true, it likely is. If the person standing by the bench gives you a weird vibe, walk away. Just because you’re there to spend money doesn’t mean you are a charity. Go with a purpose and keep your focus. Never go alone! That is the easiest way to spend too much and become a target for sales clerks and shady characters alike.

We wish you a safe trek this season whether you choose to walk off Thanksgiving dinner at the mall or at the park!
Kristi

With Thanksgiving only a few weeks away, it’s time to start planning out the decorations for the season. Whether you plan to put lights on your house, a reindeer in the front yard or a tree in the living room it is important to keep safety in mind. Electrical fires and ladder accidents are the most common types of accidents and the easiest to avoid.

When working with a ladder make sure it is set-up properly and on a level surface. Always work with a companion so there is someone to help hold the ladder safely. Never stand on the very top step of any ladder as this leaves you nothing to hold on to if you should lose your balance even for a second.

Before hanging lights check them out thoroughly. Look for exposed wires, cracks, broken or scorched insulation or other signs of damage. Also plug them in to make sure all of the bulbs are working properly and nothing smells funny. (If you smell anything from a strand of lights, discard it. This can be a sign of damage that can lead to serious problems including fires or electric shock.) Also check that when fitting two or more strands of light together they fit snuggly. Loose connections can slip and cause sparks which will ignite anything and everything near it. (Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when connecting multiple strands of lights together. Wire can only handle a certain amount of current, so be sure not to add more strands than the manufacturer suggests.)

If you have small children or expect to have children present at any time while your decorations are in use, make sure to use appropriate protective products such as cord covers and plug cover. Even if you are not expecting small children it is a good idea to consider using a clapper to turn on and off any decorations where cords are hard to get to. This will save you energy as well as lessening the risk that your tree will fall over causing multiple problems.

It is always a good idea to have a companion assist you when setting up decorations so that if something does happen, someone is there to assist you. Make sure ornament hooks are strong enough for the size and weight of the item you are hanging, and always use appropriate hangers for larger objects. If you’re planning to have topiaries or other decorations outdoors, make sure they are weather resistant and well secured. Keep cords and objects away from well trafficked areas to lessen the risk of falls.

We wish you the best this holiday season!
Kristi Bennitt

The holidays are a time to reconnect with friends and family and decompress from our hectic work schedules. However, they can also be filled with stress, anxiety and fear. Did the holiday cards get put in the mail on time, will the packages arrive, what decorations will we put on the tree, where to put the tree, who’s house are we having dinner at on which days…The list is endless and if the house in question is your own, that just adds to the pressure. So much for the time off from your stressful job!

But it doesn’t have to be as bad as all that. If you’re organized and willing to ask for help, the holidays can be as relaxing as day at the spa (or the golf course). If you want a low stress holiday do yourself a favor and start planning now. The more you plan, the more you know in advance, the easier it is to be prepared when it’s time for the events. Here is a simple way to get everything straight and feel in control no matter how full your holiday schedule.

1. Write the activities on a calendar. If you know what you have to do and when you have time to do it, its easier to see that things get done.

2. Write a list of things you will need for each activity. Again, the more you know, the easier it is to accomplish. Writing out a list of groceries you’ll need for a special dinner, or who gets what gift will not only keep you on budget, but gives you a sense of accomplishment once the task is done. There will be no doubts at the end that you missed someone or something.

Make grocery list, gift lists, decoration plans, transportation schedules and more. If it needs to get done over the holiday, write it down.

3. Ask for help! This is a crucial step in relieving the stress and anxiety of the holidays. The more you ask for help, the easier things become and the more time you will have to enjoy the holiday. Whether you ask a professional, a neighbor, a friend, or your family it’s one less project you have to complete yourself.

Spending a little time now in order to relax and enjoy the holidays isn’t a lot to ask. Especially when you know the sense of relief you will feel when everything falls into place with little effort. Your friends and family will be impressed, you will be relaxed and the holiday will be a bright memory for years to come.

For more information on reducing holiday stress visit: http://lifestyle.msn.com/relationships/articletkt.aspx?cp-documentid=8319235

Happy Holidays!

Kristi

The 2 fastest ways to spend more money than you need to are by not having a budget and by getting distracted.  In today’s economy it’s more essential than ever to be conscientious about where your money is going.  For that reason, it’s important to follow some guidelines to stay focused and not get carried away in the consumerism of the season.

