This holiday cleaning tips post is brought to you by Swiffer® as part of a Type-A Parent Community Sponsored Post.

If your home is like mine, trying to keep the floors clean can be a challenging job. In my home the kitchen tile floor has always been one of those rooms that I can’t seem to keep clean for than a day after I clean it! Between food dropped from cooking, my kids always missing the trash can and the food stains around it, or just the general wear of foot traffic, the kitchen floor is my biggest pain. So I was excited to get the chance to use the new SteamBoost Steam Mop from Swiffer.

We have been using Swiffer wet mops for years – you know the one that is the handle rectangle mop and then you connect the disposable wet wipes to the mop? What I never liked was that sometimes the amount of elbow grease needed to get up stains was awful. So the idea of steam to pull up dirt and grime is what I’m looking forward to.

Here are a few features of the SteamBoost Steam Mop from Swiffer

• The Swiffer BISSELL® SteamBoost is a steam mop that deeply penetrates dirt and helps remove messes mops can leave behind. Fill it with water, attach a Steam Pad and plug it in. No other cleaning solutions are needed.
• The special Steam Pads have a steam-activated, dirt-dissolving cleaning solution that pulls dirt from surfaces and locks it away. SteamBoost is light, easy to use and safe on tile, finished wood and laminate floors.*

See how I used the SteamBoost Steam Mop

1. Sweep up loose debris and dirt from your resilient floor first.

2. Place a wipe on the bottom of the SteamBoost mop and attach in the four corners

3. Pour water into the reservoir and then plug in. Squeeze the trigger handle to release the steam. The blue indicator light will come on in the front.

4. I found it most helpful to apply the steam as you clean up the tough spots, but I think just the wipe cleaned up my occasional dirty spots easy too! Behind my trash can was cleaned with little effort, Yay!

Here’s a few of my favorite holiday cleaning tips:

1. Walk through your home with a visitor’s eye, making notes of any imperfections you may be used to but guests may notice, such as houseplants with dead leaves.
2. Have your family help with household chores to make it easy on everyone.
3. Clean your home the day BEFORE a party or festivity so your home is rid of cleaning products smell.
4. Straighten bedrooms; remove clutter and donate items that are cluttering your home.
5. Clean bathrooms and kitchen floors with steam to ensure dirt is removed thoroughly
6. Clean range or stove top, surfaces, and grates.
7. Clean out the refrigerator, making room for party foods; dust top of refrigerator.
8. Wipe down all large and small appliances and kitchen cabinets
9. Wash throw rugs; set aside so they are nice and fluffy for party day.
10. Vacuum your home the day of the party to ensure all small dirt items are removed from your carpet.

This sponsored post was brought to you by Swiffer®. For a limited time, get a $15 prepaid card when you purchase a SteamBoost Steam Mop Starter Kit between 11/24/13 and 12/31/13. Swiffer BISSELL® SteamBoost combines a dirt-dissolving cleaning solution with the power of steam for a deep clean that gets messes mops can leave behind. Also be sure to like Swiffer on Facebook and follow @swiffer on Twitter.

For more Holiday ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

One of my fondest memories as a child was visiting my grandparents at the family holidays and spending an entire day before Thanksgiving cleaning crystal and shining the silverware! It was a tradition to take out the best crystal from the china closet and sit at the dining room table and clean and polish every piece that we would use for Thanksgiving Dinner!

Now that I have my own family we still take out the china for the holidays but I always thought crystal was for homes that were very traditional and formal, and that definitely is not the Gibson’s!

Last month I showed you how Villeroy & Boch brings you Everyday Elegance Crystal that you can use for any day of the week and it’s casual enough to use anytime but still looks gorgeous with your casual or formal dinnerware. Today I’m excited to bring you a crystal piece that can be used at the dining table or anywhere in your home as home decor!

Each year I try and make a new seasonal inspired mantle on our fireplace. This autumn season I thought it would be nice to use fall colors of rust, orange, copper and gold and feature pumpkins and pinecones to show off Villeroy & Boch’s – Modern Grace Compote. While I could have used it as a serving piece for fruit at the dining room table, I think it looks great on my mantle! What do you think?

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Villeroy & Boch’s Crystal

Whether you are looking for simplicity in your home decor or you’d like to dress up your interiors with the addition of gorgeous crystal, Villeroy and Boch has a wonderful selection of pieces that are versatile for serving and for home decor.

I’m already thinking ahead to Christmas when sparkly ornaments will adorn the Compote beautifully along with our traditional lighted garland and stockings! Villeroy & Boch’s crystal can truly be used anywhere. A front foyer table display or as your dining room tablescape throughout the holiday season would be beautiful as well.

