Christmas Decoration Storage Ideas + HM 214

The ultimate in Christmas decoration storage ideas! Plus link up at Home Matters w/ recipes, DIY, decor. #Christmas #decoration #storage #HomeMattersParty

Christmas Decoration Storage Ideas + HM 214

Get a jump on next year’s Christmas this year with these fabulous Christmas decoration storage ideas and organization.If you take just a little extra time in putting away your Christmas decor now, you will be ever so thankful next year. Christmas is such a busy time of year and these easy-to-do storage hacks will save you time and frustration. The gals of Home Matters hope you find just the right Christmas hacks for you!

10 Christmas Decoration Storage Hacks from Manuela @ A Cultivated Nest

Free Printable Christmas Storage Labels from Ashley @ Bigger Than the Three of Us

Christmas Storage Hacks and Organizing Solutions from Lowes

Christmas Decoration Storage Ideas Blog Hop

Click through all the Hosts and Co-hosts blogs to see the complete Themed Roundup!

Loading InLinkz ...

A Home Matters Themed Roundup

Last Week’s Theme: Holiday Food and Drinks for Celebrating

Next Week’s Theme: Organization and New Habits for the New Year

Welcome to the weekly Home Matters Linky Party. A great place to come, share your blog posts, and make new friends.

We would love to have you visit our blogs and follow us on social media!

Hosts

Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Ashley @ Sweetpea Lifestyle — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Donna @ Modern On Monticello — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Co-hosts

Sahana @ Vikalpah — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Emily @ Domestic Deadline — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Nina @ Vintage Mama’s Cottage — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Check out more posts from the Hosts and Co-Hosts on our
NEW Pinterest Board, All Things Home Matters!
And, please do follow…

Follow All Things Home Matters Board on Pinterest.

Each week, we like to feature some of the awesome posts shared at last week’s party. We hope you will be inspired by these creative and talented bloggers who share their best recipes, DIY projects, crafts, home decor, organization ideas, and more. Enjoy!

Check out this week’s features below.

Christmas Crafting: Painted Pillow Covers from Janet @ Joy in the Everyday

PIN here

Andes Mint Christmas Bark from Marilyn @ Marilyn’s Treats

PIN here

Colorful Floral DIY Ornaments from Bev @ Flamingo Toes

PIN here

How to Make a Log Cabin Gingerbread House from Mother of 3 @ Our Unschooling Journey

PIN here

Buffalo Checked Perler Christmass Ornaments from Michelle @ The Scrap Shoppe Blog

PIN here

Thank you to all who linked up at last week’s party. We look forward to seeing what you will be sharing with us this week!

Remember that every feature is shared on all Host’s and Co-Host’s blogs, as well as on the Home Matters Linky Party Pinterest Board! Don’t forget to follow…

Follow Home Matters Linky Party Board on Pinterest.

If you were featured this week, Please Grab our Featured Button to display proudly on your blog post, featured page, or sidebar! Share the joy…

<br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://lifewithlorelai.com/" title="Featured at Home Matters Linky Party" target="_blank"><img src="https://lifewithlorelai.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/HMLP-I-Was-Featured-200x214.png" alt="Featured at Home Matters Linky Party" style="border:none;" /></div>
<p>

Are you ready to Party?

The linky party starts when Friday begins and closes when Monday ends, EST.

We at Home Matters love meeting new people and discovering new blogs. Help us grow this party by sharing a link on your post or grabbing our party button for your sidebar or party page.

<br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://lifewithlorelai.com/" title="Home Matters Linky Party - Grab Button" target="_blank"><img src="https://lifewithlorelai.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/HMLP-Grab-Button-Sidebar-2015-200x200.jpg" alt="Home Matters Linky Party - Grab Button" style="border:none;" /></div>
<p>

Stop by and VISIT as many OTHER BLOGGERS as you can. Leave them a message, and share their talents on social media.

Be sure to Please USE our Registered Hashtag…

Home Matters Linky Party Guidelines:

We are thrilled that you came by to link up today! Here are a few rules that hosts and co-hosts of the Home Matters Party follow, and we ask that you follow them, as well.

Please link up no more than THREE posts each week–try to make sure that they are new links that you have not shared here previously. (Exception: Holiday/Seasonal specific posts may be shared once per year.)

Please take some time to poke around and visit some of the other links.

Please take some time to check out your hosts and co-hosts on social media.

We appreciate the variety of blogs on the www; however, the Home Matters Party is for links on matters of the HOME. Please link accordingly.

We ask that you do not add other Linky Parties, Blog Hops, or Giveaways–unless you begin the party with a new project, recipe or post.

