Choosing the perfect rug for your living room can make all the difference in the overall vibe of your home. Your living room rug can say a lot about you and your personal style, so it’s important to consider all of your options and go with one that feels right. Here are a few tips for picking the perfect rug for your living room.

Size 

Figuring out the size of the rug you want is the first and most important step of choosing the perfect rug. To do this, first take measurements of your living room and figure out how much space you want your rug to take up. If you have hardwood floors, leaving a few inches of clearance between the rug and the wall is a great way to show off the beautiful wood underneath and can help prevent the rug from completely overwhelming the room. After you’ve taken measurements of the room, you can start looking for a rug that fits that space! You can either shop in-store or browse rugs online to find one that has the measurements you’re looking for.

Material 

Choosing the material of the rug you want to get depends on a few factors. First, if you have small children or pets, going with a stain-resistant material like nylon or other synthetic materials will most likely be your best bet. If you want a cozy, warm rug, then something like wool or shag could be a good option for you. Other kinds of rugs, like viscose, jute, and flatweave are also popular choices for living rooms, so assess your individual needs and choose a material that will work best in your home.

Color & Pattern 

This is fun part of choosing a living room rug. Based on the color scheme of the room and your existing decor, you should choose a rug that compliments your living room well. If your walls and furniture are mostly neutral, muted tones, don’t be afraid to go with a rug that adds a pop of color to the room. Patterned rugs are also great for playing up an otherwise neutral color scheme, and oriental rugs are among some of the most common patterned living room rugs. If you do want to keep a more natural color palette, beige is one of the most popular rug colors at the moment, so explore your options and choose a shade that you love!

Have Fun With It 

While rectangular rugs are typically the most common in living rooms, don’t be afraid to play around with different shapes! Purchasing a circular or oval rug can be a fun way to add an interesting element to your living room, and you’re sure to get a lot of compliments on having such a unique space. Other shapes, like animal rugs, are also becoming more common, and can really add something to a room. When it comes to choosing the perfect rug for your living room, the most important thing is to go with one that feels right and fits your space!

With the end of autumn in sight, winter is now in our thoughts when it comes to decor. An exciting time for interior design, there are so many inspiring ideas that will transform your home for the cold season ahead. With cosy in mind, the following trends are making their mark. Therefore, here are some of the top interior design trends for winter that you should be following in your own home.

Navy Blue 

 One surprising trend which is making waves this winter season is the injection of navy blue in interior design. The beautiful colour is a popular choice as it has a warming effect in a room and can help to make the room cosy and calming; both of these attributes are highly important at this time of the year. Navy blue has been around for ages but the tone is now bang on trend as it gives off a modern feel to any room. And rather than a lighter blue which can give a cold feel to the room, the navy colour is a luxurious option for your room. You could paint your lounge in the dark blue or opt for the warm colour in your bedroom to add the trend to your house. Or you could even go for a bold wallpaper in the colour which will transform the room. Navy blue accents are also an ideal choice for your house such as floral portraits in the sophisticated colour or even flowers which will add a touch of the bang-on trend colour to your home. And you can get some furniture in the shade such as beautiful angel chairs from Sloane and Sons Tub Chairs or you could even opt for a navy sofa for your lounge.

Luxe

Interior design in winter 2018 is all about luxury materials which create a warm and cosy effect. Luxe is a popular trend which has been building momentum over the last few seasons and it will be in its prime during the winter. It’s so easy to add a touch of the glam style in your home. For starters, you need to focus on materials like velvet and marble which create that decadence look in your household. You might want to go for a beautiful piece of velvet furniture which will create a statement in your home. Or even going for a marble table will add a touch of luxe to your decor. You can also add brass details such as accents in your lounge to ensure you stay on trend. Brass ornaments and frames are the perfect way to add luxe to your room. As Ideal Home explains, try to go for key colours like dusty rose and burnished gold. These both ooze luxe and are the perfect way to add an expensive feel to the rooms in your home.

