DO IT NOW

If you're lucky enough to get a potted plant this holiday season, here's how to keep it looking its best: Place it in bright but indirect sunlight well away from drafts. (If you want a live plant near your front door, keep it in a less drafty spot until you're ready to entertain and move it back when the big event is over.) Water whenever the surface of the soil feels dry. Oh, one more thing: Ditch the decorative foil wrap. It not only looks cheesy, but it prevents water from draining.

HOT TICKET

• Want to see how others are decking their halls? Take the French Flea Christmas Home Tour of five homes Saturday. Attendees pick up a map at the French Flea occasional sale in Anoka any time between 1 and 4 p.m. The homes, all owned by French Flea dealers in Andover, Anoka and Coon Rapids, are French country, industrial chic, Victorian colonial, cottage on Crooked Lake and retro modern. The $10 ticket includes appetizers and refreshments at the Flea when the tour is complete; the tour coincides with the store's monthly four-day sale, starting Thursday; 211 E. Main St., Anoka; 612-963-8108.

• Ornament-related events for all ages: the annual Made in Minnesota Ornament Show, featuring the work of more than 20 artists, is going on at Clay Squared to Infinity 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. through Dec. 29; 34 13th Av. NE. in Minneapolis. Meanwhile, kids can craft an ornament for free Friday at noon at Macy's in Southdale and Ridgedale, using pipe cleaners, shells and beads.

WE SPOTTED IT

Having recently inflicted bloody injury while trying to pry open a well-wrapped parcel, Front Door took special interest in the Open It! The five-in-one tool is designed to help users lay waste to clamshell and other plastic packaging. The vaguely gardenish-looking hand tool can be used to open bottle caps and plastic zip ties, as well. Each leg of the handle stores another feature: One holds a small double-headed screwdriver, the other a retractable utility knife. $9.99 at Bed Bath & Beyond stores; see www.bedbathandbeyond.com for Minnesota locations. One caveat: It worked great, but we wished that we'd had one to help open the Open It! package.

STARTRIBUNE.COM

Need help for getting ready, set, go for the holidays? Go to startribune.com/holidays. We've posted stories, photos and how-to videos that will help you decorate the mantel, pot an amaryllis, make the perfect pie crust and see the most spectacular holiday light displays. We also have a great lineup of ways to help you save on your celebrations.

STORE NEWS

Now open: Sewtropolis in south Minneapolis. Owner/instructor Nikol Gianopoulos' shop at 5 W. Diamond Lake Rd. sells sewing supplies and fabric from Kaffee Fassett, Studio e, Amy Butler and Minki as well as satins, velour, wool, thermals and Juicy Couture knits. Gianopoulos teaches basic, beginning and intermediate sewing classes; the shop has machines available for $5 per hour. See details at www.sewtropolis.com; 612-827-9550.

WEB WATCH

www.homefurnishings.com

This site, organized by the National Home Furnishings Association, offers celebri-decor advice under the Discover tab (Candice Olson, Amanda Peet and Christopher Lowell, among others), a room planner and a spot to save virtual tearsheets for future reference. To celebrate the newly launched site, the nonprofit is offering a chance to win a $5,000 "Inspired Living" room makeover. Click on the sweepstakes button and enter your ZIP code. This brings up a list of the nearest participating Minnesota home furnishings stores; select one and choose the contest link for the entry form. Entrants are limited to one entry per day per dealer.

NEXT WEEK

We visit the home of a busy suburban mom who delegates her Christmas decorating (something she admits is not her thing), so she can focus on making the food and hosting the family get-together.

KIM YEAGER, CONNIE NELSON