1. Give fewer, but more meaningful gifts. For some people, like the mail delivery person or a concierge, cash is still the best gift.  For other people you have a real connection with like family, friends and neighbors, it’s best to give them a gift that has some significance between you.  Every Christmas season I get bottles of wine and chocolates or other candies.  A few days after I get them I honestly can’t remember who they’re from.  Unless! someone goes out of their way to buy me my favorite chocolates or a fantastic bottle of wine that we shared at a special occasion or restaurant.  That connection is meaningful to me, and of course, it always helps if they mention that in the card.

Another thing that invariably happens every year is that someone gets me several gifts that leave me wondering how they came up with those.  I realize they probably bought me several things because they didn’t know what to get me and they wanted to make me happy.  Gift giving is intrinsically a thoughtful gesture, so more is not necessarily better.  I would always advise keeping a gift simple and as meaningful as possible.

2. Write down your list with a set budget. Make sure the list contains the names of people you need to buy gifts for, gift ideas, and a budget per person.  While the budget is per person, make sure to add all the numbers up and that they are within your total overall budget.  Knowing who to buy gifts for helps prevent you from coming up with additional people to add to the list because ‘wouldn’t so-and-so just love that…’.  Brainstorming gift ideas in advance helps stave off overwhelm once you get to a mall or store with a large selection (think meaningful gifts – quality not quantity!).  Having gift ideas makes you feel like you are more in control instead of at the whim of stores and their specials and clever salespeople.  Setting and sticking to a price per gift helps keep you from ‘upgrading’ once you get tempted at a store.   You might either upgrade to a better/larger item or be tempted to buy a similar but more expensive item because of the way it’s presented.  Stay focused and in control!

3. If you have a list, and only if you have a list, go ahead and shop the Black Friday door-busting super sales.  Black Friday temptation sales where you end up buying things not quite appropriate, too many of an item because they are soooo cheap or items for yourself can throw any budget off track.   If you have a carefully thought out list that is written down, you can stay focused and go in only for those items that meet the qualifications on your list.  Make sure not to rely on one store to provide everything.  Go in, get what you have that meets your list, and then get out and move on.

4. Time is money for more reasons than 1! Time shopping is taking time away from something else you could be doing, and the longer you spend shopping the more money you will spend!  Make sure you allow yourself a fixed amount of time because the longer you stay, the more temptation you will expose yourself to, and even the most steadfast person with a well written list can fall prey to consumerism.  Stores and malls are built to sell.  It’s their business and they typically do it well!   Stay focused, in charge and get in and get out!

5.  Now remember, Don’t Panic! People do not make sound decisions when in panic mode, and it’s easy to think in panic mode when it’s after work and you want to get home, or the store is about to close.  Don’t put yourself under unnecessary pressure.  Schedule time for shopping when you are at ease and are ready to set out and tackle your list.

Holiday shopping should not be a dreaded time.  After all, the malls and stores are well-decorated, there’s a festive mood in the air, there are usually more sales people and longer hours.  It should be a more convenient and fun time to shop.  Bellevue Square, Issaquah Gilman Village, Redmond Town Center, downtown Kirkland and downtown Seattle are all festive areas to shop.  With a clear strategy and a calm state of mind, set out to shop for your loved ones.  Enjoy the experience, feel in control and live the spirit of the season!

Best,

Heather

Holiday Assistants tree decorations

We’ve noticed an increasing trend in adult children making holiday arrangements for their parents.  I think everyone enjoys the holidays as a time to be creative, but it isn’t always feasible to hang lots of decorations all over a big tree or climb ladders to hang heavy wreaths.

Many adult children take the initiative to help their parents by taking out the work, but their parents can still be as involved as they can or want to be.  Decorating, arranging parties and shopping for gifts is a lot of fun, and we are very careful to work closely with our clients to make sure they are involved and that we are getting things done according to how they would do things themselves (although with our methods we tend to be quicker than most!).

I think adult children helping their parents is a wonderful solution that lets everyone enjoy the highlights and festivities of the season.  I am certainly impressed by the thoughtfulness that adult children have in helping their parents.  This is a trend I fully support!

Warm regards,

Heather

Don't get tangled in the season!

It’s still early as far as the holidays go, but I’ve already noticed some panic as people who are going out of town before the holidays scramble to make arrangements for when they come back.  A lot of our customers head to warmer climates in the fall – and especially in November.  We normally meet with them before they go in order to come up with a plan to help with holiday decorating and parties when they come back.  We go over decoration themes, areas to be decorated and party plans so that we can get everything ready and be on schedule when they return.  It’s a lot of fun being able to make someone’s day by getting everything ready and all they need to do is show up and enjoy!

