Ep. 444: Holiday Throwback Special, Pt. 2 - Taryn's Hosting Tips & Tricks

29:21Yeah. It's not like too crazy. Yeah. But did I tell you all about my new Christmas lights? Did you buy them at the end of last year? I bought them last year for my Christmas tree. Yes. These are the ones that are small and big. Yes. Aha. Memory. Yes. Okay. Well, then that means I talked about it on the show. But I will say they were totally life-changing. So if you feel like you might be in the market for some Christmas tree lights. Yes. Okay. And they need upgrading. because I feel like, you know, after like 10 years, it's kind of... 10 years is aggressive. I was going to say like five years, I feel like you get kind of like, I don't know, bulbs go out.

29:56When they start to go out, yeah. Yeah. I don't know. But the compact Christmas lights that we sell, and like other people sell them, it's not like exclusive to us, but they have much smaller lights and like twice as many lights per inch as a regular string of Christmas lights. and so i just felt like my tree was more twinkly than ever um it has two different colors of light it has like a more blue and a more warm maybe not blue blue is the wrong word a more clear and a more warm okay and that just it was oh it was just so pretty your tree last year was so it was the phrase true i'm still thinking about it i'm worried that it won't be bows do ribbon.

30:41This year I was thinking about doing bows. Maybe what you're thinking of is I tie my icicles to the tree with a white quarter inch satin ribbon. I thought that was such a great ad especially right now. I think we've all seen the bows and the ribbons on everyone's trees. You know what? I saw it. Will's aunt did an entire Christmas tree of all glass ornaments one year and it was Like the most spectacular tree I've ever seen. And so that's what gave me the idea for the glass icicles. And then when we had kids, it's just the only way to make them like really stay on a tree was tying it to the branch.

31:23And it works really well. I mean, they stay on there. I haven't had any breaks yet. Hot time. But the glass icicles are really just so pretty. Yeah. Those are so pretty. So that's my favorite part of it. Yeah. know. Okay, well, that actually ties in. I was going to say, I did ask some girlfriends to send me their holiday questions. So some of these are from, oh, great. Just some, you know, holiday questions. And one of them was, what's the most low effort, high impact decorating tip for those of us who hate Christmas decorating? And okay, so I was thinking about this a little bit. I know I just sprung it on you, but I was thinking that I really feel like the Christmas tree, if you can just do like take your christmas tree up a notch that is like put your effort there right like um and we even i did a i did a house tour with maggie griffin who we all love and it was her holiday house and that was kind of one of the things she mentioned like doing less spots in your house like pick three places and really nail those and then just kind of like let everything else go unless you sort of get a wild hair and like you know want to take it on but i feel like a great wreath on the front door like whether that is a fake wreath you buy somewhere if you go to your nursery and just get like a really big great fresh one and a good bow and then a really beautiful christmas tree and to me like yeah you kind of do those up you can like let everything else kind of yeah go on the back burner yeah that's that's totally true i was gonna say the pre-lit tree for me again that's one that like if you are honestly you are just there is no energy those things literally you just literally pop it up and right but what about fluffing do you not feel like you have to fluff it up if you want it to look really good but again i'm saying like say say you are taxed on time you generally depending on how you stored it it's it's okay it needs a little zhuzhing.

33:25Even it might not at all stick out in the room. You can just do the side that sticks out. Like the side you see. Like if it's in a corner you can just do the front half. Seriously, you can go boom boom and then like you know when you get a glass of wine later on and you feel like you can zhuzh a little bit more, go in on that. But like, yeah. I think the entrance like you said, I think there's that whole like bringing that seasonal into your entrance of like greeting people like saying you are, having that and then a place where you're always at. That's what I love about Christmas is like There's a designated space where you guys sit and enjoy it.

33:58And I think that space being like perfect or like making that feel the way you want it to feel for the season. Yeah. I'm going to focus a lot on my front porch and just kind of because I don't have an entryway to kind of welcome people in. I'm using my front porch and I've redecorated it for fall and kind of really focused on that. And now I'm really kind of excited to do that for Christmas as well. Like, what are you going to do? Like, are you throws on chairs, change out? Are you full lights? I'm going to take the chairs down to the basement and going to put a full up Christmas tree on the porch.

