The Holiday Season is Just Around the Corner! Here’s How to Prepare.

It’s a great feeling to start fresh and get ready to entertain your loved ones during the holiday season. But honestly, every time I hear the word holiday, I have a moment of panic. Then I reel it back to what I always preach, and that is to plan.  

For Thanksgiving, brown and gold were the stars of the show. You could also use leftover gourds from Halloween and add a bouquet of feathers instead of flowers to a vase. (Submitted photo)

Now is the time to visit the ole storage unit, go to your garage or climb into your attic to take inventory. Each time I have done this, I’ve realized it’s time to purge what you don’t use and resurge the favorite things you do. Getting started can feel intimidating, but don’t worry – Heda The Table is here for you!  

Cinnamon sticks were added to each napkin setting for a cozy aromatic experience for a Thanksgiving table. (Submitted photo

Here are three helpful tips to make going through your inventory less stressful and more like a walk down memory lane: 

1. Before you make a trip to Hobby Lobby, take note of your decor and use what you have. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed and want to start anew, but you’ll be surprised how many treasures you have forgotten about over the year. Embrace the process. Pour yourself a favorite beverage, turn on some tunes, and let your imagination run! 
2. Next, categorize your decor by Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, etc., and place them in separate bins. This will help to make it easier to navigate next year, too. While going through your goodies, this is an excellent time to decide on a theme. A theme is a fun way to niche down on what you have and is a chance to be creative and switch up what you’d typically do. For example, instead of using traditional colors, like red and green for Christmas, use gold and white for a regal feel. Or choose all red or all green with touches of silver, gold, and/or white for pops of color. You could fill your tree with velvet bows instead of tinsel. At Thanksgiving, you can add feathers to your vases with greenery or twigs from your yard to enhance your table instead of flowers. For Hanukkah, fill your table with blue and white ginger jars or those blue and white porcelain dinner plates gifted from your mother-in-law for that special family touch.
3. The most important part of the process is to give away what you haven’t used in years. I know this may feel a little tough, but just think about how your donations will help other families have a beautiful holiday. As a bonus, it will free you from stress when going through your decor next year and make your heart feel good, too.

A holiday charcuterie board is complete with rosemary to fill in the gaps and accent the cheese tower. As an added touch, I used a cookie cutter to piece out a star on the top layer of brie to fill in with a yummy strawberry jam. (Submitted photo)

Now you can look forward to holiday entertainment!  

But if you want to host without the pressure to create a party to impress, Heda The Table can make it happen. It’s my specialty! My favorite thing to do is help people make memorable tables for any occasion.  

We’ll start with a free consultation to customize a table for your event, menu planning, or wine and cheese pairing. So many options you can do! During your free consultation, we’ll explore design ideas together, and I’ll answer any questions you have about hosting and table decor to bring your vision to life.  

We’ll create a stunning table using your personal inventory, or you can choose from mine. And I have a lot of great choices to add to your heirloom pieces!  

My main goal is to set you up for success so you can focus on enjoying good food and great company throughout the holiday season.  

Submitted photo

Find me at hedathetable.com or DM me at @hedathetable on Instagram to get started. Happy Holiday planning, everyone!