5 TIPS FOR A FAB NEW YEAR'S EVE (without breaking the bank)

1. Don’t overspend on venue.  A party in a swanky hotel has its benefits, but all that glam can come at a pretty hefty price and with it the expectation and pressure on the evening to be ‘worth it’ can sky rocket to unrealistic proportions.  My best New Year’s parties have always been low-key and homey.  That way you concentrate on the fun rather than the cost!
2. Keep it local.  If you are like me and are lucky enough to live close to many of your friends, staying home is always preferable to long, arduous journeys on unreliable, drunk-infested modes of public transport.  Once again everyone saves money and energy so friends and family turn up at your door looking fresh and excited rather than grimy and demoralised.
3. Choose a culinary theme and get everyone involved.  This year we are having a curry competition with our extended family (which is luckily overflowing with talented amateur chefs.)  This way we are guaranteed an exciting menu with a festive side of good natured competition.
4. Start the evening a little later than your average dinner party.  An 8/9 o’clock vague kick off time will allow guests to prep at a leisurely pace, thus ensuring stress levels are set to minimum and also saves the party from dragging before that all important stroke of midnight.
5. Keep an open mind.  New Year’s Eve can often be met with anything from indifference to terror, particularly with singletons stressing over being thought of as 3rd/5th/7th… wheels at kiss o’clock.  Whether you have a guaranteed smooching partner or not, the turn of the year should be approached with a positive attitude.  New beginnings and clean slates are always healthy, even for the most content of folk. So cast aside all residual Yuletide anxiety, crack open the bubbly and get ready for (possibly) your best year yet!

Happy New Year Everyone!

THE THING ABOUT CHRISTMAS... IS IT ALL ABOUT THE PRESENTS???

When Jo grumbles “Christmas won’t be the same without any presents” in Little Women... she was right.  Now I know that statement is going to raise a few hackles but hear me out...

Despite a prevalence of Christmas cheer and goodwill, you never have to look too far for that Scrooge-like demographic who are always eager to moan about the evils of commercialisation and the fact that tinsel is tying a proverbial noose around the true Christmas message.  However, I believe that these preachy proponents of appropriate festive focus are so busy disparaging Christmas consumerism that they miss the reasons behind it.

Every year my Christmas present journey begins some time in late November when I start trawling the internet and department stores for gift inspiration.  I have a lot of family and even more friends, all of whom I care for deeply.  One of my greatest pleasures in life is bringing a genuine smile to the faces of said loved ones and for me, that is where the true value of Christmas presents lies.  It is not about the amount of money you spend on someone or the designer labels emblazoned on the box.  It truly is the thought that counts.

Yes, of course it is important to teach our younger generation the Nativity story and part of me glows that little bit brighter when I see all the mini wise men, angels and shepherds running around after their acting debuts.  However, no matter what religion you subscribe to, surely the underlying message of love and generosity are consistently appropriate across the board?  

So I say buy your presents people!  Wrap up each perfect little something for someone special, guilt-free in the knowledge that the true meaning of Christmas may not be found on a price tag but there can never be anything evil or blasphemous about a beautifully wrapped symbol of affection.

TOP 10 TIPS FOR DECORATING YOUR TREE

My place of work does Christmas in a big way… and by big I mean huge.  No seriously, I suspect that Lapland has nothing on us.  It is my job to assist the extremely talented visual merchandisers in turning their artistic visions into a reality, from buying the first decoration in January right through to placing the final star on the last Christmas display tree some time in November.  As such, I have compiled a few tips over the years for recreating these festive works of art in the more humble setting of my own home and without breaking the bank...  

1. Tree decorating is a treat not a chore, so gather some friends, crack open a bottle of wine and get NOW That’s What I Call Christmas in your stereo.  Enjoy it!
2. Choose a theme…and stick to it.  Every family has a box of wonky angels made of toilet rolls and Papier-mâché stars.  Why not have a separate little tree for these works of ahem… art to be enjoyed in the kitchen or hall?  Meanwhile your main tree can be a beautiful champagne gold or frosted blue or Scandinavian red and white or…
3. Beware of false economy!  Invest in your tree, be it real or artificial.  Stay away from cheapy, sparse pieces of green plastic masquerading as Christmas trees or that sad looking real tree which has been discounted to within an inch of its life because somewhere along it’s retail journey it has lost most of it’s branches.  This is particularly true for artificial trees.  A quality 7 footer can usually cost anything between £100 and £300 but will last for decades.  The better the tree, the less decorations are needed to fill in gaps between the branches and will therefore save you money in the long run.
4. Lights… the more the merrier!  For a classy, tasteful look get yourself at least 600 warm white LEDs and intertwine the wires in and out of the Christmas tree branches to create a comforting glow which will draw all eyes to your beautiful Christmas centrepiece.  If your tastes run more towards a modern look do the same with ice white LEDs.  Your tree will look like it has been sprinkled with magical fairy dust!
5. There is a time and a place for tinsel… and it is not on a Christmas tree.  It is actually a true talent to make tinsel look good so when in doubt leave it to the professionals.  Instead choose delicate crystal garlands and metallic sprays (small leafy branches) which will reflect your lights and create a soft backdrop for individual decorations.  
6. Want to save money?  Put your tree in a corner.  This is a time honoured method of reducing the cost of a tree without sacrificing its quality.  A corner tree needs half as many lights and decorations as one which is in the centre of a room or in a bay window.  
7. Want to save more money?  Mix in some shatterproof decorations.  While low quality garlands and tinsel tend to cheapen the look of a tree, certain low-end baubles can be the perfect way of discreetly filling gaps.  Tubes of plastic baubles in golds, silvers or block colours, when properly placed in non-obvious spots on your tree, are a great money-saver and don’t detract attention from the more expensive decorations.  Each year, you can replace them with nicer decs which catch your eye.
8. Save spots front and centre for your favourite decorations.  Use the individual LEDs to create mini spotlights for your most expensive glass baubles and Gisela Graham fairies and let them steal the show!
9. Don’t forget the base of your tree.  I like to use some leftover wrapping paper from the previous year to make some fake presents so that my tree doesn’t look like it is just sat there waiting for Christmas day.  Also look out for light-up presents which give off a subtle, whimsical glow and are the perfect way of masking unsightly base stands.
10. Decorate your tree as soon as is acceptably possible.   The longer you leave it the more likely it is that the task will become a chore in your mind rather than something to delight in and brighten up those long winter nights.  

I hope these tips have helped.  Happy decorating everyone...