As you read through these highlights of reader memories, let it inspire you to create—or reinvent—traditions of your own. After all, it’s these shared moments that transform the holiday season from simply festive to genuinely meaningful.

Food 

“Meundo and tamales from the hardworking hands of matriarchs in our hometowns. Bless them!” – Jennifer Rose-Kavanaugh

“Making my mom’s Minestrone soup on Christmas Eve!” – Gretchen Brown

“We have paella on Christmas Eve. Now that our kids are in college, we play games and then have a nice dinner. We also pick one evening right around the holidays and have a cooking competition. We team up, and we pick up a random ingredient ahead of time that has to be used in the dish. One year, we did all appetizers. Another year, each team got a course. We also have done blind wine tasting using random wine my folks pull out.” – Holly Lister Castillo

“Making my moms Carmel popcorn, which is a secret family recipe with almonds and pecans! I only make it once a year! It’s so delicious.” – Nicole Whyte

“I make your crock pot stuffing every Thanksgiving. It’s a crowd favorite and so easy!” – Julie Niedzwiecki 

“I make my late mother’s famous peanut butter balls.” – Jennifer Tuttle Robertson

Movies, Books, and Productions

“Watching It’s a Wonderful Life and Die Hard on Christmas Eve. One of our traditions.” – Sherry Uribe

“I read The Night Before Christmas and The Christmas Story every Christmas Eve.” – Mary Dundas DeMoss

“We drive around in our Christmas jammies with pizza and some hot cocoa. We look at Christmas lights, while listening to Christmas music! Another one we love is getting dressed up fancy and going to our local Nutcracker ballet. I live for Christmas traditions!” – Stacey Partridge

“On Christmas Eve, we watch It’s a Wonderful Life. We wear Christmas jammies all day.” – Diane Ma

“We love to go to the Nutcracker. Yes, boys can go too! Then, we look at all the Christmas lights and talk about the year we’ve had and all the blessings we are grateful for. Ending the day with hot cocoa while opening one gift. Most importantly, we are together as a family.” – Kat Ann

Games & Competitions 

“Our son gets a new ornament from us and his grandparents every year. He goes on a scavenger hunt to find an ornament in the house.” – Carley Elizabeth DuBois

“We wrap each kiddos’ gifts in different paper. They don’t find out which is theirs until Christmas morning, finding a small one at the bottom of their stocking. It’s a newer tradition (four years), but our boys love it.” – Gladys Evelyn Ramsdell

Decorations

“Well, my aunt passed away this year. I loved her very much. Every Thanksgiving, she put up her tree. She would let her children, her nieces, and nephews decorate it if we wanted to. So, I’m going to put up my Christmas tree on Thanksgiving every year for now to carry on that tradition.”  – Rene Stoik

“I love all things Hygge — candles, hot tea, salt lamps, cozy blankets, soup, and connections with loved ones. We live in Indiana, and for years, I have struggled with low mood and energy in the winter. Shifting my mindset and making my routine and environment cozy has been a game changer for me.” – Jenni VanSkyock

“Cutting down our Christmas tree as a family the day after Thanksgiving!” – Rebecca Coontz Swyers

“On Black Friday, the Christmas decor comes out, and it takes all weekend to create the Magic.” – Heather Winter

Gifts

“My husband and I both grew up with a small train and village under our Christmas tree. We love that now we get to do that for our 2-year-old son. We have a mix of little houses and LEGO creations, with all different themes: Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Star Wars, the Disney castle, the Haunted Mansion, and a bunch of the Christmas-themed LEGOs. It was so much fun to watch our son interact with it last year, and we can’t wait to see it light up his face again this year!” – Janine Marie

“I still do Elf on the Shelf for my four boys. They are 22, 20, 17, and 17. It brings joy every morning during December.” – Danielle Cooper

Crafts 

“We go to a local ceramic studio every Thanksgiving. We each pick out an ornament to paint. Now, after 16 years and three kiddos, my tree is filled with memories and homemade ornaments.” – Jennifer Hargreaves Crawford

