Organizing your holiday decorations is something none of us wants to do. It is so much easier to throw them back in the plastic bins, lug them up into the attic, and curse the existence of light strands come November next year when you drag them back out to decorate again. Some simple forethought will help save your sanity and your family’s come the following holiday season.

If you plan on keeping some decorations in the attic, some in the garage, or some under the house, make sure you have the appropriate containers. And don’t forget that some decorations shouldn’t go in the attic due to the temperature fluctuations. Candles and chocolates melt in extreme heat, as well as some of the clay or homemade ornaments. Glues also weaken if left in the attic for years on end, so when you finally go to use those ornate greeting cards you bought on clearance four years ago… chances are they might fall apart.

Once you decide which containers will hold what, look in them when you open them. Chances are you have some decorations you never use, or were given to you and you never quite liked them. Don’t keep them. This is the perfect time to purge out things you don’t use, or don’t go with a new theme you have decided to go with. When you buy new decorations on sale after Christmas day, throw away an older version of what you have. If you bought a new tablecloth… liberate the old one. Another option is donation… there are usually people who will find those strange mismatched decorations perfect.

Make sure you wrap the things that really matter the most carefully. Even those handmade decorations made with Popsicle sticks and macaroni deserve special treatment if you really want them to last. Never trust the container to protect the items properly.

Labeling the containers will save tons of time. Be specific with it, just saying “Christmas” isn’t good enough. Specify “outside decorations,” “mantle,” “tree,” etc. This will keep you from having to empty every box at once, and allow you to decorate the next year in a more orderly fashion. Generally this also allows you to know where to store the containers as well, as “outside” can go in the garage or under the house, while “mantle” can go in the attic.

Do a final walk through before you pack the boxes away. Otherwise the soap dispenser with Santa on it will never make in back into the “guest bathroom” box you probably didn’t make. And don’t forget to grab the wreath on the door you don’t use.

Posted by:  Jennifer McClarney

Christmas is over. The wrapping paper has been bagged, the boxes dragged out to the curb, the leftovers packaged and frozen, the cookies consumed, and family from out of town is getting ready to depart. You stand in the middle of your living room and sigh. Even though you are thankful for the holidays, the loved ones, the gifts both given and received, it always seems to overwhelm all the little reasons you plan the dinners, the events, the breakfasts in the first place. Menu planning detracts from quality time. Decorating takes away from the joy of seeing a twinkling tree. Making eighteen of the same presents for your child’s class completely obliterates the joy your child experiences when they hand them out to all their friends. You look at the tree, the lights, the greenery and Santas and you vow – never again.

The holidays are stressful. No matter how much planning you do, the actual week of Christmas is mayhem. Fulfilled but exhausted you can’t even imagine taking down the tree, much less hauling it up to the attic, or unloading the dishwasher, or taking the load of laundry out of the dryer that has been in it for at least five days. In the midst of it all, you have forgotten about taking care of yourself. Here are some tips that will help you regain your equilibrium and your sanity in the wake of the holiday season:

1. Ask for help. All the family, friends and loved ones that have been orbiting around your house for the past week have two very valuable things: hands. Have someone do the dishes for you, or help you take down the tree. Show how very grateful you are and they will be glad they helped.
2. Take a moment for you. Whatever quiet time you allow yourself all year round is even more important now. Curl up with a book, rent a movie, take a bath and lock the door, drink a glass of wine. Set aside the time and tell the rest of your household they will see you in two hours. Tell them to enjoy their new toys.
3. Take everything out of its box and throw away the packing. Storing boxes for a vacuum you might sell someday, or dishes you will use everyday just clutters up your life and your garage.
4. Do a little something you might not otherwise do. Chances are “Santa” left a little money in a stocking for you. Go get a pedicure, or buy yourself an inexpensive ring. Make sure it is something you always think “yes, I would love that… but….” And then just do it.
5. Order take-out. The thought of cooking after everything you have eaten, prepared and packaged in the past month probably makes you want to break out in hives. Call the Chinese food restaurant just down the road and in 15 minutes you have a stress free meal you didn’t have to prepare at all. And use paper plates.
6. If you can afford it, a massage or a spa day really does make a world of difference.