80’s

With retro being a continual trend in the interior world, you will find that the 80’s in particular will be a top trend as we enter the winter months. You will see that bold colours will be making the rounds and it’s an easy way to keep your home on-trend. Go for golds, reds and yellows to add some of that retro style into your property. Combine different bold colours to get a really good effect and an old-school feel. You can also opt for retro lighting which will also add some 80’s feel into your house. Think neon lighting and oversized lamp shades which will help your home to be bang-on trend this season. Retro accents are also an ideal way to add a touch of the trend in your home. As described on Good Homes Magazine, dress coffee tables with gold lamps and retro clocks which will help to create that theme.

Nordic

Another theme which keeps making an appearance is nordic and it’s still as strong as we enter the winter months. To give your home a nordic feel so its bang on trend, you should opt for natural furniture pieces such as wooden chairs and tables which will give the room a fresh and nature-like feel. You can add rugs in a faux fur which will also add a cosy feel which is perfect for the winter season. Go for browns and greys which are typical in the nordic style. You can also add throws and cushions in these dark, cosy colours to your bedroom and on your sofa. And don’t be afraid of patterned pieces which will add some life to your rooms.

I remember every year as a child our family would watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade while the turkey was in the oven. It was always a special tradition to wake up to the living room television being on and the parade was already going. The house was warm from the oven and the smells of dinner were already in the air, even at 11am!

Have you ever wondered how the parade started? Read on to find out!

The Thanksgiving Day Parade started in 1924, but before 1927, live animals were the big attraction instead of balloons! The balloons didn't become an attraction until 1928. In 1942, the parade was cancelled for the very first time because it was during World War II and rubber was in high demand. Instead of having the parade, the balloons were donated to the military.

To learn more about the history of the Thanksgiving Day Parade, make sure to check out the full history here.

This post is done in partnership with StressHealth.org, an initiative of the Center for Youth Wellness, but the opinions expressed are my own.

For the past two months, I've shared my own stress health story and also a story about how my husband grew up. But this month, I want to share how stress can affect children. Just as a reminder, toxic stress can result from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and can affect lifelong behavior and even have lasting and tragic consequences.

A few years back, our family decided to go horseback riding for the first time. I called a few stables to see if they could accommodate us for the day and one stable said they could. We drove there, picked our horses and even brushed them before mounting up.

Mary mounted up with the stable owner since she was only seven years old at the time. Paul and I both had our own horses and we all set off on our ride. The ride was very nice at first because it was through the woods, but during the middle of it, Paul and I both noticed that the horses really liked to charge. It was getting harder to keep them under control, but the stable owner wanted to go around one more time.

After the second time around, we got to a clearing where the horses could see the barn up a steep hill. When my horse saw the barn, he took off at full speed uphill. I knew if I stood up to pull the reins, I might fall off and break my back or neck. So I held onto the horse's neck as tight as I could and pulled the reins. But it wasn't working, and I started slipping off to the right side of the horse. Just then, my DSLR camera that was around my neck flew up and hit me straight in the nose. And then everything went black. When I woke up, I was on the ground and blood was running down my entire face. I started screaming for Paul, and he jumped off his horse with such force he broke his reigns in half. When he got to me, he knew my nose was broken. Mary had witnessed the entire thing. They both got me to the car and sped to the hospital where I found out I had a concussion, a broken nose and a broken rib. 

After that accident, Mary was never the same. As she got older, she started getting scared if I left the house without her. Now it is at the point where I can't leave her. I know she's scared that if I leave, I could get hurt again.

This is a "tolerable" stress that we have to help her work through together. It's been years since the accident, and healing a stress doesn't happen overnight. I do know, however, that with our help, she will overcome it. A tolerable stress is a response to a serious problem, like an accident. When there is a loving adult there to help, that will calm the child's stress response. In this case, me and my husband are able to help. 

There is another kind of stress called toxic stress. Toxic stress is triggered by childhood trauma such as abuse or neglect and can persist into adulthood; without intervention, it can have severe and lasting effects. When I first watched this video from Stress Health, I immediately understood how devastating it could be.

 

In the video, the boy is stuffing all the baggage from his bad childhood into the closet. And that's how so many of us treat our past ,too. We bottle everything up inside until it has nowhere to go. With Mary, we were able to talk about how she felt, and we told her it's okay to cry. Mindfulness is an important tool in coping with toxic stress.

You can get rid of toxic stress but it's not an overnight thing. It will take time and care.

