Get Ready To Celebrate!

Wouldn't it be nice to wake up one morning and discover your home decorated in its finest party-ready garb? Our Southern Living Foods, Homes, Gardens, and Photography teams took on one of our most interesting challenges: to transform an entire house from everyday to holiday in just one week. Our goal was to experience the blitz of decorating, cooking, and hosting guests-just like you do every year. Once the last bit of tinsel was on the tree, we gathered our 12 best ideas plus other reminders and practical hints we couldn't resist sharing with you. Think of these pages as our gift to you, to be unwrapped room by room. Our quick tips and inspiring photos will guide you to the most memorable holiday season ever.

1. Smart Planning
Involve your family in the fun of preparing for a party. Forbig gatherings, shop two weeks before the event for nonperishableand frozen items. Keep ingredients all together in bags in one areaof your pantry or freezer, instead of storing them with youreveryday items. Shop three to five days ahead for perishables, andtry to keep the day-before-the-party shopping list to fewer than 10items.

2. Making Christmas Magic
Use metallic versions of your room's colors for decorationsand for gift wrap. Add soft pillows in shades of red and green, anddisplay candles, gifts, and ornaments on your coffee table andseveral smaller tables. A beautiful tree, plenty of naturalgreenery, and the surprise of a few African violets set the stagefor inspired entertaining.

3. A Stunning Mantel in No Time
Trim the mantelpiece with a length of garland purchased at atree lot, or cover it with pieces of cedar or fir. Check thegreenery weekly, and replace it when it dries out. Use poinsettiasto fill the fireplace when it's not in use, and don't forget thestockings.

Create an elegant look by weaving strands of intricatebeads-such as those used on your tree-through lengths of theevergreen garland. Tuck in gold leaves in the same direction as thegreenery. When draping garland, don't try to be too perfect-layersof uneven swags offer more drama and can hide tired foliage.

Pretty on a Pedestal
Make an empty tabletop holiday ready by clustering some ofyour favorite ornaments on a tiered server or cake stand. Completeyour creation with a touch of greenery, a few gold leaves, and acandle.

4. Lights, Ribbon, Action!
For a tree that seems to shine from the center, concentrateseveral strands of large globe-shaped tree lights near the trunk.Then run plenty of strands of twinkle lights close to branchtips.

To fill openings in tree, crumple 3-foot-long pieces of wideraffia ribbon, and insert them between branches. Arrange shinyornaments to bask in the glow of the lights. For added color, trimyour tree with beaded garland, stems of gold leaves, and smallbunches of painted twigs.

Decorate With Gorgeous Gifts
Who can resist trying to guess what lies inside lovely giftssuch as these? For a well-coordinated look (especially when giftsare arrayed beneath the tree), choose wrapping paper and ribbonthat complement the colors used in your rooms. Incorporate a rangeof solid colors and glitzy patterns. For added flair, double up onribbons-two different kinds for each box.

5. Ornaments in Full Bloom
For a refreshing and unique touch, display mini Africanviolets among the tree branches. Insert the plants in golden coneornaments to make jewel-like accents, and keep them happy bywatering twice a week. For continuity, display these exquisiteblooms in other rooms during the holidays.

6. A Chandelier That Outshines
This year, accent your light fixture by hanging ornamentsfrom it. It took just an hour to hang these transparent glassornaments with pieces of narrow ribbon. Other tricks to try:Suspend little glass vases filled with flowers from gold cording;wrap tiny party favors, and hang them from the chandelier. Afterthe event, cut the ribbons, and present a favor to each guest.

Secrets to Casual Entertaining Provide inviting spots fordining. Hosting a party is almost effortless when guests servethemselves. Have well-set tables ready for friends to enjoy yourscrumptious menu along with the good company. Here, the kitchenflows into the breakfast room that seats eight. If you need extraseating, set up a few small tables in the family room and place asmall decoration on each table. Also, remember the little ones:They love to have their own table. Go with melamine, plastic, orpaper dishes, and tuck a violet in a basket for a mini-version ofthe grown-ups' centerpiece.

Keep your table settings stress-free. Start with tablewarethat you have on hand, including everyday dishes and glasses,simple place mats, and colorful napkins. Use these elements inunexpected ways. Turn place mats lengthwise, allowing them to hangover the edge of the table. Tuck the other end slightly under thetable runner so the place mats don't detract from the centerpiece.Mix patterns, stripes, and solids to achieve a high-end look.

Keep cool until the last plate is washed. Rather than stackused dishes in the sink, find another convenient place to put them.Partially fill a large cooler with soap and water, and carefullyslide the dishes in (no sharp knives, please). Close the lid, anddirty dishes are out of sight and out of mind until after guestsleave.

7. Easy Look, Fancy Payoff
In no time you can put together a centerpiece for your diningtable that will earn a big "wow" factor. Fill basic glass cylindervases with glass beads and jewel-like berries, and settle anAfrican violet into each one. Relax the look with pomegranates thatyou've cut in half and placed in the center of square silver trays.(Insert a chef's knife just into the top of the pomegranate, androck the knife until the fruit splits open.) Fill in the trays withvivid clusters of kumquats, limes, and lemons, and then scattervotive candles throughout the centerpiece for added glow.

8. Greet your guests with a signature drink.
Cranberry-rosemary stir sticks are fun garnishes for Frozen Cranberry Margaritos, iced tea, or water. Choose hearty 6-inch-long rosemary sprigs; remove leaves from bottom 4 inches, and use for cooking. Thread cranberries on the rosemary stem. Offer tie-on gift tags as wine charms to mark each person's glass.

9. Start the Party With Style
Don't eat Ham-and-CheeseSkewers a piece at a time. Enjoy all the pieces at once tofully experience the smoky-sweet flavor and creamy-crisp texture ofthese appetizers. Ask a guest or two to serve, or place on a coffeeor sofa table.

Stash a few recipes of HotRoast Beef Party Sandwiches in the freezer for tree-trimmingnibbles, unexpected guests, or an open house. Max freezing time isone month, so stock the freezer early in November for Thanksgivingentertaining and early in December for Christmas and New Year'sparties.

Mix-and-Mingle Appetizers
SouthernShrimp Cocktails are perfect to kick off a dinner party or toserve in the living room at an open house. Allow two or threecocktails per guest.

10. Gather for Sweets
When you pick one theme, it's easy to entertain. In ourdining room, we whipped up a dessert party with cookies, dip, andfruit. That's right-no silverware required. If your table looks alittle lonely once the chairs are pulled away, just slide a fewback in place. Fill space under the table with a largepoinsettia.

It Only Takes Five Minutes
A rich swirl of quick and divine Brandy-VanillaCheesecake Dip tips the end of a purchased pirouettecookie.

11. Merriment on the Windowsill
March small potted poinsettias across your windowsill. Theimpact is big for the price you pay-about $3 each. If yours is asouth- or west-facing window, take note: Tender bracts may burn ifthe sun's rays are strong. Instead, suspend snowflake ornaments atyour window, and arrange treelike cones on a nearby table orsurface.

12. Bubbly on a Budget
Take time to toast the season. Good quality sparkling winesare available for less than $15. Executive Editor and wine expertScott Jones recommends the following.
•Blanc de Blancs, Domaine Ste. Michelle, Washington
• Brut, Reserva,Cava Jaume Serra, Spain
• Prosecco di Valdobbiadene, Mionetto,Italy