FBF Shopping Boutiques and Small  Business Owners on Michigan Avenue in Chicago.

This Saturday is  Small Business Saturday .

Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses and communities across the country. Founded by American Express in 2010, this day is celebrated each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

In today’s Pandemic climate it’s the Small Business owner that has been hit the hardest, sooooo if per chance you’re thinking of leaving your home tomorrow (mask in hand and being mindful of social distancing) I  hope you’ll support  and shop your local small businesses today. P.S. It’s the perfect time to start your Christmas shopping and many local retailers have  one day sales and specials  for those that shop their store. Go and DO!

This year…Thanksgiving is going to be a “bit different” BUT  that doesn’t mean we have to scrap the whole day and not have some sort of festive celebration for our immediate family aka those living in your home, otherwise known in 2020 as your POD.

Image Courtesy of Dimple and Tangles

Last year  I hosted a very small gathering for 3 and made (at the last minute) placemats and napkins in Autumnal colors and arranged red roses to let my friends know how happy I was to share the day with them. They were beyond appreciative of the gesture and enjoyed the food and the surroundings. A little effort can go a long way in making guests feel special.

This year  as we celebrate the day with our family  we can still make the day special and go the extra mile by setting a beautiful table. Now more than ever, we all need a little Glamour in our lives and a moment of pretty to keep our spirits lifted. 2020 has certainly been a roller coaster ride- so I urge you to sit down with your family and make your surroundings as beautiful as possible. Trust me on this…they will absolutely love the effort that you took to make the day more festive and so will you.

Image Courtesy of Ella Claire

Beauty is so easy to achieve with:

• Fresh flowers (* You can purchase at the grocery store and arrange at home)
• Cloth Placemats and Napkins  or Table runners (Mix and match  and/or make your own)
• Think outside the box.. and use  Plaid Blankets  as tablecloths

• Use the good flatware..(no plastic for Thanksgiving…this is a celebration!!
• Pumpkins, pinecones, branches, leaves, sprigs from the great outdoors
• Candles Candles Candles

Here are a few of my favorite table settings to get you inspired.

Image Courtesy of Southern Living

Image Courtesy of Rustic Chic

Image Courtesy of Inessa Stewart

This week I have been very focused on sprucing up your closet space and today I want to offer a few and easy suggestions to upgrade or update your drawer handles and pulls. It’s one of the fastest DIY items you can do in your home and there is such a wide selection to choose from. Here are a few that I thought you might like…P.S. Replacing drawer knobs/handles and pulls are so easy I know that we can absolutely HANDLE IT! Enjoy the Inspiration. All items are linked to their websites for purchase…

Nordic Style Brass Knob Dragonfly

Brush Gold Drawer Pulls

As we mourn the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsberg we remain mindful of all that she did on behalf of Women’s equality and protecting women’s rights.  She was an extraordinary woman-smart, accomplished, brilliant and a true trailblazer.

RIP “Notorious RBG.

Good Morning!

Just in case you needed a little reminder…

Look in the mirror and repeat this Mantra 3 times.

I promise it will make you feel better.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead.

Happy Thursday! Today I’m offering a quick tip to shopping the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and taking  advantage  of what is often overlooked-The Daily Deal.  Everyday during the Sale  which runs (August 19 to August 30) you can take advantage of a different deal each day -listed at 50% off. If you want a little heads up on what the offerings : Click on the image below.

Here we are,the start of another work week and I will absolutely cop to the fact that  I for one have not been as productive as I would like. Which begs me to ask if you are finding yourself in a similar situation?The isolation of the Pandemic and ongoing lock down in California have made  keeping a schedule seem lack luster at best. If I were to summarize this year -I would have to say that 2020 seems like the  longggest Groundhog day ever.

As  my intention is always to provide uplifting and motivating content for you my lovely readers, I have compiled a little “to do”list to get  us all back on track and keep us focused on our goals for the future. Because (being the eternal optimist) somedayyyyy this will be behind us and wouldn’t it be nice to be in a place where we find ourselves ready and better than ever to bring new ideas, projects and dreams to fruition.

Here’s celebrating all you can do !

Now let’s get going shall we:

1. If you’re working from home you must carve out a dedicated space to do your work. A quiet area with good lighting,ample desk space and a comfortable chair are key!

The Go To Glamour Girl Home Office……

2. Make a schedule and stick to it. What do you want to get accomplished this week,this month,or this year?I find that oftentimes it’s best to take things day by day or at the very most week to week so you can have a sense of accomplishment in these unsettling times. Everything can be accomplished if you take BABY STEPS toward your goal each and every day.

3. Schedule a little “Break time” in your day. Take time to work out, get out of your work space or do something enjoyable every couple of hours. It serves as a refresh and a reset so you can go back to your work area and be productive.

4. Eliminate distractions. O.K. This is a biggie. Turn off cell phones, TV, anything and everything that pulls your focus from concentrating on the task(s) at hand. I have sourced a number of friends and asked what their biggest time waster of the day is..and ALL say the cell phone. We all find ourselves scrolling Instagram, Twitter, etc. So when in doubt turn off all distracting electronic devices for an hour or more and give yourself the luxury of having complete concentration on what you want to accomplish.

5. Plan to work a normal work week-that’s 5 days, 6 tops! We all need time to regroup and I found if I’m in my office 7 days a week I’m not as productive or creative.

Happy 4th of July…. Wishing you a safe,healthy and happy day.