Holiday Entertaining Made Easy!

A seasonal spin on classic faves keeps entertaining simple

From the LifeMinute Team

November 21, 2014

Hosting the holidays this year? In theory, it sounds delightful but in reality, it can be a lot of pressure. Our advice? Focus on food and fragrance -- key elements in creating holiday ambience -- and the rest will fall into place. And, according to Lifestyle Expert Kris Schoels, it's no time to get ambitious. Relying on fresh seasonal twists to some of your trusted favorites can make holiday entertaining simple.

Fragrance

There's no shame in being a store-bought cookies and artificial tree kind of hostess, but the one thing you lose are those seasonal scents that make your home feel holiday-friendly. For this, Kris recommends the Enchanted Holiday collection, crafted by the fragrance experts over at Air Wick. "The collection features comforting fragrances that really enhance the ambience in your home," says Kris, "The candles also have a designer look with a label that even peels off so that you can blend it in with your own dcor." With ample options in terms of scents (Mrs. Claus' Apple Pie, Frosted Vanilla & Cupcake Delight, Evergreen Adventure and more!) and style (scented oils, wax melts, Freshmatics and candles!), you'll find the right fit for every room in your home. "And candles can be so expensive," adds Kris, "But these are a steal." How much of a steal? Just $5 each at Walmart. And this December, Air Wick is giving you a chance to win a candle for yourself and a loved one, so check out Air Wick's Facebook page (facebook.com/AirWickUS) to help share the air.

Food

One-stop shopping can be tricky when it comes to holiday entertaining because there are few places that cover everything on your list. But Kris' go-to is Bed, Bath and Beyond. "It's just a great place to go to make preparing for your holiday entertaining as easy and stress-free as possible," explains Kris, "They have all the entertaining and cooking essentials needed to create a beautiful holiday meal and tablescape, from turkey tools and serving pieces to tablecloths and centerpieces for any taste and budget." What else do they have? Ideas! Try their super tips for throwing fun holiday parties and tackling the decorating -- and some mouthwatering recipes, too. You'll find it all on the Bed, Bath and Beyond "Above & Beyond" blog at blog.BedBathandBeyond.com.

Now, getting back to those store-bought cookies... This is where you want to go with a classic. Kris says, "It's all about the food, and for the first time ever, in over 100 years, Lance has come out with a Limited Edition line of Seasonal Favorites sandwich cookies to celebrate the holiday season; they come in three nostalgic flavors: Sprinkled Sugar Cookie with Sweet Creme Filling, Chocolate Nekot with Mint Filling and Nekot with Pumpkin Cheesecake Filling. They combine the brand's best-selling cookies with the season's most popular flavors; they can serve as a festive treat to nibble on, they're even a great stocking stuffer and a perfect on-the-go snack to tie your kids over when you're traveling." You can pick them up at Walmart and various grocery stores for $2.99, and for your cookie fix in the New Year, you can always try any of their other favorites like Whole Grain or Toast Chee. Kris points out, "[They're] all made with real ingredients like freshly ground peanut butter and contain up to six grams of protein." Get more info at www.lance.com.

And for more entertaining and lifestyle tips for the holidays and all year round, check out Kris' web site TheChicWife.com.

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