34:39I love it. And then our big Christmas tree is right when you walk in the door. So I feel like, you know, got a little forest vibe going on. And I'm just going to own it. Yeah. I like that. Love that. Yeah. I love the idea of decorating the porch like it's a living room. Yeah. Yeah. I'm really excited by that. Yeah. Well, then you kind of get, yeah, you kind of get to like there's something like you were talking about having the twinkle lights in the front window. And I just feel like that is driving down your neighborhood when you can see everyone's Christmas tree. And I just love that. It's really the lights that.

35:14Yeah. Yeah. I love going to like look at the lights in the winter, like December, being able to drive around. in everyone's lights. I started noticing like there've been a few pop up. I've seen a few already. Yeah. It's really exciting. You know what? I think that we did not actually take the Christmas lights out of our maple tree. So I think we can just go ahead and plug it in.

35:37Hopefully they actually work. Gosh. Yeah. I was wondering when people do the whole tree, like each of those branches, how many people like actually take it off versus keep it all season? because I mean we'll see I I'm I was worried I'm worried that they're not going to be functioning now luckily since I bought all of new Christmas lights we just took the old lights and put them outside so it's not like I bought yeah brand new Christmas lights that now are going to be dead because that would be really upsetting but um but yeah we'll see I'll let you know um I actually just thought about that recently because you know it has true it has leaves on it right now so i kind of forgot like does it still have the christmas lights on i think it does i don't think we ever took them down so yeah what about okay so low effort high impact decorating any other thoughts on that

36:33yeah i mean the i the pop-up the like pre-lit tree is like number one um or pre-lit garland pre-lit anything it's just so it's that's that's easy the lights are the biggest headache i think yeah that's why if it's pre-lit yeah like again save yourself if that's an area you find tension and makes you not want to do it avoid like just avoid it okay well one question we had was um how to convince my husband to get a fake tree oh oh well i mean yeah i mean i was anti-fake tree for quite some time like we always had to have a real tree um and yeah until we until we bought like a nine foot tree and we had to get it home in a honda fit that was fun um we did it we got it home and then we had to actually put it up yeah it didn't fit in the house.

37:30We had to cut it. But, you know, I was always a real tree, but there's just something so great about having a tree up and lit in 20 minutes. Like, that's really your selling point right there. You know, the fact that you don't have to string all those lights unless you want to go the extra mile and add more lights in or things like that. So just like invest in a really good, pretty one that you want to use. Where'd you get yours from? I got mine from Ballard Designs. Which one is it? We don't sell this one anymore. It's a vintage light one. It's really the first tree that we did that you put the parts A, B, and C on top of each other and they automatically connect.

38:27And it has three different size lights in it. So it has very small lights, regular lights, and then it has like the classic vintage bulbs that are all white. So I think I've got another year of it. I've had it for some time now, for maybe nine years. And I think the lights are starting to we'll see we'll see how we'll see how she does this that was gonna be my next question like what about like do they go out is that annoying i don't know i i have a vague recollection that like there was one string that was like not totally on but it was like the medium one so that i could like fake it with some with adding more in there so i'll i'll have to see yeah like where where the tree's at.

39:14Because that's the place where it would get really annoying to me that it almost feels not worth it. Yeah. When it's not working. But seriously, I've had this one for probably eight years. I, every year at the end of Christmas, am I like, maybe next year is the year we get the fake Christmas tree because it is such a headache. So I am pro. But yeah. Yeah. It depends. If her husband's the one dealing with it, I'm kind of like, do you have an argument? Yeah. You mean if he's the one setting it up and putting the lights on. Yeah. Now, if you're the one who's doing it, I can see, again, you're like, I am tired of being covered in sap and putting these, you know.

39:52And their needles all year and like, it's crooked this year. Just tell them good luck. Okay. But there is something super magical about going to the Christmas tree lot and finding the tree that you're going to bring home. There's something really, like, it's like a low commit puppy, right? Like, you know, like you get it. I need to keep you alive for one month. It's just for that short time. Yeah. And then we say so long. But like, so we do a real tree in our family room. Again, like in the spot where we're going to spend the most time where we do want the smells. And like, so I feel like that's kind of the best of both worlds.

