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Christmas

Holiday Home Tour

Happy Holidays, y’all! We are so excited to share our holiday home tour this year! Having our own house for the first time has given the holidays a whole new meaning for us. Its given us the opportunity to open our home to so many friends, family, neighbors and colleagues over the past few weeks that my heart could just burst! So many shared meals, memories and laughs has constantly reminded us why we are so thankful.

Of course, with all the holiday celebrations and dinner parties, a decorated and festive home was very important to me. If you’ve seen our previous home posts or design inspo, you know we went for a sophisticated glam look with vintage and traditional touches and a color palette consisting of gray, seafoam, white, gold and dark brown accents. 

I wanted our holiday decor to coordinate well with the style of our home, so we brought these same colors into our Christmas tree, mantle and garlands. I found the perfect velvet d.Stevens ribbon (I highly recommend working with high quality ribbon like d.Stevens in your holiday decor) at Holiday Warehouse (my absolute FAVORITE holiday decor store in Plano, Texas) that brought in our signature seafoam color with platinum and gold accents that just screamed me. So, of course, I designed our entire holiday look around this ribbon and I could not be more thrilled with how it turned out! We invite you in and hope you enjoy this tour of our home this season!

Merry Christmas!

P.S. Be sure to check out previous years Christmas styles if you’re looking for a more metallic look, winter wonderland, or traditional wintery rustic look (my personal favorite)!

Holiday Decor: Holiday Warehouse

Photography: Luisa’s Secret Photography 

Styling: The Everyday Hostess

 

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Annual Recap

2017 Highlights -The Everyday Hostess

Y’all. I have been MIA and for that I am sorry! 2018 has been filled with blog planning and rebranding (yay! Stay tuned for some fun changes!) plus Landon and I are deep in the house buying process, and my goodness is that a feat! We have some exciting changes for The Everyday Hostess this year, but we’ve needed some time to just take a breath and focus all our planning efforts.

During this exciting time, we have been very reflective of 2017. What an incredible year and one that will be hard to ever beat! Landon and I got married in June, both started new roles at work, started our new little Etsy shop and continued to grow The Everyday Hostess.

We are so grateful for each and every one of you following our journey and, of course, our favorite parties, so here’s a little recap of all the greatness 2017 had to offer!

Wedding Wednesdays

As we prepared for our wedding, we launched a new series called Wedding Wednesdays where we shared all our wedding planning tips and tricks we learned along the way. We covered a host of categories including:

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Christmas

How to Decorate a Festive Wintry Rustic Christmas Tree

Styling our Christmas tree is one of my favorite ways to enjoy the season. I love turning on the Christmas music, baking up some holiday treats, and decorating our tree in new and festive themes. Over the past few years, we have enjoyed a luxe glamour metallic theme followed by our red and white winter wonderland, and this year, we are creating a wintry-rustic Christmas tree!

With Thanksgiving so early this year, we can enjoy the Christmas spirit and our beautifully decorated and festive homes even longer! So let’s not waste any time and get to decorating! First step – the Christmas tree!

No matter what your style is, we’ve tackled some of your tree trimming questions and created a step-by-step tutorial to decorate the perfect Christmas tree.

Step One: Select Your Tree

The Christmas tree will be the centerpiece of your holiday décor, so selecting the right tree is key! I grew up cutting down our own trees in Colorado; however, over the years I have grown to prefer artificial trees because they are easy to decorate and style by bending branches to secure ornaments and ribbon.

If you decide to go down the artificial route, you’ve got a whole host of options. Classic evergreen, frosted tree, or flocked trees. Flocked trees really gained in popularity last year and are still one of the most popular options this year. They are perfect if you are going for a winter wonderland vibe and want to enjoy the heavy artificial snow in which the tree is adorned.  

If you decide to buy a real tree and want your family to experience cutting down the tree on their own, check out Flower Mound Christmas Trees. Holiday Warehouse in Plano is a great bet if you’re looking for a beautiful variety of artificial trees and a warehouse full of festive displays that will give you plenty of decorating inspiration!

To bring out my winter rustic chic theme, I chose a flocked tree this year.  The white snow complements the red and green plaid color scheme perfectly to give my tree a wintery and festive look.

Whichever way you decide to go, make sure that you measure your ceiling height and the space where you will be placing your tree, so you know the proper measurements for your tree.