“My Mom has a December birthday, and we celebrated a few years ago with crockpots of chili and hot chocolate, simmering all day while we made wreaths out of a combination of greenery we each brought from the woods around our houses. Turned out to be the start of a fun holiday tradition.” – Andrea Cralle Hathaway

Activities 

“The week of Thanksgiving, we have a family camp out with all the turkey and dressing fixings. Every year, we camp at a different spot.” – Niece Hale

“We enjoy our Thanksgiving meal with extended family. Then, after we drive to the North Shore in Minnesota and go to Betleyville, a large Christmas light display with different stations spread throughout with things like Santa, stores, and popcorn.” – Chelsea Markfort

“I have a sleepover at my parents house on Christmas Eve. My brother, his wife, and kids and my husband, kids, and me. We play board games or pool together. Then, we open Santa’s gifts in the morning.” – Tiffany Neiter

“Advent with activities that are grounded in quality time: one day we make ornaments, one day we wrap gifts for the less fortunate, and one day we watch a movie. The kids never know what comes next.” – Aura Fain

“We get hot chocolate and drive around looking at Christmas Lights at least one night in December. We also do new jammies. Christmas morning, we open one present at a time to make the morning last longer.” – Joy Franklin

“We volunteer at a senior center every year the day before Thanksgiving, making floral arrangements with the seniors, making challah, singing and dancing. It brings good cheer and builds relationships in our community.” – Mindy Pannell

“We have a Mailbox that says “Letters to Santa.” Well we changed it to “Love Letters,” which are letters to each other. It stays out all year long, and we all put notes to each other in it. Every Christmas Eve, after dinner we gather together in the living room, and we read the notes to each other. It’s just short simple notes, but it means so much. Then, we open our gifts. We also read the Christmas story and sing Christmas carols.” – Lavena Dodd

“The lighted Christmas boat parade downtown on the river. So fun!!” – Nancy Porter

“We make homemade gingerbread houses (Pampered Chef) at Thanksgiving with all the cousins. We also dress up for the Thanksgiving Detroit 5k.” – Denise Coop

Perfection is overrated. The best way to make your guests feel welcome this holiday season is to create a home-like atmosphere. Home is never perfect; it’s oftentimes loud, messy, and chaotic. That’s also what makes it wonderful. Here are a few simple ways to prepare your home for guests during the holidays and make them feel like they are a part of the family. 

1. Stock Your Kitchen and Bathroom With Staples

To prepare your home for guests, first stock your home with the basics. Check your kitchen pantry and fridge for essentials like bread, oatmeal, bananas, seasonal fruit, eggs, milk, cheese, and cereal. Of course, check with your guest for any dietary needs or restrictions before heading to the grocery store. Also, don’t forget to stock the bathroom with toilet paper, fresh towels, hand soap, bar soap, essential oils, and anything else you think your guests might need.

2. Add a Personal Touch

Whether it’s a handwritten note, a welcome basket, a book you think they’ll enjoy, or a coffee mug with their favorite coffee grounds, the little things make a space feel special. Adding a personal touch shows you took time and effort to prepare your home for them. The small details instantly elevate hospitality into true thoughtfulness.

3. Offer Options, Not Obligations

Of course you want to make your guests feel welcome, but you also don’t want to make them feel pressured. Let your guests set the pace. You can share your schedule with them and invite them to join you in any activities, but don’t make it an expectation. Guests should feel free to sleep late and go out for meals alone when they want to. Keeping the environment light and easy will create an inviting atmosphere. 

4. Put Out a Flower Arrangement—Whether Fresh or Artificial

A little pop of color goes a long way to livening up a space for house guests. Flowers add personality and brightness to any room in the house. You can add a vase of flowers to the kitchen table, the bathroom windowsill, or your guests’ bedroom nightstand. Be sure to check if your guests are allergic to flowers, as this will determine if you buy real or fake ones. Also, lean into seasonal flowers for an extra touch of elegance and intentionality. Orchids, tulips, and violets are in full bloom during the chilly, winter months.