40:30To have multiple trees. Is to have multiple trees. And that second tree does not need to be a big tree. It can be a four foot tree, you know, a smaller investment. Like, yeah. And then you can go wackadoodle on that one. Like, that's the one that we go, like, hot pink or, like, do something, like, really fun. On your real one or on your fake one? On the real one. On the real one. On the smaller one. Yeah. Oh, got it, got it. Yeah. You get a little one at the tree lot. Yeah. So we get a smaller one at the tree lot. And then everybody's happy. And then, yeah. You do a little experimental. What about your tree skirts?

41:07Do y 'all have a traditional fabric tree skirt? Do you have a wicker tree skirt? What do you do there? I have the Jonathan Adler one I bought years ago. It's felt. Yeah. So, I mean, that's what I have right now. Yeah. But I have had it for a few years. It drives me insane how it always gets wet and then it, like, gets rumbled. It always moves around. I'm really kind of thinking I might need, like, a collar. Yeah. I think the collars make a lot of sense. It doesn't get on an artificial tree. It what? It does not get rumpled or wet on a artificial tree. That's true. There we go. There's another solid argument.

41:38But I do think the wicker or the collars have been actually a great addition. Those are really pretty. Because to your point, they just don't get nasty. And mine always like, I bought a really pretty one that was in Suzanne Kassler's collection years ago. But it's like whenever I wash it, like it's gotten, it doesn't look right. And then I'm like, oh, God, I'm going to have to iron it. Anyway. Yeah. It's sort of a headache. Maybe that's what I need to get this year. I feel like we all last year talked about how we kind of add one little thing to our collection each year. So that must be my thing this year.

42:13What's on your list for this year?

42:17Oh, more wreaths. Again, after talking to Carson, he was talking about how he puts a wreath in every window. And I just loved the thought of that. Yeah, so I hit Joanne's this weekend. Yeah. I totally did. And just like got like a bunch of small faux wreaths that I'm just going to string up with ribbon in definitely my kitchen and family room. And then I. On the inside or the outside? Inside. Inside, yeah. Inside. And then I got an estate sale this weekend also. Like found three matching medium size wreaths. Oh, amazing. And so those are going to go on the front porch. Yeah. Yeah, so, and, you know, the ones from Joanne's, like, they're a little wimpy.

43:08And, you know, that's fine. Can you shove some extra? Exactly. Yeah. So I'm going to hit. A shoo is really helpful, yeah. Yeah, so I'm going to hit and get some fresh branches. Yeah. And then shove those in there. What's on your list, Taryn? Yeah, you were just asking that. I was thinking some of our, I need to do some new stocking holders. So I was thinking about getting ours because they're pretty cute. You know what? But I love the essential stocking holder. Yeah. Do you have the essential one? I don't. That's what I meant. Like, I need to just get that. If anyone is, like, annoyed. Here's the thing that's annoying about stocking holders.

43:44Because my mom has, you know, with all the grandkids, you've got to have all these stocking holders. But then when you put stuff in them, they get too heavy. And then the thing is really heavy. And if a child even touches the stocking, it turns into, like, a concussion. Yeah. Yeah. You know, right there. and that is what is so great about our essential one because it's just like a long sort of heavy band. It goes across the whole top of your mantle. You don't have to put any hooks in. It works great on marble too. It works good on a console if you don't have a fireplace. You can get as many hooks as you need.

44:22Oh my gosh, I love it. Every year. I'm like, this is the greatest invention ever. Maybe I need to get that. Yeah. Yeah. It's good. It's, I highly recommend. I tried to convince my mom to get it, but she had already had like all the stocking holders. And every year I'm like, yeah, but someone's going to get to the emergency room. Yeah, I feel like I'm over my stocking holders. Yeah, I've kind of done the bisque little houses that light up on my mantle and then like stocking holders that are little houses that you put a tea light in. And they're very sweet and charming. Yeah. I think I want to do something different.

