One of our favorites from 2008 – Maggiano’s Little Italy in Bellevue

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

Are you one of many who dreads packing decorations away?

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

Holiday Procrastinating

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

Holiday Cocktails To Remember!

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.

5 Ways To Stick To A List and Still Make Everyone Happy

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

Safe Toys For Everyone This Holiday Season!

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

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here in the US we’re getting ready for our big Turkey Day – Thanksgiving. I have a lot to give thanks for this year. I appreciate all of you who offered support and encouragement throughout the year, and I am certainly thankful for my dedicated team and delightful clients.

I especially enjoy Thanksgiving as a time to get together with friends and family and share a meal we’ve all contributed to. Our tradition is that everyone makes their own specialty for all to enjoy. It is always the variety of foods and spices that makes the meal great. As always, it’s the people who make the moment memorable!

I would like to thank you for reading this blog and supporting Holiday Assistants.  We hope that the ideas and information provided help you year round. If you have any questions or comments please let us know. We would love to assist you in making your holiday stress-free and special! My sincere thanks and wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Warmest wishes,

Heather

Creating You Own Holiday Wreath

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

Holiday Assistants cited by Daily Candy

Holiday Assistants is no stranger to the press, and we received our first mention of the season by Daily Candy Seattle in their article about downsizing during the holidays.  There are plenty of ways people can economize both time and money, which we try to address in our blogs.

The only excess really necessary during the holidays is cheer!

Warm wishes,

Heather

Design Your Own Organic Holiday Wreath!

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