2019 Organizational Tips!

2019 is a new year and new you! Here are some ways to stay organized this year without feeling overwhelmed.

Mail and Miscellaneous Papers: We all have that junk drawer that is full of, well, junk. We love these items to hold all of your kid's notes, papers, mail, and receipts. When guest comes, just throw these items to hide the clutter!
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Kitchen: So we all have leftovers and we just like to stash your remaining goods in the best silicone bags. Stash all of your goods into these best-selling silicone bags. These are a huge kitchen essential because you can throw them in the oven, microwave, freezer, and dishwasher.
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Under the sink: Maximize the space under the sink by adding stackable storage like bins and drawers to make the most out of the open space!
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Vanity: 
 
Jewelry and Makeup Organizer:  It's hard to keep all of your everyday essentials organized like skincare, perfume, makeup in one spot. However, we love this two piece organizer because your most used items will be within arms reach.  
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Closet:
 
Hangers: It's so surprising to us still how much hangers make a difference in your closet. By placing clothes and their coordinating accessories on streamlined velvet hangers, you'll be able to fit more in your closet, no matter the size.
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Wallet: 
This may go with the junk drawer, but we know it's important to hold on those receipts. However, no one wants to keep those pesky pieces of paper. We love the Shoeboxed app. It lets you photography and store or email those receipts. Once those items are uploaded you can find them easily on the server.

New Year's Resolutions For 2019!

Here are some of our top resolution ideas!
Health:
Drink Celery Juice: I am not sure if you have heard about this, but drinking celery juice in the am could really help your health! It's been said it can heal your gut, strengthens your bones, purifies your blood stream, detoxifies, and a huge anti- inflammatory! So start off this year by helping your body with some green juice!
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Fitness:
PEAR app: The PEAR Personal Fitness Coach apps (AndroidiOS) is all about eyes-free, hands-free audio coaching, providing users with a rich array of guided workouts for a variety of fitness levels and intensities that adapt based on your performance. You can check out a wide array of workout packages and coaches, and the app plays well with a variety of fitness trackers and devices, allowing you to keep track of your performance and share metrics with other fitness apps. PEAR has a free tier with a limited selection of workouts, but to really get the most out of the app, you'll want the premium subscription ($5.99 per month), which gives you unlimited access to the workout library and extra features.
Exercise each day!! Speed walking for an hour is easier on your joints but getting outside heals the soul.
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Find Me Time:
Best Relaxing app:  Calm is loaded with a variety of guided meditation sessions to help you better acquaint yourself with the practice, and eventually get to the point where you can successfully do it without your smartphone. Even better, it's stocked with a catalog of soothing nature sounds and calming music intended to lull you to sleep on those nights when your brain won't stop racing.
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 Organization:
This book is a great way to get organized for the new year!
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo. It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff by Peter Walsh. Find Your Focus Zone: An Effective New Plan to Defeat Distraction and Overload by Lucy Jo Palladino.
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Pantone Announces Living Coral Is the 2019 Color of the Year

"Pantone has announced that Living Coral is the 2019 color of the year. The color authority has bestowed the honorable title on a special hue every December for the past 20 years, taking into account fashion, decorating, design and cultural trends, as well as “how colors can embody our collective experience and reflect what is taking place in our global culture at a moment in time,” according to press release from Pantone.This year’s color, PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral, is an animating shade of orange with a golden undertone, which reflects the warmth, nourishment, and shelter of coral reefs to sea life. Pantone notes that this year’s selection symbolizes an “innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits” and “authentic and immersive experiences that enable connection and intimacy” — the latter carrying extra poignancy in a cultural landscape that is increasingly dominated by digital technology and social media.

“Color is a language and color is inextricably linked to the culture,” Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, tells TIME of this year’s selection of the color coral. “We see the environment taking on an even greater role in the world we live in today for two primary reasons, one being how connected we are to technology. Because we are so connected to something that’s not real, so to speak, we really need to find that balance closely and intimately with something that is real and you don’t get more real than nature.”
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Pressman says the second aspect is “our understanding of our natural resources…we look at the concerns of what’s taking place in nature, the depletion of natural resources. One of the things that we get from nature is energy. When we think about the shifting nature of our world, here’s a color that’s animating and life-affirming.”The spirited shade of Living Coral has popped up everywhere from fashion runway shows to warm beauty looks, progressively on social media influencer posts and in consumer packaging. It brings to mind, recreation, leisure, celebration — aspects of life that are needed to balance the many challenges faced in the current day and age; one can easily imagine the dynamic color in a setting like a beach escape or the mellow rosy shade of a pair of Nantucket Reds trousers.Fittingly, Living Coral also speaks to the urgency of respecting and preserving nature and natural resources. Coral reefs are an important part of the global environment, both protecting and nurturing marine ecosystems and helping with water filtration and marine life reproduction, among other things. With critical issues with climate change and other environmental threats taking center stage in recent months, this color and its connection to nature feels especially relevant, especially when you consider that some species of coral are listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act.Living Coral follows 2018’s Pantone Color of the Year, PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet, a bright, vibrant purple that many felt honored the late musician Princeand hinted at the need for bipartisanship in the current political climate.“The whole process is one that requires thoughtful consideration and analysis,” Pressman said. “It’s something we talk about on a year-round basis.”-Time

