Our friends at Interiors Revitalized were willing to give us some great tips on decorating our Jacksonville golf course homes for the holidays!

1. Choose 2 or 3 colors to decorate with.

Using two to three colors to decorate will help you achieve a professionally decorated look. Deciding on a color palate before you go shopping will make the selection process quick and easy.

2. Bring the outdoors in.

Cut fresh greenery or visit your local tree stand for cuttings. You can use them on the mantle, as garland, or as a centerpiece along with candles. The possibilities are endless!

The Night of Lights in St. Augustine is a tradition for my husband, Bob, and I along with many other St. Augustinians. Every year we look forward to St. Augustine city officials flipping the switch in the Plaza de la Constitucion illuminating the entire city for thousands to enjoy. Millions of tiny white lights fill buildings, parks, gardens, shops, restaurants and more. This year was particularly special because the Bridge of Lions was lit up for the first time in over 5 years!

Bob and I started our evening eating at The Columbia Restaurant, which is a treat in itself! The Original “1905” Salad and the Spanish Bean Soup are our must-haves and what made The Columbia famous in St. Augustine! USA Today calls the Columbia “One of the 10 Great Places to Make a Meal Out of a Salad”. From there, we had to stop in the Tripp Harrison Gallary – one of our favorite local artists. 

We had a blast this past Thursday night at Davidson Realty making our holiday wreaths and bidding on beautiful holiday decorations! Tis the season! Not only was it fun, but we raised over $1,400 for the Ronald McDonald House –  a great organization providing a “home-away-from-home” for families so they can stay close by their hospitalized child at little or no cost. Neighbors from all over our St. Augustine golf course community including World Golf Village, Kensington and Palencia came to participate and help raise money for such a great cause.

Representatives from Interiors Revitalized made sure everyone left with a stunning creation. And, a big thank you to Dr. Berry and the Village Chiropractic Center of Florida for donating the gorgeous decorations. I think the wine might have helped with everyone’s creativity!  We had holiday music helping us get into the Christmas spirit and enough holiday cookies to last us until next year. What a fun event!

We hope you enjoy the video above of our special night. To donate to the Ronald McDonald House or to learn more about this spectacular charity please visit http://rmhc.org/.

A Guest Blog from TCB EnviroCorp

The combination of numerous waterways and warm weather is one of the advantages of making St. Augustine and the north Florida area your home, but it can also be a good environment for mold and mildew to thrive. Mold spores can aggravate allergies and other illnesses. 

Mold can grow on many things, including, drywall, carpet, wood, paint and fabric. Although molds often originate behind walls and crawl spaces due to dampness, spores can easily spread through the rest of your home.  Mold spores that are set adrift in your home will find an appropriate place to live and grow, like bathrooms and kitchens which contain adequate food and moisture. A musty smell is often the first and easily recognizable sign that you could have some mold growth. If you notice a musty smell or suspect your home may have some mold, follow the tips below.