We are SO thrilled to announce the CCT x Mika Perry Holiday Stocking Instagram Giveaway launching this Friday, November 22 on our Instagram page! We have been dreaming about creating Christmas stockings from our hand printed textiles for a while now and can’t wait for you to see these beauties made from our HANNU / White Natural fabric and filled with a Diptyque candle set, Christmas essential oil and a set of packing cubes curated by Scottsdale based lifestyle blogger, Mika Perry. To celebrate, we sat down with Mika to hear her tips on preparing for the holiday season. 

 

 

We’re so excited about our upcoming Instagram Giveaway with you! Can you tell us a bit about your process finding the perfect stocking stuffers?

Thanks so much - I am too! For the stocking stuffers, I followed my mantra of keeping things simple, practical, and beautiful. Stockings can often end up being filled with random “stuff,” but with mindful consideration they can also be an opportunity to create a cohesive collection of items that are in alignment with your recipient’s taste and interests. In this case, it’s someone who appreciates wellness, travel, little luxuries, and creating a warm and inviting home!

For the stocking stuffers, I followed my mantra of keeping things simple, practical, and beautiful.

 

As a home organization expert, we’d love to know how you prepare for the holidays.

I begin with focusing on our family traditions and intentionally creating a schedule for the holidays that centers around what is most important to us. Time and energy are limited resources, so I am always careful to protect them. I also don’t want my kids (or my husband and I) to look back on the holidays as a stressful time of year; I want them to have good and happy memories! 

Around Thanksgiving, I pull out a list of what we did last year during the holidays and brainstorm what activities, events, and gatherings we want to do this year, taking into consideration anything that we might already be committed to (like school events) and anything we might want to change, whether that’s adding or taking away. Then, I write each item onto Post-Its, and on the back of each I write any to-do’s to prepare for that particular activity or event (i.e. making reservations, buying supplies, or having outfits or gifts ready.) I lay these notes onto two blank pages in my planner, divided into November and December, and work through them during those two months. Having a plan laid out like this onto paper helps to keep the mental overwhelm at bay - very key during this time of year!

 

 

The CCT x Mika Perry Holiday Stocking Instagram marks the first time we’ve made our hand printed fabrics into holiday stockings and we’re delighted with how they turned out. What do you think? How would you style a pair of CCT stockings in your home?

I agree - they are stunning! I am all about neutrals even when it comes to holiday decor, so I stick to winter whites, touches of silver or blue, natural materials, and plenty of greenery. I love a mantle draped with garland, maybe some olive or navy ribbon, and simple art, candles, and a fresh wreath above it.

 

I am all about neutrals even when it comes to holiday decor, so I stick to winter whites, touches of silver or blue, natural materials, and plenty of greenery.

 

Our readers are interior designers and home enthusiasts - what is your number one tip for keeping a house organized around the holidays?

Have a system for paper, mail, and online shopping boxes that come in the house. Designate a space in your home as your “holiday station” so that you don’t let piles form everywhere. Take action on these items (read, respond, toss, recycle, wrap, file away, etc.) once a day if your schedule allows, or at the very least once a week. 

Also, if you need to get your house together before company arrives, set a timer for 15 minutes and make it a game to work as fast as you can to put away items, fluff pillows, straighten throw blankets and the coffee table, clear and wipe down counters, empty the sink, and light a candle!

 

 

Last month you launched two online courses - what inspired you to share your knowledge of organization in an educational way? 

I launched The Morning and Night Routine Guide and The Organization Masterclass because I saw that the tips and strategies around organizing and routines I was sharing through the blog, social media, and the podcast were really hitting home for many women and giving them results, so I wanted to create a one-stop shop for them to learn it all. I strongly believe in investing in outside accountability and coaching to create real and lasting results - because that’s how I’ve made the biggest changes in my life. It can be easy to “collect” ideas but never take action, so these courses were my way of giving women who were feeling overwhelmed and stressed invest in themselves to create real results, and bring peace and calm in their homes and lives again. As a former professional organizer and elementary teacher, my two skill sets and experiences came together with these courses. I really poured my heart into them.

 

It can be easy to “collect” ideas but never take action, so these courses were my way of giving women who were feeling overwhelmed and stressed invest in themselves to create real results, and bring peace and calm in their homes and lives again.

 

You wear many hats, including entrepreneur and mom of three, how do you balance a busy schedule while still finding time for yourself?

Solid morning and night routines have been an absolute game changer for me, which is why I created an entire course around them!  I wake up before my kids and have a routine that energizes and grounds me, and my night routine is filled with strategies to prepare for the next day so that in the morning, I am not frazzled and have that time for myself. 

 

 

As the New Year approaches, what are the ways in which you’ll prepare to ensure a productive and energized start to 2020?

We have a tradition called the Perry Family Annual Staycation that we do for a few days around the New Year with our kids, in which we spend time setting goals for the first 90 days of the year. We actually run our family much like a business - if we want it to be successful, we have to be strategic, work at it, and be consistent. Our kids get in on goal-setting, too, and over the years it has been fun to see how their abilities to reflect and set goals for themselves have evolved. Of course, we have fun, too - jumping into the pool (it’s AZ so we can still do this!) getting room service, running around the resort, and just being together without outside distractions to kick-start the year. This has become one of our favorite family traditions. 

Don't forget to enter to win the stocking made out of our HANNU / White Natural fabric fabric and filled with a Diptyque candle set, Christmas essential oil and a set of packing cubes. The giveaway will go live Friday, November 22 at 11am PST. 

 

Cheers!
Allanah