And just like that we’re half way through fall! The leaves have officially fallen and before you know it, we’ll be waking up to snow on the ground! With that being said, our favorite time of the year is here! In just a couple of days we’ll be celebrating our favorite holiday: Thanksgiving!
It’s around this time of year where we can sit back and reflect on everything we’re thankful for. Whether big or small, we can always find something to be appreciative of. For us, it’s our family and YOU.
So, as we say goodbye to fall, let’s enjoy what’s left and take advantage of the month of November! As for us, we’ve been extremely lucky to have our readers follow us, as we give you tips and events we’re super excited about!
Health
Around this time, as winter approaches, we can easily find ourselves getting burnt out. Whether it’s your job, everyday life or even processing the pandemic, stress can easily creep up on you. Monitoring your stress can be hard, but keeping tabs and checking in with yourself is essential for your own mental health! According to a recent poll by the American Psychological Association, nearly one-third of adults (32 percent) find themselves so stressed dealing with just the pandemic that they have a hard time navigating daily tasks, such as what to eat or wear. The uncertainty of the pandemic has created a ripple effect on Americans. More than 3 in 5 (36 percent) agreed that the uncertainty of the next few months has increased stress levels and around half (49 percent) said planning for the future feels next to impossible.
With that being said, how do you cope when everything feels so uncertain? It’s easy to choose unhealthy habits when life can get so busy. However, learning to cope with stress in a healthy way is important and will make you and the people you care about more resilient, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
So, what can you do to help ensure that you and your family are taking the time to check-in and ultimately relieve stress in a healthy way?
- Take breaks from watching/reading news: News is everywhere and so easily accessible, especially with social media. It’s important to take breaks. While not always easy, consider limiting your news intake to just a couple times a day and disconnecting from your phone, tv and computer screens for a while.
- Take care of your body: This is important! Stress doesn’t only manifest within your mental health, but enough stress can start to take a toll on your physical well-being. If you find yourself starting to physically feel the effects, it’s recommended to take deep breaths, stretch and meditate. Eating healthy and exercising is also extremely important. Whether it’s 5-10 minutes of short cardio, getting your blood pumping can help reduce your stress physically. And as we touched on this in our October newsletter, try and get plenty of sleep!
- Take a mental health day: Of all things, it can be hard to check-in with yourself regularly when life can get so busy. But, this is important. Remember, it’s OK to give yourself permission to take time for yourself. Whether it’s going on a long walk, doing something you love, reading a book or taking a hot bath. Remind yourself, you are human and deserve to take a break once and awhile.
- Connect with others: It’s easy to get caught up in everyday life stresses that we forget the magic of connecting with others. A symptom of stress is the feeling of loneliness, which is linked with an increased risk of high blood pressure. Humans are social animals, it’s normal to crave feeling important and valued. Whether it’s family, friends or even a professional, it’s important to remember that you’re never alone and it’s OK to reach out!
Real Estate
As we approach the middle of November and enter the winter market, we’ve seen a slow down in sales as the buyers’ market has temporarily paused their search.
According to Realtor.com, pending home sales have seen a slight decrease compared to previous months, but experts see this as only temporary depending on a number of factors: specifically as long as demand exceeds supply. So, how as sellers can you be sure to successfully reach the top market with the sale of your home? Make sure your home has what the buyers’ market is looking for: space.
A lot of Americans are still working remote and from the looks of it, this is not changing anytime soon. Last month, we touched on the topic of how to prepare your home, which still stands true. If you’re trying to sell your house right now, we’d suggest targeting the market by showing off extra space that can be utilized for home offices.
To help make that space stand out, here are some tips recommended by the National Association of Realtors. Do you find yourself not necessarily having “specific rooms” designated for home offices? That’s OK! It’s all in the magic of design. Here is a helpful guide on how to stage the perfect pop-up office!
Plus…. FREE! FREE! FREE! Everyone loves Free! So here is your Guide to download, or grab it from my Blog! 2021 Profile of Home Staging– Fall Edition!
