Last year, we were treated to holiday tips
and beauty from stylemaker, shop owner and blogger Tina of
The Enchanted Home,
a beautiful blog and shop where
classic, traditional, and timeless design
reign supremely and blue and white are best friends.

(She lives in this enchanting French chateau, the construction of which she
chronicled on her charming blog.)

Tina has created a gorgeous home for
her loved ones, and she kindly extends
the enchantment to her readers.

Her sense of joy for house and home is inspiring,
and I suspect the secret to her success as
a designer, influencer, and shop owner is
her blessed gift for hospitality.

We may not have the pleasure of visiting
her enchanting abode in person, but
Tina invests so much heart into each post
and shares so freely her tried and true
recipes and ideas, that she essentially
invites us to enter the gates and to
dine at the table.

And don’t we all want to be invited to the table?

 6 Enchanting Hospitality & Holiday Decorating Ideas

Your approach to holiday decor…one fell swoop or gradual?

Tip No. 1

My planning falls into the category of several
“mini stages.” I wish I could say I had a master plan
like some and did it all in one day with a formal list
of “to do’s” and military-like precision, but my nature
is much more free spirited and pretty spontaneous
with changes often happening at a moments notice.

Somehow, it all comes together.
I normally start after Thanksgiving (in recent years)
and tweak until right before Christmas!

Does your holiday decor evolve from year to year?

Tip No. 2

My approach to decorating changes a bit year to year.
This year it’s all about mostly blue and white,
white holiday flowers (amaryllis and paperwhites),
and touches of gold.

Walk me through an ideal evening of holiday entertaining
at The Enchanted Home…
what is engaging my eyes, nose, ears, and tongue?

Tip No. 3

Oh boy, well we do hold an annual Christmas party
for our families so that’s always a fun and festive night.
It starts with my waking up early and prepping
all throughout the day…with food, dishes,
flowers, and gifts ever present.

I take what I serve seriously, and my kitchen
island will be full of all kinds of things from
baked goods to cheeses, fruit and specialty items
from a local Italian specialty shop
so I can make one of my big antipasta platters
everyone looks forward to.

There will be dough for cookie baking
and plenty of ingredients for whatever I plan
to be making that night.

You will smell a baked brie in the oven along
with specialty holiday cookies that I make every year.

There will be lots of other good things happening,
a plethora of yummy sights and scents.
And in my kitchen, it’s unlimited “taste testing!”

I will be sure to have Christmas music playing
and a beautifully scented candle burning
to add to the holiday magic.

I always set a time “to be done by” and allow myself
an hour or so of total rest, normally that means
a bubble bath around 3 pm and a chance
to rest my feet.

By 5 p.m., the lights come on, the music gets
turned up, and the kitchen becomes holiday
party central…there is a fun buzz in the air,
and it’s a sure sign the holidays have arrived!

We usually have one or two trees, but my sister is famous for having nine, how about you…and do you get creative with decorating the Christmas tree?

Tip No. 4

I normally only have one tree.
I used to put a tree in my son’s room (per his request)
since he loved colored lights and I only wanted white…
this way he got his wish!

I think one day when I have grand kids,
I will put up a second tree and allow them to
decorate it to their hearts’ content.

I think it will be a fun tradition so with every year
they can add on ornaments of their choosing.
But for now it’s one big one right in my foyer.

In terms of a special holiday meal,
what would your dream menu include?

Tip No. 5 

Call me sentimental, a creature of habit, or plain lazy
but, I do love the traditional turkey dinner we
always have on Christmas day.

It’s been that way for so long it would feel
sacrilegious to have anything else.
However if I wanted to change it up
and as long as I am dreaming….

It would have to start with a champagne toast!
Then we would move onto a caviar crostini (yum)
followed by a cold crabmeat cocktail.

For dinner I am thinking something really decadent
like a rich seafood casserole, a petite filet mignon
with a side of grilled asparagus.

For dessert a delicious moist fudgy chocolate
torte cake with cream fraiche and berries
would do just fine with a well prepared cappuccino
(sounds like stretchy pants would be a prerequisite
to indulging in this decadent meal).

Sounds good to me, especially if there are
leftovers for the next day!

The last tip is actually a little holiday treat
I dreamed up for my friend Tina
because she is such a treasure.

 

Tip No. 6

I re-visited her post from Christmas 2015
and noted she had crafted a brilliant holiday checklist.

I organized that brainstormed list
into a simple graphic
to share with everyone with hopes to
“be a little more organized next year.”

 Who doesn’t need more organizing help?

From Hello Lovely with love, enjoy an Enchanted Holiday Checklist via Tina and The Enchanted Home:

With these tips from Tina for an enchanting holiday, let’s ditch chaotic and frazzled for:

Thanks so much for the Enchanting Holiday Tips, Tina!
Thank you, Michele, for allowing me to visit
your lovely blog and spread some holiday cheer…
happy holidays to all!

Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

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