Christmas Entertaining

With the holidays just a few days away, most of us are busy finalizing all sorts of last-minute details. Many of our favorite events will include special meals. Showcase your seasonal fare with a...

If you plan on having a buffet style Christmas dinner then you might want to use some of these ideas to make things easier on you and your guests.

If you have ever dreaded a family gathering, where many children and gift exchanges cause you to avoid the gathering rather than the expense of participating, this article is for you. By...

With the holidays nearing cookie exchanges are a great inexpensive way to get family and friends together. A cookie exchange anytime of year is wonderful though, it is the perfect time to enjoy...

This Christmas story ornament exchange will bring lots of laughter and a surprise ending. After drawing numbers and unwrapping all the ornaments, guests gather in a circle with their ornaments and...

I have had my cat for better of 3 years. Actually, my daughter brought him over to my home when he was but about 2 months old when she found out she was pregnant wiht my now granddaughter, who is...

For most of us, receiving handcrafted gifts is something special, especially at Christmas, but if you'd rather not resort to scissors and glue, a slideshow DVD or gift CD might just be the perfect...

Holiday get-together invitations sometimes catch us without a plan for a hostess gift. Your local florist has a variety of gifts that will bring holiday cheer, say "Thank you for inviting...

You could do the same thing you do every year for the annual Christmas party, or you could play a Christmas memory game—with candy bars. Using Christmas clues, and matching them with candy bars...

Every holiday it's another feast, another get together, another party, another chance to reconnect and to disconnect (if you are part of a family that revels in dis-functionality). Here are a few...

Keep your job this season

Sharing the holidays with family and friends is one of the joys of the season. You are invited to parties and celebrations of all kinds and the fun never seems to end. It’s a wonderful time of...

It happens to someone in our family every year. An unexpected new boyfriend, fiancé or straggler visiting over college break invariably appears in the gathering around our Christmas tree. All...

If you happen to live in a place with a plethora of evergreen trees or even if you don't throwing a Christmas wreath party can be a whole lot of fun. I've been doing this for years with some...

Playing pranks on people is always a fun activity, but it more fun during Christmas when the whole family is together. It’s more fun to play a prank on your older or younger siblings, or getting...

How would you like 6 dozen Christmas cookies this year to give away to friends, family, and colleagues with little effort on your part? Host a Christmas Cookie Exchange Party for a delicious...

During the Christmas season, parking can be a major problem, especially if your whole family is coming to visit your house. If you live somewhere that’s more in the city, the parking problem is...

Christmas is one of the most popular times of the year to take pictures! Everyone wants to have great Christmas pictures of their family opening gifts, children sitting on Santa’s lap and the...

It's been many years since I have built a snowman. I was probably about 12 when we built one in Germany. That is the last time that I saw that much snow. however, I remember how to make a good...

When you are hosting a Christmas party, there are some steps you need to take to ensure that all of your guests are happy and having an enjoyable evening. Being a good host might be challenging,...

This is a great time of year to have a sing a long; Christmas Caroling. Gathering friends, family and neighbors for such an inspirational experience. A night of laughter, joy, love and much...

Family games on Christmas day can bring everyone together in a fun and inexpensive way. Although, this does take some careful planning in order to achieve great games! Here are a few ideas to get...

When you have guests coming for the holidays, especially if you have guests that are staying for more than one day, you need to find a way to accommodate all of the guests. If your family is...

When you are throwing a Christmas party, you want to have the most memorable party possible. Setting up some special surprises for your guests can help make your party memorable and enjoyable. ...

I will explain a few ways that one can have a lovely Christmas, while at the same time maintaining a fairly low budget.

Christmas is almost here, and you want your home to be a welcoming environment for family, friends... and you! Here are some ways to make your home an inviting place to return to after all that...

For all of you who are champagne and chocolate lovers, this is a wonderful and easy Martha Stewart recipe. These are best eaten within 3 days of making :-)! Happy holidays! Make about 36 truffles.

Creating a warm and inviting setting in your home is both delightful and memorable during the holiday season. Here are a few tips to help you create Christmas ambience in your home.

This time of year floods our senses with sights, sounds, and good smells. Whether or not you are filling your home with good scents already, you can whip together this quick and easy simmer pot...

During the holidays, we need to save money on everything, especially on holiday family entertainment. This is a time to get together with family and friends to reconnect. Often the kids are out...

Shabby Chic centerpieces come with a hefty price tag attached, but with a few items (and in even fewer minutes), you can make one all your own. Turn a plain 3-tier dessert tray into something...

Learn some fun and creative ways to enjoy the holidays with family and friends without overspending.

Learn how to make a juicy, well-browned turkey.

With so many people gathering at one home, energy bills tend to increase almost exponentially over Christmas. Saving energy is difficult without all of the relatives, so when everyone is coming...

The holidays are a time when many of use spend time with our loved ones. This can be a wonderful experience for some. And a challenging experience for others. Family members can bring us great...

What is Christmas without candy canes? Aside from the obvious, licking one until it disappears, there are many uses for candy canes for Christmas. Here are a few suggestions to get the ideas flowing.

Now days, many people don't consider putting much thought into proper seating arrangement etiquette however it would be nice to get back to this tradition and etiquette if for no other reason that...

Everyone loves the holidays. It is a time for laughter and fun, family get-togethers, food and drinks, and memories you will always remember. However, holidays are usually always hectic for most,...

Remember the great sounds of Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley and Perry Como? How about the smoothness of Nat King Cole? Or if you want to go more modern, how about the Mannheim Steamroller and Celine...

Christmas decorating doesn't have to stop at the tree or the mantle; you can make a statement with your dining or entrance chandelier this holiday season. Personalize it to fit your decor and draw...

Holiday parties can brighten up the holiday season and give hosts and guests alike something to look forward to. Read on to plan a great holiday party to remember.

The stress of planning holiday gatherings can take a toll on your physical and mental health, making it difficult to enjoy your time with friends and family. Throughout the Thanksgiving and...

The holidays are coming that means one thing, spending time with the family. Now unless you have the family from hell, most holiday get-togethers are not that bad. For the most part, you get to...

Black Friday can be a very stressful undertaking. It offers the best shopping deals of the year. But it also brings the biggest crowds and the biggest headaches if you do it wrong. Follow these...

Seriously? What's to know? Whether you're talking pillar, taper, votive, or whatever, if you don't do it right, you'll get hot wax on yourself (ouch) and your house. Wax is easy to spill, hard...

Creating an inexpensive holiday centerpiece for your Thanksgiving or Christmas table can be easily achieved with a few items from your garden or pantry. With a little creativity, you can create...

The traditional holiday season begins at Halloween and lasts typically until New Year’s Eve. This can mean mirth, merriment, lots of food and frequent imbibing of all manner of alcoholic drinks...

Having guests over for a special occasion? Family having Thanksgiving at your house this year? In-laws coming to visit for Christmas? Everyone wants to make a good impression when special guests...

A bell wreath ornament is a cute little ornament that is super easy to make. This bell can be displayed from the Christmas tree or from a door handle. Kids really enjoy this craft since they are...

Holiday visits with family and friends make the season brighter. With many people pinching pennies this holiday season, you can help by opening your home to overnight guests. Instead of...