45:02Yeah. Yeah. Well, highly recommend our essential one. It's not like super decorative, but it is a good base for anything decorative you want to put on top of it. You know? Yeah. Like, you know, garland or whatever. That is something that I need to work on this year. Garland? Well, I haven't, you know, I've perfected my tree. I feel like I have a system for like what I, where I like things. but I have never really gotten my mantle to a place where I like it. There's something about the wall color in there. It's like that mauve pink color. And I just haven't got the right, like, I need to work on it.

45:43I feel like the, I got the angel pine garland last year, but I think I need to wrap it with some fresh garland to like help it fill out a little bit more. And then, I don't know, that green just kind of looks weird in there. I don't know. I do need a different shade. Maybe you need like magnolia leaves or something instead. I was thinking maybe I need to like flock some of the garland a little bit. I was just going to say like what if you did something that was a different color than green. And then I was also thinking maybe I should like spray paint some magnolia leaves and stick that in there like metallic or something.

46:16I don't know. Yeah, you should. You can always try it because worst case you just don't use it. Yeah. Yeah. Anyway, so that's kind of something I need to like work on for this year. But other than that, I kind of like have gotten to a place where I'm happy with it, you know? Mm-hmm. Yeah. I think we just all like need a little update. Yeah. Yeah. I'm ready for the update. Yeah. And I, yeah. Do y 'all change, do you do like, you've talked about how you do like some hot pinks and things. Yeah. What is your color? Yeah. Like maybe I'll, I mean, I feel like there's been so many colors since then that I'm kind of like, maybe I will do a color update.

46:51But that's just, in my mind, a few ornaments, like a good chunk of ornaments to get that story across on a tree and the ribbon to like complement it. I did love all the ribbon trees last year. So I'm thinking about doing maybe I'll do a play on that. Yeah. I love the ribbon trees for a few reasons. First off, if you don't have a ton of ornaments, it's a great way to make your tree like feel that you have more, you know. And then also, they don't break. And they don't break. Great if you have kids, pets, if your cat climbs your tree. Like, you don't have to worry about the ribbon. Yeah. You know?

47:30And ribbons generally. Yeah. You can get it reasonably, too. Well, I told you about Amazon. I love my Amazon ribbon. Highly recommend Amazon for ribbon. Yes. You can get, like, a 50-yard spool. Yeah. For, like,$10. Yeah. I think I went on a diatribe last year about Target having terrible ribbon. And I stand by it. Oh, I do. You know, another area that we didn't talk about, but is like, what is your scheme for presents? Do you have a scheme for your wrapping? Do you hear that? Sounds like breakfast is ready. Because Quakers coming in hot with morning nutrition. 100 % whole grain oats. And a good source of fiber.

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48:32So wrapping's another area where I get really excited. And I bet Liz, because she's in a packaging kind of mindset, also gets really excited. So like whatever wrapping paper I decide is going to go with my tree. Yes. I want it to coordinate. Yes. Yes. Have you decided any of that yet? Yeah. That one's hard because then it just depends on what you can find. You know what I mean? So if I find like a good wrapping, then yeah. I mean, at this point, I kind of like my color palette for holidays. So I kind of just try to find wrapping that goes with it. Fair enough. Okay. That's fair. Yeah. But yeah, in the past, I have tried, like, I'll do, like, pink and red or, you know, craft paper with satin bow or something.

49:18I do love our ribbons. I mean, I do love our papers that you did. Oh, thank you. I painted a few this year, and I'm excited. Like, I need to buy a few rolls. I really like that blue stripe one with the red. Oh, it's really good. I might get a few rolls with that one. Yeah. Thank you. I'm excited. I'm excited to see if people buy it. But yes, I'm going to get a few rolls myself as my main because I want to do it. Because I'm like, look, see, I made the wrapping paper. Yeah, exactly. That's the gift. Surprise. You open it. It's just more rolls of wrapping paper. But I do think that's a fun way, too, if you're if you're feeling extra crazy, like creative in the season.

