Easy & Inexpensive Last Minute Holiday Tips

Entertaining and decorating for the holidays doesn't have to be (and shouldn't be!) scary. Though it's easy to get overwhelmed with to-do's at this most festive time of the year, I've got a few easy tips to keep planning your holiday celebrations as easy as 1-2-3.

I stopped by FOX News online recently to share some of my ideas. All of my tips are aimed at keeping holiday entertaining festive and fabulous, but also inexpensive and easy.

Holiday Dinner: Inexpensive and Easy

In this first video I share some tips for hostesses looking to stage a holiday dinner party.

When I plan a table setting, it always starts with the centerpiece.

For this festive gathering I decided to turn to natural elements I found in my yard - magnolia, evergreen and pine cones - and incorporated them into a display with a few apples and pears I bought at the local market.

A bit of gold spray paint and glitter turned the fruit from ordinary to extraordinary, was super budget-friendly and tied into the look I was going for perfectly.

To add a bit of texture and color to the centerpiece all I did was take some cranberries and nuts and arranged them in crystal bowls I already had on hand.

Once I've got a centerpiece in mind, I set the table!

The great thing about this table was I used it for Thanksgiving. I just changed a few things - like my centerpiece - and took it from fall to winter.

A big mistake many people make is thinking they should go out and purchase all new holiday place settings.

Mix and match what you already have on hand, capitalizing on what your glassware, flatware and dinnerware have in common. In this instance it was the crystal texture and gold colors.

Playful & Festive Holiday Decor

In this video you'll see how easy and inexpensive it is to add a sweet touch to your Christmas celebrations with the kids.

Set the tone for your holiday party with a great invitation. Then, use it to decorate your celebration.

I sent out a festive red ornament invitation I found at FineStationary.com to my guests. From there, I got creative - I filled an apothecary jar I already had on hand with lots of leftover red ornaments that were hiding in my attic for an instant centerpiece that popped with color.

Next, I took more jars and filled them with candy for the kids. Some simple ribbon and a label on each of the jars added a lovely festive touch.

Every kid deserves a sweet place setting at their Christmas table! I saved paper towel rolls in the week or so leading up to the dinner then cut them to look like napkin rings. Then, I wrapped them in red ribbon and glued wrapped peppermint candies around them to create an inexpensive and festive place setting for the kids.

The great thing about all of these ideas is that with a tweak here and twist there, these ideas can be used all year round!