'Holiday Host with the Most'

DIY Pinecone Garland

The holiday party invites have already gone out and is days away. Now it’s time to prepare: last-minute party decorating, furniture rearranging and food prepping.

With this being my first time as host, how can I make sure my party is memorable and fun for my guests? I referred to my style magazines and searched online fashion & décor blogs for inspiration.

Here’s what I’ve come up with:

Pinecone Swagger

Instead of stringing the usual garland on banisters and everywhere else in the home, trade in the verdant garland for some home-strung pinecones (see above). Have the kids collect a bunch of pinecones outside and create your own mixed-cone garland. Use some picture-hangar wire and a tiny drill to string the garland yourself.

Know Your Place

A little gingerbread cookie before dinner won’t spoil your appetite. Decorate gingerbread cookies with the names of your guests and place the cookies in their rightful table seating arrangement. Help your guests find their seat and give them a nice sugary treat before you can say: "Dinner is served!"

Get Cozy

Keep this sherpa blanket on hand for chilly guests

Keep your guests warm and enrich your home with a seasonal fire. If you have a fireplace, wrap eucalyptus, pine cones and cinnamon sticks into rolls of newspaper and add it to the fire. For the when the fire starts to wane, keep a Sherpa blanket (now 30% off at Decor Innovation) on hand for any chilly guests.

Red, red wine

Inject some holiday glamour into your glassware with a set of bold red wine glasses. Offer the glasses to your guests on a silver tray decorated with short strands of garland and crabapples. The idea is not to be afraid to get festive and decorate where you would least expect it.

Party Presents

Presents for guests on the go

Don’t send your guests home empty-handed. Give them a little something to remember you by with party favors made from small, wrapped gift boxes. Fill the tiny presents with chocolates, holiday ribbon candy, mints or similar treats. Wrap the boxes on your own or shop for already-made gift boxes at your local party store.

Let the holiday spirit make this one party the guests will remember for years to come.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photo courtesy of msn.com; decorinnovation