5. Anticipate Their Needs

Before your guests arrive, think about everything they’ll need from the beginning to the end of their trip. Set up a homey guestroom with clean sheets, closet and drawer space, extra pillows, and a good night lamp. Write a handwritten welcome that includes any passwords for Wifi, gate entry, or security. Plan a house tour to show them where supplies are stocked and how everything works. You can even make them a welcome drink for when they arrive, like Rachel’s tasty, holiday sangria. Cheers to giving your guests the warmest experience!  

Here’s how to elevate your charcuterie board from casual appetizer to show-stopping centerpiece worthy of any festive table.

1. Choose a Strong Foundation — The Board

The foundation is critical for a beautiful charcuterie board. Think of it like the canvas. Choose one that complements your aesthetic. A large wooden board exudes rustic charm, while marble or slate feels sleek and sophisticated. Size it up based on your party size or the group you are hosting — a smaller board for an intimate hangout, a big one for a crowd of hungry holiday gatherers.

Bonus tip: Add a piece of parchment paper underneath for easy cleanup because no one wants to wash boards all night.

2. Gather Your Star Players — The Ingredients

A winning charcuterie board has balance — just like a great team. You’ll want to mix up flavors, colors, and textures. Here’s your ideal lineup:

• Cheeses (The MVPs): Choose three to four varieties — something soft (brie or goat cheese), something hard (aged cheddar or manchego), something funky (blue cheese if your team’s adventurous).
• Meats (Your Power Players): Prosciutto, salami, soppressata — roll or fold them for flair.
• Crunch Factor (The Mainstays): Crackers, breadsticks, baguette slices — these keep everything moving.
• Sweet Touch (The Crowd Pleasers): Grapes, figs, dried apricots, or honey for drizzling.
• Savory Boosters (The Secret Weapons): Olives, pickles, nuts, mustards, and spreads to keep everyone’s taste buds on their toes.

Bonus Tip: Mix up colors — creamy cheeses, ruby red salami, emerald green grapes — so your board pops like a holiday highlight reel.

3. Arrange With Intention — Building the Board

Start with your anchor elements — cheeses and bowls for dips or spreads. Space them out so you can fill in the gaps. Then layer in meats, folding or rolling them like little rosettes. Add your crackers and bread around the edges (because no one wants to reach through the cheese for a bite.)

Next, fill in the open spaces with color: scatter fruit, nuts, and garnishes like rosemary sprigs or cranberries. Don’t worry about perfection — a great board is about abundance and flow, not perfect symmetry.

4. Finish Strong — The Presentation

Presentation is everything. A light drizzle of honey over brie, a scatter of pomegranate seeds, or a few edible flowers can instantly elevate the visual impact. Your festive masterpiece is ready for the spotlight!

Bonus Tip: Add a few small cheese knives, tongs, and labels so guests can serve themselves and dig in without hesitation.

5. Savor the Moment

Now that your board is ready, it’s time to enjoy it! Snap a photo (because let’s be honest, you earned it), pour yourself a glass of something bubbly, and soak up your masterpiece. Because you’ve not only created a spread but an experience.

Remember, a charcuterie board isn’t just about food — it’s about bringing people together. It’s laughter, conversation, and those magical moments that make the holidays unforgettable. Let’s make this season beautiful, delicious, and full of cheer.

Having hosted hundreds of events over the years (for both clients when I was an event planner and myself just for fun), I’m well-versed in every kind of event stress you can imagine. The advice I’d give you for an stress-free Thanksgiving is the same I’d say if you find yourself in a burning building. The most important thing to do is stay calm!

Be Prepared

Just like the Boy Scouts, a great host needs to be prepared. I have shopping lists, to do lists, and even a timeline for the day of. Call me nuts, but it helps me to stay organized, and I can also troubleshoot in advance.

For instance, when I look over my list and see that seven people are bringing side dishes in a crockpot that reminds me that I need to make sure I’ve got enough power strips to accommodate them. The more you can plan in advance the last stressed you’ll be day of. 

Get Ahead

I do whatever I possibly can ahead of time. Shop for non-parishables, clean the guest bathroom, prep my vases for centerpieces etc. There’s nothing worse than getting to Thanksgiving dinner and being utterly exhausted because you’ve spent that last 72 hours preparing. Spread it out, and you’ll be infinitely less worn out.