If you are planning to go out of town before the holidays, please contact us soon so that we can go over your wish-list and schedule times to decorate, help at parties, deliver gifts, etc.  We aim to ease your stress and delight you upon your return!

Warm regards,

Heather

Sparkling Pear Wreath

Whew!  Our fingers and creative minds are exhausted!   We’ve been busy elves creating our hand-made wreaths and topiaries for the 2008 holiday season.  Finally our efforts have paid off and we have a lovely assortment of wreaths in all sizes, both lit and unlit.  We each have our favorites, and it will be hard to see them go, but we can’t wait to find them good homes !

We have wreaths that are whimsical – be sure to check out our royal frogs made out of glass, traditional and more modern made of raffia and eye-catching flowers.

We’ve already sold about 20% of our stock to returning clients from last year, so these one-of-a-kinds will go quickly.  The wreaths and topiaries are excellent additions to both home and business.  You can download our Wreaths and Topiaries list HERE.  Please let us know if you have any questions, and make sure to book early while our supplies last!

We think you’ll enjoy the care that has gone into each wreath and knowing that yours is unique!

Best,

Heather

Halloween parties are really tough to pull off for an entire family. You can have a scary theme that will be great for adults and teenagers. There are many good themes that you could use, but unfortunately all of these would give little kids nightmares. If little kids are going to attend the party, it can’t be too scary. This will in turn make it boring for adults and teenagers. So the dilemma is to make it suitable for all ages, which can be a real challenge. One good idea is to have a pumpkin decorating party. This can for all ages and certainly won’t scare the children. If enough people attend the party, you can have a judging of the best decorated pumpkins and give out awards for different categories. The categories could be things like, the scariest pumpkin or the goofiest pumpkin. Who knows, maybe you can start a yearly tradition with a competition like this. It could be a fun yearly contest the whole neighborhood looks forward to. This type of party would also work well if everyone brought an entrée or appetizer so that there won’t be too much work for the host or hostess holding the party. The types of food can be spooky Halloween dishes like sweet and sour eyeballs, which are sweet and sour meatballs with olives. They can also just be good hearty fall food that helps warm you up on a cold October night. Top this off with some good music, perhaps something spooky, and you have yourself a great night of fun. Another variation on the traditional Halloween party is to have a multi house neighborhood party tour. This will of course need the cooperation of other families in your neighborhood. The party would have several houses that it would be held at. Each one would have some scary theme, like ghosts or monsters. At each house there could be some small party activities or games and some food. The party goers would go from house to house, enjoying each stop and getting a little something different at each one. This can be a great advantage over having all the responsibilities yourself. This is also an attractive option for parents who are worried about their children going out for trick or treating. Having a few trusted adults or teenagers travel with the kids as they go from house to house will help ease the mind of any worried parents.

Fall is finally here and Halloween is right around the corner. Whenever anyone thinks of Halloween, one of the first things that come to mind is trick or treating. This is a time honored tradition of course and no Halloween would be complete without it. There are other activities that are equally fun to do in addition to trick or treating, that kids will enjoy. Some farms in your area may offer fun activities such as hay rides, corn mazes and pumpkin carving. These activities just fit right in to the fall season and are fun for both adults and children. Corn mazes are just what you may think. They’re giant mazes carved right out of a corn field. They range from short easy mazes to very long and challenging mazes and are great fun for just about any age. Hay rides will usually be a pulled wagon that will tour a farm. Riding in the back of a wagon that’s pulled by horses is something that most people probably haven’t tried, but it’s a very enjoyable and relaxing experience. For the more adventurous types, there is a variety of hay rides known as haunted hay rides. These rides are just like the ordinary version, except that along the ride, ghoulish characters will jump out at the passengers to give them a good scare. These rides are almost always done at night to make them even more frightening. For some children, especially young ones, this may be a little too intense. A good recommendation is to check with the farm that’s running the haunted hay ride to see how scary it is before taking your children along. Pumpkin carving is a favorite Halloween activity. Anyone who looks at a jack-o-lantern immediately thinks of Halloween and fall. Naturally then there are going to be many farms that show off their pumpkin carving skills. These jack-o-lanterns are displayed for folks to see at farms and sometimes at roadside stands. The jack-o-lanterns are not only beautifully carved, but the pumpkins are often grown by local farms. Some of these attractions charge a small fee for admission, while others are free. Most of the rides and mazes will require a fee, so check ahead before planning a fall outing like this. Whether you go for the rides and mazes, or you simply go to check out the great jack-o-lanterns, visiting farms are kid pleasers and should not be missed.

