Care Instructions for a Live Christmas Tree

Having a live tree in your house at Christmas can make your home feel just a little more festive and bring joy to your entire family. Many people, however, choose not to buy a real tree because they believe that it will not last throughout the holiday season and they'll be left with a dead tree by Christmas. This is simply not the case. A real tree can certainly survive through the holidays if it is properly tended and selected with care. All it takes is a little knowledge.

Keeping your tree fresh through the holidays begins with the selection of your tree. There are really two options: a potted tree or a cut tree. If you decide to purchase a potted tree, ensure that it has been watered properly and appears to be in good health. Examine the bark for any damage, and if any bark is missing, find another tree. Give your potential tree a little shake to see how many needles drop. A few is normal, but too many fallen needles indicates dehydration. Also check for any dead needles or branches.

Most people will choose a cut tree for the holidays. These same tests can be performed on a cut tree as on a potted tree. Additionally, with a cut tree, you’ll want to examine the bottom of the trunk for excessive damage which may have caused trauma to the tree. Before leaving the lot, ask an attendant to cut two to three inches off the end of the trunk. This will allow the tree to absorb water more efficiently once you get the tree home.

Get your tree into water as soon as you get it home. If you’re not going to put your tree up immediately upon your return, leave it outside with a source of water. Christmas trees actually like the colder weather, so don’t worry that the cooler December temperatures will damage your new tree. You will want to check the water to make sure it hasn't frozen.

If possible, use a plastic tree stand. Metal tree holders can puncture the bark of the tree, which can cause a loss of sap. This will weaken the tree, making it wilt that much sooner. In addition, the larger your tree stand is, the fewer times you’ll have to add water. At any rate, check the water levels every day. You don’t want your tree to dehydrate, or it will become a fire hazard as it dries out. It will also begin to wilt, and possibly even die. To provide more protection for your Christmas tree, look for those holiday lights that give off the least amount of heat.

If you want your tree to truly last through the holidays, it will need more than just water. Trees, like people, need nutrients in order to thrive. To make your own tree food, combine four cups of water with two cups of corn syrup. Boil this mixture for five minutes, allow to cool, and poor it into your tree stand. You can, if you like, add some iron supplements (but no more than three tablets, crushed) and a tablespoon of bleach. Do not add too much bleach or you could damage the tree. Alternatively, you could purchase Christmas tree food, sold at many locations during the holidays.

Caring for your live Christmas tree is simple and well worth the effort. Treat your tree with care, and it will bring joy to you, your family, and your guests throughout the holiday season.

Holiday Party Tips for Mothers on a Budget

Gathering friends and family together over the holidays is a tradition for many people. But for those on a budget, hosting a holiday party can seem like an impossible task. There are decorations to buy, drinks to supply, and food to prepare. However, it is possible to host a holiday party within your budget, if you plan ahead and make some careful decisions.

Start by saving money on the invitations. You don’t need an expensive invitation to invite people to your home. Try printing them yourself, or really save some money and send all your invitations using the Internet.

One area where a lot of people spend too much is decorations. You don’t have to purchase expensive decorations year after year. A bowl filled with candy or ornaments can be a beautiful centerpiece. Use the decorations you already have to liven up your holiday party. Dress the tree, hang the stockings, and rummage through your existing decorations to set a wonderful ambiance. To save a little time, effort, and money, don’t decorate those rooms that will not be used for the party.

A beautiful and well laid table doesn’t have to be expensive. You shouldn’t feel like you have to go out and buy all new linens every year. Use what you have, and make the table unique with the use of candles, sparkles, and maybe an ornament or two scattered around the table for fun.

Consider holding the party in your own home or the home of a friend. Renting a space can be a huge cost, and an unnecessary one. Also try cutting down on the guest list. Large parties incur larger expenses.

Food can be expensive. You can lighten this cost in a couple different ways. Choose simple foods that everyone will love. Remember that there will probably be leftovers, so only use foods that you’ll want to eat the day after. You can also ask that everyone bring a dish. Perhaps you could supply the main course, and ask your guests to supply dessert or appetizers. Not only will this reduce the amount you have to spend, but it will cut down on your preparation time. To really save money on food, don’t hold your party during mealtimes at all, but offer cocktails and snacks instead.

If you really want to save money when planning a holiday party, don’t offer an open bar. Choose one or two drinks that people truly enjoy, and limit yourself to that. Let your guests know that they are more than welcome to bring their own favorite drink to contribute to the party. As an alternative, host an alcohol-free party this year. Non-alcoholic drinks are typically far less expensive.

Everyone likes to give gifts, but in a group of perhaps twenty guests, this can get prohibitively expensive. Encourage your guests to bring items for donation to a local shelter or organization. Appropriate donations can include non-perishables and canned goods. In this way, everyone can enjoy the spirit of giving without breaking the bank.

Spice up any party with fun holiday games that don’t cost anything at all. Try holiday trivia or holiday charades. If children are involved, try decorating cookies or other holiday treats that can also serve as dessert. Entertaining your holiday guests doesn't have to be expensive. Get just a little creative, and everyone will have plenty of fun, and you’ll still stay on budget.

Remember that holiday entertaining doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Your guests are your friends, and they value your company. They won’t be disappointed if you don’t spend every penny you have on them.

How to Spruce Up Your Home Before a Holiday Party

Holiday parties are a tradition in many households, and hosting one can be a fulfilling experience. Perhaps you’ve spent weeks preparing for this party, meticulously mapping out each and every aspect. Maybe it’s been a truly last-minute affair. Regardless, you probably want things to be just a little more festive, to add a little more atmosphere to your event. There are many suggestions as to how you can spruce up your home right before your holiday party.