Step Two: Decide on a Theme

Decide on a theme and color palette that embodies your style or represents you and your family. Select a variety of basic ornaments to create a sense of unity, then incorporate more ornate pieces or sentimental favorites to show off your personality. Lay out and organize all of your ornaments in advance so you can plan accordingly. You’ll want to make sure that you have a variety of sizes. This is the best way to add intrigue and volume to your tree.

To help portray my wintry-rustic look for my tree, I selected a red and green plaid ribbon and based the rest of my décor, ornaments, and picks off of the style of the ribbon. This helped create a consistent look where all details complemented each other.

Step Three: Hang Christmas Tree Lights

If you bought an artificial tree, chances are the lights are already strung; however, if your tree does not include them, this is the first step you will want to take in decorating your tree!

When planning, allow about 100 lights for every vertical foot of tree. Christmas tree lights come in a variety of different colors and lengths. Lights usually come on white or green strands. Be sure to choose the color that matches your tree, so the strands are not visible through the branches.

In order to hang the Christmas tree lights, start at the bottom bough and move upwards. String the lights starting at the trunk and moving towards the tip of the branch and then back. Continue until you reach the top of the tree. Make sure that the lights are plugged in while you are wrapping the tree, so you can easily see if you missed any sections.

Step Four: Add the Ribbon or Garland

This is the step where you can really bring in some personality and style.

Choose a ribbon or garland that correlates with the theme of your tree. Ribbons add a beautiful pop of color and texture that gives some added appeal to your tree. They can be quite pricey, but I highly recommend a good quality ribbon that you can use throughout the years – think of it as an investment! This is the most important aspect to convey your theme and add some depth to your tree.

If you really want to spoof up your tree, consider layering two ribbons. I selected a 4-inch wide red and green plaid ribbon and layered the top of it with a 1-inch green ribbon. I love that the solid layer helped bring out the deeper greens in some of my ornaments.

To assemble, start at the top of the tree and softly wrap your ribbon slowly around the tree, increasing the width as you move down. If you want to mix up the classic ribbon look, consider draping the ribbon in a vertical manner by starting at the top of the tree and creating bustles of about 1.5 feet in length moving towards the base of the tree. (This is my personal favorite way to decorate!)

Step Five: Add the Christmas Tree Picks and Stems

Christmas tree picks and stems are a great way to add a little volume to your tree and add some extra depth. You can buy these florals already made or have your local holiday store make you one that matches the theme of you tree. Holiday Warehouse here in Dallas is one of my favorite local holiday shops and they have a beautiful floral department that will design and customize a pick for your tree. They also have aisles and aisles of options where you can create your own.

I wanted to create a pick that married my wintery-rustic theme with the playful natural red tones, so I used a red berry pick with snow covered pine cones. I also added some frosted birch branches to give the tree a very natural look!

You always want to decorate with odd numbers, so make sure that you have an odd number of picks for your tree. For my 7.5 foot tree, I used 7 picks. If your tree is a bit smaller, you may want to use just 5, but if it’s bigger, you may want 9-11 or even 13 picks.

Step Six: Hang the Christmas Tree Ornaments

Now this is the fun part of the decorating process! Start by hanging the larger balls evenly throughout the tree, ensuring that you hang some closer to the trunk to create depth and dimension. Use a wire to secure them to the tree and place heavier balls towards the top of the tree and closer to the trunk so they are not knocked off by pets or passersby. Once you have hung the larger balls and ornaments, fill in around them with medium to small sized ornaments.

Finally, add your accent pieces! Your decorative ornaments is where your tree can really shine and you can show off your personality. For my winter-rustic look, I continued to pull in more natural elements such as pinecones, berry balls and birch balls.

Make sure you step back and evaluate your work while you are decorating to ensure you aren’t missing any sections and that your favorite pieces are properly showcased!

Step Seven: Add the Tree Topper

Finally, add your tree topper. There are such a beautiful variety of tree toppers including angels, stars, and bows. Include whatever matches your theme best. This year, I strayed away from my favorite bows, and went with a more natural look, showcasing the berry picks and snow-frosted pinecones. I just love the whimsical nature of it!

Step Eight: Decorate Around the Tree

Just because the tree is complete, your work isn’t over! The setting around the tree is almost as important as the tree itself.