On the same note, please do not add links of an extremist, political or strong controversial nature. (The hosts and co-hosts read each and every blog post linked and will contact you directly if you have linked something that does not fit into the realm of the party.)

With your help, we can continue to grow the Home Matters Party! Thank you!

The ultimate in Christmas decoration storage ideas! Plus link up at Home Matters w/ recipes, DIY, decor. #Christmas #decoration #storage #HomeMattersParty Click To Tweet

Link Up!

By joining the Home Matters Linky Party you are giving permission for all hosts and co-hosts to use and share any part of your post, including pictures, for party promotion, as featured posts, in party photo collages, on blogs, and across social media, etc. All credits will be given to the original source. Also, you will receive a weekly email reminder regarding the new week’s Home Matters Linky Party.

Loading InLinkz ...

Thank you for joining in the fun and excitement at the Home Matters Linky Party. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do. We look forward to chatting with you in the comments.

Don’t have a blog, but want to Remember to Party With Us each week?
Forgot to leave your email while linking up your post?
You can still sign up for our Email Party Reminders. Click below for a form…

...

...

Share using our Hashtag!

Leave me a comment… I’d love to hear from you!

...

~Lorelai

Sign up today, and don't miss anything! Enjoy EXCLUSIVES, FREEBIES, and FUN.

...

Contact Lorelai at Lorelai@LifeWithLorelai.com

Holiday Food and Drinks for Celebrating + HM #213

Holiday food and drinks to help you celebrate the season! Plus link up at Home Matters w/ recipes, DIY, decor. #HolidayFood #HolidayDrinks #HomeMattersParty

Holiday Food and Drinks for Celebrating + HM #213

Celebrate the Christmas season with some great holiday food and drinks! The gals of Home Matters are sharing some delicious and delectable recipes this week to make your parties and gatherings a tasty success. Enjoy!

Festive Holiday Drinks alcoholic + non-alcoholic for Christmas from The Chefs @ Pocket Change Gourmet

20 Christmas Appetizers and Party Ideas from Kellie @ Nest of Posies

20 Christmas Candy Recipes that Spread Holiday Cheer from Melanie @ Reasons to Skip the Housework

Sugared Cranberries and Cranberry Syrup from Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai

Holiday Food and Drinks for Celebrating Blog Hop

Click through all the Hosts and Co-hosts blogs to see the complete Themed Roundup!

Loading InLinkz ...

A Home Matters Themed Roundup

Last Week’s Theme: DIY Ornaments and Gift Wrap Ideas

Next Week’s Theme: Christmas Decoration Storage Ideas

Welcome to the weekly Home Matters Linky Party. A great place to come, share your blog posts, and make new friends.

We would love to have you visit our blogs and follow us on social media!

Hosts

Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Ashley @ Sweetpea Lifestyle — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Donna @ Modern On Monticello — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Co-hosts

Sahana @ Vikalpah — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Emily @ Domestic Deadline — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Nina @ Vintage Mama’s Cottage — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Check out more posts from the Hosts and Co-Hosts on our
NEW Pinterest Board, All Things Home Matters!
And, please do follow…

Follow All Things Home Matters Board on Pinterest.

Check out this week’s features below.

Light Up Snowmen from Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom

PIN here

How To Make a House Gift Box with Your Cricut from Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage

PIN here

Chocolate Dipped Ritz Cracker Cookies from Erin @ Delightful E Made

PIN here

Bailey’s Irish Cream Cookie Recipe from Kelly @ Live, Love, Texas

PIN here

Sugar Swirl Cookies from Lisa @ Bride on a Budget

PIN here

Thank you to all who linked up at last week’s party. We look forward to seeing what you will be sharing with us this week!

Remember that every feature is shared on all Host’s and Co-Host’s blogs, as well as on the Home Matters Linky Party Pinterest Board! Don’t forget to follow…

Follow Home Matters Linky Party Board on Pinterest.

If you were featured this week, Please Grab our Featured Button to display proudly on your blog post, featured page, or sidebar! Share the joy…

<br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://lifewithlorelai.com/" title="Featured at Home Matters Linky Party" target="_blank"><img src="https://lifewithlorelai.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/HMLP-I-Was-Featured-200x214.png" alt="Featured at Home Matters Linky Party" style="border:none;" /></div>
<p>

Are you ready to Party?

The linky party starts when Friday begins and closes when Monday ends, EST.

We at Home Matters love meeting new people and discovering new blogs. Help us grow this party by sharing a link on your post or grabbing our party button for your sidebar or party page.

