Home & Garden: Holiday Decorating On A Budget During Crunch Time
Holiday season is here, and boy did it come fast.
Between work, holiday parties, last minute gifts, and daily duties, it’s hard to find time to turn your home into a winter wonderland. Not to mention the expense.
Luckily for you, I have some home decorating hacks that can help you transform any space in your home, all while ballin on a budget.
Tip #1: Save Your Boxes
Amazon boxes, toy boxes, shoe boxes, any cardboard box, and wrap it with holiday gift paper. Top it off with a pretty ribbon, maybe even some lights. You can place these around your house, use them as filler gifts under the tree, or even out on your porch for additional decoration.
Tip #2: Red Bows
You cannot overplay a red bow during holiday season. You can make them out of ribbon or purchase them from your local dollar store. You can hot glue red ribbons together to make a garland. Pop them around your tree to add some interest, or place them around your house to spread some holiday cheer in empty spaces. Transform your cabinets and doors with ribbon as well. Criss-cross the ribbon (similar to when wrapping a gift) and where the two pieces of ribbon meet, top it off with a big red bow. You won’t be disappointed by how clean and classic this looks.
Tip #3: Clear Glass Vase
The dollar store has clear glass vases in virtually every size. Grab a few, and add festive candies like candy canes, chocolates or red and white mints. You can also choose to fill the vases with ornaments or classic floral arrangements. You can dress up a coffee table or side table with this effortless idea.
And now for the last decorating tip, and my personal favorite!
Tip #4: Tension Curtain Garland
Such a fun, unique way to dress up any area in your home. You can take a tension shower or curtain rod and put it in any doorway/arch of your home. Wrap the tension rod with garland, embellish it with lights, ornaments, and ribbons. Once the garland is perfectly adorned, slowly shift the garland to its desired position in the doorway. You’ll be amazed by how these simple decorations can transform a meaningless space in your home into something spectacular.
Out & About: North Fork In November
As the crisp air sweeps across the North Fork, November brings a magical charm that transforms the region into a tapestry of seasonal celebrations. Whether you’re a wine lover, a music enthusiast, or just someone who enjoys creating lasting memories, this month offers a delightful array of experiences. Here’s a roundup of some exciting highlights to make your November unforgettable!November unforgettable!
Sea Creatures and Sips Celebration
Spend an evening amongst sea creatures at the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead on November 8, at their annual Fish and Sips event. This popular occasion celebrates the 2024 Harvest with tastings from 20 different local wineries and craft breweries, live music and light fare, plus the aquarium after hours, from 7PM to 10:30PM.
2024 Long Island Wine Country Legacy Dinner
On November 14, at the North Fork Country Club in Cutchogue for the Long Island Wine Country Legacy Dinner. Join us as we toast to the legends of our region, including the incredible Mr. Kip Bedell, who has shaped the Long Island Wine Community. For just $150 per person (or $1,500 for a table of ten), enjoy local wines, scrumptious hors d’oeuvres, and a four-course meal that promises to warm your soul.
The Great American Soulbook
On November 16, get ready to groove at the Suffolk Theater in Riverhead with The Great American Soulbook. This energetic tribute to Motown and R&B will have you dancing in your seat as you enjoy hits from legendary artists. With tickets ranging from $55 to $65, it’s a night of music and memories you won’t want to miss!
Festival of Trees Returns to the North Fork!
If you want to celebrate your good fortune while making a meaning impact on those in need: CAST (Center for Advocacy, Support, and Transformation) proudly presents the fifth annual North Fork Festival of Trees at Treiber Farms in Peconic on Saturday, November 23, from 10 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday, November 24, from 10 AM to 5 PM. This family-friendly event showcases beautifully decorated trees by local businesses and artists with winning trees and artwork auctioned to benefit CAST. Celebrate the season with creativity and community spirit!
Christmas Tree Farms and Tree Lighting Festivities
Get into the holiday spirit with local Christmas tree farms opening their fields and shops post-Thanksgiving. Choose from a variety of farms like Santa’s Christmas Tree Farm, Shamrock Christmas Tree Farm and Zuhoski Farms, all located in Cutchogue. You can shop at their Christmas shops and cut down your own tree or select from pre-cut options. This festive outing promises to create lasting memories for you and your loved ones!
Lastly, mark your calendars for November 29, from 3-6PM, when the Candlelight Tour & Tree Lighting at the Southold Historical Museum brings festive cheer to the community. Come visit Santa in the barn, games on the lawn, demonstrations and live music.
From festive feasts and soulful tunes to festive lights and food drives, November on the North Fork is brimming with experiences that celebrate our community and the beauty of the season. Don’t miss out on the chance to indulge in all the magic this month has to offer!