Thank you Villeroy & Boch for the gorgeous Modern Grace Compote, I can’t wait to find new uses for it throughout the upcoming seasons!

Have you entered the Villeroy & Boch – Olioboard Fan Room Travel the World contest yet? Today, October 23rd is officially the last day to enter. Check back on Friday to see the top 5 Olioboard’s to vote on for the grand prize winner announced on Monday, October 28th!

For more home decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Disclaimer: I was provided the Modern Grace Compote crystal to review on Stagetecture. All the thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.

Now that fall has set in the ability to enjoy family dinners again without everyone running off to another place is what I love most about this season. Sunday brunches at my house with my mom, husband and kids is always an enjoyable time. My mom usually brings her own brunch dishes and we combine them to make a feast! This last Sunday, Sept. 8th was Grandparent’s Day and we decided to honor her with a delicious breakfast – where she didn’t have to lift a finger.

I was excited to partner with fine dinnerware manufacturer Villeroy & Boch who have specialized in making fine crystal, porcelain and ceramics since 1748. Villeroy & Boch dinnerware has graced the tables of the Popes in Vatican, crowned royalty, households of the rich and famous, and renowned restaurants and chefs on every continent.

We are all familiar with using your best china and crystal for special occasions and holidays, but what about everyday elegance? You know, those Sunday brunches with family, that baby shower you want to throw your co-worker or even family game night when everyone is at home to enjoy a hot cooked meal? Villeroy & Boch has launched their “Everyday Crystal” line. Perfect for cold beverages, wine, beer, and even water tastes better in a crystal tumbler!

I tried out the New Cottage Crystal Everyday Drinkware – Longdrink (tall) and the Water tumblers (short) at our Grandparent’s brunch and they were perfect for orange juice and water. What I loved about the crystal glasses was their weight. The base is solid but the drinking glass feels great in your hands and even better to drink from. The glasses were just large enough for my 7 year old daughter and still comfortable for my teenager and us adults.

I didn’t feel afraid that they couldn’t handle them, and that’s what I love about Villeroy & Boch’s new Everyday Crystal line.  Best of all.. they are dishwasher safe!

Here’s a few of the features of  Villeroy & Boch’s Everyday Crystal

‘It’s time to end the myth that crystal glasses are delicate and should be saved for special occasions. Our EVERYDAY CRYSTAL drinking glasses are the most durable and cost effective material for stemware, barware and casual drinkware. It will happily live up to everyday use without clouding or chipping. Year after year, your Villeroy & Boch crystal glasses will sparkle with radiance and ring to each toast with clarity. With our vast range of designs you can rest assured that the crystal you use every day will transition stylishly into your formal and casual entertaining. That’s an #everydayluxury you deserve!’

I love when home manufacturer’s cater to all spectrums of consumers. While we all love the special holidays that take 3 hours to set the Christmas or Thanksgiving table.. he he…. we enjoy even more being able to enjoy a bit of elegance in our everyday dining and get togethers with friends and family.

I invite you to see the rest of the “Everyday Crystal” line they offer and follow them on Twitter and Facebook for the latest products for your home entertaining.

Disclaimer: I was offered a promotional sample of the Villeroy & Boch drinkware to review. All opinions are strictly my own.

For more entertaining ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

When I was a little girl I remember my mom would pull out her pumpkin orange Crock-Pot or slow cooker and prepare the most delicious recipes! My sister and I would help her prep in the morning before work by taking out the ingredients. Whether it was her infamous Coors Beer chili (We lived in Colorado – so Coors beer was put in everything!), or mushroom soup chicken over rice, or a delicious soup for a cold winter evening, our Crock Pot was always in use. There is nothing better than coming home to your home smelling of aromatic dinner food and all you have to do is take out the dinnerware.

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I was excited to be asked to review a set of 5 Crock-Pot Cookbooks from The Lakeside Collection. From kitchen accessories to cookbooks and more, The Lakeside Collection has all of your kitchen needs in one place online.

The set of 5 Crock-Pot cookbooks includes:

• Soups and Stews
• One-Pot Meals
• Chicken
• Appetizers
• 5 Ingredients or Less

 I already started on the Sweet Potato Stew recipe – yummy!

Each one has gorgeous photography and I already started making the Sweet Potato Stew from the “Soups and Stews” Crock-Pot book. There’s only seven ingredients and it’s always nice to have my daughter and sons help me prepare because its easy and fun. Now that I have bought a newer model Crock-Pot in recent years – its great to have these cookbooks with all new recipes.

My daughter already went through the books and picked out the Barbecue Chicken and Maple Glazed Meatballs recipes she wants to try!

With autumn right around the corner and the holidays coming up – Crock-Pot recipes can save you time, energy and money by making larger quantities and refrigerating or freezing the food for future meals.