<br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://lifewithlorelai.com/" title="Home Matters Linky Party - Grab Button" target="_blank"><img src="https://lifewithlorelai.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/HMLP-Grab-Button-Sidebar-2015-200x200.jpg" alt="Home Matters Linky Party - Grab Button" style="border:none;" /></div>
<p>

Stop by and VISIT as many OTHER BLOGGERS as you can. Leave them a message, and share their talents on social media.

Be sure to Please USE our Registered Hashtag…

Home Matters Linky Party Guidelines:

We are thrilled that you came by to link up today! Here are a few rules that hosts and co-hosts of the Home Matters Party follow, and we ask that you follow them, as well.

Please link up no more than THREE posts each week–try to make sure that they are new links that you have not shared here previously. (Exception: Holiday/Seasonal specific posts may be shared once per year.)

Please take some time to poke around and visit some of the other links.

Please take some time to check out your hosts and co-hosts on social media.

We appreciate the variety of blogs on the www; however, the Home Matters Party is for links on matters of the HOME. Please link accordingly.

We ask that you do not add other Linky Parties, Blog Hops, or Giveaways–unless you begin the party with a new project, recipe or post.

On the same note, please do not add links of an extremist, political or strong controversial nature. (The hosts and co-hosts read each and every blog post linked and will contact you directly if you have linked something that does not fit into the realm of the party.)

With your help, we can continue to grow the Home Matters Party! Thank you!

Holiday food and drinks to help you celebrate the season! Plus link up at Home Matters w/ recipes, DIY, decor. #HolidayFood #HolidayDrinks #HomeMattersParty Click To Tweet

We are looking for Co-Hosts. Help us Rock this party!
If you are interested, please

Click Here for DETAILS!

Link Up!

Loading InLinkz ...

Thank you for joining in the fun and excitement at the Home Matters Linky Party. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do. We look forward to chatting with you in the comments.

...

Share using our Hashtag!

Leave me a comment… I’d love to hear from you!

...

~Lorelai

Sign up today, and don't miss anything! Enjoy EXCLUSIVES, FREEBIES, and FUN.

...

Contact Lorelai at Lorelai@LifeWithLorelai.com

Create A Gumdrop Topiary – A Sweet DIY

This adorable gumdrop topiary DIY is great for home decor and parties, as well as being a fun craft for kids highlighting math skills and textures.

Create A Gumdrop Topiary

A Sweet DIY

Who knew math could be so fun? Your preschooler or kindergartener will delight in this counting activity that results in a beautiful holiday decoration for the whole family to enjoy. Your child can count out loud as he adds each gumdrop to the topiary, and as he sees how high he can go, he will be practicing important math skills! This activity will also help your child practice color recognition and learn about different materials and textures.

Beauty and the Beast – Lumiere_and_Cogsworth_Topiary – Disney Wiki – Wikia

Topiary is the art of trimming and shaping trees into sculptural, ornamental shapes. Disneyland boasts some of the most famous American Portable style topiaries. In the early 1960’s Walt Disney used the theme park’s landscape shrubbery to recreate his beloved cartoon characters. They continue to be a highlight today!

What You Need:

Large Styrofoam ball (this will be the “canopy” of your topiary)
Wooden dowel, up to 1” thick and approximately 15” long
Green spray paint
Flower pot or vase
Moss, faux grass, or shredded paper
Floral foam (available at your local arts and crafts store)
Toothpicks, broken in half
Gumdrops in many different colors
Ribbon (optional)

What You Do:

Spray the dowel green with the spray paint and let it dry completely overnight.
Cut a block of floral foam to fit inside the flower pot or vase and place it inside.
Help your child insert the dowel into the center of the Styrofoam ball about 3” deep.
Help your child insert the other end of the dowel into the floral foam all the way down so that it touches the bottom of the vase. Make sure the dowel is stable.
Have your child sort the gumdrops by color.
Have your child stick a gumdrop onto one end of the toothpick and push the other end of the toothpick into the Styrofoam ball. Working in rows, continue placing gumdrops all the way around the ball.
As your child works, ask him to count each gumdrop out loud. Occasionally ask how many of each color he has used or has left.
Once the Styrofoam ball is completely covered, assist your child in placing moss, faux grass, or shredded paper into the vase to cover the floral foam.
Tie a bow around the dowel with the ribbon (optional).
Now stand back and enjoy your new Candyland-inspired table topper!

Gumdrop Topiary #DIY – great for home #decor and parties! Fun #craft for #kids #math skills.

Click To Tweet

Isn’t this a fabulously fun and festive DIY project? What a bonus that it provides practice with math skills, dexterity, and textures for your little ones too. This would even make a cute Mother’s Day present!