Take a look around and decide which rooms you want to use for the party, and close the doors to any other rooms. Focus only on the areas that will be used by your guests. Check to make sure that these areas are clean and clutter free, and then remove anything breakable. Also remove anything that might be in the way, and add more seating if you have to. Make sure your kitchen is clean (if you're looking to add some holiday scent, use pine scented cleaner), and put any used dishes in the dishwasher. Clear out your hall closet to make room for the coats and boots of your guests.

Once your home is clean and prepared for guests, analyze your décor. If you have any unused strings of lights, pull them out and find places for them. They can be draped over doorways, wrapped around banisters, or simply placed on a mantel or window pane. Garland, which is relatively inexpensive, can be used in many of the same ways. Combine lights with garland for a truly sparkling effect.

Candlelight is warm and inviting, so gather up some candles and start placing them in strategic locations such as on the mantel, tables, sideboards, or anywhere else you can think of. If you have wall-mounted or hanging holders, especially if they’re particularly festive, use them if you can. Try adding glass beads or crushed glass at the base of the candles for added ambiance. If using scented candles, make sure the scents all complement each other. Keep scented candles off the dinner table, as they could interfere with enjoying your meal.

Exchange your regular throw pillows for more festive ones. These can be found at your local craft or discount store, and do much to enhance your décor. Consider a holiday throw as well, and perhaps a wreath or two scattered through the party areas, especially on doors. If your tree looks a little bare, add a few ornaments before guests arrive, and don't forget to plug in the lights. If you have pictures on the wall that you don't want to take down, consider making them more festive. Picture frames are easily wrapped to look like presents, and will almost certainly get some interesting comments from your guests.

Add some scent to your home. This can be done in a variety of way. Try using festive scented candles, air fresheners, or throw a batch of cookies in the oven. The right scent during your party will make your guests feel relaxed and welcome in your home.

Turn your attention to the outside of your home. Add a wreath, mistletoe, holly, even some jingle bells to make your front door seem a little more festive. Sprinkle some holiday sequence or red and green sparkles on the snow outside your door. If you have holiday lights on the exterior of your home, the sparkles will reflect the light and look very cheerful.

Ultimately, a holiday party is a chance to spend some time with your guests and enjoy yourself. Complete your last-minute sprucing up, and then take pleasure in your evening with friends and family.

Christmas Dinner Seating Strategies

When hosting a Christmas dinner for your family, friends, or coworkers, seating your guests can sometimes present a problem. If your gathering is informal, such as buffet-style or cocktail, then seating may not be an issue. However, if you intend on a more formal Christmas party, you should take a few moments to consider seating arrangements, and hopefully before they begin arriving.

Seat those people together who have something in common. If people have something in common, then their conversation can be more than just small talk, even if they don’t know each other. In general, you should not seat people together if they don’t know each other and you can’t envision them having something to talk about. You know your guests, so if you don’t think they have something in common, then they probably don’t.

If you know that two people don’t get along, don’t seat them together. If you do, you’re only asking for trouble. If your uncle hasn’t spoken to your cousin in ten years, you should probably respect that and seat them with other people, and not beside each other (and maybe not even across from each other). Christmas dinner may not be the time to try to resolve old hurts, especially in front of everyone.

Make absolutely sure that you keep couples together, unless you know that they won’t mind being split up. They, obviously, have something in common and will have much to talk about. In addition, they probably expect to be seated together, and may be offended if separated.

Remember that this is a Christmas party, not a matchmaking party. Don’t seat people together with the hopes that they’ll become a couple. You’re supposed to be the host, not the resident matchmaker. You’ll be the one they blame when they didn’t have an enjoyable evening. If you get a reputation for trying to fix up everyone who comes to your parties, you’ll soon notice a decline in the number of guests you can attract.

If you’re mixing friends and family, don’t make your friends feel uncomfortable by seating them apart from your family. You like your friends, and your family will too. Mix them in amongst your family, seating them with anyone they can have meaningful conversation with. Everyone will feel more comfortable, and your friends will thank you later for making them feel included.

Consider setting up a special table for children. This is not impolite, but rather a courtesy. Children have more in common with other children, and they tend to enjoy the feel of a less formal table. Ensure, however, that this table is in the same room as the adult table. You want the children to feel included and special, not banished to another part of the house. Allow teenagers to choose which table they’d like to sit at. Some teens will be more comfortable with the children, but others, especially the older teens, would rather be seated with the adults.

If you have a large group, you should try to have several smaller tables, rather than one long dining table. A longer table with more than about eight people encourages shouting in order to be heard by someone at the other end. Separating people into smaller groups will keep everyone a little quieter, and has a more intimate feel.

If you want to keep difficulties to a minimum, make up several bowls of each dish, instead of one larger dish. This will eliminate the reaching and constant prattle: “Could you pass that stuffing … again?” It sometimes helps to use centerpieces and decorations to divide the table somewhat. That way, you might be able to prevent all three bowls of stuffing from ending up at the same end of the table. And, if you have people with special diets, such as vegetarians, you can set them all together and make everyone more comfortable by not placing the turkey or the ham directly in front of a vegetarian.

Remember that a Christmas party is supposed to be fun. Don’t stress yourself unduly. Seating arrangements should be based on compatible personalities, and since you know everyone you’re inviting, you’ll figure it out. When your guests finally start arriving, put aside your worries about who will sit where, and just enjoy yourself.