49:55I think thinking also like. Yeah, totally. I mean, wrapping paper, some ribbons and like one box of ornaments from Target. And you can totally change the color palette that you've had. oh totally that is something that always I love and that's why one of the reasons I love doing my tree so much because I can I can make it look different each year while essentially using all the same ornaments over and over again the same base yeah like if I change the ribbon color and I change the wrapping paper it totally makes it look new and that's always really fun for me like you know how to make it take it up a notch I guess yeah oh that's fun I just think the tree to me the tree is where like That is where the effort really pays off, I guess.

50:40Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. Nice. What about hosting? Are y 'all hosting in the holidays? Do you host out-of-town guests? Do you host? Christmas, I go a lot. Again, we go out-of-town. We don't host as much, I feel like, yeah, in Christmas. Other than, again, like a friend's event. Yeah. But I do, I love it. because I definitely have plaid tablecloths, and I look forward to, like, any—to use holiday china and stuff, too. I love, again, just the seasonality. When do you bring out your holiday china? After Thanksgiving? Truthfully, I don't have, like, a place to—I don't have a display place for it, so I just add the meals.

51:21Like, I'll bring it out. Yeah. But when do you start using it? After Thanksgiving? Yeah. Just, like, when you decorate the house? Oh, I'll try to, yeah. I mean, if I'm going to own it, I'm going to use it. Yeah. You know, so I do try to use all the holiday stuff throughout the season. So, yeah. Where did your Christmas pattern come from? Is it just like things you've collected? Was it, did you, some people, I feel like some people register for it for their wedding or? I didn't. My mom has some Lennox traditional. I may be the Holly one. But I painted one for Ballard and that's the one I use. Yeah.

51:53So, yeah. Oh, that's nice. I don't have separate china for Christmas. Yeah. I do have some like little dessert plates and like melamine things for like kids table and things like that. But yeah, I just bring out my grandma's dishes, which I think are just so sweet. And anytime we get to use them, I just feel really happy and connected to her. Yeah. Oh, that's sweet. Yeah. How about you? No, I don't have a Christmas pattern. I don't know. Yeah. I mean, I love dinnerware, but I think I've told you this. I don't know. I don't love like one season things. Like it just seems like. I don't know. I think that's why I like to use it for the whole season versus like the one meal.

52:45Yeah. Because you are kind of like wolf. Right. So I have like certain of my china patterns that I think are more festive. How many different china patterns do you have? That's going to be the next question. I mean, I have like my grandmother's. I have, well, I have both sides of my grandmother's. Like both of my grandmothers have like multiple patterns. Anyway, it's a lot. I have the pattern that my grandmother used every year for Thanksgiving. So I'll use that at Thanksgiving. But it's not like a Thanksgiving theme. No, but I love that. It's sort of like a red-orange color palette that works.

53:19Okay. And then I have like my other grandmother's. And then I have the one I registered for. So I really only have three. Okay. You kind of have like certain random plates, like sets of 10 plates or something. Yeah. But yeah. No, that's awesome. That's really awesome. Yeah. I'm like, I'm starting to think about that too. Like, okay, I have my everyday plates and then I have my grandmother's china, which is not really China. It was just what she. But like a dinnerware pattern. Yeah. Yeah. It's her dinnerware pattern. And it's, I think it's super sweet, like mid-century cutie. and then I have stoneware that was my husband's grandmother's it's awesome that's nice you have I feel like that's the best part right is like oh it totally is and like the things and then when you find a piece that goes with it at an estate sale or yeah that's always fun oh my gosh yeah well yeah I feel and I I feel like to speak back to yours I do try not to get too much that's of seasonal um like for instance like i put out this tray today because it's mushrooms and so like that's like a very kind of fall yes and like tortoise you know is so great for the like fall and winter because the brown hues and wood bowls and more of so it is funny how i'll use certain materials where like i feel like in the spring i forgot everything white and green and like a lot more white ceramics and that and that i love that i i guess it's like just the you know and i appreciate the spode Christmas.