...

Share using our Hashtag!

Leave me a comment… I’d love to hear from you!

...

~Lorelai

Sign up today, and don't miss anything! Enjoy EXCLUSIVES, FREEBIES, and FUN.

...

Contact Lorelai at Lorelai@LifeWithLorelai.com

Christmas Wreaths – 12 Days of Christmas – Day 12

I have a special treat for everyone! I am participating in the 12 Days of Christmas Ideas Blog Hop with a group of fantastic bloggers. You are going to love all of the Christmas goodness that is headed your way over the next several days. Don’t miss a single day — they are all different and promise tons of holiday cheer and inspiration! Enjoy…

Join us for the 12 Days of Christmas Ideas Series along with eleven other talented bloggers. We’ve rounded up the best of the best Christmas ideas to make your holiday season more festive and fun.

Every day December 1-12th we will be sharing a new collection of Christmas Ideas rounded up from our best blogging friends around the web. That’s a total of 144 awesome Christmas Ideas to make your holiday season easier and more fun! Some of our topics include Decor, DIY, Organization, Food, Games and so much more. We don’t want to spoil the fun by telling you too much. We want you to be surprised! Now is the perfect time to subscribe so you’ll be the first to know!

Meet The Hostesses

Shirley of Intelligent Domestications ~ Erlene of My Pinterventures ~ Lindsay of Crazy Organized

Michelle of Our Crafty Mom ~ Stephanie of The Tip Toe Fairy ~ Lorelai of Life With Lorelai

Katie of The Organized Dream ~ Amanda of The Kolb Corner ~ Marie of DIY Adulation

Megan of C’mon Get Crafty ~ Sara of Twelve On Main ~ Kim of Made in a Day

Welcome, Kim from Made In A Day.

Now for my roundup of Holiday Inspiration!

12 Beautiful + Unique Holiday Wreaths

Cupcakes & Crinoline • Red & White Christmas Wreath

My Pinterventures • Santa Gingerbread Man Wreath

Intelligent Domestications • Poinsettia Christmas Wreath

Designing and Diapers • Buffalo Check Wreath

Our House Now a Home • Ceiling Hanging Christmas Wreath

Atta Girl Says • Jeweled Christmas Wreath

Two Purple Couches • DIY Ornament Wreath

PMQ For TWO • DIY Starburst Wreath

Made in a Day • Winter Woodland Holiday Wreath

Carolyn’s Home Work • Celebration Holiday Wreath

Inspired by Charm • DIY Cookie Cutter Wreath

PMQ For TWO DIY • Minty & Cool Holiday Wreath

12 Days of Christmas Ideas – Day 12 – Christmas Wreaths! #12DaysOfChristmas #Christmas #Wreaths

Click To Tweet

Thanks so much for joining us for the 12 Days of Christmas Ideas Blog Hop! If you missed any of our fun collections just see the links below!

Day 1 -Intelligent Domestications ~ Hilarious Christmas Party Games
Day 2 – My Pinterventures ~ The Best Homemade Christmas Food Gifts
Day 3 – The Crazy Organized Blog ~ Christmas Decoration Storage
Day 4 – Our Crafty Mom ~ Christmas Tablescapes for Every Style
Day 5 – The Tip Toe Fairy ~ DIY Christmas Card Holders
Day 6 – Life with Lorelai ~ Christmas Traditions
Day 7 – The Organized Dream ~ Fabulously Festive Gift Wrapping Ideas
Day 8 – The Kolb Corner ~ Handmade Christmas Ornaments
Day 9 – DIY Adulation ~ Christmas Printables
Day 10 – C’mon Get Crafty ~ Ways to Make Christmas Magical for Kids
Day 11 – Twelve on Main ~ Christmas Mantels
Day 12 – Made In A Day ~ 12 Beautiful + Unique Holiday Wreaths (You’re here!)

...

Share using our Hashtag!

Leave me a comment… I’d love to hear from you!

...

~Lorelai

Sign up today, and don't miss anything! Enjoy EXCLUSIVES, FREEBIES, and FUN.

...

Contact Lorelai at Lorelai@LifeWithLorelai.com

Magical Christmas – 12 Days of Christmas – Day 10

Find out how to have a Magical Christmas for your kids. You are going to love all of the Christmas goodness that is headed your way over the next several days. Don’t miss a single day — they are all different and promise tons of holiday cheer and inspiration! Enjoy…

Join us for the 12 Days of Christmas Ideas Series along with eleven other talented bloggers. We’ve rounded up the best of the best Christmas ideas to make your holiday season more festive and fun.

