Cyber Monday: Online Holiday Decorating Specials

Irwin Weiner ASID - It's the season to shop online, and Nov. 28 is designated as Cyber Monday (the virtual shopping equivalent of today's brick-and-mortar store Black Friday). We scoured the Web, and here are some of our favorite holiday specials. Home goods shoppers, rev up your engines and get out your credit cards!

Sale Price: CB2 Watu Kwa Amani Peace Dove 20" Pillow

Sale Price + Free Shipping: West Elm Egg Press Holiday Dessert Plates

Sale Price: CB2 Elf Candleholders

Free Shipping: Land of Nod You-Name-It Personalized Hanukkah Placemat

Sale Price + Free Shipping: Pottery Barn Velvet Monogrammed Stockings

Sale Price: CB2 Recycled Flowerball Ornaments

Sale Price + Free Shipping: West Elm 12 Days of Christmas Canape Plates

Sale Price: CB2 Red Mars Party Tub

Free Shipping: Land of Nod Personalized You-Name-It Ornaments

Sale Price: Crate & Barrel Red Ceramic Soap Dish with 4 Snowflake SoapsSale Price + Free Shipping: West Elm Hanukkah Canape Plates

Sale Price: CB2 Glass Toothpick Ball Ornaments 

CLICK HERE to see Design2Share's Favorite Holiday Decorating Trends for this year.

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Train Your Brain to Be More Creative

Irwin Weiner ASID - Recent studies into what the human brain can do and how people learn show us that being in a rut isn't very good for your head. You need to break out of old patterns and try doing things in new ways ... every so often ... to stimulate your brain and stay on your toes. Here's an example: Neurobics is a system of brain training and fun learning exercises that can keep your brain stimulated (at any age). I believe they can help stimulate creativity, too.

One neurobic exercise is to shop at a different grocery store. Think about it - that will cause your brain to make new associations and become more perceptive and sharper. Or I like the neurobics exercise of combining two different senses at the same time, like closing your eyes and listening to music while smelling a fragrant flower. Brain studies show that you're stimulating your mind and helping to strengthen your ability to perceive, understand, and process information.

There's always an interior design application for me in this type of activity! I believe it's a valid neurobics activity to

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Weekday DIY Project: Make a Fabric Chandelier

Irwin Weiner ASID - We've been featuring weekend do-it-yourself projects lately on Design2Share, but we wanted to throw everyone a curve ball and feature an easy project to tackle during the week. A fabric chandelier makes a great DIY wedding decoration, or a fun accessory for a deck, patio, breakfast room, or children's bedroom. The project requires some scrap fabric; and you should let the eventual occasion and/or hanging location of the chandelier dictate the color and pattern of the fabric(s) you choose. Other tools are a good pair of sewing scissors, some embroidery thread and a needle, a ruler, and an embroidery hoop. 

The project also calls for some fresh greenery, but if you're going to use the chandelier as a more permanent indoor or outdoor accessory, choose dried herbs or decorative floral leaves to wrap the embroidery hoop - or simply wrap the hoop with the same fabric you're using to hang the chandelier. You can make several chandeliers for a more dramatic decorating impact at a wedding or outdoor party. Imagine several hanging down from a pergola or wafting in the breeze from the underside of tree branches! All the steps for making this chandelier are demonstrated in the following video, and you can go to the premiere

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How Many Ways Can You Decorate with Gourds and Pumpkins?

Irwin Weiner ASID - This time of year there's a plethora of pumpkins and an engorged supply of gourds ... and precious little imagination when it comes to decorating with them. Plop a few here and there, line them up on windowsills, put a grouping of three by the front door. <yawn> It's what I call Fall (Asleep) Decorating. 

Well, if you'd like to escape from the boring same-old seasonal decor traps, I came across a Gorgeous Gourds and Pumpkins photo series and how-to guide with a good many novel ideals - praise be! - for putting these underutilized seasonal goodies to work in your home. Put a beautiful and original fall centerpiece on your breakfast or dinner table to put your family and friends in a more festive mood. Brighten up

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