Most of us can remember Trick or Treating as kids. Going door to door in our best costume, getting candy, the stomach’s from all the candy that didn’t make it home! Most of us would like to share these memories with our children, but it’s not as simple as it used to be.

Neighborhoods aren’t as safe as they once used to be. There are some things you can do to ensure your child has a wonderful time and the memories and traditions survive another generation.

*For some this means Trick or Treating at the local mall, which can be a lot of fun, but doesn’t have the moonlight appeal of traditional trick or treating.

*Another option is to spend time at your local Harvest Festival.

*Many towns have started sponsoring such events to appeal to families and help keep the kids in town safe. Hay rides, candy, games, and more will keep the whole family entertained for hours.

If you are determined to stick with the traditional door to door trick or treating here are a few things to keep in mind:

*Always go in a group and make there are at least two adults to supervise.

*There is safety in numbers.

*Stay in a well lighted area.

*If your neighborhood doesn’t have street lights consider taking your child to a development that does.

*Remind your children to only go up to houses with the porch lights on.  This is a sign that the occupants/owners are home and willing to participate. Homes where the porch light is out are off limits.

*Only accept candy that is sealed.

*No apples or other fruits, and especially no pre-opened items.

*Unless you know the person well you should never accept something you couldn’t buy off the shelf in your local candy store.

*Keep a light on you. It is always a good idea to keep a flashlight or other object with you for those times you need to read something or if you find your group at then end of a street where the streetlight goes out. You might even consider having the children wear some sort of glow stick so they are even more visible to you as they run around in the dark. There are many options available these days that most children find appealing and will even beg you for.

*Bring water with you. Children are children and what child doesn’t like candy. But between the sweets and the walking it is a good idea to bring along at least one water bottle per person, even if they are stored in the car.

*Never go inside someone’s home, even if it’s to wait for them to bring out the candy dish. If they have run out of candy or say they need to get something from another room tell them ‘you will come back in a few minutes’ and move on to the next house. Trick or treating can be a lot of fun and tiresome.

Your Holiday Assistants team hopes you enjoy yourselves no matter what you decide to do this holiday season!

By Kristi Bennitt

Remember: Holiday Assistants (www.holidayassistants.com) can help you decorate your home for Halloween. Our expertise in decorating, planning and coordinating will have your home looking fabulous this Halloween Season. 

We have all seen the never ending stream of bad Halloween costumes in stores year after year. These costumes range from the traditional witch to recent movie characters. There wouldn’t be any problem if everyone didn’t dress up as the same tired old characters. The ghost, the witch, the devil and the movie character have been done to death. What I mean by the movie character is any character from a recent movie that has been marketed to children. This usually consists of a plastic mask and some sort of top fitting gown. It is understandable that not every parent has the time to make some elaborate costume for their kids, but there are some great costumes that just take a little creativity. One idea for a younger (and lighter) trick or treater is to go as a giant. Have your son or daughter wear some football shoulder pads to add some shoulder width. Then get or make a very long flowing gown that is much too long for your child to wear. The idea is to have your child ride on your shoulders and have the gown drape over you so you can’t be seen and it looks like he or she is over 7 feet tall. This will of course require some degree of upper body strength from the parent who will be the bottom half of the giant. A small hole must obviously be cut in the gown for the parent to see out of. Also, some sort of extensions for the child’s arms could be added to make the giant look proportional. A mask for the child to wear will complete the costume.  This is very fun for the child who gets to be the giant’s upper half, after all what little kid wouldn’t want to be a giant. If you are going to buy an outfit for your child to wear this year, consider what you are getting before you purchase it. If it’s something that you could easily recreate at home, than give it a try. Include your kids in the process too, you’ll find the process rewarding and fun. Whatever you decide to do this year for Halloween, remember that the point of this is to just have fun with it and be creative. You’ll find that the more thought and effort that you put into a costume, the more fun that it will be for both you and your children.