Meet The Hostesses

Shirley of Intelligent Domestications ~ Erlene of My Pinterventures ~ Lindsay of Crazy Organized

Michelle of Our Crafty Mom ~ Stephanie of The Tip Toe Fairy ~ Lorelai of Life With Lorelai

Katie of The Organized Dream ~ Amanda of The Kolb Corner ~ Marie of DIY Adulation

Megan of C’mon Get Crafty ~ Sara of Twelve On Main ~ Kim of Made in a Day

12 Ways to Make Christmas Magical

Welcome, Megan from C’mon Get Crafty.

I absolutely love Christmas. Growing up, it was always my favorite time of year, the shinging light in the midst of brutal Chicago winters. Our family tradition was to get everyone together on Christmas Eve at my family’s ancestral home (over 100 years old and counting!) for a big extended family Christmas.

There was food and laughter and it was tradition to watch the 1966 How the Grinch Stole Christmas right after dinner. We never got to finish it, since as soon as little Max started up that hill, there would come a booming knock on the door and the jingle of sleigh bells, as Santa came in with a sack full of presents!

I love creating these kinds of long lasting memories for my children, and today’s post is designed to help you do the same.

So let’s make some magic!

#1 A Shameless Plug But Oh So Fun

Yes, this one is mine, but I also spent years creating fun (and basic) Elf on the Shelf Ideas for you….plus I made a whole batch of free printables for you! You can’t beat that. 😉

#2 Secret Good Deeds

This Santa Secret Service tradition from The Dating Divas is such a wonderful idea! Very creative way to teach kids about being responsible and charitable.

#3 Santa’s Mailbox

Sunny Day Family has an easy and fun craft for kids to work on – a Santa Mailbox for all those changing Christmas lists!

#4 Random Acts of Kindness Cootie Catcher

This Random Acts of Kindness Cootie Catcher from Bren Did reminds me of all those fun paper games we played as kids!

#5 Grow Your Own Candy Canes

Part of making Christmas magical for kids is to invite them to be whimsical and to believe anything is possible. So why wouldn’t you be able to grow candy canes like Growing a Jeweled Rose?

#6 Christmas Eve Surprise Box

Start a fun new tradition with your kids by gifting them these Christmas Eve Boxes from Money Saving Sisters!

#7 Christmas Countdown Box

Speaking of boxes, this Christmas Countdown Box from Teach Me Mommy would help keep the magic of Christmas alive every day leading up to it!

#8 Make Your Own Play Snow

Whether you live in a warm climate without snow, or just don’t want to freeze in the real stuff, this play snow from Huckleberry Love definitely promotes some Christmas magic – can you say indoor snowman??

#9 Baking Soda Gingerbread Ornaments

Christmas cookies are sort of a holiday staple of traditions, but what if you made cookies you could keep? These Baking Soda Gingerbread Ornaments from My Pinterventures look good enough to eat, but last much longer!

#10 Puzzle Piece Holiday Wreath

Dazzle While Frazzled has a fun activity for you and the kids both with this festive puzzle piece wreath!

#11 DIY Elf Coat

Is your Elf feeling chilled? Get the kids together and make him a coat with this easy tutorial from Exquisitely Unremarkable!

#12 Elf on the Shelf Printable Calendar

Speaking of that whimsical Elf, you can keep yours hopping with a Printable Calendar from Time Saving Mom so you never run out of ideas or forget to move him!

Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for Day Eleven!

Wishing your kids a Magical Christmas!

12 Days of Christmas Ideas – Day 10 – A Magical Christmas! #12DaysOfChristmas #Christmas #Magical

Click To Tweet

Thanks so much for joining us for the 12 Days of Christmas Ideas Blog Hop! If you missed any of our fun collections just see the links below!

Day 1 -Intelligent Domestications ~ Hilarious Christmas Party Games
Day 2 – My Pinterventures ~ The Best Homemade Christmas Food Gifts
Day 3 – The Crazy Organized Blog ~ Christmas Decoration Storage
Day 4 – Our Crafty Mom ~ Christmas Tablescapes for Every Style
Day 5 – The Tip Toe Fairy ~ DIY Christmas Card Holders
Day 6 – Life with Lorelai ~ Christmas Traditions
Day 7 – The Organized Dream ~ Fabulously Festive Gift Wrapping Ideas
Day 8 – The Kolb Corner ~ Handmade Christmas Ornaments
Day 9 – DIY Adulation ~ Christmas Printables
Day 10 – C’mon Get Crafty ~ Ways to Make Christmas Magical for Kids (You’re here!)
Day 11 – Twelve on Main ~ Christmas Mantels
Day 12 – Made In A Day ~ 12 Beautiful + Unique Holiday Wreaths

...