The most effective thing in recovering from the holidays is truly simply, and it’s free. Sit down and remember the faces of everyone that opened a present from you, ate a cookie, or showed up at your house to wish you a happy holiday. Think of all the cards you got or sent, the lights you saw, and the traditions you diligently preserve year after year. Sit down and look through the photos you took. The joy and happiness reflected back in the faces of those you care about should be more than enough for you to forget the stress, and think “I can’t wait till next Christmas.”

Posted by:  Jennifer McClarney

‘Tis the season…. To strap on your running shoes and jog your way to some charitable contributions. Saturday December 10th, 2011 Fleet Feet of Murfreesboro is hosting the Frosty Fun Run to help raise money for CASA (Court Appointed Social Advocates for Children) and Bob Parks Christmas for the Children.

CASA is an organization of trained volunteers that help social workers review documents in order to expedite the cases and placement of children within the social system. These volunteers help reduce the workload of case workers and allow each child a better chance at a closely reviewed case, standing up for the child in court and helping a judge rule on the best course of action to get that child into a safe and permanent home.

Bob Parks Realty Christmas for the Children helps ensure all Rutherford County children will have presents under the tree on Christmas morning.

The Frosty Fun Run, which is just under five miles, winds through the picturesque trails and tracks of the Stones River Country Club Golf Course. Pre-registration with an unwrapped gift is $20.00, $30.00 without a gift. You can register the day of the race for $35.00. T-shirts can be picked up (with pre-registration) Friday, December 9^th any time between 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. at Fleet Feet Murfreesboro.

Registration the day of the race begins at 6:45 a.m. and the run begins at 7:30 a.m. Waffle House is sponsoring a post run breakfast beginning at 9:00 a.m to help replace the calories you burned.

All proceeds and gifts collected will go to CASA and Bob Parks Christmas for the Children so come out December 10^th to the Frosty Fun Run and run (or walk) for a cause. It is not a timed event and there is no skill-level required, just a big heart and a willingness to contribute to charities that ensure our local children don’t fall through the cracks this holiday season.

Posted by:  Jennifer McClarney

Historic Germantown, lauded as “Nashville’s First Neighborhood” is home to a beautiful building called the Onyx Building, located at 624 Jefferson Street. This elegantly restored building calls itself a “room with a capital view,” and after you climb the gorgeous wrought iron staircase and emerge on the top landing you can see why. The entire downtown Nashville Skyline stretches out before you, glittering and majestic. If you turn and enter the Onyx room, you find yourself in a venue that echoes of its history and one can imagine the myriad of gatherings that have taken place in the room since it became available 23 years ago.

High vaulted ceilings are crossed with wooden beams. The renovated drywall showcases the notable brickwork behind the beams in a unique “U” style that shows the utilitarian function of the original structure. Red carpeting and a parquet dance floor hug soaring walls and towering windows that offer more of the fabulous view. Tiny crimson shades adorn wall sconces and a small adjoining room offers the perfect place for refreshment tables. Available for wedding receptions and private parties this is the perfect intimate setting to host your gathering. Sunday, October 30^th the 6^th Annual Harvest Masquerade Ball took place, filling the room with creative costumes, laughter and whimsy. The Grilled Cheeserie and PizzaBuds food trucks pulled up outside and a projection screen showed Tim Burton films over the elevated stage while the participants danced the night away in costume.