Accept Help

One of my biggest issues as a hostess is allowing others to help me. I want so much for my guests to be able to relax and enjoy. So I tend to tell them no thank you when they offer to bring a dish or come early to help set up. But here’s the thing, we usually have 50 people at our house for Thanksgiving and that’s crazy town! No way I could do it all alone without losing my mind. So if you offer to help I will say yes, please and thank you. Don’t let your pride get in the way of enjoying this day. 

Let It Go

No, I’m not talking about Frozen here. (Although, planning some fun movies for your kiddos to stay occupied in the last hour before guests arrive is a great idea.) I’m talking about the idea that everything needs to be perfect. Plan the very best that you can. Then, a couple hours before everyone arrives take a breath and accept that everything will be whatever it will be.

If you spend your day stressing about tiny imperfections or the fact that your stuffing is a little burnt you will miss the joy of the holiday. Focus on the positives like the green bean casserole having just the right amount of crispy topping or the fact that your children get to play with their cousins. You can find negatives in this day if you look for them. The same can be said for all the good stuff, too.

Enjoy

This is my greatest piece of advice! I want to be relaxed and enjoy the time with my family. But I’m usually so keyed up from getting everything ready that it’s hard to get there. Be sure to take some time to just enjoy the holiday and your loved ones. This might mean pouring yourself a glass of wine, putting on your favorite pump up song, or snagging an extra piece of pie. Whether everything goes as planned or not, it’s important that YOU get a chance to relax and spend time with your friends and family! 

I hope you all have a wonderful and stress-free Thanksgiving with your families! xo, Rachel 

This post was created in partnership with Rubbermaid Brilliance  All opinions expressed in the post are my own and not those of Rubbermaid Brilliance.

Family Dinner is always a must in the Hollis household. It’s a time where we can sit and talk about everything, it’s seriously my favorite part of the day. The only thing I don’t like about dinner time is having to prepare it. By the time I get home from work I would rather spend more time with the boys than have to be in the kitchen. That’s why I love prepping my meals in advance and thanks to Rubbermaid ® Brilliance I can do this so easily! There containers are easily stackable and I never have to worry about them spilling in my fridge. If you want to see how weeknight dinners were like before I had the help of Rubbermaid then check out this video!

A 4th of July buffet is the easiest way to get festive with your favorite summer holiday. Just use the items from around your house and add a little red, white and blue to make it feel patriotic and proud!

I think most of you know by now that I’m a buffet kind of girl. I showed off my Halloween Buffet, my  Super Bowl Party Buffet and my Holiday Book Party Buffet this year alone! For one thing, it’s a style I know well. I’ve been setting up buffets my whole life because that’s how my family entertained. We’d put everything out on a table and guests would help themselves. Over the years I’ve learned to improvise and add some color but the essentials are always the same. In fact, if you scroll through those other posts you’ll see that I’m essentially setting up the same kind of style over and over. That’s because, when you figure out what works, you just keep adding to it!

I like to add a little color onto my table to start since my kitchen table is white. I didn’t have any red or blue linens so I improvised. I used one of my favorite aprons as a kind of runner. It adds a splash of color and gives guests something to chat about.

You’ve probably seen me use this little trick before with paper napkins! I just string up some yarn or kitchen twine to create a little backdrop and then add themed napkins on top like pennants. They’re so light they just stay in place. This time I added in some favorite American quotes with clothes pins. If you like this style you could ask your guests to bring their own quotes or even hang pictures of past 4th of July parties. Use my easy steps for making a clothespin garland.

To display my hot dogs on the 4th of July buffet I went with a galvanized bucket and some foil. Just put a couple of towels in the bottom of your bucket so the hot dog supply looks plentiful.

In fact, that’s a great secret of mine for anything. For something dry like chips or hotdog buns, add kitchen towels or paper towels under your food so it sits up near the top of it’s container. It makes everything look prettier. When it’s something went, like that grilled guacamole or say, grated cheese, I’ll turn a smaller bowl upside down in the bigger bowl and then cover it with the topping. It basically cuts the size of the bowl in half.