Share using our Hashtag!

Leave me a comment… I’d love to hear from you!

...

~Lorelai

Sign up today, and don't miss anything! Enjoy EXCLUSIVES, FREEBIES, and FUN.

...

Contact Lorelai at Lorelai@LifeWithLorelai.com

Gift Wrapping Ideas – 12 Days of Christmas – Day 7

Here’s a collection of 12 fabulously festive Christmas Gift Wrapping Ideas. You are going to love all of the Christmas goodness that is headed your way over the next several days. Don’t miss a single day — they are all different and promise tons of holiday cheer and inspiration! Enjoy…

Join us for the 12 Days of Christmas Ideas Series along with eleven other talented bloggers. We’ve rounded up the best of the best Christmas ideas to make your holiday season more festive and fun.

Meet The Hostesses

Shirley of Intelligent Domestications ~ Erlene of My Pinterventures ~ Lindsay of Crazy Organized

Michelle of Our Crafty Mom ~ Stephanie of The Tip Toe Fairy ~ Lorelai of Life With Lorelai

Katie of The Organized Dream ~ Amanda of The Kolb Corner ~ Marie of DIY Adulation

Megan of C’mon Get Crafty ~ Sara of Twelve On Main ~ Kim of Made in a Day

It’s Day Three and we’re sharing

12 Fabulously Festive Gift Wrapping Ideas

Welcome, Katie Lynn from The Organized Dream.

1. Chalkboard Inspired Wrapping by 13AcresBlog.com.

2. Decorating with Twigs by ARuffledLife.com.

3. Brown Wrapping with Stamps found on Babble.com.

4. Gingerbread Gift Tags by DecoratorsNotebook.co.uk

5. Personalized Christmas Wrapping by BoxwoodClippings.com.

6. Wrapping With Greenery from TheseFourWallsBlog.com.

7. Copper Bells Gift Accent Idea from CoxandCox.co.uk.

8. Gift Decorating with Beads from Skonahem.com.

9. Glitter Snowflake Gift Decor from PaperieBoutique.com.

10. Ornament Cluster Gift Wrapping by OhHappyDay.com.

11. DIY Word Search Gift Wrap by SomethingTurquoise.com.

12. Color Me Wrapping Paper found on FamilyHoliday.net.

12 Days of Christmas Ideas – Day 7 – Gift Wrapping Ideas! #12DaysOfChristmas #Christmas #GiftWrap

Click To Tweet

Thanks so much for joining us for the 12 Days of Christmas Ideas Blog Hop! If you missed any of our fun collections just see the links below!

Day 1 -Intelligent Domestications ~ Hilarious Christmas Party Games
Day 2 – My Pinterventures ~ The Best Homemade Christmas Food Gifts
Day 3 – The Crazy Organized Blog ~ Christmas Decoration Storage
Day 4 – Our Crafty Mom ~ Christmas Tablescapes for Every Style
Day 5 – The Tip Toe Fairy ~ DIY Christmas Card Holders
Day 6 – Life with Lorelai ~ Christmas Traditions
Day 7 – The Organized Dream ~ Fabulously Festive Gift Wrapping Ideas (You’re here!)
Day 8 – The Kolb Corner ~ Handmade Christmas Ornaments
Day 9 – DIY Adulation ~ Christmas Printables
Day 10 – C’mon Get Crafty ~ Ways to Make Christmas Magical for Kids
Day 11 – Twelve on Main ~ Christmas Mantels
Day 12 – Made In A Day ~ 12 Beautiful + Unique Holiday Wreaths

...

Share using our Hashtag!

Leave me a comment… I’d love to hear from you!

...

~Lorelai

Sign up today, and don't miss anything! Enjoy EXCLUSIVES, FREEBIES, and FUN.

...

Contact Lorelai at Lorelai@LifeWithLorelai.com

5 Tips for Hosting a Stress-Free Family Christmas Party

Hosting a Family Christmas Party can be stressful. You want everything to be perfect, full of family tradition and holiday spirit in order to create those magical memories that will last a lifetime. So, we have some great tips and trick that will help you host a stress-free family Christmas Party. Of course, these tips will help in planning and in hosting any party!

