Is Thanksgiving Happening This Year?

We can all agree that 2020 has been a particularly challenging year. First wildfires, then coronavirus, now election drama - nothing has been easy. But we are still here, hanging in there in spite of it all. We think Thanksgiving is needed more than ever this year. 

Thanksgiving Day is a day for people to give thanks for what they have. Families get together for a meal, which traditionally includes a turkey, dressing, casseroles, vegetables, cranberry sauce, gravy, and pumpkin pie. Then parades, football, shopping. It's a great family day!  And there are friendsgiving gatherings, too.

We did a quick survey to find out if traditional Thanksgiving activities were happening this year. Here's s what we found out:

~~47% of our respondents are celebrating at home with only their immediate household. For many it is only one or two people, maybe just the husband and wife. Please, if you know someone that will be alone, call them on Thanksgiving (Facetime or Skype if possible), send a card or leave a small gift on their porch. Many are not comfortable going out, but please don't forget about them. Isolation, loneliness, and depression are prevalent these days, and are real health concerns.

~~21% are celebrating at home with guests. For most the guests are family members that don't live in the same home, or a close friend. 

~~20% are celebrating at someone else's  home locally, usually a relative.

~~12% are traveling out of town to celebrate, most to a relatives, though a few are vacationing. 

The groups may be smaller this Thanksgiving, but let's not let our concerns and fears overpower our love of family. We still have plenty to be thankful for.

Are You Decorating For The Holidays?

On a happier note - Christmas and Hanukkah are coming. And holiday decorations make us all feel better. 

We did another survey to see if everybody was "decking their halls" for the holidays, and if so, when they were putting up their lights and tree. 

Here's what we found out:

~~62% of our respondents are decorating after Thanksgiving.

~~29% are decorating between now and Thanksgiving.

~~6% are already done!

~~Only 2% are not decorating at all.

We learned that almost everyone is decorating for the holidays. For those of you that aren't finished, here are some ideas to inspire you:

Popular color combinations this year include red and green (of course!), green paired with pale shades of brown to evoke that winter in the woods look, and red with pink and silver for a super glam vibe. A monochromatic white palette is also trending, for a crisp and clean feeling.

Many are doing two trees: an artificial tree now and a live tree in a few weeks. 

White flocked trees are extremely popular this year. Important note to pet owners: The flocking (imitation snow) on a Christmas tree can be very hazardous to pets if ingested. Tinsel is also very dangerous. If your pet ingests even a few strands of tinsel - and pets do this more often than you might guess - they are highly likely to suffer the ill, and even deadly effects of an intestinal obstruction.

Living through a global pandemic has made us appreciate the small things in life, so we're fully embracing the nostalgic trends, like the iconic lighted ceramic Christmas tree. Be sure to check your attic for family heirloom decorations - you may find items your kids made years ago that are sure to make everyone smile.  

Twinkle lights and candles add magic to any space. Bring in extra cozy light by adding battery powered twinkle lights to glass hurricane jars, light tapers on a fireplace mantel or add candle votives to deep windowsills.

Don't forget your home's exterior. What once may have felt like too much work will now feel like a thoughtful way to send a distanced hug to all our neighbors. Place battery-lit candles in your windows, hang simple greenery wreaths in all your windows, add festive bows to your mailbox post.

Use your holiday china for casual meals with your family. Add a simple centerpiece (greenery, fresh flowers, candles) to your tabletop. Enjoy the entire month of December and make each dinner special by sitting together at the beautifully decorated table.

 

I Was FLOORED By Enhance

Here is a recent review from Dana in Smyrna:

"LOVE my new LVP floors from Enhance Floors! We had disgusting carpet for years and decided on LVP because of its durability with pets (we have 3 dogs). After visiting Enhance Floors showroom, we chose the flooring we wanted. Our salesman even showed us some choices that were on sale and we ended up choosing one that saved us money. No up-sell! They were very communicative about delivery and installation. The crew that came to install was very nice! They were very careful about moving our furniture and taping off cabinets, etc. to minimize the mess. They showed up exactly when they said they'd be there every morning. They cleaned up every day before leaving. They got it done a day earlier than promised and my floors look amazing! I couldn't be happier with Enhance or my new floors!"

Thank you, Dana. We really enjoyed working with you. Enjoy your new floors this holiday season -- we know you are loving how easy your floors are to take care of.

How Much Does It Cost

You may be wondering exactly what we installed for Dana.  She chose COREtec Pro Plus color Belmont Hickory for her family room, living room, dining room, kitchen with breakfast area, pantry, bath, hall and foyer.  It was a large job (1125 sq. ft.) and a good bit of floor prep/levelling was needed.  The total price was $8900.  Not bad for a floor that will still be looking great in 15 or 20 years!