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Winter

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If y’all have been following us for a while you know how much I love decorating Christmas trees! Especially for so many of you, our sweet Clients! This is my favorite time of year and the amount of time I spend designing trees in my head and dreaming of new ideas is unreal! We love working with each of you to design the perfect holiday scape that brings your Christmas visions to life and coordinates your home decor with your holiday style. We get so many questions about colors, styles, whats on trend vs. what’s not, but the number one question we get is whether to use real or faux trees.

I know the real vs. faux tree is a much debated topic and I totally understand the appeal of a real tree:

  • The Christmas Aromas – The smells of a freshly cut tree just screams Christmas and fills the entire home. For so many of us it brings back so many childhood holiday memories.
  • Tradition – There is a lot of nostalgia and pride that goes with selecting your own tree from a tree farm or a nearby forest. Plus you get to create new memories with your family while picking out your new tree each year. 
  • Environment – This one could go both ways, but many believe real trees are better for the environment.

I always grew up with real trees. Many years we would pick out our main tree from a local tree farm and then cut down our own miniature trees for our room from the mountains; however, as we’ve gotten deeper into the design industry and started our own Christmas decorating business, I completely understand why so many people love faux trees. In fact, they have now become my preferred type of tree. And here’s why!

  • Easier to Decorate – In general the branches and needles are stronger and easier to manipulate. You can bend the branches in different ways to create a fuller look and hold your ornaments and decor in place. This is the main reason I prefer faux trees. Plus, if you get a higher quality tree, they really do look real!
  • More Consistent in Size – You always know exactly how tall your tree is and whether it will fit in your space. Plus they are generally more proportional. 
  • More Cost Effective – If you plan to use your faux tree year after year and store it in a cool and dry place, you will generally save money over the life of your tree.
  • Ease of Maintenance – You don’t have to worry about watering it everyday to make sure it lasts the entire season. You can set it up and take it down any time you want without worrying about it dying and potentially even catching fire. 

Real vs. faux trees is such a personal decision and no matter what, either will look absolutely beautiful in your home this holiday season. But for all the faux tree fans like me, I’ve rounded up all my favorites for you this holiday season (just click on the specific tree below to be linked to the site). These all have top ratings and I have either seen or decorated most of these in person! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about any of them specifically! Happy decorating!

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Kate Spade and lots and lots of pink — who needs Cupid? Because that’s a match made in heaven! Saying that I was on Cloud 9 while creating this Valentine’s Day tablescape is a bit of an understatement. This Kate Spade inspired Valentine’s Day brunch setting is more than enough to make a girl swoon!

I mean, what else could we ask for in a tablescape besides lots of pinks, golds, Kate Spade products and a table full of tasty treats?! My eyes are still seeing hearts!

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I’m absolutely obsessed with Kate Spade these days (for more than just her first name), so of course, I had to find a way to include her iconic style into this Valentine’s Day brunch party!

To create this lovely set-up, I started off with a simple white table cloth and dressed it up with a black and white striped table runner (really basic fabric from Hobby Lobby), which we are seeing in so many of her designs right now. Then I just layered the table with as much pink and gold as possible! Fresh flowers are always a wonderful centerpiece, but if you want to reuse them in the future, many silk arrangements look very real!

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Bed Bath and Beyond carries these adorable pink, gold and white plates and chargers, which I paired with some gold flatware to bring in a touch of “glam.” To add a little bit more of a pink feminine flare, I got some super cheap ribbon from Hobby Lobby and just tied bows around each chair to give the table a more finished and buttoned-up look.

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Finally, to top off the entire tablescape, I found these large 40-inch gold mylar XOXO balloons to tie in the Valentine’s Day theme a bit more. Who doesn’t want some extra X’s and O’s around Valentine’s Day?! (Brb — going to listen to that Elle King song on repeat!) These balloons are so popular and trendy right now, and it is not hard to see why! They could not be any cuter! I got mine from Ella Celebration who worked with me to get exactly what I needed. You can order any letters or numbers that you want, and they are perfect for any gathering or birthday party!

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Of course, no party is complete without a delicious menu! I played matchmaker with some festive recipes… and they make for a wonderful marriage of flavors and colors, if I do say so myself! The deep color of Red Velvet waffles just scream Valentine’s Day, plus who doesn’t want to wake up to a plate of red velvet waffles?! I also just love these adorable Apple Rose tarts. They are little bouquets of deliciousness, and we could all use a few more roses this holiday!

Menu:

Red Velvet Waffles with a Cream Cheese GlazeApple Rose Tarts |

Breakfast Potatoes | Cheesy Quiche |

Raspberry Lemon Cheesecake | Cranberry Pomegranate Mimosa

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This menu is perfect for a relaxed family morning brunch at home or for a more formal brunch with friends and family! Plus each recipe is decently simple and quick, so you can prepare the night before and throw it all together in the morning and enjoy your Valentine’s Day with your loved ones!

How do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? I would love to hear about your favorite traditions in the comments below!

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Design:

Event Styling: The Everyday Hostess

Food & Recipes: The Everyday Hostess

Photography: Stephanie Drenka

 

Products:

XOXO Gold Balloons: Ella Celebration

Cupcake Holders: Bella Cupcake Couture

Kate Spade Pink Napkins: Bed Bath and Beyond

Kate Spade Gold Flatware: Kate Spade

Gold Beaded Napkin Rings: Bed Bath and Beyond

Champagne Flutes: Nordstrom

B by Brandie Black Salad Plate: Bed Bath and Beyond

B by Brandie Gold Dinner Plate: Bed Bath and Beyond

Metallic Candle Holders: Bed Bath and Beyond

Gold Chargers: Bed Bath and Beyond

Pink Peony Flower Arrangement: Wayfair

Black and White Striped Table Runner: Hobby Lobby

Valentine’s Day is almost here! Hooray! No matter what your plans are this holiday, an intimate dinner with your guy or a stylish party with your gals, it’s time to start decorating in all our favorite holiday reds and pinks!