Guide Link: https://cdn.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/documents/2021-profile-of-home-staging-report-04-06-2021.pdf
Blog Post Link: https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/en/2021/10/28/does-your-house-have-what-buyers-want/?a=467086-a3a54f6cb7eefe1bab8929737496143c
TV and Movies
Headspace: Unwind Your Mind, Netflix: This month we really want to focus on the theme of the importance of gratitude and mindfulness, especially when it comes to dealing with stress. Fortunately, Netflix has come out with a special for just that! Headspace: Unwind Your Mind is an interactive program that allows the viewer to choose their own mindfulness adventure based on your mood—from stress-relieving meditations to relaxing wind-downs and bedtime stories, it’s completely customizable to you!
Link: https://www.netflix.com/title/81328829
Food
Thanksgiving is right around the corner! And as we mentioned earlier, it’s our absolute favorite. As most of our treasured dishes are celebrated during this time like turkey; grandma’s famous mashed potatoes and stuffing (a personal favorite), there is one dish we’re completely obsessed with—Pumpkin Pie! So, of course, we found an easy-to-follow pumpkin pie recipe that is bound to knock the warm, fuzzy socks off of your friends and family! So, roll up those sleeves, and as always don’t forget to wear your favorite stretchy pants, we know we will!
Link: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/23439/perfect-pumpkin-pie/
Things to Do
So, clearly our main focus is celebrating Thanksgiving and spending time with friends and family (if you can)! But, in the interim, there are a few events which have caught our attention that you’ll definitely want to check out!
Christmas Around the World: Yes, yes. It’s not quite Christmas, but every year the Museum of Science and Industry installs a 45-foot-tall grand tree nestled between 50 additional trees that represent various communities and respective holiday celebrations! This year’s exhibit celebrates the golden age of travel spotlighting what holidays are like all around the world. Accompanying the event will be a “Holidays of Light” exhibit, which recognizes other cultural traditions. Admission to the event is included with a regular Museum of Science and Industry ticket.
Date: Thursday, November 18 | Time: 9:30a.m- 4:30p.m | Location: Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60637 | For tickets, visit: MSICHICAGO
2021: Magnificent Mile Lights Festival: We’ve made it! The highly- awaited Spectacular Lights and Decorations Show makes its way to Chicago, as one of the most anticipated events of the year! Grab your family and friends and watch as Chicago’s world-renowned Magnificent Mile is lit up with some of the most beautiful lights. It’s one of the city’s greatest traditions. This event-filled day includes a tree-lighting parade down Michigan Avenue with your favorite hosts: Mickey and Minnie Mouse! Also featured: floats, marching bands and musical performances. Plenty of family activities will be available including photos with Santa Claus!
Date: Saturday, November 20 | Time: 11a.m-8p.m | Location: 401 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 | For more information: Magnificent Mile Lights Festival
Lemont for the Holidays: Brighten up your holiday season in Lemont and stroll around the historic downtown during “Lighting Up Lemont.” The dazzling illuminating light displays are nestled throughout the quaint family-owned shops, restaurants, brewery and pubs. It’s the perfect place to capture your holiday photos and create magical moments. Team Elite will also be joining the event by hosting Lemont’s first ever gingerbread house contest! Make sure to join the fun and vote on the most festive, as we have all gingerbread houses lined-up in our office! If you’re interested in joining the contest, be sure to register in the link below! Prizes will be given to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.
Date: Saturday, December 4 | Time: 3p.m-7:30p.m | Location: Downtown Lemont, 207 Stephen St, Lemont, IL 60439 | For more information: Lemont for the Holidays
Team Elite | Meet and Greet with Santa Claus: Team Elite formally invites you to a Meet & Greet with Santa Claus, so mark your calendars! Be sure to bring your family and friends to an afternoon of fun! We will be providing a meet and greet where guests will be able to take a free family photo with Santa Claus! We’ll also have a beverage and snack station, goodies for the kids and much more! Register now to reserve a goodie bag for your family! We can’t wait to see you! Note: Photos will be emailed after the event
Date: Sunday, December 12 | Time: 1:30p.m-4p.m | Location: 207 Stephen St, Lemont, IL 60439 | To RSVP: Meet and Greet with Santa!