There are a few holiday traditions that we hold dear in the Correale household. As a parent of four kids, I saved all of their hand-made ornaments and holiday items and pulled them out each holiday to decorate the Christmas tree. Even though all my children are grown, they love to look at the crafts and remember each one of them.
Over Thanksgiving, we put everyone’s name on a piece of paper, and each of us pulls a name, in secret, and that is the person we are giving a gift to at Christmas. We have created a fun and family-competitive game where on Christmas Eve everyone places $10 on the tree. Before any presents are opened each of us has a chance to guess who their Secret Santa person is, and the person who guesses correctly receives the tree-money.
Other family traditions we still enjoy are making cookies together. I love sugar cookies and decorating them with colorful icing and sprinkles. Though my kids are in various locations, the goal is to be together for the Christmas holiday as a family. We enjoy playing games, laughing, and watching a favorite holiday movie. We still enjoy watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas together and singing with the Whos in Whoville!
Last minute tips to spruce up your dining table:
- Fun holiday napkin-folding tips.
- Tips on How to set your table from Emily Post.
- Use what you have and create a centerpiece for your dining table or buffet quickly and cost-effectively. Keep the arrangement low-profile so your guests can see each other across the table. Use fresh fruit, grocery-store flowers, herbs, and cuttings to create a quick and affordable piece. For ideas and DIY tips, click here to view my Pinterest Board.
I would love to hear about your family traditions, or time-saving holiday tips, share them when you get a moment. Have a fabulous holiday filled with friends, family, and laughter!
By Debbie Correale, founder and owner of Redesign Right, LLC. You can learn more about her at RedesignRight.com. Find her on Facebook.com/RedesignRight, Twitter @RedesignRight, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Houzz, and Instagram. Feature photo from Pixabay.