Marcia Sherrill
Happy Help-me-days
Marcia embraces her inner holiday elf
BY
Marcia Sherrill
PHOTOGRAPHY
Steve Pomberg

Don’t give them something yule-like, give them something they’ll love! That’s right, your landscape architect—the one with the lovely Savile Row suit and those John Lobb shoes that have seen nary a speck of red Georgia clay—is nowhere to be found. So that snaking gravel pit of a driveway promised for Halloween looks like it may not be a sure landing pad for anyone—much less eight shining reindeer. And that gorgeous fabric, the one that you had your well-intentioned but clearly delusional decorator order for you at ADAC, due in before Thanksgiving? Ditto.

What’s a holiday-loving gal to do? No, it is not time to cancel the tree and trash the tinsel and head to the Ritz-Carlton in Montego Bay. You are gonna damn well make the best of it, and here’s how. You are going to reach deep down into the Christmas or Hanukkah child within you—heck within each of us—and remember this is a time for giving and for family, and darn it, some tasty but over-filling eggnog, even if it does make you slightly queasy. Here we go.

Quickly now, assess your home with the eyes of trained professional. Damage control comes in the form of slipcovers and table skirts and, most importantly, what mere mortals refer to as holiday decorations and the rest of us call heavy cover. And what better time? Race to Ballard Designs Outlet Store, Target and Pier 1, and, trust me, all manner of accessories will dazzle the eye and make the torn Naugahyde sofa seem insignificant, even cozy.

Make like an interior designer and focus on the big look. Yes, that’s a bale of garland and a tree for every room. Then cover them in mirrored ornaments, you know the ones that look like tiny disco balls. Go wild and use silvered accessories such as fruit bowls, candlesticks, table runners and skirts that all throw off a bit of yuletide glitter. Gold always smacks of the holidays. (And I don’t only mean Cartier.) Try Indian gold dupioni silk and drape it everywhere (try adding a width to the front of your window treatments). Better yet, try your hand at gold-leafing with the fabulous new faux spray paints.

If you absolutely refuse to deploy the heavy artillery, then relax and say “I love you” with gifts that matter. By this, I mean stop cheaping-out. Just because there are ubiquitous Dollar Stores in every strip mall, and you are finding precious little love in your cold, dark heart for those thieving children of yours who are happiest with their iTunes and instant messaging, nothing says Momma is Mrs. Claus like downright thoughtful gifts. This does not mean little Becky needs a Mikimoto starter set, but a charm bracelet might be just the ticket. Then the whole family (all 45 first cousins, in my case) can chip in on four-leaf clovers and ballet slippers and bulldogs. And your sons? You do not need to get a Purdy rifle to ensure their nascent manhood. How about a fishing trip to a bass hotspot or a falconing class at the zoo? Try to go for the WOW!

For beloved cranky parents who are still reminiscing about that honeymoon (the time when they were happy and pre-children), try shopping on 1stdibs.com for an antique sign from their honeymoon city or an antique book from Abes Books online. Look for one by a favorite author and issued in their wedding year.

For husband or wife? Go for the romance. A vintage watch for him or granite countertops for her.

Give sheets in dizzying thread counts to college-age children—they may be nonplussed at first, but that and a feather bed from Woodhouse Collection will have the entire dorm battling it out to study in comfort.

Forget having the stores do that cheesy wrapping. Do it yourself with hand-flocked or rice-grained papers from Lee’s Art Supply, and try big ol’ hardware tags for gift cards. For the sports nut, go for memorabilia on eBay and wrap it in the AJC sports section.

What are their thrills, their passions, their memories? Give them scrapbooks done in 15 minutes online. Or framed album covers from The Kingston Trio.

Show them you can love them—their way!