Place your presents at the base of the tree on top of your tree skirt with the larger gifts in the back and the smaller ones in the front. I recommend wrapping your presents in 3 to 4 different wrapping papers that match the color scheme of your tree. I also incorporated the same ribbon from my tree into the presents to maintain consistency.

Finally I added some cozy pillows (who doesn’t want to curl up next to the glistening tree at night?), as well as an adorable blanket ladder from my friend at Middle Made Designs. I draped it in neutral blankets and placed two large birch branches that match the ones I put in the tree to pull it all together!

The perfect, wintry-rustic tree!

Now sit back, dim the lights, and enjoy the beautiful glow of your Christmas tree with your loved ones! Merry Christmas to all!

 

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Holidays

2016 Highlights

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a fabulous New Year’s Eve with your friends and family!

New Year’s Eve is my favorite party of the year, as Landon and I host our annual NYE Fondue Dinner Party! This year was a bit trickier now that we are in a smaller apartment, but if you checked out our Instagram story, you saw how we transformed our 700sf apartment and hosted a formal sit down dinner party for 20. (Yes, that did involve removing all furniture from our house and either cramming it in our closet or storing it in the hallway- sorry neighbors!) Logistical issues aside, this was absolutely our most successful fondue party yet, filled with delicious food, wonderful company, and lots of love and laughter.

Now, I could not be more thrilled that 2017 is here because this is the year that we get married!!! We are officially on the 5 month countdown, and I have no doubt that this will be the best year of our life!

But of course, we can’t forget to thank 2016 for all the incredible memories and times we had! Starting with our engagement (YAYAY!) and of course all the success with the blog and the fabulous parties that we were able to throw.

Though it’s super hard to narrow down, I wanted to highlight some of the top moments and posts from 2016 (in chronological order)!

  1. Kate Spade Valentine’s Day Party and Alice in Wonderland Tea Party

We started off the year with two incredible styled shoots. Our Valentine’s Day brunch with Kate Spade that I got to enjoy with fiance and future in-laws and our Alice in Wonderland Tea Party with Holiday Warehouse. Both shoots helped start the year off with a bang and allowed us to work with a team of incredible people.

2. IBB Design Collaboration

One of my favorite teams to collaborate with this year was IBB Design. If you haven’t checked out their store or their magazine, definitely do so! I had the great honor of being published in both their summer edition about How to Host a Summer Soiree and winter edition about How to Host a NYE Dinner Party this year.

The Everyday Hostess and IBB at Home Summer Soiree

3. We Got engaged!

The absolute highlight of this past year, and my entire life, was our trip to Nashville in June where Landon proposed! It was the most incredible day of my life and I am so beyond honored to get to spend the rest of my life with him. Check out the full proposal story here!

4. Wedding Wednesday Series

With the start of our wedding planning journey, we started a Wedding Wednesday Series to document the process and everything that we are learning along the way!

5. Geode Styled Shoot in BONT

In September, we collaborated with a showstopping team on a Geode Styled Wedding Shoot at the Dallas Quarry, which was featured in Brides of North Texas Magazine (BONT)! This was my first time being featured in BONT, and needless to say I am still in shock!

6. Fall Inspired Brunch

One of my best “friendors” Lindsay of Lindsay Davenport Photography asked me to collaborate with her and style a Fall Inspired Brunch before the birth of her new baby boy! We had so much fun designing and planning this brunch for her 2016 wedding couples and the end result still has me seeing hearts! 

7. LikeToKnowIt!

At the end of November, we got accepted to LikeToKnowIt! Blog wise (that does not include getting engaged!), this is 100% the highlight of my year! Being accepted into this program has been one of my main goals since starting our blog in 2015. We can now share easily shoppable links to all of our favorite products and party decor with you on the blog, and if you sign up for LikeToKnowIt, you will receive your favorite products directly to your inbox when you like our posts on Instagram! 

8. Christmas Winter Wonderland 

To cap the year off, and for the second year in a row, I partnered with Holiday Warehouse to share our tips and tricks for Decorating the Perfect Christmas Tree. This is always one of my favorite shoots and posts of the year because we get to spend hours at Holiday Warehouse dreaming and looking at all of their gorgeous Christmas decor and then styling our own tree at home! Plus the post was also featured on WFAA!  

Most importantly, we are so grateful for each and every one of you. Thank you for following us and helping us to make our dream a reality. We absolutely love what we do and cannot wait for another spectacular year!

