become-the-ultimate-holidays-host-with-these-3-tips-from-an-event-planner
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Become the Ultimate Holidays Host with These 3 Tips from an Event Planner

ByClaire Hoppe Norgaard

An important part of the holidays is who you share them with, and friends and family members from near and far typically travel to gather to celebrate the holidays. If it’s your year to host Christmas dinner or the New Year’s Eve party, chances are you’ll also be a host for overnight guests from out of town. Holiday hosting is unique because you get to experience this magical time of the year with your loved ones. But, in reality, hosting guests—even those you love dearly—can be stressful and overwhelming. To keep the holidays stress-free (and your guests happy), follow these three tips from an expert on how to be a courteous and welcoming host. 1. Give a Warm Welcome Schumacher says guests appreciate intentional touches that show the host prepared for their visit. This may include a small welcome basket for guests from out of town or a small, local gift to welcome them into your home. “A welcome basket placed in the guest’s room is always a gracious and lovely touch,” Schumacher says. “One of my favorite spins on a welcome basket is to include local items. This could be locally-sourced soaps, candles, snacks, or even a book about the area in which your guests are visiting.” If your guests are flying in to visit, Schumacher says to make sure your gift items align with the FAA security guidelines. “You don’t want them to have to leave them at the security line,” she says. 2. Wake Up Before Your Guests While the holidays are a time to rest and relax, if you’re hosting guests, Schumacher suggests it might be a good idea to skip sleeping in past your normal wake-up time. Even though getting out of bed can be difficult—especially during the cold, winter months—waking up before your house guests has many benefits. “[Waking up before guests] allows you to have coffee brewed for them, as well as guide them around your kitchen,” Schumacher says. “They won’t be fumbling through your cupboards to find a mug or a glass to have a drink of water or juice.” Not only does it give time to prep coffee and breakfast, but waking up before your guests allows time for tidying and prepping the house for the day’s holiday festivities. Plus, taking a quiet moment to yourself before the rest of the house wakes up is a great way to set yourself up for the day ahead. 3. Schedule Meals If you’re hosting guests for the holidays, it’s important to determine which meals you will be responsible for making. While dinners are often the host’s responsibility, who’s making breakfasts, lunches, and snacks can be more unclear. “While I don’t think it is necessary to prepare every meal for your guests, I do believe you should have a meal plan in place, ideally discussing this with your guests, prior to their arrival,” Schumacher says. Once you’ve communicated with your guests on which meals they will be eating with you, create a meal schedule and hang it in a common place where everyone can see what’s on the menu. That way, if guests would rather eat out or have other plans, they can let you know ahead of time. Even if you’re in charge of providing most meals, that doesn’t mean you need to cook every meal. Schumacher suggests bringing your guests to local restaurants so they can see more of your town. “Part of the fun of traveling is often dining at that area’s restaurants,” she says. “But there is also a joy in dining at home, lingering over the dinner table with good company and good conversation” When planning out your menu, make sure to ask guests if they have any food-related allergies and intolerances.

these-5-unexpected-christmas-ornament-styles-are-trending-this-year
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5 Unexpected Christmas Ornament Styles Are Trending This Year

ByClaire Hoppe Norgaard

Velvet bows, black trees, and minimalism have all dominated the holiday decor world in Christmases past. Whether they were one-season wonders or have stood the test of time, Christmas trends are a fun excuse to try something unexpected and experiment with your style. Take inspiration from this year’s Christmas ornament trends, whether you prefer a modern matte finish, a fresh spin on classic stripes, or craft your own custom felt ornaments, to upgrade your tree. 1. Velvet Ornaments Inspired by last year’s velvet bow trend, velvet ornaments are set to be one of the biggest Christmas ornament trends of 2024. With their matte, powdery finish, velvet ornaments put a unique twist on typical solid-color ornaments. Mix velvet ornaments with metallic ones to create a tree with tons of texture and visual interest. To make your own velvet ornaments, mix 1 Tbsp. plaster powder with 1 Tbsp. cold water. Once combined, add 2 ounces of matte finish craft paint. Paint clear plastic ornaments with the mixture, adding coats until the ornament is opaque. Carson Downing 2. Honeycomb Ornaments Another popular ornament style—spotted this year at West Elm, Anthropologie, and McGee & Co.—is honeycomb. Typically made from paper, honeycomb ornaments are made from intricate, accordion-style folds that create shapes like stars, bells, and trees. Plus, the ornaments are lightweight, so you don’t have to worry about weighing down the branches of your tree. Add honeycomb ornaments to your Christmas decor this year to put a fun twist on the typical round styles. Choose rich shades of burgundy, forest green, and powder blue, or stick to a neutral palette of beige, cream, and black ornaments for a modern farmhouse effect. When packing away your Christmas decorations for next year, carefully wrap each ornament in tissue paper to ensure paper ornaments don’t get bent. Store the ornaments in a container with dividers so they aren’t damaged throughout the year. 3. Circus Stripes Popular circus stripes are sticking around for the holidays. Expect to see ornaments with thick, bold stripes on trees this year. Home decor stores like H&M, Pottery Barn, and Crate & Barrel offer ornaments with classic red and white candy cane stripes for a traditional. Or opt for funkier color schemes featuring pink, blue, and yellow. Lean into a maximalist aesthetic and pair circus-stripe ornaments with bold patterned bulbs. Incorporate ornaments with different shapes and colors, tinsel, and garland to achieve an over-the-top look. David Land 4. Unique Felt Ornaments Quirky felt ornaments of all shapes and sizes are all over social media and home decor sites alike. Made from colorful felt and stuffed with cotton, these plush ornaments are often embellished with sequins, beads, tassels, and decorative stitching. Letters, wreaths, bells, and other unique shapes can all be found in felt form. Felt ornaments depicting animals in silly scenes are also gaining popularity—think swans wearing tutus, fishing polar bears, and mice on ski lifts. Pair felt animals with brightly colored bulbs in different shapes and sizes. Lean into the whimsy with a homemade paper garland or a string of popcorn to complete your Christmas tree. 5. Photo Frames Show off your favorite photos from the year by using small photo frame ornaments. This Christmas is all about nostalgic traditions and adding personal touches to your holiday decor, so it’s no surprise photo ornaments are having a moment. You can purchase modern photo frame ornaments from stores like Target and Pottery Barn, or choose to craft your own by hand. In a TikTok video, Andrea Pierre shows how to create photo frame ornaments using miniature vintage frames from Amazon. All you need to do is hot glue your favorite photo to the back of a mini frame, then attach a ribbon loop to the back so you can hang it on your tree. Make it a tradition to add a new photo ornament every year, or add fun art prints to the frames that speak to your style.