If you think you or your children might be suffering from toxic stress, you can learn more about it at the Stress Health website.

Cool weather has come, which is so very exciting! In Georgia, the fall scenery seems to have been on pause, but over the past week or so, the oranges, yellows, and reds in the trees finally seem to be showing off their beauty. To me, this means that the holiday season is finally upon us and I truly think that it is one of the best times of the year.

Why? Because everyone just seems happier. No matter what you celebrate, who you celebrate with, and what your traditions are each year, this time of year just brings out the best in people. In an effort to start spreading that joy and happiness early, I wanted to write an article on 5 ways to prepare for Hanukkah. Check out my best tips here:

Get Your Shopping Done Early

I always prefer to get my shopping finished early because around the holidays, the crowds are always wild and I personally prefer to shop in peace. Nowadays, it is very easy to get all of your shopping done over the internet, so you don’t even have to leave your house. That’s a good way to avoid the crowds if you don’t want to shop early. For grocery shopping, you have a few ways that you can avoid the crowds, as well. For starters, with Instacart, you are able to place your order and have it delivered to your home. I believe you are also able to set a delivery for a future date, which is always nice to help you plan in advance. Another option would be to do Kroger or Walmart orders. The store will bring it out to your car for you, which is such a nice perk when it is cold, when you are busy, or when your kids are sick or tired.

Prepare Your House For Guests 

People will more than likely be coming over to your home all throughout the holidays, so make sure you prepare it by not only doing your deep winter clean (sometimes this is better than a spring clean!), getting your menorah and candles ready, and by making sure you have enough essentials for your guests. I always make at least one store run for essentials such as pillows, sheets, towels, toilet paper, etc.

Create A List Of Recipes 

I’m sure you have some tried and true recipes stored away, so make sure you get them out and make a list of what you are making during Hanukkah. Staying organized is essential for having a great holiday while staying somewhat sane, as well. While it is fun trying new recipes out, sometimes your basics can be winners, especially when it comes to family traditions.

Get Children Involved 

There are so many fun ways to get your children involved in Hanukkah, but one of my favorite ways is an idea I received from Clay Today. In 2017, they said, “In an effort to welcome in the holiday of Hanukkah, which officially begins Dec. 12, Rabbi Shmuly Feldman, the co-director of the Chabad of Clay County, with help from the Lowe’s near Orange Park, hosted a Menorah-making event last Sunday. As nearly a dozen kids made their way to the back of the lumber aisle in Lowe’s, they were treated to donuts, selfie stick fun and the story of Hanukkah.

The event began with donut decorating. Sure, donuts are a delicious food that most people love but they also have significance with the holiday.

“Because of the significance of oil, we bring in the holidays by eating foods cooked in oil,” Feldman said. “So, potato pancakes, donuts and other foods fried in oil usually accompany our meals around this time of the year.”

After decorating and eating their donuts, the children were able to don a kippah – also known as a yarmulke – and take a selfie. Once everyone’s selfies were done, Feldman asked them to join him for the story of Hanukkah.

Prepare Financially 

Between getting your home ready for guests, buying presents, and hosting parties, Hanukkah, just like all other holidays can be very costly if you let it get that way. I understand that you want the ‘best’ Hanukkah ever, but occasionally times can be tough, or your payday doesn’t fall on a convenient day. If this is true for you, but you still want to go all out for your children (which is definitely understandable), you might want to think about a 30-day collateral loan. Chapes-JPL, located out of Atlanta, Georgia offers low-interest 30-day collateral loans on jewelry, gold, watches, diamonds, cars, and handbags. “Chapes-JPL has one simple goal, to provide affordable asset loans on jewelry, gold, diamonds, watches, and other valuable assets, at a low rate and at fair value. We offer loans as low as $100 and as high as $5 Million at some of the best interest loan rates in the industry. Unlike typical pawn shops that lend at extremely high rates (and in public storefronts for the world to see), Chapes-JPL provides loans at a low rate and in private financial offices.” In business for 38+ years, Chapes-JPL has built their reputation because of their trust and security, experience, fast cash, discreet and confidential location, and their amazing interest rates (as low as 3%!).

How are you preparing for Hanukkah? I’d love to know in the comments below!