Happy New Year!

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Christmas

How to Create Your Own Winter Wonderland

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The holidays are officially here and it’s time to spread some Christmas cheer! You know what that means! Time to trim the tree, decorate your home, shop ’til you drop, and bake some of your favorite holiday goodies while blasting those classic holiday tunes!

If you’re like me, with these high temps down here in Texas, it’s a bit trickier to get in the holiday groove. We are all used to the lack of snow in the South, but temperatures in the 80’s are of no help! So to help get me in the Christmas spirit this year, I have teamed up with my favorite holiday store Holiday Warehouse to create my own winter wonderland right here in Dallas!

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Follow this step-by-step tutorial, and you too can bring home the magic of Christmas and transform your Christmas tree into a magical winter wonderland.

  1. Select the Right Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree is the shining centerpiece of your home, so this step is key! In order to lay the foundation for your winter wonderland and create a wintery, snow dusted scene, consider investing in an artificial flocked or frosted tree this year.

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Flocked trees are adorned with a heavy artificial snow, so you already have the illusion of a snowy wonderland and half your work is done! The needles on frosted trees are usually just spray painted white and they retain their flat shape. Both are great options, but if you want the full snowy look, I recommend a flocked tree. Holiday Warehouse up in Plano has a full selection of each type and can help you find the the tree that will perfectly bring your vision to life.

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  1. Choose your Color Scheme

So we know that you want to create a winter wonderland, but what kind of style or formality do you want to create? Do you want a more romantic scene with only shades of white? Are you aiming for something a bit more glam by adding some metallic tones? Or, do you want something more playful by adding in an accent color?

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Last year, we decorated our tree with champagne and gold ornaments and ribbon, but I was loving a festive burst of red to go with my wintery whites this time around!

  1. Hang the Christmas Tree Lights

If you bought an artificial flocked or frosted tree, chances are the lights are already strung; however, if your tree does not include them, this is the first step you will want to take in decorating your tree!

To continue with your theme, buy about 100 white lights for every vertical foot of your tree. Start at the bottom bough and move upwards. String the lights starting at the trunk and moving towards the tip of the branch and then back. Continue until you reach the top of the tree. Make sure that the lights are plugged in while you are wrapping the tree, so you can easily see if you missed any sections.

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  1. Add the Ribbon or Garland

This is where you will bring out your color scheme and differentiate your winter wonderland. Garlands and ribbons add a beautiful pop of color and texture that gives some added appeal to your tree. If you are going for that romantic, pure white scheme, select two white ribbons with different textures. Or if you want to add a pop of color, select one white ribbon and one red or the color of your choosing.

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Starting at the top of the tree, softly wrap your ribbon slowly around the tree, increasing the width as you move down. If you want to mix up the classic ribbon look, consider draping the ribbon in a vertical manner by starting at the top of the tree and creating bustles of about 1.5 feet in length moving towards the base of the tree.

Pro Tip: Christmas tree ribbon can be very pricey, so to help with the cost, consider using a budget friendly ribbon option on the interior of tree and using a more expensive one on the outer layers.

  1. Add the Picks and Stems

Christmas tree picks and stems are a great way to add a little volume to your tree as well as an extra pop of color. You can buy these florals already made or have your local holiday store make you one that matches your theme. Holiday Warehouse has an entire room of pick options that are perfect for this snowy wonderland theme!

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I wanted to create a pick that married my wintery theme with the playful natural red tones, so I used a red berry pick, a snow covered pine cone and branch, and a crystal branch to create a pick that pulled my theme together perfectly.

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You always want to decorate with odd numbers, so make sure that you have an odd number of picks for your tree. For my 7.5 foot tree, I used 7 picks in my tree. If your tree is a bit smaller, you may want to use just 5, but if it’s bigger, you may want 9-11 picks.

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  1. Hang the Christmas Tree Ornaments

Now this is the fun part of the decorating process! Start by hanging the larger balls evenly throughout the tree, ensuring that you hang some closer to the trunk to create depth and dimension. Use a copper wire to secure them to the tree and place heavier balls towards the top of the tree and closer to the trunk so they are not knocked off by pets or passersby.

