Holiday Gift Wrap

I have recently started my Christmas shopping and it got me thinking about wrapping my gifts.

I love to see a beautifully wrapped gift, but sadly, I am an awful wrapper myself. None of my mother's crafty skills got passed down to me. Despite my lack of skills, I am determined to make a bigger effort with my gift wrapping technique.

Naturally, the first place I go to is Pinterest, the home of all things crafty.

I found some great inspiration including how to make the perfect bow and how to wrap a present. You have to love Pinterest! I feel like you could find out how to do almost anything on here. Great time saver because everything is in one place.

OK, now that I have the basics down, I am moving on to the fun stuff: the sparkly, pretty wrapping paper. I am such a sucker for pretty paper and I buy it without having any gifts to wrap. I usually find great wrapping for very little money after Christmas when the holiday items go on sale. I stash it in my closet and forget about it which is pretty bad because I am pretty sure I bought some last year but, OF COURSE, I can't find it!

I guess that means I will be hitting the shops this weekend to pick some up. I love to go to places like Home Goods because they usually have really high quality paper and gift bags for very reasonable prices. You can't wait till the last minute though or there won't be any left. 

If price is no object, then I highly recommend Papyrus. They have beautiful gift wrap, and they often feature very unique, handmade paper items that you don't find in many places. 

Since I am an inexperienced wrapper, I picked my Mom's brain for the essential wrapping items to stock up on before Christmas. Here is her list:

Double-sided clear tape

Sturdy craft scissors

At least three rolls of good quality paper (the cheap stuff tears)

Gift tags or stickers

Two packets of tissue paper

Two rolls of ribbon

The color and style of the wrapping paper, tissue and ribbon can be whatever you like. My mother prefers green and red, but I love jewel-toned paper, no matter the season. You also can't go wrong with silver or gold. Whatever you do, just keep it festive.

Here are some examples of pretty paper that I have found.

Remember, no matter how badly you wrap your gifts, it is the thought that counts. so just do the best you can. 

Christmas Party Planning: Style & Theme

If you haven't started already, it is time to start planning your holiday party. I love the holidays, because you have a great excuse to throw a party. The holidays can actually be a very stressful time, so it's nice to get every one together for a fun evening. 

 The Style

Before you do anything else, you need to decide the style if your party. You won't be able to plan your food, drinks, entertainment, or even invitations until you make this decision.

A holiday party doesn't necessarily have to be cocktails and canapes, here are some popular party styles to consider.

Sit-down Dinner

Holiday Brunch

Afternoon Party with Kids & Parents

Traditional Cocktail Party

Party with buffet or food stations

The Theme

Once you have picked the style of the party, it is time to consider the theme. Once a theme is chosen, you can move onto food, drinks, decor and invitations.

Now, when I say theme, I don't necessarily mean you need to have an exact theme, like Winter Wonderland (that is a good theme though!). Your theme could be as simple as Blue & White or Red & Green. Just make sure it's fun and festive.

Some theme ideas are:

Bavarian Alps

This is my best friend Jamie's theme this year, and she is going all out!

Red & Green

 Traditional, and you can easily reuse the decorations again.

Winter Wonderland or Snowflake

 Very simple and pretty, plus you can use the snowflake everywhere.

Blue & White

 Super fun and retro. Can border on tacky, but in a good way.

Ugly Sweater Party

I have a friend who organizes an ugly sweater pub crawl every year.

Ice Skating Party

Great idea for a families.

Gold

A personal favorite of mine. I am not sure if it's because if the pretty decor or the large supply of champagne. Probably a little bit of both.

If you are looking for more theme ideas, check out Pinterest where they have a whole section on the holidays.

Now that you have a theme picked out, you can move on to other aspects of the party. Check back on Tuesday for some great recipe ideas.

 

 

Dining Room Chandelier's

Antique, brass chandelier

I was over at my grandmother's house over the Thanksgiving holiday and I took note of her fabulous, old school crystal chandelier. She has had it for years. She has lived in three homes in Boston in the past 30 years, and the chandelier has been in all three dining rooms.

I love a great chandelier, but sometimes I feel like they don't always fit in the room.There are so many different styles to choose from, and sometimes, the gigantic crystal chandelier is not the way to go. Other styles include brass, glass, iron,  Tiffany style and beads.

When choosing a chandelier, be conscious of the style and size of the room. A large, formal dining room can handle a big, crystal chandelier, but in a smaller, casual dining room, a big crystal chandelier looks out of place.

Here are some various chandelier styles to consider:

Waterford Hospitality Chandelier

I love the pineapples for some reason. I think this is better for a small/medium-sized dining room.

Upside down chandelier 

I love this for a more contemporary look. Perfect for someone who finds many crystal chandelier stuffy and old fashioned.

Crystal drop chandelier  

This makes an opulent statement. Make sure the rests of the room matches the style of the chandelier.

Modern look with Beads from Horchow

Casual, iron style 

Great for a more informal, rustic look.

Simple, shaded chandelier

Metal and mica with an "oxidized silver" finish