Acquired as a member of the Historic Nashville, Inc. in 1987 the Onyx Building has seen the end of Jefferson Street’s Golden Era, and the rise of a newer gentrified Germantown, holding court over renovated homes that offer homage to architecture of days gone by, nestled next to modernized lofts. So next time you want to host an event, be it a wedding reception, an anniversary party, or a Masquerade Ball, remember the place that offers a downtown view, residential charm, attended parking, and a historical view and book the Onyx Room.

Photos courtesy of Lauren Athalia, a Nashville based photographer and the host of the 6th Annual Harvest Masquerade Ball.

Posted by:  Jennifer McClarney

Nashville offers a vast selection of entertainment opportunities, and if you head down Deaderick Street, you will find a building that occupies an entire city block and holds the enriching activities you crave. The Tennessee Performing Arts Center, or TPAC, is nestled among the office buildings of downtown, and when you step out onto the walkway with your glass of wine during the intermission a glorious view greets your eyes.

All manner of events, from Broadway shows to ballet grace this stage, and sweeping stairways allow you access to beauty, humor, or graceful pirouettes. “Wicked,” an extremely original and beautifully performed musical serving as a prelude to Dorothy’s entrance to the Emerald City is currently showing. With an eclectic audience, ranging from adults to toddlers carrying their Wicked Witch dolls, the Center has been a lauded family outing for the past three weeks.

The Tennessee State Museum can be found on the ground level of TPAC, providing an insight into the history of our great state, housing artifacts and exhibits covering the pilgrimage and frontier life in great depth. Examples of daily life abound, and there is even a life-size stockade for those daring enough to brace your necks in the heavy wooden beams. If you aren’t, your hands slide right in (and out) for the perfect photo opportunity.

So next time you are looking for an enlightening evening, remember the quiet elegance of the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, overlooking the city and outlining an icon’s name in simple Art Deco neon lights.

Posted by:  Jennifer McClarney

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development released preliminary numbers which shares the states green jobs report. Over 6,000 companies across the state was surveyed.

More than 43,000 jobs between 2001-2013 will be green. Leading the initiative is energy efficiency and sustainable transportation activity.

Click here for more information.

Posted by:  Tammy Carroll, CRP, GMS, RCC, WRS

Nashville is very fortunate to have a great group of leaders who are forward thinking, serving at our Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce! The positive leadership within a company is very important to succeed and usually starts at the top. The Chamber’s mission and brand promise provide the strategic foundation for the organization’s programs and activities. Area business leaders are selected annually to serve on the Chamber’s Board of Directors, assisting the Chamber in meeting its long-range goals.

Each Chamber member has a place to volunteer within the Chamber, from its Area Business Councils, the Nashville Health Care Council, the Nashville Technology Council, to the Sports Council, Education Council and more. The Chamber’s volunteer leadership team represents the voice of Chamber members, directing and driving the Chamber’s progress on key issues. There are nearly 40 councils and committees to serve our community, making it a great city to relocate and call home.

The Nashville Chamber’s Members are active and believe in….

Belonging, collaborating with others, energized by common drive and passion;

Engaging, sharing a vision for the future and sharing the collective influence to make it happen;

Leading, impacting our region, transforming our future;

Prospering, realizing opportunities that grow your business and enrich our communities.

Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce serves the 10 county region of Middle Tennessee –

Cheatham; Davidson; Dickson; Maury; Montgomery; Robertson; Rutherford; Sumner; Williamson and Wilson and has been named one of the Top 100 Places to Live. Nashville ranked among the top 100 places in live in America based on education, employment, economy, crime, parks, recreation and housing.

Click Here To find out more about Nashville, TN.

Posted By: Tammy Carroll

Nashville is located in the heart of Tennessee along the Cumberland River. With its rich history in country music, down home southern hospitality, Nashville has many things to offer. Whether you are just visiting or plan to relocate to this area, Nashville is a great place to live, work and play.

With its diverse work opportunities in the music industry and health care industry, Nashville and its surrounding counties have been named “Smartest Place to Live” by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine.

Click Here for more information.

Posted By: Tammy Carroll