Share the joy
MUM OF TWO JESSICA HEALEY FROM CHESHIRE SHARES HER TIPS FOR CREATING A HOME FULL OF FESTIVE FEELS
FOR me, hosting Christmas is about having all the people I love under one roof. I want my children – Lucas, three, and five-month-old Jax – to start building traditions with me, and part of that is preparing for people to come and share this special time of year with us.
So I get them to help me with the decorations, and also baking cookies for the guests who we’ll be welcoming throughout December.
I start putting decorations up in mid-november, with a different colour theme each year, and to save money on buying new ones I’ll respray some of last year’s.
The front door is the first thing guests see, so I like to make it a feature. This year I’ll take the kids shopping with me to wilko to choose a colourful statement wreath.
In the run-up to the big day, I’ll host family dinner parties, getting out the Christmas crockery. As well as crackers and festive napkins, everyone will have a small gift for them on the table – such as chocolate coins for the kids and a booze miniature for the adults.
Another family tradition we have is to give every guest a Christmas cookie. The kids and I make these earlier in the day using special cookie cutters, getting in the mood with Christmassy aprons, oven gloves and tea towels.
Just a few small extra touches can make the whole house feel Christmassy for guests, from bedding to bathroom products.
Oh, and I like to have a pan of mulled wine on the stove before guests arrive – it fills the house with a warm, Christmassy aroma. But if I’m pushed for time, a mulled wine candle works just as well.