We Answer Wednesday - Hosting for the Holidays

OK, Please help!  I just found out I'm hosting the office Christmas party.  It's in 3 weeks and I have never hosted this type of party ever.  I need to provide food and drinks (luckily I have some friends who are going to help with that) but I'd like to decorate as well without spending a fortune and easy but stylish holiday decorating ideas??

The holiday season is so much fun but it can be stressful.  Throwing a Christmas cocktail party in 3 weeks might feel impossible but it isn't!  Good for you for enlisting some support in the food and beverage department.  It's OK to ask for help.

If you do not own any holiday decor items, it might be a good idea to ask friends and family if they have any decorations around the house that they aren't using.  This could save you a lot of time and money.

If you want to do it all on your own but on a budget there are lots of fun and festive ways to decorate on a budget.

1.  Use items you have around the house already like vases.  We love filling vases with season items like pine cones, ribbons and bows, candy canes and even ornaments - for a clean and simple look but it still celebrates the season.



2. Add a few natural elements for an instant Christmas feel.  We love this simple wood tray with candles, pine cones, simple metallic ornaments and some cedar branches on this coffee table.  It is perfect and simple.  Try a scented candle for an extra special touch.



3. Edible arrangements are easy and fun.  We love this simple and clean centerpiece with votive candles, cranberries and some cedar branches.



4. Wrap some old boxes and use them in corners or by the fireplace.  so simple and still very festive.  Not great at wrapping? You can purchase pretty boxes from more Dollar stores, add a bow and you are done.  We love these 3 boxes on candle sticks - perfect on a console entry to welcome guests!



5. Recycle your bottles and make them beautiful with some winter berries or other faux foliage.  We love these green glass bottles with winter berries.  A bit of a rustic feel for the holiday season.  Perfect on a console, mantle or as a centerpiece.




 6. Candy!  Christmas candy is so pretty so why not show it off? We love this simple Christmas candy tower and you know what? It's a great DIY gift for a host, neighbour or teacher.  The vase can be re-used and the candy, who doesn't love candy??



7.  Welcome guests with a wreath! Wreaths are a great accessory for the front door.  But you can definitely bring them inside.  They look great on walls (this year I'm adding one to my gallery wall), windows, mantles and interior doors - why not? Look for wreaths that are your style - shiny, big, bold, natural, there are so many to choose from.  Crafty? Try making your own.





A few other things to consider....

- colour palette: who says you have to stick to the traditional green, red and white? Mix it up a bit! Try bold and bright tones like hot pink, purple, aqua and lime green.  Go glam with white and mixed metallics.  Keep it simple with one hue like just red.  choose a colour palette that works for you!

- no room for a tree? no problem! look for a mini tree instead, artificial is a great option too - you can re-use it year after year.  Try a rosemary 'tree'.  Most local supermarkets have rosemary plants in the shape of a mini Christmas tree, it's perfect by the front door, coffee table or as a centerpiece. We also love DIY projects like these Christmas tree cones - a great option for small spaces and you can decorate them however you like!



- light! Candles make any event look and feel special so bring out your pillars and votives and dim the lights.  The candle light will make your place look beautiful.

- budget.  Be sure to check out your dollar stores for decor and party supplies.  You might be very surprised at what you find on such a tight budget.

- have a theme.  Yes, OK it's Christmas but what is your style or theme? Stick with one colour palette and inject your sense of style.  Do you want a country Christmas or a contemporary Christmas?  there's no wrong answer but stick to that decor theme throughout the entire home to keep it looking chic and sophisticated.  The best party planners plan their decor scheme, so we suggest you do the same.

- have fun! it's a party and yes the host has extra duties and responsibilities but have fun! If the party isn't perfect, it doesn't matter just go with it and have a good time, and everyone else will too !

DIY Christmas Tree Alternatives

It's December 1, is it feeling like Christmas time to you? For many this is the day to put up your tree and start celebrating the season

Whether you're lacking in space or are opting out of a traditional Christmas tree for any number of reasons (the fact that they tend to become a fire hazard before they make it to the curb in my case), a DIY option might be the perfect alternative. We've rounded up five great, creative options from around the web , here are our great alternatives to traditional Christmas trees.

1.  Washi tape Christmas tree





2. Christmas Tree Cones





 3. Christmas Tree of Books




4. Popsicle stick Christmas trees



5. Christmas Lights Tree

We Answer Wednesday - All About the Holiday Centerpieces

“I am always looking at magazines for ideas for my centerpieces, but they all look so expensive and hard to put together. How can I get that look for my home?”

So many people are entertaining from home these days. This is a fad that many thought wouldn’t stick around but entertaining at home is typically more budget friendly and a great way to show off your beautiful home! There are a lot of different ways to throw a dinner party from a formal party to a backyard BBQ, but regardless of your type of party, 9 times out of 10, there will be a centerpiece on the dinner table. 

Here are some suggestions on what to use as a centerpiece for your dinner parties.

Floral centerpieces are a classic and traditional option. There are so many different types of floral arrangements that can be present on your table. So how does one decide?

 

Incorporate a colour scheme
.
Part of hosting is making things look nice for your guests. Plan your floral arrangement based on a predetermined colour scheme. For example, if you have all white dishes and serve ware, incorporating another colour will enhance the table setting. Maybe you love purple and don’t own any purple dinner accessories. A centerpiece is a fabulous place to incorporate it. A white and purple floral arrangement would be a beautiful way to spice up your traditional white dishes.

There are so many sizes and shapes and styles of centerpieces to create. Depending on the size of your table, you may have the space to have multiple arrangements on the table. A series of small vases instead of one large arrangement gives your table a fresh look. It doesn’t have to be flowers either! As you can see in this photo, beautiful and bold lilacs in these oversized teal vases with glass bottles mixing in for fun make a big impact but the arrangement is so simple, paired with robin's egg blue dinner plates and glasses set on the rough textured, reclaimed wood harvest table looks absolutely incredible for a spring dinner or wedding

Candles

Candles are another classic option for a center piece. These can be arranged in many different ways using various colours, sizes and textures. Candle centerpieces have so much DIY potential, and with sites like Pinterest and Houzz, the options are truly endless for what you can do! There’s no reason to go crazy expensive either.. simple is beautiful too. If you’re looking for a wow-factor, be creative with your arrangement, it will look great!! 

Holiday Themed Centerpieces are so much fun. For Christmas, try adding ornaments into a large dish. Throw in a little sparkle if you can! A little glitter by candle light will make your table shine. 

 

When it comes to 'dressing up' your table think about these important points...

1.  Time of year, seasonal decor is easy to find so it won't be a stressful endeavour to under take



2. Type of gathering.  Is it formal? Casual? Family-friendly? Inside or Outside?  This will be vital when decide what to put on that table

3.  How crafty are you? there are tons of great ideas with glue guns, glitter and so much more but if you aren't a crafty soul you could get stressed out, keep it simple, Sometimes the simplest decor makes the most impact

4. Waste.  If you worry about waste think about edible centerpieces like fruit, candy, nuts or even beautiful artisan bread laid and displayed in a chic way.  If you opt for florals, think about how you could re-purpose the arrangements in your own home or give them away as a 'prize' like you often see at Weddings.

  

You can do so much with basics like ribbon, mason jars, flowers, paint, glitter, flowers, twigs, burlap, leaves, pumpkins, nuts, fruit, coffee beans, candles and other basics from around the home, the possibilities are really endless.....