Tips and Tricks: Holiday Guide

The most wonderful time of year is finally here! The holiday season is a time of joy and fun, but it can often leave us feeling slightly overwhelmed or unprepared for the traditions that accompany the season. You have no need to fear – we’ve got you covered with our holiday guide! Here are some tips and tricks for hosting hacks, last-minute gift ideas and holiday activities to enjoy with loved ones.

Hosting Hacks

Hosting your loved ones for the holidays doesn’t need to be stressful! It all comes down to planning and avoiding procrastination. Here are some tips that will help you get ready for your holiday party:

• Cook what you can freeze – When you have a multi-course meal to prepare, it is a great idea to prepare dishes, like an apple pie, beforehand that can be frozen and stored. By doing so, you can save on time, energy and kitchen space during the day of your holiday gathering!
• Make a list – Even if you’re not a planner, having a visual game plan is incredibly helpful when you have a wide multitude of things to prepare. Separate your list into different categories such as shopping items, a menu, decorations and cleaning, checking off completed items as you go. You will thank yourself later for being organized!
• Serve food buffet-style – This is a lifesaver when you are hosting a large number of people. Put food and drinks on opposite sides of the room to prevent crowding and spillage.

Last-Minute Gift Ideas

You missed Black Friday sales, and you don’t want to walk through crowded malls, so now you’re scrambling to figure out what to buy your loved ones. No need to worry, here are a few great ideas that are easy to attain and sure to be popular with whoever is receiving your gift!

• Echo Dot Smark Speaker – Alexa, order Amazon Echo! Thanks to Amazon Prime shipping, this little gadget/personal assistant will arrive on time and can play music, answer questions about the weather, read text aloud and more.
• Spafinder Gift Card – Everyone loves a spa day. Spafinder lets you search thousands of spa locations and services across the country, and their universal gift cards can be conveniently emailed, mailed or printed.
• Master Class Subscription – For your friend who loves to learn or has many passions, Master Class is the gift that keeps on giving. With Master Class, you can learn from the best in the world on a wide variety of subjects such as ballet from Misty Copeland, cooking from Gordon Ramsey, guitar from Carlos Santana and so much more!

Holiday Activities

Perhaps you have beloved traditions that you enjoy each holiday season, but maybe you are looking for fun new things to add that will be enjoyed by all. If you need some inspiration, we’ve collected a few ideas for you!

• Bake Christmas tree pull-apart bread – Not only is this recipe delicious, it can be ready in less than half an hour and is easily adaptable to your tastes. You can arrange the bread into any shape you would like, but this dish is sure to go quickly!
• Hallmark movie watching – Christmas movies are a classic way to get in the holiday spirit. If you’re wanting to watch new holiday films, Hallmark’s 10th Anniversary of their Countdown to Christmas is debuting 40 new Hallmark Christmas movies.
• International Winter Wonderland – Presented by the Georgia World Congress Center, the International Winter Wonderland is a wonderful way to experience different cultures’ holiday celebrations. The experience will feature live entertainment, cultural foods and interactive activities from various countries around the world.