Holiday Decorating and Entertaining - Making Loved Ones Feel Special
Holiday decorating and entertaining in our home reflects our own personal tastes and lifestyle. Our home provides a sanctuary for us at the end of the day to escape from the high-paced demanding stresses in our lives that exists in our normal daily routines.  As such, we strive to make it as inviting and wholesome as possible. The holidays affords us the perfect opportunity for entertaining friends and loved ones in the comfort of our home. Making them feel loved and special provides us with true joy.
May your holiday decorating and entertaining be blessed with an abundance of joy and your heart be filled with the magic of the season. Enjoy the holidays!
Holiday Entertaining and Decorating - Heirloom Treasures
Heirloom Decorations Provide Us With Precious Memories
Our home takes the largest bite out of our budget. It is both a major investment and an essential element for shelter and protection that gives us pleasure and that illusive needed "sanctuary". The Holidays provides us with the perfect opportunity for challenging some of our creative energies into our holiday decorating and entertaining by injecting our personal tastes into our home for our own enjoyment and the entertainment of our family and friends.
Precious memories bask in the heirloom decorations handed down by precious loved ones and are priceless treasurers. Each year as the holidays roll around we love adding to our heirloom treasures so memories can continue to be built and passed down to loved ones as we dine and celebrate these special occasions.
It is with pleasure that I have selected some items that can perhaps help make your holiday decorating and entertaining, as well as your daily routine life, more pleasurable and memorable. If you have time, browse my selections. Maybe you'll find that next heirloom treasure.
To help you enjoy your holidays, I have included some tips on how to beat holiday stress when entertaining; along with tips on creating holiday traditions with holiday decorating
Decorate By Bringing The Outdoors - Indoors
If have some spring blooming bushes or flowers, then take some cuttings and make an arrangement for your home. You will love the beauty the arrangement gives to your home and the touch of outdoors will be relaxing and inviting.
Creating Holiday Traditions With Holiday Decorating
Decorating the Home for the Holidays: Creating Holiday Traditions
A great way for creating holiday traditions for your family is to make decorating the home for the holidays an anticipated and cherished event. Too often we are caught in the high paced season flood of things to do that our holiday calendar becomes filled with tasks instead of enjoyment.Decorating the home for the holidays sets the stage for holiday festivities. There is no better way to bring the spirit of the holidays into your home than by making it cheerful and inviting with holiday decorations.
Don't wait until the week before Christmas to drag out the tree and hurriedly place a wreath and a few holiday keepsakes throughout the house. By this time our schedules are so packed with things to do that decorating takes a low priority and would be hard to enjoy.
Creating holiday traditions makes lasting cherished memories. Here are 10 ideas to help make the decorating of your home for the Christmas season an anticipated family holiday tradition:
1. Check your family's schedule now and set a date that falls shortly after Thanksgiving for decorating your home for the Christmas season. Pick a couple of dates in case something unplanned comes up.
2. Make it a family event where everyone participates. Start discussing your holiday theme for decorating now. Make sure everyone in the family offer input.
3. Form a decorating plan with a family selected theme. Decide upon decorating tasks for each member.
4. Make decorating enjoyable by adding holiday music. Pull out the holiday T-shirts and sweatshirts for family members to wear as they decorate.
5. The day before the planned decorating event bake some holiday goodies for the family to enjoy. This is a great time to hunt up the recipe for eggnog or other festive drinks.
6. In the morning before decorating activities begin; Fill the crock-pot with a family favorite such as stew, soup or chili. Make the eggnog or festive drinks for later enjoyment.
7. Take the time to inspect your lights and decorations for safety. Dispose of any items having frayed cords or similar safety issues.
8. Make sure you have the proper equipment needed for decorating such as ladders, stepstools, hammer, etc. If your ladder is not tall enough to reach certain areas, make plans to borrow one from a friend.
9. If it is cold outside, take the time to supply the outside workers with warm drinks and make sure to have some holiday music for inspiration as they work.
10. After finishing the holiday decorating, make sure you take some photos or video and enjoy your great crock-pot dish. End the day with a big dish of popcorn and a great family holiday movie for all to enjoy.
Creating holiday traditions by decorating the home for the holidays as a family holiday project can provide your family with cherished memories that will be fondly recalled in the years to comes.
Having your home decorated for the holidays early in the season will help eliminate holiday stress and will provide the right stage for holiday cheer to spread throughout your home. Decorating the home for the holidays can be a great way of creating holiday traditions, which are filled with benefits and joy that radiates as the family shares time together.
