Do you love yard sales or are you fascinated with the great buys and unusual items that can be found? HGTV has a new show called "The Longest Yard Sale" you'll want to check out.

The show features three teams of shoppers as they spend two days and $500 to shop at the world's longest yard sale that runs along Route 127 from Ohio through Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and ends in Alabama.

Tips on yard sale techniques and judging the relative merits and worth of items will be revealed by experts.

Catch a rerun of the premiere on November 1st, Sunday, at 5 PM on HGTV (check local listings). Read more...

Here's an interesting concept in a container that can go with nearly any table setting. Used in European but not as common here, the container works by using cold water to seal out the air and keeps butter fresh and easy to spread.

I like the style and could see using it for serving more than butter. Colorful preserves and relishes would look marvelous in these.

It could also make an interesting hostess gift.

Product reviews and ordering information are available by clicking below

Save $2 on this product with coupon code OctSave. Good through 10/29/09 or while supplies last.

It's not too early to start planning and organizing for the upcoming holidays. Your mailbox will be filling up with the holiday issues of your favorite magazines, each full of ideas and list of things to do. As you scan these you may find yourself dreaming of the perfect holiday - and maybe feeling a little overwhelmed at the prospect. Keep these things in mind as you begin your preparations:

Be realistic. Budget your time as well as your money, spending both on those things that are truly important to you.

Know your strengths and limitations. Are you a wiz at shopping but all thumbs at wrapping? Stock up on gift bags and boxes that will save you time and effort or delegate the wrapping to another family member. This applies to anything that is a routine activity associated with the holidays.

Keep your focus. Deciding on everything from the decorations right down to the menu and sticking to the plan will keep you on course when shopping and preparing. No more second guessing yourself or wasting time through indecision or overbuying.

Keep a notebook and calendar. Write in dates of all known events, and as you respond to invitations. Note dates that cards and any presents need to be mailed. Make lists of things to do and things that occur to you as preparations progress. These notes will help streamline the process next year and will go a long way in maintaining your focus.

Strive for Serenity and Simplicity. The beauty of the holidays comes from the happiness of spending time with family and friends. A warm and welcoming home is reflected in relaxed and happy hosts. It can be easy to get carried away with holiday decorations with the feeling the home will appear more festive. There comes a point where more is simply more clutter- more to arrange and more to put away.

Establish a holiday plan that works with your decorations, your tastes and your lifestyle to give you a new look or refresh the traditions already established. By doing so you will create a foundation for the best holiday season ever!

Need a little help-or a lot? In one consultation session we can create a plan that will work for this season and can be adapted to most, if not all, of your entertaining needs. Call or email me now for more information at 703-689-9886 or at FaulknerRedesign@aol.com.

You may have seen sashes used to decorate seating at wedding receptions. They are often shown in magazines, adding color to chair covers or to armless Parsons-style chairs. It's a simple, festive look that is easy to do and store.

You don't have to settle for typical seasonal or holiday colors. Sashes can be added to nearly any dining room chair, with or without a slip cover, to coordinate with the room's decor. Skip the bow if your style is more tailored and tie a tailored knot. Embellish with simple elements if you like, keeping in mind that your family and guests will be brushing past and don't want to end up wearing the decorations!

Sashes can be tied high or low on the back of the chair depending its style. Be sure that the sash is securely placed and that it doesn't drag on the floor to avoid accidents.

Make your own from organza, satin, taffeta or any other fabric that is easy to tie and has a nice drape. Or browse the selection online including the sashes at TableClothsFactory.com where they start at only seventy-nine cents! Find out more...

Shiny or satin, vintage or contemporary, ornament wreaths are a classic holiday look. You can easily create your own using your room's color palette as a guide. Ornaments now come in a rainbow of colors so you aren't limited by the usual holiday hues. It's a great way to use ornaments that don't fit your current decor but would look perfect massed with complimentary colors.

Spread out your ornaments and lay out different arrangements before you begin to assemble. You'll be able to see where you may need to fill in with more ornaments and specific colors. For best results, keep symmetry and balance in mind. Don't use too many colors or the effect will be jarring rather than jolly.

Read more on creating an ornament wreath below.

Save your cherished accessories and collectibles and be more relaxed when you use this miracle to help keep your arrangements from being jostled out of place. Read more...

Giant gift bags like these can be used over and over for odd or oversized items that are awkward to wrap. They can be handy by the front door to store gifts for neighbors and friends who drop by with gifts for you. They make great decorations by the fireplace and can inspire family traditions such as filling Santa's sack with gifts for Santa to give to less fortunate people during the season.

I'm including this now instead of next month so you'll have time to make your own to compliment your decor or enough time to purchase from Frontgate by clicking below.

Estimating food and drink needs for your occasion will depend on many things including the reason for the gathering, time of day, whether your guests will be working up an appetite (or thirst) prior to or during the event, the age range of your guests, the weather and more. An ice skating party for several families will require different refreshments than those for an adult brunch.

Stocking up on non perishable staples will mean fewer last minute trips to the store just before a party. Buying a little more than your estimated needs may be a safe bet, but over buying may lead to waste. There's no magic way to know exactly how much you will need but keeping your guests tastes, appetites, and the party particulars in mind will help.

The following are general guidelines for planning and shopping for a typical drinks and hors d'oeuvres party.

Beverages: 2 drinks per hour for the first two hours, 1 ½ per hour thereafter.

Wine or champagne 750 ml bottle = 5-6 drinks

Ice: ¼ to ½ lb. per person (in addition to ice needed for chilling drinks)

Glasses: 1-2 per person per hour

Snacks (nuts, chips, pretzels): 2-4 oz per person

Hors d'oeuvres: plan on 4-8 per person per hour depending on portion size.

Napkins and plates: 2-3 per person for the first two hours, 1-2 for each hour thereafter.

As your party experience grows so will your ability to adjust up or down on the guidelines above. A crowded party may mean that a few guests will put down a drink and forget which one is theirs, causing them to get a fresh drink. In a smaller group this may not be a problem.

Make notes about your parties and you'll soon be able to throw a party with ease!