Donny Osmond and Sara Karens

A sweet perk of this job is the opportunity to witness first hand marketing and branding strategies executed across different business and distribution channels as well as networking and learning from other folks on what has or has not worked.

As no man is an island, these conversations are incredibly useful.

Enter Dallas Market Center’s Sneak Peek. The day was an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at home and gift products and trends while networking with fellow bloggers during January Market.

It was a full day of trend discussion and design direction, beginning with breakfast with Donny Osmond. He and his wife, Debbie, are a perfect example of synergy across a brand. The tagline for his new line of home products, Donny Osmond Home, is “Making Home and Family Number One.” It’s hard to imagine a better brand ambassador for home and family. As personable as he is in the media, he is equally humble and engaging live. He and Debbie spent the better part of an hour joking around and telling stories to our little band of insiders.

Jeff Lewis of Bravo’s Flipping Out was the second keynote presentation for the day. His was followed with a Q & A session moderated by Shay Geyer of IBB. He is another terrific example of an authentic brand voice. His design philosophy is to find the true integrity of the house during renovation and breathe life back into the space in a way that will appeal to buyers.

It was a full day of touring showrooms, lunching with Dwell with Dignity and organic juices from The GEM (compliments of Peacock Alley). At the end of the day, we all went away understanding that authentic style is always in style, modern, clean lines will never be out of style and Pantone’s color of the year, Marsala, was really nobody’s favorite. 

Debbie and Donny Osmond and the bloggers of Sneak Peek

We look forward to the holidays all year long. They are a wonderful time for festive gatherings, re-visiting family memories and traditions, and creating new ones. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanukkah or Kwanzaa, the virtues of each of these holidays are celebrated for weeks and months in advance.

However, preparations for these celebrations can really zap our time. On any given day, the challenges presented by Father Time during the holidays can be intense. A Hollywood producer might love to document the chaos of a holiday reality show — imagine Gordon Ramsay trying to handle the heat in the kitchen while simultaneously shopping, decorating, wrapping, delivering and entertaining!

And beware! Just when you think you’ve wrangled things into manageable chaos, factor in a last minute curveball, because Someone. Will. Get. Sick.

It’s tempting to throw in the towel and let yourself get voted off the island and retreat. But with a little patience, pluck and determination, you can survive the holiday jungle and actually enjoy your holidays!

Here are a few of our tips on how to get through the season in one piece and beat Father Time at his own game:

• Drink calming tea – it’s vital for survival.
• Pay attention to behaviors. Delegate the right tasks to the right people. And, by all means, bring in “special teams” when necessary.
• These days are long, people! Avoid the jitters and get an extra boost of sustainable energy with a Radiant Red Glow (with jalapeno) from The GEM.
• Survivors will be welcomed back into civilization and rewarded with the rejuvenation gleaned from a good night’s sleep. On The Porch, we love the comfort and feel of crisp percale Egyptian cotton sheets. Lyric by Peacock Alley are our faves.

So enjoy the chaos and the glamour of the holidays, but remember, when it all comes down to it – there is a reason for the season. Take a deep breath, grab a mug and position your children under each arm, because “It’s a Wonderful Life” is truly what we have.