Tips to Beat the Holiday Stress When Entertaining
Holiday entertaining should be a blissful time surrounded by loved ones and basking in the warmth and memorable joys of the holiday season. Holiday decorating is a much anticipated event and sets the stage for our holiday entertaining. So many of us love to entertain, to provide an atmosphere that will be pleasing and relaxing in which we can commune with dear ones to share precious past memories and create priceless new ones. However, the day-to-day routines of life and the hectic rush pace of the holidays many times places us in a highly stressed state, unable to enjoy the riches of the season and the enjoyment of entertaining takes on a personification of dread and stress. Here are some tips to help relieve the holiday stress and help put balance in our holiday entertaining so we can create some endearing priceless memories.* OK if things go wrong. The dry-cleaner couldn't get the spot out of the dress you were going to wear; the dog unexpectedly got sick and had to be taken to the vet; at the last minute the boss tells you to work an hour over; and the list can go on and on and on. Not only is it OK if things go wrong, you should expect that not everything would go as scheduled. Recognizing this in advance and placing yourself in a position to take it in stride will put you way ahead in diminishing stress.
* OK if you can't do it all. Take a good sincere look at your schedule, factoring in extra time needed for holiday shopping, decorating, wrapping, holiday events, etc. Our heart often has us longing for a much more elaborate entertainment plan than our schedule will permit. Don't be afraid to ask friends and family for some help. Often loved ones are truly happy when we ask for their help, it helps build and solidify their relationship with us. So go ahead and ask. Sometimes, the best course of action may be to downscale your entertainment plan. Instead of an elaborate meal perhaps a more small-scale approach should be followed such as eggnog and hors d'oeuvres followed by dessert and coffee. Most guests will be just as happy without the elaborate meal, especially with diet and health issues weighing heavily in our lives. Place your talents on creating that warm inviting atmosphere in which to enjoy each other's company.
* OK if perfection cannot be obtained. So what if the windows don't get washed, the chandelier doesn't get dusted, the hall closet door needs a new doorknob, etc. Most people are going to notice anyway and if they do they're probably recalling similar things they need to do at their own home.
Great Finds For You
Great Holiday Flower Arrangements - Great Gift Giving Tips - Great Gift Finds
Great Finds For You has a selection of holiday flower arrangements and holiday flower centerpieces that would be perfect for holiday decorating and entertaining. Additionally, you can find help for your holiday gift giving needs. You will find some great gift giving ideals and tips, great gift finds and a blog that features holiday topics with helpful tips and gift giving recommendations.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byGreat Books for Your Thanksgiving Enjoyment and Entertainment
Books are Great Treasurers to Enjoy and Past Down to Loved Ones
Canadian Living's Family Cookbook : Hundreds of Recipes for Great Food and Special Times with Family and Friends (A Canadian Living/Quantum Book)
The most comprehensive Canadian Living cookbook to more...0 points
GMA Holiday Entertaining Recipes
You Will Love These Recipes
- GMA Holiday Entertaining Recipes from WCHS-TV8
- GMA Recipes: Holiday Entertaining recipes as broadcast on ABC's Good Morning America from world famous chefs like Emeril Lagasse, Wolfgang Puck, ...
Learn How To Make A Round Floral Centerpiece
Centerpieces Create a Special Touch For Your Holiday Decorating and Entertaining
Great DVDs to Help With the Holidays
Thanksgiving Kitchen Treasures
Each Year You Will Love These
Decorative Thanksgiving Turkey Soup Tureen With Ladle Beautiful Holiday Table Decor
Beautiful tureen for your favorite Thanksgiving so more...0 points
Fall Pumpkin Shape Salt And Pepper Shaker Set For Kitchen Decor And Thanksgiving Holiday
Adorable set of salt and pepper shakers with a pum more...0 points
Fall Pumpkins Pumpkin Shape Soup Tureen With Pumpkin Shape Ladle Kitchen Decor Autumn Decor
This large soup tureen is just what you need for a more...0 points
Pumpkin Shape Pie Plate With Lid Beautiful Autumn Serveware And Kitchen Decor
Display your favorite pumpkin pie in this unique p more...0 points
Thanksgiving Turkey Baking And Serving Dish for Kitchen And Table Decor
Decorative bake and serve dish for Thanksgiving0 points
Thanksgiving Turkey Decor Gravy Boat/Bowl and Saucer Set For Table Decor
The thanksgiving guest of honor is featured on thi more...0 points
Thanksgiving Turkey Divided Relish Serving Dish
Festive relish tray for your holiday gathering0 points
Thanksgiving Turkey Salt and Pepper Set For Kitchen and Holiday Decor
Our Thanksgiving guest of honor is featured in thi more...0 points
Thanksgiving Party Supplies
13 Pkgs of Dinner Plates 10 ½ in., 8 Each, Total more...0 points
Tom Turkey Thanksgiving Holiday Season Place Mats Placemats Table Linens Dining Dinner Home Decor Party Entertaining Set of 4
Make your holiday table festive with these adorabl more...0 points
Hearts For Valentine's Day Or Every Day
Add That Special Touch With Hearts
Accenting a room with hearts is a great way to add charm to a room.