54:49I love it. Like my mom has some mugs and stuff that I think is fun to use. And I love when people use it for their, I just, I don't know. I guess if I had, if I'm going to buy a whole new dinnerware pattern, there are other ones that I'd rather do that I feel like are more versatile throughout the year. So that's all. But you know what's good is a cookie plate. Like those kind of accent plates and that kind of thing. And then like, yeah, you know, But if there are mugs that are specific to the season, like there's nothing that like makes me feel more nostalgic than a Marshall Fields cocoa mug.

55:23Because we would go every year to see. You know, it's funny. My Will's mom like collected Santa mugs. You know, those ones with Santa's face on them. And so I think like somehow we got them maybe out of their attic or something and we were using them and we were like really excited to use them, especially with the girls like they were old enough to like want to drink hot cocoa and stuff but there's something about them and i think it's because like the handle is hollow well oh they're so you cannot hold it yeah it's so hot like because the handle is hollow so the coffee or the cup actually goes up into the handle and so we don't get them out anymore because they're so like they're they're not usable for like a cup of coffee they're good they're good for leaving milk out for Santa.

56:11Yes, there you go. Yeah. That's what they're for. I know, but that's what we use them for. That's what we use them for. Yeah, I know, because yeah, you can't put hot liquids in them. I know, it's like so filling. Especially when you could chew like white Russians. But we don't need 12 mugs for Santa. That's why you think of a good drink that goes in there. Like a good white Russian. Something that needs a mug. Like some kind of mule. You know, that needs like a bit of fun way to do it. But they're really cute on your shelf if you want to display them, but you can't drink them. Okay, that would be really fun.

56:48Like going back to your like party cocktail theme, like to do, to like have a row of those out on a console with like some punch. Yeah, that would be fun. That would be cute. Yeah, because you'd want to drink out of them. I'd drink them. Any hacks that you've learned over the years? I feel like the hack is the faux Christmas tree. oh you had a great one last year actually where you talked about um hanging up your wreaths just on a nail in your basement so that they're like stay fluffed and everything yeah praise be that that was a great one still still gets me yeah i mean everything just stays so nicely that's a good one i do love a good command hook they make so many different sizes and a lot of them are re or the plastic part is reusable and you just buy the stickers so those have become in real handy You'll probably see them all over my house from Halloween.

57:36I was kind of like, do I leave them up or not? I'm going to put something here. I love the ones with the movable hook. Yes. Do you have any of those? Those are so handy. Those are good. Because you can put them on the underside of something. Those are great. I love those. So I definitely think Command Hooks has been definitely a good friend of mine of recent years. Fishing line. I use a ton of fishing line at Christmas. Yes. Our tree fell over one year, so we attached or treed the wall. in two pieces. I love it. But it makes sense. But we just leave the hooks up year round and then you just string the fishing line.

58:10Doesn't your cat get on yours or something? Oh man. So yeah.

58:17I think it's a normal thing. I think most cats get in trees. She's not getting into the tree, but what she does is like, well, for Finn, like ever since Finn was baby, I've been getting a bird ornament every year so i can't put the bird ornaments on the tree she tried to eat them because yeah it's just like toys she thinks they're real she thinks they're toys oh okay yeah so it's like yeah well we talked about last year but you need to get you need to get one of those like display or trees i need to display a way to display them but a way that is like higher up so Maybe that's something I'll try to figure out this year is like how to display them.

59:00Yeah, we might have to circle back in December once we've decorated on this. Because I feel like the problem is I've been 11 months since I've hit this holiday. So I'm like, yeah. When do you start planning your holiday stuff? Like when do you start thinking about it in the year? Now. Really right about now. Yeah. Yeah. I need Halloween to end. Like I take every holiday by the, like I don't get ahead. So you don't do any planning like pre-Halloween? I'm not saying like putting stuff up, but just like, you know, thinking about it. Like I won't even look at the sections in the store until Halloween.

59:30I'm like, all right, no. Yeah. This was really new. I have to scope it out. I have to see what everybody brought out as new. Like, what am I going to want to buy? I do that in August for Halloween. But like, I don't. Yeah. Christmas, I'd like to wait till. I feel like Halloween's a big mess. When do you start your Christmas shopping? Oh, that's a good one too. Oh, see, I'm really. I feel like I'm turning a corner where actually I do have a few Christmas presents already. Hot dog, girl. But not, but you know, I mean, there's a lot of folks to shop for. So between nieces and nephews and parents and siblings and everything.

