The last 48 hours just about did me in.  But I keep coming back to that famous saying, “That which does not kill you sends you to the madhouse.” 

You see, I got this phone call many weeks ago. I was just returning home from Tahoe, and heard a voice on my answering machine, saying something about a magazine and “. . . your home is lovely and we’d like to talk to you about a photo shoot . . .”  I listened and listened and thought, oh geez, one of my friends is crank calling me, ha ha ha ha. 

Then I listened some more and this lovely voice sounded completely legit.  So I picked up the phone, and guess what?  It was Better Homes & Gardens.  Wow.

So for the last two months, all my Christmas stuff has still been up in my house. 

I’m convinced that my neighbors must think I’m absolutely cuckoo.  I can hear them now.  “What’s wrong with that family?  It’s February, for goodness sake, take your Christmas tree down!” 

So I’ve suffered the shame of the neighborhood for a photo shoot in BH&G’s ‘Christmas Ideas’ magazine, taking place in my house on Thursday!  “Excited” does not begin to describe.

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Season’s Greetings, Ho Ho Ho, Happy Festivus, Happy Hanukkah and Merry Merry Merry Christmas friends !  ‘Tis the season for sparkle and shine, homemade treats, crafting, baking, decorating, and holiday cheer!  We’ve been busy around here with all of those delights, and I have just a few to share today.

The first is this little ‘Love Stitched’ ornament I made for my stepdaughter who is off at her first semester of college this year.  Living in a dorm, she needs something to keep it smelling fresh, so I stitched a sweet sentiment with red embroidery thread on linen, cut out a heart shape, filled it with a lavender and rice mixture, and sewed it all together.  I slipped it in her stocking, and I can’t wait till she finds it!

Next, my littlest ones helped paint and glitter up some very merry MDF letters found at a craft store.

I stapled ribbon to the back and suspended them in our dining room area, how fun!  You can’t quite tell in the photo, but the white glitter adds more sparkle in the light.

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Hiya folks!  I’m in the mood for something more whimsical, less traditional this year for the front door Christmas wreath!

Since we’re not hosting Thanksgiving, the fall magnolia wreath came down (held up all season!) and the wintery white wreath is up!  This one I made with three kinds of branches, faux snow, some springs and small ornaments found at my local craft store.  I’m mixin’ up the real and the fake, that’s how I roll.

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Years ago, when the mister and I were first married, we both agreed that the one thing we wanted to do together every holiday season was to throw a party the weekend before Christmas.  Eleven years ago, we started this tradition and it continues every year.  We’re all so busy during the year, and months can pass by so crazy fast when we don’t see our friends.  This is just one way we choose to show others how much we care ~ we open our doors the Saturday before Christmas and invite them all in!

You know that scene at the end of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ when George Bailey looks around at all his friends and family and Harry toasts, "To my big brother George, the richest man in town!’  It chokes me up every single time!  You too?

The moment in the film is about the importance of friends and a purpose filled life, but here’s what I always get from this classic:  it doesn’t matter how elaborate or modest your home or your lifestyle, the best moments of the holiday season come from the togetherness and good spirits felt from surrounding ourselves with the ones we love.  It has nothing to do with money.

To me, a holiday party is a great opportunity to capture that feeling.  So many people hesitate to throw a party because they’re worried it will cost too much or their home isn’t presentable.  Nonsense!  Every year, our party has grown bigger (we’re talkin’ 80+) but we don’t spend a fortune.  I enlist my friends to help!  Do I hire a caterer?  Nope.  A bartender?  Never.  But a babysitter?  You betcha.

I was inspired to write about our holiday party after I read 101 Party Do’s & Don’ts in the latest issue of House Beautiful.  A worthy read, more tailored to the dinner party, but here’s a few more things I’ve learned over the years about how to make a crowd feel welcome without spending a fortune.

Tips for throwing a less stressful holiday party for a large crowd:  

1) Decorate early!  The weekend after Thanksgiving is decorating weekend!  If you plan to do Black Friday shopping, then I recommend decorating even before Thanksgiving like the retail stores do.  I know that sounds like you’re cheating on T-day, but if you’re throwing a party, get those baubles up early!

Concentrate your holiday decor where people will enter and congregate: the front porch, the entry, your kitchen, family room, dining room, and the powder room.

Your decor need not be elaborate.  Some candles and greenery are all it takes, perhaps some ornaments and twinkle lights strung here and there, just enough to capture the holiday mood.  It doesn’t take much!  Melissa has some great tips today for easy ways to add a touch of Christmas to every room.

Resist the temptation to wait to decorate the week or day before your party, we’re talking about reducing stress, so decorating early is key!

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