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byHoliday Entertaining Ideas and Tips
Help Get You Ready for the Holidays
- Practical Living : Holiday Entertaining : Fine Living
- 'Tis the season to be jolly! Gather your friends and family, and share some holiday cheer with these entertaining ideas.
- Tips for Holiday Entertaining
- Whether you plan to host a casual Christmas party, a trim-a-tree party, an office party, or even a fun holiday party for the kids, the ideas abound for ...
- Holiday entertaining made easy
- Holiday entertaining made easy. Key is to keep it simple and relaxed, experts say. Sunday, December 03, 2006. By Mackenzie Carpenter, Pittsburgh Post- ...
- TV : Food Network Specials : Rachael Ray's Holiday Entertaining in ...
- 'Tis the season to be jolly, but 'tis also the season to be BUSY. Let Rachael Ray show you how to whip up a full-blown holiday spread in under 60 minutes!
Lovely Holiday Thanksgiving Decorating Items
Decorating Helps Sets the Mood for Holiday Enjoyment
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byGreat Selection for your Dining Room Entertainment
Birds Of Beauty Stoneware Serving Tray/Platter Fine Dining Decorative Kitchen Decor
Beautiful addition to your dining decor More item more...0 points
Chambray Stripe Placemat - Berry
Chambray weave is known as a type of technique tha more...0 points
BISTRO 42" / HALF-OVAL TABLE
The BISTROS practical design allows you the freedo more...0 points
VILLA 36" / HALF-SQUARE TABLE
The VILLAS practical design allows you the freedom more...0 points
Set Of 2 Beautiful Ivy And Red Berries with Gold Trim Porcelain Teacups And Saucers
Matching teapot also available in this collection0 points
FOLDING ARM CHAIR - (Set Of 2)
Our spacious TERRACE MATES FOLDING ARM CHAIR combi more...0 points
Thanksgiving Turkey Casserole Dish With Lid Beautiful Holiday Table Decor
Your favorite side dish can take center stage!&quo more...0 points
Thanksgiving Turkey Decor Gravy Boat/Bowl and Saucer Set For Table Decor
The thanksgiving guest of honor is featured on thi more...0 points
Thanksgiving Turkey Divided Relish Serving Dish
Festive relish tray for your holiday gathering0 points
Music & Cookbook Box Set (Victorian Dining CD & Cooking with Anne of Green Gables Cookbook)
This is the perfect ensemble for creating a brilli more...0 points
4 Piece Mini Buffet Set
Shown here is a 4 piece set of whimsical lamps. Th more...0 points
RSVP: Music For Dining Volume One by Piano Richard Evens
The smooth jazz tracks are: 1. You Light Up My Lif more...0 points
60Watt Traditional Buffet Lamp
The Greensboro collection presents this 60 watt tr more...0 points
60Watt Medieval Retro Buffet Lamp
The Aurora collection presents this 60 watt mediev more...0 points
Baron Girod Ceiling Lamp - Ivory with Metal Rose Ornaments - (Ivory Finish)
The Baron Girod is a very unique, vintage-like cha more...0 points
Bellevue Chandelier - 9305 - Brushed Stainless with Polished Nickel Accents
This beautiful piece would add grace and style to more...0 points
CALEO 36" / HALF-ROUND TABLE
The CALEOS practical design allows you the freedom more...0 points
CHICKADEE bird CEILING FAN PULL fanpull home decor
Add a little wildlife flair in a unique place with more...0 points
Cuzco Two Buffet And Two Candleholder Set
Stunning in design this four piece set includes tw more...0 points
Great Decorating Resources
Resources and Tips to Help With Your Decorating
Foods for Entertaining Giving and Enjoying