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Once you have hung the larger balls and ornaments, fill in around them with medium- to small-sized balls and decorative ornaments. The decorative ornaments is where your tree can really shine and your can show off your personality. Consider ornaments that continue to pull in the winter wonderland vibe such as snow covered pine cones, snowy antlers, snowflakes, and icicles etc. I paired orbs with glittery, matted, and snowy looks to achieve a balance of glam and festiveness.

The Everyday Hostess Christmas

Make sure you step back and evaluate your work while you are decorating to ensure you aren’t missing any sections and that your favorite pieces are properly showcased!

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  1. Add the Tree Topper

Finally, add your tree topper. There are such a beautiful variety of tree toppers including angels, stars, and bows; however, for this snowy wonderland, I love the idea of a simple bow on top, or some large snow covered antlers, or snowflakes! Huge thanks to Holiday Warehouse for making this fabulous bow for me!

  1. Decorate Around the Tree

Just because the tree is complete, doesn’t mean your work is done! The setting around the tree is almost just as important as the tree itself.

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Start with a winter inspired Christmas tree skirt at the base of the tree such as a white fur lined skirt or even a white sheepskin rug if you have one laying around your house.

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Place your presents at the base of the tree on top of your tree skirt with the larger gifts in the back and the smaller ones in the front. I recommend wrapping your presents in 3 to 4 different wrapping papers that match the color scheme of your tree. For example, if your tree is purely white and romantic, consider wrapping your presents in a selection of textured white papers. Or if you brought in that red color like I did, a selection of red and white papers is perfect.

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Now for my favorite part! Additional winter wonderland decor! To really help create that magical snowy scene, bring in some white winter animals such as these stuffed deers that I brought in from Holiday Warehouse. Or perhaps you have a cute vintage toboggan or some frosted tree branches that would be perfect leaning up against the tree. This is a fun way to get creative and style your tree with some of your favorite winter creatures.

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Now sit back, (turn on the A/C if you are here in Texas) dim the lights, and enjoy your perfect winter wonderland Christmas tree with your loved ones! Merry Christmas to all!

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Photography: Stephanie Drenka

Christmas Decor: Holiday Warehouse

Styling: The Everyday Hostess

Calligraphy: JBScript

how-to-create-your-own-winter-wonderland - the everyday hostess

 

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Cocktails

Fresh Peach Tea

It’s only April, but down here in Texas, summer is in the air and we are definitely ready for it!   Flowers are blooming and the weather is warming up, but the clearest sign of summer are the packed parking lots at every nearby park, trail and lake! Everyone is outside enjoying the sun and getting some Vitamin D after a long winter!

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After a hot day in the sun, one of my favorite things to do is come home and enjoy a refreshing glass of iced tea. Especially down here in the South, sweet tea is a crowd favorite and is the perfect beverage to keep on hand in your fridge. You never know when you will have a last minute guest stop by or when you just want to kick your feet up on the porch with a refreshing drink.

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A brewed sun tea is always a classic, but if you want to mix up your sweet teas on tap a bit, this Peach Tea is calling your name! The cold peach slices paired with the peach syrup creates the perfect combination of sweetness and freshness.

I recently made this Fresh Peach Tea for an outdoor tea party that I hosted, and boy was it a hit! Luckily I made an extra batch to keep at home, but I assure you this did not last long either! Give this recipe a try and it will soon make it to the top of your summer favorites!

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Cheers!

Fresh Peach Tea
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Prep Time
45 min
Cook Time
6 hr
Prep Time
45 min
Cook Time
6 hr
Peach Syrup
  1. 1 cup Sugar
  2. 1 cup Water
  3. 3 Peaches, fresh and sliced
Tea
  1. 3 Tea Bags
  2. 6 cups Water
Instructions
  1. In a medium sized pot, bring the peach syrup ingredients to boil. Then reduce heat to medium.
  2. Using a fork, crush the peach slices as you stir to dissolve sugar.
  3. Turn off the heat, cover the pot, and let sit for 30 minutes.
  4. In a separate medium sized pot, prepare the tea. Bring the water to a boil. Remove the pot from the stove and brew the tea letting steep 5 minutes.
  5. Remove tea bags and refrigerate.
  6. Strain syrup through a fine strainer to remove fruit pieces.
  7. Add syrup to tea and refrigerate for 3-6 hours. Serve over ice.
Adapted from Passion for Savings
Adapted from Passion for Savings
The Everyday Hostess https://www.theeverydayhostess.com/

 Decor: 

Drink Me Straw Flags: Curl by JSD | Your are My Cup of Tea Sign: Pretty Lovely Prints |

Clear & Gold Glass Chargers: Amazon | Easter Decor: Holiday Warehouse

Photography: Beckley & Co

 

Don’t forget to pin for later! 🙂

Fresh Peach Tea

 

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Easter

Alice in Wonderland Easter Tea Party

easter-69In Part 1 of “Hosting a Tea Party” we talked about our tips and tricks for creating the perfect tea party. Now we are taking it a step further and talking about how we designed our own Alice in Wonderland themed Easter Tea Party!