-Jaclyn Holzmaier
Fashion & Beauty: Say Goodbye to Razors
Imagine not having to shave? Imagine getting to the beach and not worrying that you missed a spot? Imagine life without razor bumps or cutting yourself?! What would it be like?!
It seems like it would be amazing! And for those who have already found the solution to this issue, good for you, you should’ve shared; but since you didn’t, I will.
Laser hair removal!
Laser hair removal uses a laser that emits light that is absorbed by pigment (melanin) in the hair, converting it to heat, damaging the hair follicle. Preventing and delaying hair growth to the treated area.
Depending on a person’s skin and hair type, treatment results may vary. Lighter hair pigmentations may react to treatment easier and faster than darker hair. Some people may require more treatments to acquire permanently smooth, hair-free skin.
The legs, underarms, bikini, upper lip and abdomen are the most common areas of laser hair removal.
The appointments are quick, and basically painless.
Marisa Brites, the lead laser technician at South Shore Laser, located in Babylon, N.Y., says that she has had clients cry, thanking her for making them feel confident in their own skin.
Brites says that many people had fear of lasers in the past, that it can cause skin issues, burn, or be painful. But she assured me that “lasers have come a long way!”
“Laser is painless, it may cause redness at the sight of the treated area but that will go away.” Years ago lasers would leave keloid scarring on darker skin tones, but that’s a thing of the past. Lasers are safe to use on all skin tones and they are free of radiation.
South Shore laser has been in business for 12 years and counting. They suggest starting your laser journey now, as the fall and winter months are here. Laser treatments are best served out of the sun, to obtain the best results and prevent burning easily and causing skin sensitivity.
But laser hair removal isn’t the only laser around. Many people flock to lasers to help slow down the aging process. It’s a great alternative to invasive procedures.
You can do resurfacing treatments to reverse sun spots, stretch marks, acne scars, cellulite and prevent wrinkles. Now is a great time to begin reversing all the sun damage that this summer did to your skin and get it prepared for next summer.
South Shore laser can create a customized treatment plan for your specific needs. You can check out their instagram @southshorelaser to stay updated with new products, lasers and promotions.
Get your legs ready for next summer
Health & Wellness: How Gratitude Affects Health
The attitude of gratitude is a mindset that places the emphasis on positive thought. It is a higher vibrational feeling that uplifts our vitality which in turn lays the foundation for healing at the cellular level in our bodies. Our thoughts are palpable.
Gratitude turns our focus on to what is good and beautiful in our lives. It is the opposite of dwelling on negativity. Being aware of habits that remove us from feeling grateful is key.
Ask yourself: Am I a Downer Dan or Positive Polly?
Do I focus on what can’t be done and what is wrong?
Or do I see the glass half full and any obstacle is a learning opportunity for me?
When there is lack of gratitude, there is lack of healing. I see it in my practice and I do have the difficult conversations with my patients when needed. Addressing this important topic is by no means easy, but if their sour disposition on life is negatively affecting them, then the conversation will be the gateway for healing groundwork.
Let’s discuss some feelings to be aware of that take you away from the wonderful feeling of gratitude. One of the first things to consider is your sense of responsibility in general. Do you take responsibility for your life, encounters, and /or things that have happened in the past? Do you truly understand that this may be your path to walk and /or lessons to learn? Or do you play the blame game and get stuck in situations?
Taking responsibility allows you to move through life with ease. Forgiveness and accountability foster growth. You want to steer clear of self-pity, complaining, comparing, and sense of entitlement. These are emotions that are actually your ego talking and they get in the way of healing and awareness of the power of the ‘highest good’.
If you are stuck in the lower vibrational levels, then the practice of gratitude will be a challenge. Trust me though, the simple act of gratitude will help elevate you from lower vibrations. Take the time to really delve into how you are feeling. It will help you to move through your emotions.
Techniques to improve your gratitude are vast. There are so many. My favorite is the “Gratitude Train’ because it is simple and you can do it anywhere and at anytime. Simply start thinking of five things you are grateful for. You can think about them; however, if you say them outloud, I do believe it helps your body to believe it which makes it more effective.
So give it a go. Say five things right now that you are grateful for. Could be this article, your cup of coffee, your house, the beating of your heart, or maybe it’s the person you are sipping your coffee with, etc… When you really think about it – I’m sure you have it better than you think. You can build on gratitude. You can’t build on negative thoughts though. Think about it – do you want to help yourself or degrade yourself??
In Good Health,
Dr. Dawn Siglain ND, LAc
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