Traditional Cajun cured ~ Tasso Ham
This traditional Cajun cured pork product is used more...0 points
Chocolate Raspberry Delight Fudge - 2 Pound Tin
Why go to the trouble of making fudge when you can more...0 points
1 lb Napolitain Cinnamon - Dark Chocolate Cinnamon Flavored Squares
Napolitain Cinnamon, a dark chocolate cinnamon fla more...0 points
Bamboo House - Traditional Taiwanese Matcha Green Tea Crystal Mochi Cake Cookie - 12.5 Oz
The traditional taiwanese delicious Mochi rice cak more...0 points
Thanksgiving Turkey Costume - Used in NY City Annual Parade 2004
Gobble Gobble up the laughs in this sparkling Turk more...0 points
Bourbon - Japanese Banana Cream Soft Cake - 5.5 Oz
Delicious soft cake from North Japan. The inside o more...0 points
Large White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookie
Carman's Delights takes the freshest Macadamia Nut more...0 points
Penuche Walnut Fudge One Pound Gift Box
One-Pound Gift Box of Handmade Penuche Fudge. The more...0 points
Sausage Nut & Gift Tote
Your manly man will enjoy the truly manly snacks a more...0 points
Heart of Wisconsin Gourmet Meat & Cheese Gift
Grab a blanket and some friends! Everything needed more...0 points
Star Selections of Wisconsin Natural Cheese - 2.25 Lbs - Wisconsin Cheeseman
Fine Wisconsin natural cheese - Aged Cheddar, Mell more...0 points
Elvis Presley® Complete Gift Set - GB305
The Official Elivs Presley® Gift Set, packaged in more...0 points
Dark Chocolate Cherry Fudge One Pound Gift Box
One-Pound Gift Box of Handmade Dark Chocolate Cher more...0 points
Picnic Getaway Gourmet Gift Basket with a Personalized Card
Send your love and warmest wishes with this wonder more...0 points
Fastachi Passionate Interludes - Cashews & Fiesta Nut Mix
Splurge on your social selves. Indulge in the fine more...0 points
Chocolate Walnut Delight Fudge
Why go to the trouble of making fudge when you can more...0 points
Fastachi Social Nibbler - Cashews & Fastachi Extra Nut Mix
Welcome passerby with an invigorating snack. Hand- more...0 points
Walnut Divinity/Pecan Divinity Combination Tin
Divinity. An American confection related to nougat more...0 points
Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Fudge
Why go to the trouble of making fudge when you can more...0 points
Sugar Free Peanut Butter Fudge ½ Pound
Excellent tasting sugar-free peanut butter fudge. more...0 points
Leonidas Belgian Chocolates: 1.50 lb Dark Chocolates Assortment
Leonidas Dark Chocolate Assortment...with a well b more...0 points
Divine Divinity - Triple Combination Tin - Pecan / Walnut / Cherry
Divinity. An American confection related to nougat more...0 points
Vintage Vignettes - Wine Theme Gourmet Food Gift Basket
Present a wine lover and gourmet food aficionado w more...0 points
Trio: Pears, Apples and Citrus
The perfect gift for all those fruit lovers out th more...0 points
Coffee Connoisseur Gourmet Gift Basket
For the most distinguishing coffee lovers, here is more...0 points
Bonbon Heart Filled with Finest Milk Chocolates. A FREE Greeting Card.
Send this wonderful heart filled with finest heart more...0 points
Spiral Sliced Ham
You'll Savor every bite of this mouthwatering, hic more...0 points
Wisconsinmade Award Winning Cheese of the Month Club - 6 Months, 1 Pound Per Month
If you enjoy cheese, youll want to join our Award more...0 points
Pumpkin Pancake &Waffle Mix
Nutmeg, cinnamon and sweet, smooth pumpkin are fla more...0 points
Cinnamon Hot Chocolate 24 oz.
