This year autumn has been rather elusive, hasn't it? Record setting highs in September, mild mornings and warm evenings, no fall color yet.....but that's all changing! Cooler temperatures and shorter daylight hours have arrived, and now our thoughts turn to things like bonfires, sweaters, and cuddly blankets. And the holidays. First Halloween (next week!!!) Then Thanksgiving. After that Christmas and New Year's. The whirlwind begins!
If you're hosting Thanksgiving dinner for family and friends this year, advanced planning is a must. Don't let a long Thanksgiving to-do list overwhelm you at the last minute; here are some things to do this week to keep your to-do list under control.
Look for sales at the grocery store and stock up on staple items like paper products and decorations. Purchase some inexpensive toys for the kids in your family (there are some great buys at the dollar store!) to help calm the commotion on Thanksgiving Day.
Assess all your cooking and serving equipment. Do you have enough serving spoons, bowls, pot holders, trivets, etc.? Buy or borrow what you'll need on Thanksgiving Day.
Create your menu, make a master grocery list and print it out. Keep in mind the amount of cooking surfaces that you have and cooking times when planning your menu. Plan a few dishes that can be made ahead of time. If any of your guests are bringing food, double check or assign food dishes during the next step.
Create your guest list for Thanksgiving dinner. Check with your invitees to find out if they are bringing guests with them and what food (if any) that everyone is bringing.
Survey your home for any needed minor repairs.
If you'll be having overnight guests during Thanksgiving, inspect your guest room and other guest accommodations to make sure you have enough pillows, blankets, etc.
Clean your house from top to bottom. Wash the serving platters, china and polish the silver. Buy a few live holiday plants and give your houseplants a little TLC.
If you plan to have any food catered or prepared elsewhere for pick-up, place your orders this week.
Pull out and inspect all linens and guest towels that will be in use on Thanksgiving. Launder, press or dry clean if needed.
Prepare any food that can be frozen.
Sharpen all knives. Purge the refrigerator. Place a new bag in the vacuum cleaner and charge the battery on the hand vacuum. Keep your home de-cluttered.
Stock up the beverages you'll be serving and select the music you'll be playing.
Purchase inexpensive plastic food containers for leftover food or for your guests to take food home in. These are just a few things you can be doing now to get a jump on the busy holiday season.
We Need Your Help
Last year, thanks to your votes, we won Atlanta's Best Place to Shop for Flooring. It's time to vote again and we would really appreciate your vote so that don't relinquish our "crown"!
Here's the link and the quick way to vote for us. You can vote in as many categories as you wish.
Click here to vote. We are under Design and Décor and are category #32 Best Flooring Store/Company. Type in Enhance Floors and More, then go to the end and submit.
You do not need to give any personal information and you can vote every 24 hours until October 31.
Thank you for taking a quick moment out of your busy day to vote for us!
Design Tip
Swap out your spring/summer rugs (indoors and outdoors) for a patterned rug in darker fall colors-oranges, reds, browns, and purples. It will instantly make the room feel richer and bold.
How Much Does It Cost?
We just warmed up a basement with new carpet, just in time for the family to visit for the holidays. This client in Alpharetta has a large basement with a great room and bedroom and installed a very plush Lexmark carpet throughout. The cost was $4200 for 947 square feet of new carpet and padding. It's now an inviting and comfortable space!
I Was FLOORED By Enhance
We just completed some tile work for Maria in Atlanta, and she posted this review on Facebook: "Enhance Floors is the most outstanding company EVER! Professional, detail oriented, outstanding. My only complaint is I wish I had more flooring projects! I have had two projects that Enhance Floor has done and wish I had more."
Thank you, Maria! We appreciate the opportunity to complete all of your flooring projects. Enjoy your beautiful home!