Dear E! Readers,
The leaves are falling, the temperatures are dropping, and the holiday cheer is building up. This is such a fun time of year, especially because my kids are getting older. I’m looking forward to seeing loved ones, creating new traditions and all the delicious treats! I know I’m not the only one who counts down to the holidays, which is why I am excited to serve as E!’s Holiday Guest Editor all season long.
I have gift suggestions to help you with your list and some helpful insights on hosting events. We all know that hosting can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. I used to be a lot more invested in creating the “perfect” presentation with elaborate tablescapes and decor. However, in the past few years, there are a lot more kids at our events. Admittedly, things have become a little more chaotic for all of us. Nowadays, I am much less focused on presentation and I’m more about creating an atmosphere that everyone’s really comfortable in so we will enjoy spending time together.
My friends and I have a Friendsgiving celebration every year. Instead of putting one host in charge of the entire meal, we invite people to bring their favorite dish. It requires a little bit of organizing so you don’t end up with six different potato dishes, but it’s a nice way for everyone to share their own traditions and it takes pressure off the host.
If you’re not sure where to begin, there’s no need to worry. Take a deep breath. You’ve got this. I have plenty of ideas, tips, and shopping suggestions to make hosting as easy as possible. And, that’s not all. After Friendsgiving, we will dive into gift-giving and other essentials for the rest of this year’s holidays.
Lauren