Trick or Treating should be one of the great adventures of Halloween for kids! They can get dressed in scary costumes and go door to door, begging “Tricks or Treats!” from neighbors or at the local mall. Lots of towns have a Harvest Festival so kids can Trick-or-Treat safely. But going door to door is the stuff of childhood memories! It should be a fun time, without trouble and pain, so following some easy tips can keep your child safe every Halloween.

Summer has come and gone, but low and behold a wonderful new season (Fall) approaches filled with special holidays, memorable moments, splashes of color and beautiful decorations.  Revive the nostalgia of days past, when your home was decorated with wonderful orange and yellow flowers, yummy scents of warm apple pie all throughout the house and candlelit windows.

Fall Decorating Ideas
·    Decorate pillar candles by wrapping twine, leather thong, or ribbon around the middle of the candle. Stick fall leaves, cinnamon sticks, or twigs in between the wrapping and the candle and place them throughout your house. Note: glass candle holders or vases can also be decorated in this way. Try wrapping the vases in different colors of Japanese paper first to create a warm glow when they are lit.
·    An easy way to add fall decoration is to use pillar candles, grouped in staggering heights. At the base of this arrangement, place silk fall foliage, berry clusters and artificial flowers.
·    Sunflowers are a wonderful touch to any fall décor. You can find a variety of colors in the flowers ranging from vivid orange to rusts. Arranging a combination of these colors provides an accent that will match almost any fall decorating theme or thanksgiving meal.
·    A great alternative to a floral arrangement is using bundles of wheat, tied together with deep burgundy, orange, and gold ribbon. You can cut these arrangements to any size. Taller bundles will work well beside the fireplace or on your front porch, while shorter bundles can be placed on your dining or buffet table.
Cited from: www.givinggallery.com/promotions/fallDecorating.asp

Holiday Assistants (www.holidayassistants.com) can assist you with Fall decorating ideas, budget saving tips, fabulous centerpieces, flowers and much, much more! Give us a call today!

Best,
Cecilia

Below are more ideas on how to make back to school time a fun time!

Creative Arts & Crafts ideas for a Back-to-School Party include:

-book marks

-clay modeling

-collage

-painting

-origami

-shrinky dink

Fun Foods for a Back-to-School Party include the following lunch box favorites:

-peanut butter & jelly sandwiches

-string cheese

-pudding or applesauce cups

-grapes

-baby carrots

-chocolate chip cookie

-juice boxes

-school bus cupcakes

-Pack the party foods in individual brown lunch bags and write each quest’s name on his/her lunch bag.

Fun Party Favors for a Back-to-School Party include:
-crayons
-pencils
-erasers
-note pads
-folders
-glitter pens
-stencils
-pencil box
-pencil sharpener
-rulers

For more back to school party ideas, visit: www.kidspartyfun.com

Remember:  Holiday Assistants (www.holidayassistants.com) can help you plan your back to school party. We can assist with everything from creating invitations, to customized catering suggestions including fun activities, games, team building activities and entertainment for everyone.

Best,

Cecilia

Summer may be nearly gone, but there’s no reason not to celebrate the end of a great summer and the beginning of a brand new school year with a ‘Back to School Party.’  Get ready for the new school year by reuniting with old and new schoolmates. Show off your new backpacks, new jeans and brand new notebook designs.

Fun Invitations for a Back-to-School Party include:

-report card style

-homework assignment style (your first assignment of the school year is to come to this party and have a great time)

-large red apple, yellow school bus, or #2 pencil cutouts

-buy inexpensive notebooks or note pads and write invitation on cover or front page

-tape or tie a fun pencil to invitation

Fun Decorations for a Back-to-School Party include:

-balloons and streamers in red, yellow, and black or school colors

-large paper cut outs in the shape of apples, school buses, numbers and letters

-real apples, big piles of books, globes and maps

Fun Games & Activities for a Back-to-School Party include:

-20 questions

-bingo

-dodge ball

-drawing games

-Simon says

-twister

-relay races

-get ready for school race pack lunch bag, collect homework, put on back pack, run to “school house”)

-paper airplane contest

-back-to-school wordsearch

-dream teacher fantasy (each child draws and describes his/her dream teacher)

-show a classic school-themed movie to older children, such as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Breakfast Club, Never Been Kissed, or the Dead Poet’s Society.

