On our radar: Grow your own mistletoe kit

Grow your own mistletoe kit | H is for HomeBUY IT HERE

Every year, we look out for alternatives to the usual flowers and chocolates Valentine’s Day gift options. Did you know you can buy a grow your own mistletoe kit? Yes, the plant is usually associated with Christmas, but February-April is mistletoe sowing season. And, besides, what is it that you’re meant to do under the mistletoe?

Each mistletoe kit contains 50 freshly-picked berries (enough for about 10 plantings) with detailed instructions, labelling material and a recording form to keep track of planting.

The seeds need to be sown on the bark of trees – mistletoe loves to grow on apple trees the most; however, it’s also happy on hawthorn, lime, poplar and many others.

**Since writing, the English Mistletoe Shop are now only despatching in March 2020. Nonetheless, they can take pre-orders from autumn 2020 onwards for early 2021 delivery… so that’s next Valentine’s Day sorted!**

How to welcome party guests

How to welcome party guests | H is for Home

It’s Christmas, the time where the biggest and the best parties are happening all over the world. It’s a time for family and friends, and for get-togethers with people you haven’t seen all year.

If you’ve thought about, or are planning, your own party at home this year, then there are some things you’ll need to think about in advance. We wanted to provide you with some tips when it comes to welcoming your party guests.

Ideas such as hiring a festive booth from Photo Booth Rental Fort Worth as a fun way to create memories of the occasion.

Clean, fresh bedding

Prepare the guest room

Even if you haven’t planned for anyone to stay, there might be that person whose lift doesn’t turn up, or a train gets cancelled, or someone decides they’d prefer to stay and have a couple more drinks instead of drive home. You should always be prepared just in case someone decides they’d like to use the guest room.

You can do this by preparing the bedding, and maybe even buying new from somewhere like Julian Charles. Even if you buy new, make sure you wash it before putting it on the bed to give that amazing ‘fresh bedding’ smell.

You’ll need to make sure the room has all the basics like a wardrobe with hangers and bedside lamps. You might also want to add some homely touches such as candles, plants and throws.

Christmas dining table

Prepare the food

Depending on the tone you want to set for the party, you’ll need to decide on your food choices. Are you going to do a sit down meal? Are you going to do a casual buffet? The former is more effort for you, and you’ll need to think of the number of people you’ll be inviting. Can you realistically cook a two- or three-course meal for 15 people? If you’d rather have more people there in a casual setting, a buffet is the easiest way to go.

You’ll need to consider the vegetarians, vegans and anyone with allergies. Will you do a vegan dessert for everyone, or provide multiple options? There’s so much to think about!

Mopping a kitchen floor

Spring clean

In a survey done by Julian Charles, they found that 85% of people will be doing last minute tidying and preparing right up until their guests arrive. This could include lighting candles, laying out snacks or plumping up pillows. People care about their homes and what the rooms look like to guests. It’s a time to wow people and give them an amazing impression of your home.

The day of the party is the time to vacuum and dust any room guests might enter. This includes both the downstairs and upstairs bathrooms; make sure there’s enough toilet roll,  soap and a clean hand towel in there too. Floors should be mopped, and if you’ve done any food prep in the kitchen, it should all be cleaned away and set in the fridge for when you need it later.

There’s tons to think about when you’re having a party, but you want to welcome your guests and make them feel instantly at home.

How else might you prepare your home for when you have guests over?

Christmas wreath making

Christmas wreath made by Justin | H is for Home

This is the first year that I can remember us not having a tree up for Christmas. All the rooms in our cottage are in various states of unfinishedness (I think I just made that word up!). We wanted some sort of festiveness, so decided to adorn the finished front doors. Yes, as our house was formerly two tiny cottages, we have two front doors. Rather than buy them, we downed decorating tools and picked up Christmas wreath making ones instead.

Foraged foliage and other Christmas wreath making items | H is for Home

Our village is surrounded by mixed coniferous forest, so we didn’t need to venture far to forage for Christmas wreath raw materials. And, thanks to lots of very windy weather recently, it didn’t take us long to find lots of different kinds of fir, larch, spruce and pine fronds on the ground. Saying that, holly with its berries still intact was pretty scarce; I think the local and winter-visiting birds have been feasting on them.

Justin's Christmas wreath on the front door | H is for Home

I found it harder to do than I thought it would; Justin’s attempt was far superior in my opinion. He has a natural talent for flower & foliage arranging!

Adelle's Christmas wreath on the front door | H is for Home

I tried to improve mine by embellishing it with a big, gold ribbon. What do you think?

Adelle's Christmas wreath | H is for Home

Now that we have a pair of wire wreath frames, I think we’ll be making them every year – practice makes perfect!