With Easter right around the corner, it is time to start planning ahead for all of the festivities! A traditional Easter brunch following a morning church service is always a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday with friends and family. However, this year, I decided to put a little spin on our traditional Easter brunch plans and had the wonderful opportunity to collaborate with Holiday Warehouse in Dallas to host the perfectly styled Alice in Wonderland themed Easter Tea Party!

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We hosted our tea party in my friend’s forested backyard retreat, which was the perfect backdrop to create a magical and whimsical atmosphere. We kept the guest list small, and just invited about ten family friends, which was an ideal size for an intimate tea party, but still big enough that the kids could enjoy a festive Easter egg hunt!

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I worked with Holiday Warehouse’s stylist, Nancy, to design this beautiful scape, which came together and absolutely exceeded my expectations! She worked with me to understand my vision and brought in all of the decor needed to create this colorful and playful Wonderland! Decorations are what make a simple gathering into its own little world for your guests, and that it was! These life-sized rabbits, beautiful serving trays, floral arrangements, wreaths, lanterns, and even the beautiful sheep are just a few of the decor pieces from Holiday Warehouse that brought my Alice in Wonderland vision to life.

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If you are not familiar with Holiday Warehouse, go check them out! I worked with them earlier this year to decorate my Christmas tree and thought they mainly sold Christmas decor, but boy was I wrong! They have an incredible selection of products for all holidays and events including Easter, Wedding Season, Summer beach parties, baby showers, and much more! They also have an incredible in-house silk floral department that can design arrangements for anything that you could possibly imagine!

Now, no tea party is complete without the perfect menu! Of course I served a selection of hot teas, but also made a chilled peach iced tea in case one of our guests wanted something more refreshing. Based on the timing of my Easter tea party, I decided to serve a combination of light tea sandwiches, scones, and a few sweet treats. I made three different tea sandwiches including a pimento cheese sandwich, a traditional cucumber tea sandwich, and a chicken salad puff sandwich. easter-99

To cap off the perfect tea party and menu, the creative and talented ladies at The Best Dressed Cookie and We the Birds Macarons provided the most incredible desserts, which took my tea party to the next level!  

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The Best Dressed Cookie made the most adorable decorated Easter cookies, which helped pull the entire theme of the party together! Alason made a combination of Alice in Wonderland themed cookies (Do you see that AMAZING clock with the Rabbit painted on it?! Or the cookie with the stacked tea cups?! SWOON!) Plus she made some adorable decorated Easter egg cookies and tea cups that matched the patterns in my tables perfectly. I am a huge believer in the saying that “It’s all in the details” and theses cookies absolutely prove that! The intricate designs paired with the bright colors were an incredible way to tie together the theme of my tablescape and the holiday, not to mention they were absolutely delicious – I could not get these out of the kiddo’s hands!

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We the Birds Macarons also provided us with these gorgeous macarons! Don’t these mint chocolate chip and raspberry macaroons just look incredible?! I didn’t know it was possible, but I can tell you they tasted even better than they look! I took one bite and could not stop myself! Natalie with We the Birds Macarons is so incredibly talented and she worked with me to make sure the colors correlated with the pink and mint colors in the porcelain tea cups and painted them with edible gold paint to bring in the metallics reflected in the silverware. Her attention to detail is amazing and she can customize any order. No tea party is complete without macarons and these were the perfect addition to our party!

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Thanks to Holiday Warehouse, The Best Dressed Cookie, and We the Birds Macarons, this tea party went off without a hitch. The company was a delight, the food was impeccable, and the decor transformed our backyard into the perfect magical Wonderland that everyone dreams of.