-You could even schedule the party like a school day and ring a bell between the following sessions… home room (arriving), PE (games & activities), Art (arts & crafts), recess (free play), and lunch time (refreshments). Article taken from: www.kidspartyfun.com

Holiday Assistants (www.holidayassistants.com) can help you plan your back to school party. We can assist with everything from creating invitations, to customized catering suggestions including fun activities, games, team building activities and entertainment for everyone.

Summer has come to an end, but fear not, Indian Summer is just around the bend offering us a taste of an extended summer for just a few more days. What better time than now to get friends together one last time for a Labor Day Party to bid farewell to summer. Maybe even start gathering ideas, and planning activities for the following summer. As the night falls, gather around a bonfire, prepare some S’mores and reminisce about what a splendid summer was had by all.

*Do you know how to prepare perfect S’mores?

Here are a few tips: a marshmallow is skewered on the end of a long stick and held just above the campfire until (according to personal preference) its outer surface starts to brown, char, or even catch fire. Once heated, the inside of the marshmallow becomes soft. The marshmallow is quickly pinched off its stick with the waiting graham crackers, one of which has a piece of chocolate on it (typically a section of a milk chocolate bar). Ideally, the heat from the roasted marshmallow partially melts the chocolate into a gooey mess. However, some people assemble the entire s’more on the stick and cook it all at once to ensure gooey chocolate. Some people add peanut butter to the mix for additional flavor. The peanut butter may be added between a graham cracker and the chocolate piece or between the chocolate piece and the marshmallow. Many s’more consumers will set the waiting graham cracker and chocolate near the campfire to help melt the chocolate.

Excerpt taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smores

It seems that every time I am asked whether we use fake or real trees no matter what my response is it comes across wrong!  I am quickly judged on my answer and what seemed an innocent question quickly turns into an interrogation.  We at Holiday Assistants use artificial (fake!) trees, but we are more than happy to decorate real trees purchased by our clients.  Offended?  Let me outline some of our considerations for you.

Here’s why fake trees are environmentally friendly:

- Most fake trees can be used for 10 or more years.  Just be gentle with unpacking and repacking them and treat them like you want them to last!

- Sure, most are made in Asian factories, but if you are willing to pay more you can find artificial trees made from recycled materials.  Better yet, save money and buy a used one at a thrift store, garage sale or E-Bay!

- Most people pack the trees away year after year in the same box they purchased it in.  There are lots of stores selling fancy tree bags and slick tree storage containers, but if you want to reduce your carbon footprint, just use the same box you purchased your tree in.  The only time you see your container is twice a year when you unpack and repack the tree!

- Safety!  Fake trees are flame-retardant.

- Less mess.  With fake trees you don’t have needles shedding and it never dries out.

- Convenience.  No driving around each year to evaluate the various tree lots and taking time comparing prices, negotiating a deal and wrapping it up and driving it away on your rooftop.

- The impact on the environment is ultimately smaller.  Artificial trees – recycled or not – are produced in factories, shipped to distributors, shipped to stores and in the end purchased and taken home by the consumer.  The consumer then has the responsibility to re-use the tree for as long as possible and recycle the tree if possible.  The majority of live trees are farmed after 7-10 years and require maintenance over much of that period!  Land is cleared, seedlings are planted and transplanted, farmers often use fertilizers to speed up growth, chemical herbicides are used to decrease shrub growth, insecticides are used to combat pests, and then there are plenty of trees that due to cosmetic reasons never make it to tree lots – and there are all the ones that don’t get sold!  After that the recycling process requires that the trees are picked up or consumers drop them off somewhere where they are then transported to where they will be recycled, etc, etc.

Here’s why we appreciate that our clients prefer real trees:

- Many clients involve their families in going out to the lots to select and take home a tree.  This can be a great bonding experience for the family.

- Our clients feel more appreciation towards their real tree and enjoy its natural fragrance.  We know this creates a special ambiance for them that enhances their holiday season.

- We know our clients will ultimately recycle their tree in one of the many tree recycling programs throughout the Seattle area.

Another consideration is potted real Christmas trees.  If you have space around your home to plant the tree after the holidays, this is an excellent option!  You can decorate the tree year after year and it lasts as a lifetime memory of the year you bought it.

Ultimately, it is up to the consumer what decision is best for their family and the world we all live in.  A Christmas tree is just one decision in a collective decision that has a greater impact on the environment.  After all, we all need to be careful to re-use/reduce decorations, wrapping paper and even gifts to decrease our impact.

We welcome your feedback and opinions!  Feel free to send us comments!

Warm wishes,

Heather