5 Tips for Hosting a Stress-Free Family Christmas Party

With winter holidays straight ahead and drawing closer by the minute, we’re all looking forward to lip-smacking Christmas banquets and family reunions, right? Well, not exactly. Every time the season comes for Santa to slide down the chimney and deliver gifts, busy moms start bracing themselves for second helpings of stress and hard work required to host a pitch-perfect at-home Christmas celebration. Nevertheless, the fact that your whole family will be coming together to welcome Father Christmas in a few weeks’ time doesn’t have to be a source of angst or dread this time around. All you need to do is arm yourself with tried and tested tips on how to throw an unforgettable, stress-free Christmas party and act on them without delay.

1. Invitations Nobody Can Say No To

Before dashing off to decorate the dining table and whip up food for the Christmas party, pause for a second to do a brief guest count. Draw up the guest list and seating plan to make sure your party goes down without hitches or unpleasant guest table quibbles.

With the guest list in place, it’s time to send out invitations (preferably in the written, not digital form). You should send invites at least two weeks ahead of the celebration to allow your guests ample time to RVSP. Expert tip: be sure the invitations are so lovable your invitees can’t say No to them. If you hate the idea of DIY invitation crafting, you can find various printable Christmas party invites online. Use them to cheat your way to bonus party turnout.

2. Decide on the Food and Drink Menu

The next point on the stress-free Christmas party staging list, the choice of food and drinks you’ll serve your guests deserves an extra dose of attention. As a general rule, the party bar should contain both alcoholic and soft drinks, just to stay on the safe (and relatively sober) side of the dining table.

If possible, it would be a wise idea to check with the guests if they suffer from any food allergies or follow special diet plans: such a precious piece of info will help you stock the party table with delicacies all invitees will relish. If you don’t want to go through the food prep hassle, you can look up the offer of best finger food catering services in Melbourne and pick tasty bites that fit the party budget and your guests’ dietary preferences.

3. It’s Time to Dress Up the Party Venue

After you’ve sorted out the essentials for the Christmas party, you’ll need to dress the venue for the gathering. The rule of thumb here is that ornaments in red, gold, and green are best-suited to the biggest event of the winter season, but you can also use violet, blue, and orange details as accents.

To achieve a festive yet suave tablescape, you should bring out finest silverware and porcelain crockery: after all, Christmas is precisely the type of a special occasion that calls for such displays of elegance and luxury. For final touches, you can top the Christmas party table with fragrant candles, string lights nestled in jars, and a centerpiece in the form of an evergreen arrangement with red and white ribbon.

4. Devise a Fail-safe Entertainment Program

To keep boredom at bay and avoid awkward party silences, create a special playlist and pick a few games you and your guests will play after dinner. Christmas Carol Pictionary, white elephant gift exchange, and other themed games are a great entertainment choice, but you can also opt for non-Christmassy activities if your party crowd isn’t exactly a major fan of traditional festive amusement.

As far as music is concerned, you shouldn’t leave out Christmas melodies from the playlist, but you can structure it around handpicked non-seasonal tunes such as jazz, blues, R&B, and classic rock. Expert tip: melodies that make your guests’ ears prick up and set the mood to merry are a good choice of music for the Christmas party.

5. Party Favors, the Hospitable Hosts’ Way

No Christmas party is complete without gifts, but the Christmas tree shouldn’t be the only place for your guests to find tokens of appreciation, caring, and love. To bring home the medal as the most hospitable host ever, make cute party favors before the big event which you’ll place at the dining table.

Gingerbread cookies, lollies, tree ornaments, and chocolates in Christmas wrappers are just the tip of the party favor iceberg. If you want to go pro with the Christmas party staging, you can present the guests with personalized favors such as swag bags, printed mugs with funny slogans, spa and massage coupons, and creative cookie tins or favor bags which you can order online for bonus stress-free party organization.

No fret, no fuss – Host a Stress-free Family Christmas Party with these 5 tips! #Christmas #Party

Click To Tweet

All set? Don’t forget to put on your finest party clothes, don a wide smile, and have tons of fun –after all, joy, laughter, love, sharing, and positive mood are the whole point of winter holidays. Enjoy your family Christmas party to the fullest. Merry Christmas!

...

Share using our Hashtag!

Leave me a comment… I’d love to hear from you!

...

~Lorelai

Sign up today, and don't miss anything! Enjoy EXCLUSIVES, FREEBIES, and FUN.

...

Contact Lorelai at Lorelai@LifeWithLorelai.com

Pumpkin Pie Cocktail Recipe For The Holidays

Are you looking for something special to serve your guests this Thanksgiving? Well, this Pumpkin Pie Cocktail is sure to put some cheer and celebration into the day’s festivities!

Pumpkin Pie Cocktail

A Festive Recipe for a Holiday Celebration!