1:00:07So I do have a couple things, but yeah, that's really hard for me because I can't keep a secret. So I have to hide them from myself. Oh, gosh. Have you ever lost them and found them later? Because I did that once. Yes. Why you? And I was like, where did that thing go? I don't know. I then found it like a year and a half. Oh, my gosh. Mid-January, I gave my husband a laser level that I found later. Happy New Year. You're like, this is your birthday present. That was six months ago. I've had you bought lots of Christmas presents. Oh, I started shopping in like July. You're so ahead of it, Caroline.

1:00:45So when do you start? Because you were shocked. Well, I'd probably start like maybe late July or August. It depends. But I just I always have a list on my phone as I think of ideas of like this would be a good gift. Oh, that's smart. I've sort of been thinking of like if I see something go on sale, like I'm going to buy it when it's. Yeah, that makes sense. Right. Also, it's I don't know. I feel like spreading it out into more months. Makes it. That's my that's my bank account. do that is no it is the i think most people yeah so i just start stock stockpiling things and um even just like and like we went on trips so we bought like a ton of stocking stuffers on our trips and stuff yeah okay okay so back to my estate sales i've been getting a lot of them lately theme of this this is estate sales i love this so yes but um i've been getting things like vases or Audubon prints or like things like that that are unique that you're not going to find everywhere else, especially for like mother-in-law who has everything already or things like that.

1:01:54So she's not a listener, I hope. But yeah, so I'm finding things that way too. And that feels a little bit more sustainable as well. Yeah. Oh, good. Yeah. I know. You guys need to give me all the tips. Have you found anything great? I need to know. Except again, I need to find my own estate sales, it sounds like. Oh, come on. What are you doing Saturday? Let's go. Yeah. That's a great idea. I love that too, especially because like, there's always like, you know, I don't know, random things that if you were to buy new, like would be, you couldn't, you wouldn't. Like a silver tray or something or candlesticks or something.

1:02:33I don't know. Yeah. Or, you know, if there's something that someone collects, if you know somebody who collects Waterford Crystal and like you find like some pieces that are at an estate sale, it's going to be a lot less expensive. And, you know, it's still fantastic. It's still fantastic. Yeah. Or like old books or something. Yeah. I haven't been to one in a while. I'm feeling rusty. I know. You know what? I always see the signs around. It's like always when I'm going somewhere in a hurry or something, you know? I don't know. I need to be better about just being like, I can stop. Yeah. Yeah. It's worth it to stop and just take a few minutes and run through.

1:03:15You never know what you're going to find. Like, yeah. Yeah. Should I give you a plug for where I find them all? estate sales.net there's an app there's an app for that they tell you when they're popping up in your area so I only hit ones that are within a few mile radius from where I'm I'm not going too crazy yeah I'm not going too far out but like yeah I found some in some really incredible homes here in Atlanta I just sent you a notification alright I'm going to try it well if so I know That was such a fun trip down memory lane, guys. Thank you so much for listening to our holiday hosting special.

1:03:57It's always a good reminder that the holidays are about enjoying the process, even if it is a little chaotic. I'm still thinking about Liz's winterberry pie. I didn't make it last year, so I definitely need to follow up on that this year. And Caroline, who is essentially the Martha Stewart and her genius mapping out of her task before a party, I really need to get on top of that this year I still have time so let's hope I can follow through on that as well also great reminder pre-lit trees just lean in they are so good now thank you all again for joining me for this part two of the holiday series next week is Liz and she'll be here to share her favorite holiday throwback episode and I promise you'll love it don't forget to send us your own holiday decorating and hosting tips we always love hearing what you guys are doing and what you guys are inspired by and if you've had any wonderful wins or if you just want to, you know, complain about something that was frustrating during the holidays, we love those stories too and would love to share.

1:04:55Please write to us at podcast at ballarddesigns.net and happy decorating. I hope you have a wonderful festive week.

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