Image via: Lunch Snack and Sninner

While you may think Crock Pot meals are only for dinner time, think again. I found these great ideas for using Crock-Pot meals for your children’s lunches the next day. Anytime you decide to eat your meals, try this set of 5 cookbooks – creative ideas to make life easier for you and me!

Disclosure: I was offered the cookbooks for review from The Lakeside Collection. All opinions are strictly my own.

For more recipes and ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Size will never be an issue when it comes to kitchenware. This is proven by the creations of Aran Goyoaga who showcases her beautiful small kitchen essentials for a sweet kitchen treat. Her creations feature stylish and inviting plates, spoon, fork and other kitchen essentials for an appetizing meal.

All images via

Interestingly, this collection is designed to cater small recipes. The collected works enhance whatever set of food choices you prepare. You can’t help but be amazed of these wonderful plates that you can avail of.

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Here are some exciting features of eating sweet treats in a small plate collection by Aran Goyoaga:

Small and simple

Being small and simple doesn’t mean you cannot have the elegance. In fact, the amazing creativity of the designer made it look so splendid and brilliant. Each creation provides a natural blend of style that adapts your menu. You can really feel a different satisfaction eating sweet treats in a small plate.

Diversity of style

The designer made sure that people from all walks of life will have something that they can be interested in. Although the size is definitely smaller than usual but the quality of style is far bigger than the other collections. You can have several choices of styles available to cater your main course or desserts.

High quality

Style is important and so with the quality of materials. The designer doesn’t only focused on the outside looks but more so in the durability of the collection. You can also appreciate the texture and surface finish of the small plates that go with sweet treats you have.

Get hold of this small plate concept by Aran Goyoaga and you will definitely have a delightful treat. Have a peek on this small plate suggestion and indulge yourself with a superb appetizing treat.

For more food ideas on Stagetecture, click here

I have always been inspired by the west and southwestern colors of the United States. I grew up in Colorado and one of our family’s home in Mesa, Arizona sat in the middle of the painted desert. The gorgeous hues of the west of subtle browns and muted colors of the desert are awe-inspiring to me. I happened to see Ralph Lauren Home has a Desert Modern Collection that features furniture and home furnishings all inspired from this beautiful region I am so drawn to.

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Here are a few pieces from his collection, let me know if you are ready to take a hike among the cactus and red sand desert once you feast your eyes on these gorgeous furniture pieces!

Desert Modern Sectional

This sectional looks so comfortable, and is available in fabric and leather options. Once you sit down on this couch I’m not sure your guests will want to leave.

Desert Modern Wood Club Chair

‘The intricate and visible craftsmanship of this teak club chair demonstrates its French 1940s Primitif style.’… Ralph Lauren

Desert Modern Desk

‘The superlative quality of its teak becomes the natural highlight of this sleek and extremely functional desk, styled after Louis XVI.’… Ralph Lauren

Desert Modern Dining Table

“This contemporary table impresses for the unique thickness of its teak wood and for its exposed hand-fitted mortise and tenon joints.”… Ralph Lauren

Desert Modern Bed

“A study of luxurious minimalism, the modern slab headboard and footboard of this bed are upholstered to create neat but sumptuous lines.”… Ralph Lauren

Whether you have visited the west and can relate with these gorgeous finds, or you just enjoy the laid-back and refined sophistication of the desert southwest, the Ralph Lauren Desert Modern collection is a must see!

For more home decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

I always get excited when I hear that my ebook – 111 Simple Tips for your Everyday Home is giving home inspiration and ideas to other homeowners. I’m delighted to share that Simply Stacie reviewed my ebook and is sharing with its readers a great giveaway.

Here’s what Simply Stacie is saying about the ebook:

“… breaks down simple and attainable design and organizing tips for every room in your home – from the kitchen to the garage. Her ideas fit all budgets – whether you are looking to do a total renovation of simply just “freshen up” a space. A great tip for a tired bedroom when you’re on a tight budget – simply replace your bedding and give it a fresh coat of paint to bring it back to life. One of her tips for the bathroom is to paint the ceiling the same color as the walls to make a small bathroom space seems larger. We’re going to implement that tip in the next few weeks when we redo our entryway guest bath – I’m excited to see how it turns out! This eBook has a wealth of information for every style, budget, and taste, but it’s short and sweet, making it an easy read.” … Simply Stacie.

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Whether you have gotten your copy or you are still wondering about it, here’s your chance to win:

• A free copy of 111 Simple Tips for your Everyday Home
• A $20 Amazon Giftcard.

Get all the details how to enter the giveaway on Simply Stacie. Thank you fro the wonderful review and I wish my Stagetecture readers good luck in entering the giveaway!

For more information about 111 Simple Tips for your Everyday Home, click here.