Best Holiday Gifts!

We are so excited to share some of our favorite holiday gift ideas. Whether you are looking for a gift for someone who loves skincare or loves cozy items then we got you covered. We got some of our favorite gift packages from Sephora and Nordstrom.Jade Roller: This piece is all the rage right now! It's a great way to de-puff your face and have your serums set in better.Pillow Cover: This pillow case will save your hair! This anti=aging pillowcase has been crafted from pure silk inside and out as recommended by dermatologists, plastic surgeons, hairdressers and beauty experts alike, this pillowcase elevates beauty sleep to a whole new level.Baublebar: Every lady loves a good staple and these gift boxes are perfect. It's totally a bang for your buck.Ugg Throw: This is one of the softest blankets we've ever felt! It's perfect to curl up on the couch with. [shopr collection="2018-gifts"]

SAVE THE DATE: House of DIFFA Futuro!

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It is with great pleasure and anticipation I would like to announce "Futuro” is the theme for 2019 House of DIFFA, scheduled for Saturday, March 16, at the Omni Dallas Hotel!

With this annual spectacular two months earlier than the past few years, it’s not too early to start thinking about reserving your seat for DIFFA/Dallas’ 29th annual, over-the-top signature event!

In honor of longtime friend and esteemed physician Dr. Steve Pounders being tapped as one of DIFFA's 2019 Style Council Ambassadors, he and I have joined forces and already reserved a block of 22 prime tables at various price points to choose from for you, your friends, and our group for House of DIFFA: Futuro!

Seating is priced at $400, $500, $750, $1K or $1.5K per person, depending on proximity to the runway. Interested in an entire table for 10? Not a problem! Pre-reserved tables in our group are available for $4K, $5K, $7.5K, $10K, and $15K. As in years past, we’ll have our own dedicated section of the ballroom and are well known as being the most fun, liveliest group there!

Please note that effective for the 2019 gala, there has been a price increase for the entry level tickets only, increasing from $350 to $400, marking the first price increase in 5 years.

However, to ease the strain on your wallet, DIFFA is offering the option of retaining the entry level table pricing of $3.5K provided the table of 10 is paid in full by next Friday, Nov. 16. After Nov. 16 the first price increase in five years will go into effect with $3.5K tables increasing to $4K and individual tickets at those tables priced at $400 rather than the previous $350. Your guests, if you like, can later reimburse you for their seats, but the entire table of 10 must be paid in full by next Friday’s deadline in order to take advantage of this limited-time, special $3.5K offer. The 2019 price increase applies to $3.5K tables and individual seats at them ONLY!

To reserve your premier seat, just PM or email me the number of seats you need and the price point you prefer. NO payment is due now other than the special offer above! I only need your commitment for the time being.

We already have seating requests to fill 6+ tables and would love to have you join us once again. Mark your calendars NOW for House of DIFFA: Futuro on Saturday, March 16, at the Omni.

With this “in the future” theme, just imagine a utopian future as you’d like it to be! Come dressed to impress as you interpret “Futuro” any way you’d like.

To whet your appetite, here’s a snippet of the 2018 show: https://vimeo.com/279564780 as well as links to a Paper City article: https://www.papercitymag.com/society/house-diffa-dallas-wild-fashion-fundraiser-runway-show/ and a blog from Cynthia Smoot, Dallas’ It girl about town, recapping the evening: http://www.ohsocynthia.com/2018/05/diffa-showcases-alter-egos-of-dallas.html.

I hope you can join us March 16 for yet another fashion extravaganza of glitz, glamour, and giving as only DIFFA can do!

Please show Steve Pounders and DIFFA some love with your support and attendance at HoD: Futuro!!

Cheers!

Your Co-Table Captain,

Don

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