When you think of Thanksgiving, your mind immediately goes to great food. That delicious roasted turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, and of course pumpkin pie is a must-have for dessert. These dishes are wonderful, but they tend to be the mainstays of every Thanksgiving dinner. So, how do you stand out, and make your celebration something to cheer about?

Make a holiday concoction perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Serve these Pumpkin Pie Cocktails! They are super quick and easy to make, and they taste amazing — it is like having pumpkin pie in a glass. YUM!

Pumpkin Pie Cocktail Recipe

Ingredients:

1 Ounce – Pumpkin Spice Liqueur
1 Ounce – Pecan Liqueur
2 Ounces – Sparkling Water (I used sparkling mineral water)
Ice Cubes
Brown Sugar (for rimming the glass)
Whipped Cream (optional)
Ground Cinnamon or Pumpkin Pie Spice (optional)

Directions:

Wet the rim of a Martini glass and dip in the Brown Sugar, set aside.
Place Ice Cubes in a beverage shaker.
Pour in the Pumpkin Spice Liqueur and the Pecan Liqueur.
Add the Sparkling Water.
Shake well.
Pour into a Martini glass.
Top with Whipped Cream.
Sprinkle with Ground Cinnamon or Pumpkin Pie Spice for garnish.

I know that you and your guests will love this special holiday cocktail. It is a nice and easy way to add a little something special to the celebration.

Here’s a Printable Recipe just for you:

5 from 1 reviews

Pumpkin Pie Cocktail Recipe

Save Print

Prep time

2 mins

Total time

2 mins

A holiday concoction perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Pumpkin Pie Cocktail is a quick and easy mixed drink recipe.

from: Life With Lorelai

Type: Cocktail

Serves: 1 glass

Ingredients:

1 Ounce - Pumpkin Spice Liqueur
1 Ounce - Pecan Liqueur
2 Ounces - Sparkling Water (I used sparkling mineral water)
Ice Cubes
Brown Sugar (for rimming the glass)
Whipped Cream (optional)
Ground Cinnamon or Pumpkin Pie Spice (optional)

Directions:

Wet the rim of a Martini glass and dip in the Brown Sugar, set aside.
Place Ice Cubes in a beverage shaker.
Pour in the Pumpkin Spice Liqueur and the Pecan Liqueur.
Add the Sparkling Water.
Shake well.
Pour into a Martini glass.
Top with Whipped Cream.
Sprinkle with Ground Cinnamon or Pumpkin Pie Spice for garnish.

3.5.3217

Guests will love this Pumpkin Pie Cocktail – perfect for the holidays! #Recipe #Cocktail #PumpkinPie

Click To Tweet

Give them a try, and let me know what you think. Happy Holidays!

You may also enjoy:

My recipe for Dulce de Leche – A Sweet Milk Cocktail

...

Share using our Hashtag!

Leave me a comment… I’d love to hear from you!

...

~Lorelai

Sign up today, and don't miss anything! Enjoy EXCLUSIVES, FREEBIES, and FUN.

...

Contact Lorelai at Lorelai@LifeWithLorelai.com

Christmas Music Playlist & Karaoke

Christmas Music is a tradition that I cherish! Whether it is a traditional carol, a crooners sentimental or jaunty tune, or something fresh and new, they had me at Christmas. I’ll admit it, I’m hooked.

Christmas Music

Playlist & Karaoke

…

I absolutely LOVE Christmas Music! It plays throughout the holiday season in my house and car starting the day after Thanksgiving (sometimes even Thanksgiving night), and runs through New Year’s Eve.

Christmastime just wouldn’t be the same without the varying artists from past to present crooning through my decked halls. And of course, Rory and I singing along.

The music fo Christmas brings joy and happiness, but it also brings wonderful memories of Christmases past. Memories of my mother’s favorite Christmas Carol, “Bring A Torch Jeanette Isabella,” to mine and Luke’s special song, “Santa Baby,” to, “I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas.” I love every moment.

I have a Christmas Playlist that provides us hours of Christmasy entertainment. You will find songs from Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Andy Williams, Dean Martin, Doris Day, Rosemary Clooney, Frank Sinatra, Burl Ives, Eartha Kitt, Brenda Lee, The Ronettes, Harry Belafonte, Kings College Choir, Wham, Blake Shelton, Lady Antebellum, The Irish Rovers, and so, so many more… Luke and I have been together for three years today, so give a listen to Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt in the playlist for us. Happy Anniversary, honey!

Follow me on YouTube…

Christmas Music Playlist – hours of entertainment https://tinyurl.com/m96fmws #ChristmasMusic #Playlsit

Click To Tweet

Please enjoy the Christmas music and have a wonderful and blessed Christmas.