An American Gramaphone/Chip Davis exclusive creati more...0 points
A Taste of Tuscany - Italian Food Gourmet Gift Basket - Medium
Who wouldnt love to get away to Tuscany? Heres a t more...0 points
Country Club Gourmet Gift Basket with a Personalized Card
Any occasion will be made even more appetizing wit more...0 points
Americana Floral's Refresher Course
Taste snacks with a unique beverage! A bottle of s more...0 points
Branigan's Free Range Turkey 24 to 28 pounds
Branigan's Turkey Farm was established in 1942 in more...0 points
The Pleasures of Afternoon Tea Gourmet Gift Basket
What can be better than a cup of tea in the aftern more...0 points
Rocky Road without "Rocks" Fudge
Why go to the trouble of making fudge when you can more...0 points
Fastachi Lucky Buffet - Salted Pistachios
Invite someone to share the Fastachi experience. T more...0 points
Imperial Asian Pears (available Oct-Jan)
For centuries Asia has kept secret their fruit of more...0 points
Vintage Vignette Gourmet Gift Basket
Present a wine lover with the perfect partner for more...0 points
Wild Thymes Cranberry Apple Walnut Cranberry Sauce
This perfectly balanced cranberry sauce combines t more...0 points
Organic Stuffing Mix
Contains organic bread cubes, organic veggies and more...0 points
Satsuma Mandarins (available Dec-Jan)
Satsuma Mandarins are as sweet and juicy as they a more...0 points
Stonewall Kitchen Pumpkin Spice Quick Bread Boxed Baking Mix Gift
Celebrate the flavors of the season with this easy more...0 points
3 (1 lb) packages Beef Tenderloin Brochettes
From the finest grain-fed Pfaelzer beef tenderloin more...0 points
12 oz. Pumpkin Spice Fettuccini Pasta
Rossi Pasta Pumpkin Spice Fettuccini. 6.00mm wide. more...0 points
After Dinner Mint Fudge 2 Pound Gift Box
Two-Pound Gift Box of Handmade After Dinner Mint F more...0 points
After the Feast Soup Mix
One of the most wonderul parts of the holiday seas more...0 points
All About Apples Deluxe Fruit Gift Box
This banquet celebrates three of Hood River's fine more...0 points
Americana Floral's Joy of Noshing Kosher Basket
Celebrate life with these specially selected gourm more...0 points
Fun Valentine's Day Items For The Family
Valentine's Day Fun Stuff to Help Make Holiday Memories
A Special Holiday - Father's Day
No Decorating Needed - Lavish Dad With Love On Father's Day
I Love my Dad Blue Heart Yard Sign
Show your love for Dad, deocrate the front yard with this wonderful sign made just for Dad.
Other Holiday Resources
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byOther Great Holiday and Gift Squidoo Lenses
-
Christmas Holidays
-
The Christmas holiday season is a time of joy, wonder and excitement - both for children and adults. During this hectic time of shopping for Christmas gifts, preparing and attending holiday parties, and decorating our homes with Christmas light...
-
Christmas Cards
-
The holiday season is quickly upon us, it is important to send out greeting cards to your friends, family members, and business associates. A customized christmas card or holiday cards can elicit a stronger relationship with the individuals you...
-
How to create the perfect Thanksgiving Dinner Menu
-
Whether this is your first time cooking Thanksgiving dinner or your twentieth or even fiftieth time, I hope that you find this page useful. I have tried to gather recipes for every part of the meal. Making thanksgiving dinner should be lots of...
-
The Twelve Days of Christmas T-Shirts, Gifts, and Song Lyrics
-
Welcome to the www.teewit.com Twelve Days of Christmas ornament, t-shirt, and gift page! Can't remember the words to that catchy Christmas carol? We have provided you with the lyrics along with some of our great products to help you c...
-
Thanksgiving T-Shirts and Gifts for the Whole Family
-
Find the most amazing selection of funny Thanksgiving T-Shirts for the whole family. We've got wonderful Baby's First Thanksgiving bibs, onesies, and t-shirts as well. If you'd like to see all of our designs (We have tons of stuff besides...
Reader Feedback
vmark wrote...
nice lens with lots of info and images too. 5**. Visit my lens about the Village Market, Kenya Crafts and give your rate
Pastiche wrote...
Holidays can be overwhelming but this lens makes them easier to manage. I've added this to my lensroll for Holiday Crafts on Squidoo, too!
lisadh wrote...
Great resources! Thanks for visiting my family Christmas letters lens.
by ginnie
Hi I'm Ginnie creator of Great Finds For You.  My home is in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It is indeed a won...
(more)













































