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Tea Party Details:

Styled By – The Everyday Hostess | Nancy Intrator | Holly Haaf

Food –  Tea Sandwiches: The Everyday Hostess | Macarons: We the Birds Macarons | Cookies: The Best Dressed Cookie

Decor – Floral Arrangements & Easter Decor: Holiday Warehouse |

Tea Cups: Gracie China | Cup of Tea Print: PrettyLovely Prints | Straw Flags: CURLbyJSD | Easter Basket: Target

Photography – Beckley & CO.

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Brunch

Hosting a Tea Party

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Spring is finally in the air! What better way to celebrate the start of Spring than with a festive tea party?! Whether you are hosting a shower or birthday party or celebrating Easter, it is the perfect time to gather your friends and family and enjoy some of that gorgeous sunshine with a pot of tea and some sweet treats!

If you’ve never hosted a tea party before, it can be a bit intimidating. There is a sense of formality associated with them that can be a little overwhelming. So! We have provided you with tips and tricks to create the perfect gathering! Without further ado, let’s take a walk through Tea Party Hosting 101.

  1. Choose a Theme

The theme will dictate the formality of your tea party and can easily be tailored to the interests of your guests. Traditional British tea parties are always fun and a bit fancier, but be sure to pay attention to the interests of your guests. If they are younger, a princess theme may be popular. If they like Paris, a French theme would be super cute. The ideas are endless. One of my personal favorite themes is an Alice in Wonderland themed tea party. Even with this theme, you can use bright colors and decorate it with more of a “Mad Hatter” style or you can use black and red and decorate it with the “Queen of Hearts” in mind! Check out how I styled my Alice in Wonderland themed party here!

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Stay tuned for Part 2 of “Hosting a Tea Party” and for how I partnered with Holiday Warehouse to style a magical and whimsical Alice in Wonderland Easter Tea Party!

  1. Choose a Location

The location of your tea party should be dependent on the weather. If it is warm and sunny outside, a garden, terrace, or nearby park is a great choice. However, an indoor tea party in your dining room is also beautiful.

  1. Choose the Date and Time

The time of your tea party is very important, as it will dictate what kind of food you will serve. Low teas are typically held mid-afternoon between meal times, while high teas are traditionally between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

  1. Choose the Guest List and Send Invitations

Customize your invites to the theme of your party. You can easily make your own, send a digital one through Evite or Paperless Post, or there are some super cute ones you can order through Etsy! I recommend sending your invitations out about 2-3 weeks before your event so you will have a final RSVP count a week in advance for menu planning purposes.

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  1. Plan the Menu 

The menu is very much determined by the time of the event. If you are hosting a “low tea” or mid-afternoon tea, chances are it is between meal times, so less food is needed. A few sweet and savory snacks such as pastries, scones, and tea sandwiches on a three-tiered stand is perfect. Proper etiquette recommends serving the scones first followed by the tea sandwiches and then sweets. High-teas served during meal times usually require more substantial food such as savory hors d’oeuvres like quiche, meat pies, or a light soup or salad.

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I also like to serve a few little desserts such as macarons and decorated cookies. These types of sweets can help emphasize the theme of your event. Be sure to check out Part 2 of “Hosting a Tea Party.” We will share our customized tea party menu plus we will talk about the most delicious macarons from We the Birds Macarons and the beautifully decorated cookies from The Best Dressed Cookie and how they made this Wonderland come to life! 

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Christmas

How to Decorate the Perfect Christmas Tree

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Time to trim the tree, decorate the home, and bake some of your family’s favorite holiday goodies! If you’re like me, I am sure you want to make the most of the holiday season and enjoy every minute possible with your family and friends. So let’s get everything decorated now, so we can enjoy the rest of the season!

I’ve tackled some of your tree trimming questions and created a step-by-step tutorial to decorate the perfect Christmas tree! Follow these simple steps and your Christmas tree will be the talk of the town and ready for Christmas morning!

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Step One: Select the Right Christmas Tree

Deciding whether to buy a real or artificial tree is completely a personal choice. I grew up cutting down our own trees in the Colorado mountains, so I tend to prefer real trees, but I know that decorating with artificial trees is much easier because you can bend the branches to secure your ornaments. Plus, many people are allergic to real trees, so artificial may be your best bet!

If you decide to buy a real tree and want your family to experience cutting down the tree on their own, check out Flower Mound Christmas Trees. Holiday Warehouse in Plano is a great bet if you’re looking for a beautiful variety of artificial trees and a warehouse full of festive displays that will give you plenty of decorating inspiration!

