December Newsletter
We hope you are doing well and enjoying the holiday season! To help you get into the spirit of things, this month's newsletter includes a list of gift ideas for the home (that also give back!) and clever hacks for hanging holiday string lights. You'll also find 12 tips for keeping your house cozy and warm this winter, plus a quick update on the national housing market.
As always, thank you for being here! Happy Holidays!
-Katie, Olga, Darcie and Teresa
Nothing adds holiday magic to a home quite like twinkling lights. Whether you go all out with the exterior lights or just adorn your stair rail with lit garland, we think you'll find these tips and hacks helpful:
1. Use zip ties to secure a string of lights to your railing. Zip ties are stronger than tape and much easier to clean up when you're ready to take the lights down.
2. To secure lights to roof shingles, use sturdy binder clips.
3. If you need to attach lights to a brick wall, use hot glue to attach plastic light clips.
4. If you don't have a good spot for hanging interior lights—no mantle or railing, for instance—why not light up the ceiling? Use command hooks to secure twinkling white lights to a narrow hallway ceiling to create a magical holiday path to the bathroom!
5. Transform your summertime tomato cages into DIY wire Christmas trees. Just turn the tomato cages upside down, wrap them in string lights (zip ties will come in handy here), and set them in your yard for a festive light display.
6. Wrap cords around a flattened cardboard box to keep them tangle-free for next year.
7. If you're short on time and energy, opt for a projector. It's easier and it uses less electricity than traditional string lights!
Check out this list of the best Christmas light projectors of 2022.
One way to make a holiday gift even more meaningful is to purchase from a business that contributes to a charitable organization. We've searched the web for some of the best gifts for the home that also give back, and there's something for everyone on your list!
National Parks-inspired candles
(Good & Well Supply Co)
Notes of sea salt, dune, and driftwood will transport your loved one to Acadia National Park, while the cedarwood, amber, orange, and spice blend is reminiscent of the vast wilderness of Yosemite. And for every candle sold, Good & Well Supply Co promises to plant one tree.
Minimalist Star Wars™ stainless steel mug
(Corkcicle)
Your favorite Star Wars fan will love one of these stylish mugs from Corkcicle. Designs include R2-D2, The Mandalorian, Chewbacca, and—of course—baby Yoda. The company has partnered with Charity: Water and a portion of every online order supports the charity in bringing clean water to people in need.
Custom photo puzzle
(Minted)
For the mothers in your life, how about a heart-shaped puzzle featuring a meaningful family photo? You can order this as a 12-, 60-, or 252-piece puzzle, and 100% of the profits go to Every Mother Counts, a nonprofit supporting maternal health.
Rattan photo frame
(Cailini Coastal)
This hand-woven rattan frame will add coastal charm to your loved one's home—and you'll both feel great about the fact that the company donates a portion of its profits to Family Promise to help low-income and homeless families
The reBoard cutting board
(Material)
This is no ordinary kitchen cutting board. The stylish reBoard—which has been featured in Bon Appetit, Epicurious, and The New York Times—comes in some seriously cool colors, and it's made from recycled kitchen plastic scraps and renewable sugarcane. Fifty percent of the maker’s profits go to Heart of Dinner, a nonprofit that combats food insecurity and isolation within NYC’s elderly Asian American community.
Vintage Plaid blanket
(Sackcloth & Ashes)
Give the gift of coziness this winter! When you purchase one of the beautiful and sustainably-made blankets from Sackcloth & Ashes, they’ll donate a blanket to your local homeless shelter.
No Kid Hungry® Tools for Change Silicone Spatula
(Williams Sonoma)
These fun spatulas come in celebrity-created designs, and 30% of the retail price goes to No Kid Hungry, an organization that fights childhood hunger.
In addition to purchasing gifts that give back to charity, it's also a great idea to shop small and support your local businesses and artisans.
Happy holiday giving!
You know the basics of keeping your home toasty warm in the winter—schedule your annual furnace tuneup, bleed the radiators, pull the electric heaters out of storage, etc. But there might be some other small tweaks you can make to your home to keep it even warmer (and more energy efficient) during the cold months. Check out these tips to see if any are new to you.
Apply window film. If you live in an old home with drafty windows, this clear shrink-wrap film will provide better insulation.
Add rugs to tile and hardwood floors. The additional layer of insulation will keep the room warmer, and a cozy rug will feel great on your chilly toes.
Place aluminum foil behind any radiator that’s attached to an external wall to prevent heat loss and reflect that heat back into the room.
Tuck a hot water bottle under the covers at the foot of your bed so your feet will be toasty and warm when it’s time to hit the hay.
Pull back the curtains or open the blinds to allow the natural warmth of the sunlight to heat your home. You’ll also benefit from the dose of vitamin D!
Take advantage of oven heat once you’re done cooking. After you turn the oven off, leave the oven door cracked open to allow the warmth to heat your kitchen—but ONLY if you can ensure that all people and pets will steer clear while the door is open.
When possible, leave the bathroom door open while you take a hot shower. The steamy air will flow through your home to add warmth (and some much needed humidity).
Set your ceiling fans to rotate clockwise. This will circulate warm air downward.
Buy some door draft stoppers (or DIY your own).
Identify all possible sources for “mini drafts”—doggy doors, mail slots, old windows, etc.—and temporarily block them with wool blankets, bubble wrap, or old towels on those extra-chilly days.
Use clear nail polish to temporarily seal a cracked window pane (but be sure to replace the glass ASAP).
Make sure your radiators and air vents aren’t blocked by furniture or rugs.
National Housing Market Update
Inflation, continually increasing home prices, and high mortgage rates are causing many buyers and sellers to pause in "wait-and-see mode," reports Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com.
"The housing market is resetting," says Hale, "but in a slow fashion."
There are more houses on the market than this time last year, but these homes are also sitting on the market longer while buyers wait things out. In early November, active inventory was up 42% compared to one year ago. However, new listings coming onto the market were down 20% from the same time last year.
While homes are still selling quickly compared to pre-pandemic averages, for the last several months homes have been sitting on the market longer than last year while buyers wait for prices and mortgage rates to drop.
Mortgage rates are still reaching record highs. In early November, the average fixed rate for a 30-year mortgage hovered above 7%.