Easy Ways to Get Ready for Holiday Guests
This post is sponsored by Spot Shot® Instant Carpet Stain Remover. All opinions are my own.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and it’s the most social time of the year, too! Making memories with family and friends is one of the best parts of the holidays, and with a little pre-planning, it doesn’t have to be stressful.
Today I’m going to share a few easy tips that will keep your holiday game on track, whether you’re hosting a huge bash, a quiet dinner, or a house full of guests.
Plan Ahead
A little preplanning goes a long way when it comes to reducing entertaining stress. I keep the ingredients for a few easy appetizer ideas on hand at all times during November and December in case friends drop by, and I try to double (and then freeze) some of our favorite meals for the same reason.
If you like to plan out your holiday on paper, then let me recommend our holiday planner. Download it for free and then print it at home or the office supply store.
Just enter your name and email address and click below to download our 22-page holiday printable planner. It’s our gift to you!
2019 Holiday Gift Guide for Women & Girls
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How To Make Your Home Smell Delicious for the Holidays
This post is sponsored by Greenleaf Gifts. So many things make up the magic of the holidays, but one of the most important to me are the smells. The aroma of sugar cookies baking or a fresh cut pine immediately evoke a feeling of Christmas comfort and joy. Today I wanted to share my … [Read More...]
A Season of Giving 2019
We've taken a few years off from our A Season of Giving series, but I decided that this year was a great time to revisit it, especially since we have so many new readers who might not be familiar with it. If you're like me, you struggle to find a balance between the festive trimmings of the … [Read More...]
Our Favorite Affordable Christmas Trees & Decor
If you haven't started decorating for the holidays or if you are, like me, half-finished and surrounded by bins I thought today would be a good time to talk about our favorite holiday decor items. There is nothing like ordering the things you need from the comfort of your couch, right? These are … [Read More...]
What to Wear, Drink, Eat & Bring for Thanksgiving
Today we have the ultimate Thanksgiving guide for you, our annual take on what to wear, eat, drink and bring for your Thanksgiving celebration! What to Wear, Eat, Drink and Bring to Thanksgiving These posts are always fun, we try to do them in advance of each holiday. Because a major … [Read More...]
My Evening Routine (Day in the Life Series)
It's time for another installment in our Day in the Life series, and today I'm going to talk about my typical evening routine. Dinner time often happens in shifts at our house; my husband and I usually eat when he gets home from work around 7pm, and then my daughter eats a light meal when she … [Read More...]
Our Favorite Holiday Hostess Gift Ideas
I used to be the "designated hostess" for Thanksgiving, but for the last few years we've spent it with our good friends, Scott and Becky, who used to be our next door neighbors when we lived in Savannah. When he retired from the Army, they relocated to Cary, which is only about an hour north of us. … [Read More...]
How to Easily Paint Ceilings and Stairwells Without Ladders or Scaffolding
This post is sponsored by HomeRight. All opinions are my own. If you've been following my progress at Magnolia Cottage, then you know that I've done a TON of painting since we moved here in July. Every room has been painted, with the exception of the kitchen and laundry room (and I'm not ruling … [Read More...]
The 2019 Holiday Planner is HERE!
Each year we bring you what we believe is the best way to get organized for the coming chaotic, fun, and hopefully memorable holiday season--the 11 Magnolia Lane Holiday Planner! The 2019 Free Holiday Printable Planner So yet again, I have had Christmas decorations, gift lists, party plans … [Read More...]
A Rustic And Glam Tablescape for the Holidays
Now that Halloween has come and gone, the blog world turns to all things holiday! Right? Today I have a Rustic + Luxurious tablescape to share with you all. While this table setting has a holiday look it is perfect for Thanksgiving too. This post is sponsored by Walmart in … [Read More...]
All Things Halloween (& Our Fall Porch)
Happy almost Halloween! We're back today with some fun Halloween inspiration to share. I have already shown you our Halloween tablescape in this post. It has been a nice change to detour from fall decor this year to decorate for Halloween, I can always get behind using black and white in … [Read More...]
My Morning Routine (Day in the Life Series)
Good morning and happy Monday! Today it's my turn to share my morning routine with you as part of our ongoing A Day in the Life series. Amy shared hers just a couple of weeks ago, and if you missed it you can read all about it here. As I was thinking about writing this post it hit me that my … [Read More...]