Whichever way you decide to go, make sure that you measure your ceiling height and the space where you will be placing your tree, so you know the proper measurements for your tree.

Step Two: Decide on a Theme

Decide on a theme and color palette that embodies your style or represents you and your family. Select a variety of basic ornaments to create a sense of unity, then incorporate more ornate pieces or sentimental favorites to show off your personality. Lay out and organize all of your ornaments in advance so you can plan accordingly.

I chose a “rustic-glam” theme this year, incorporating a metallic color scheme with some of my favorite rustic pine cones and deer statues all provided by my friends at Holiday Warehouse in Plano.

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Step Three: Hang Christmas Tree Lights

Lights are the first decoration that you will add to your tree. Allow about 100 lights for every vertical foot of tree. Christmas tree lights come in a variety of different colors and lengths. Lights usually come on white or green strands. Be sure to choose the color that matches your tree, so the strands are not visible through the branches. I chose green strands this year since my tree is a classic evergreen.

In order to hang the Christmas tree lights, start at the bottom bough and move upwards. String the lights starting at the trunk and moving towards the tip of the branch and then back. Continue until you reach the top of the tree. Make sure that the lights are plugged in while you are wrapping the tree, so you can easily see if you missed any sections.

Step Four: Add the Ribbon or Garland

Choose a ribbon or garland that correlates with the theme of your tree. Garlands add a beautiful pop of color and texture that gives some added appeal to your tree. Starting at the top of the tree, softly wrap your ribbon slowly around the tree, increasing the width as you move down. If you want to mix up the classic ribbon look, consider draping the ribbon in a vertical manner by starting at the top of the tree and creating bustles of about 1.5 feet in length moving towards the base of the tree. To create a little more texture, I chose two different ribbons – a champagne lace and a gold jeweled ribbon to coordinate with my metallic Christmas balls.

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Step Five: Add the Christmas Tree Picks and Stems

Christmas tree picks and stems are a great way to add a little volume to your tree and make it look more full. You can buy these florals already made or have your local holiday store make you one that matches the theme of you tree. Holiday Warehouse here in Dallas is one of my favorite local holiday shops and they have a beautiful floral department that will design and customize a pick for your tree.

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Step Six: Hang the Christmas Tree Ornaments

Now this is the fun part of the decorating! You always want to decorate with odd numbers, so make sure that you have an odd number of each type of ornament. For example, the various ornaments on my tree are in sets of 5s and 7s. Smaller trees could use 3 or 5! Start by placing your favorite ornaments in prime places throughout the tree so that they are easily visible. Use a copper wire to secure them to the tree and place heavier ornaments towards the top of the tree and closer to the trunk so they are not knocked off by pets or passersby.

To create a sense of consistency and unity, select between 5 and 9 different balls and use an odd number of each type on your tree. Then hang the large ornaments and balls evenly throughout the tree, ensuring that you hang some closer to the trunk to create depth and dimension. Once you have hung the larger balls and ornaments, fill in around them with medium to small sized ornaments.

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Finally, add your accent pieces and icicles. Hang icicles near the end of the branch as they appear in nature to emphasize the height of the tree. Using different pieces like these below help to create add volume to your tree.

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Make sure you step back and evaluate your work while you are decorating to ensure you aren’t missing any sections and that your favorite pieces are properly showcased!

Step Seven: Add the Tree Topper

Finally, add your tree topper. There are such a beautiful variety of tree toppers including angels, stars, and bows. Include whatever matches your theme best. This year I went with three large bows and a floral pick as my tree topper to give it some added height.

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Now sit back, dim the lights, and enjoy the beautiful glow of your Christmas tree with your loved ones! Merry Christmas to all!

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Photos by Stephanie Drenka

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Christmas

Join us at the Dallas Pinners Conference!

Hey Texas Folks!

Have you ever wanted to learn how to decorate your own designer Christmas tree like these?!

If so, join us at the Texas Pinners Conference on Friday, September 14th at 11am! We’re teaching an hour long class on how to decorate a designer Christmas tree. Buy your tickets here and use code TEH for 10% off!

We hope to see you there!

Also – while Christmas is on the mind! We are starting to book up for our Christmas tree styling services in November! Please email us at kate@theeverydayhostess.com for a free quote and to book your Christmas tree/mantle/and garland styling before we fill up!

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