This year, I am bringing out the brightest and boldest shades and having so much fun making my Valentine’s day decor pop, starting with my bar cart!

I’ve partnered with my sweet friends at Swoozies to decorate a festive and stylish Valentine’s Day bar cart. They have the absolute cutest Valentine’s Day party decor (well, really party decor for everything!) but I am just loving their adorable selection of products this year!

Check out all the details and be sure to swing on over to Swoozies online or your local store to create a stunning party!

Happy Valentine’s Day!
xoxox

Kate

Christmas may be over, but winter is still in full force! So before Spring-ing up the home or bringing in splashes of pink and red for Valentine’s Day, I’m enjoying every minute of our winter-y rustic-glam tablescape for the next few weeks! I’m thinking pinecone everything, sleds, and cozy white fur! Still wintery but doesn’t scream Christmas!

I always have an internal battle of whether I want a rustic or glam look during the winter, but this year I thought – why choose?! We can marry these two looks by adding some traditional deeper hues of browns in our pinecone decor, chargers, and adorable little sleds to my favorite gold patterned place settings. The combination creates a perfect blend that ties the whole look together perfectly.

My vision was inspired by these pinecone planters from Ballard Designs. They are supposed to go in little pots on your front door, but who says they can’t double as a table centerpiece? And when paired with this gorgeous faux-fur white table runner…😍Now we’re talkin!

I’ve been eyeing these gold patterned plates, white velvet napkins and agate napkin rings for months now and finally decided to splurge! They bring in the glam touch I wanted for this tablescape, but can be used for all formalities and themes for years to come! I mean come on….I could literally wrap myself in these napkins, they are so lush and gorg!

To tie the whole winter vibe together, I found these adorable little sled ornaments (currently on sale for $3 at Ballard), cut off the ornament string and decided to use them as placecard holders in front of each placesetting!

I could not be more thrilled with how this whole look came together and perfectly brought my rustic glam visions to life! How do you all decorate between Christmas and Valentine’s Day?!

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If you’re anything like my husband and me, you LOVE to escape a mild winter climate for some spring skiing! And, whether you’re looking for some après ski or taking a day off from the slopes, there’s no better way to enjoy quality time with your Mr. or Mrs. on the mountain than with this wintry picnic and a glass of Le Grand Courtage bubbly!

A little rustic flare beautifully complements our snowy backdrop. Who doesn’t like hammered copper? (It’s not just for Moscow mule mugs, folks!) The copper pitcher and vase blend with the earthy color palette of the tablecloth, napkins and chargers. And, oh my gosh, the geode napkin ring is the perfect pop of color to make your setting stand out! 

Cupid’s making his debut in just a few days, but it’s not too late to plan the perfect romantic dinner for your Valentine!

If you’re like me and you missed the reservation window for all your favorite restaurants in town, or if you just prefer to skip the crowds and enjoy a quiet night at home with your sweetheart, we’ve got everything you need to put together a trendy, stylish, and romantic night at home! Cheers and Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Hot Chocolate Bars are the perfect addition to any winter party. Whether you’re inviting some friends over for a low key hang out or looking for a reason to celebrate and want to throw a winter soiree before Valentine’s Day, a hot chocolate bar is the perfect set up to include!

We recently shared all our Hot Chocolate Party Entertaining Essentials but if you’re looking for a little extra inspo, we’ve got you covered here too! Check out some of our favorite Hot Chocolate Bars from our fellow styling friends to help getting those juices flowing!

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January is the hostess’s purgatory. Santa is on sabbatical and Cupid hasn’t yet strung his bow, plus we’re all still focusing on our New Year’s resolutions.

But we’ve got just the party for you that’ll warm you up and doesn’t have to count as a full “cheat day” — a hot chocolate party! It’s chilly all over the U-S of A, and who doesn’t love snuggling up with a blanket and a mug of hot cocoa?!

To help inspire you and pull your gathering together, we’ve rounded up a few of our entertaining essentials for hosting a kick a** hot chocolate bar party! Enjoy!

 

The Essentials:

 PS! If you really want to mix up your party and make it more interactive, consider making these hot chocolate mason jar gifts with your guests! Or check out this post for some Hot Chocolate Party Inspiration!

Also – Pro tip: Add Bailey’s. Always add Bailey’s (21 and up, of course!)

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The Christmas countdown is on! All of our focus is on the final details of pulling together the perfect Christmas celebration – wrapping those final gifts, touching up the Christmas tree, and setting the table for your Christmas feast.

But don’t forget! New Year’s Eve is just around the corner as well, and we need to find the perfect gift for the hostess of your upcoming NYE party!

You’re in luck and we’ve done all the heavy lifting for you and found the absolute PERFECT hostess gift – Le Grand Courtage Blanc de Blancs Brut Bedazzled Bottle

Let’s be real. Whether it’s for general levity or to get you through that awkward politics discussion with your uncle, there are plenty of reasons to have a drink around Christmas time.

But, if your family is like mine, that family time often includes little kiddos running around. Couple that with the fact that we here at The Everyday Hostess run a family-friendly operation, there can’t always be Bailey’s in the hot cocoa or rum in the eggnog.

So we’ve channeled our inner bartender and thought up some drink recipes that can be easily adult-ified (I’ll have one, please and thank you) or toned down for the munchkins.

“Reindeer bubbles”

Raise your hand if you like champagne! Whether it’s Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s, or a random Tuesday evening on the couch — oops, did I just say that out loud? — it’s never a bad time for some bubbly.