If you have more than one kind of dog or burger up for grabs just take a sharpie and mark which is which.

This cutie pie condiment display? That’s just mason jars on top of an old pie plate. And guys, yes of course you could just leave the condiments in their containers but this doesn’t take that much extra time but it really shows that you put an effort in.

A s’mores display is super cute and easy to pull off. It’s basically just a bunch of different s’mores toppings in cute little containers. Want more ideas for setting up one? Check out this whole post on the ultimate s’mores buffet! 

Last but not least, the star of my 4th of July buffet is this American flag snack tray. It’s so simple to make you guys! Grab your trusty cookie sheet and layer white chocolate covered pretzels with red fruit and put a little blueberry square in the corner.

OK, full disclosure, I don’t watch football. But I do love going to parties where watching football is on the agenda because those parties happen to serve the best food! Case in point? This Super Bowl Party Buffet filled with Black Eyed Peas Dip and Taco Mac n’ Cheese all of which we’re serving up alongside Food Should Taste Good tortilla chips. 

Check out all my tips for the most adorable super bowl party buffet (like these cute football glasses) and make sure you add these awesome recipes to your line up.

On the menu?

Our favorite new recipe for Taco Mac n’ Cheese. 

These Slow Cooker Hot Wings… yes, that’s right, I said slow cooker.

This Black Eyed Peas Dip that is going to take your appetizer game to a new level!

Also, my famous Beer Limeades! Don’t judge it until you try it!!

You can also consider some fun extras like my DIY Tailgate Board to add some height to your table or these adorable little bags. 

So whether you’re watching for the plays or (like me) just showing up for the food, make sure you’re super bowl party buffet looks darling with a few extra touches. 

Caesar Chavez said, “If you really want to make a friend, go to someone’s house and eat with him… the people who give you their food give you their heart.”

I love this because it’s so true! There is something sacred about a dinner table. Whether or serving filet mignon or fish sticks or takeout Chinese you will grow more as a family and a friend in the conversations you have over a meal than any other place. So as we head into the summer– which is just ripe with opportunity to invite your friends 0ver– I thought I’d share some easy ideas for hosting a casual dinner party. 

1. Perfect One Great Dish – If you’re already a master chef or an incredible cook then you can scoot right onto the next one. But if you’re still a newbie or feel unsure about your cooking skills then just figure out ONE thing you can make really well. For me, for the longest time, tacos were my go-to dinner for entertaining. They are easy for me to make, nearly impossible to screw up and who doesn’t love a taco bar? Don’t feel like you have to try a new recipe each week. Find a standard, easy-to-make dish like our balsamic pot roast and serve it until you can make it with your eyes closed. Then you can move onto to trying something a bit fancier like our favorite braised chicken. 

2. Don’t Worry About Decor – You know the best part about hosting a casual dinner party? It’s casual! When we have friends come over I just make sure the house is (mostly) clean and that there’s toilet paper in the guest bathroom. If you’re sharing your life and building community that means you’re trying to make friends, not impress them. There is a time and a place for silk linens and orchid centerpieces… Taco Tuesday isn’t one of them.

3. What Are You Going to Do? – If you’re inviting over friends you’ve known for a hundred years you don’t need to worry about entertainment. But if you’re inviting over new friends and you’re not totally sure how you’ll all interact yet I suggest figuring out an activity. Since we have a pool we tend to host a lot of swim parties during the summer. I’m also a HUGE fan of board games since it entertains guests no matter their age. Next time a guest asks “What can I bring?” Ask them to bring their favorite game.

4. Have Something to Sip – I adore serving a fun cocktail like these Kiwi Mai Tai’s! But even if you don’t drink alcohol you can consider something tasty like our Spicy Ginger Iced Tea. Having a special drink is a cool way to kick off any evening… pun, totally intended! 

5. Develop a Routine – Every time we host dinner we do the exact same set up. We use the same tub for the drinks, the same platter for the chips and the same bowl for the salad. Because we’ve done it so many times my husband and children can help me set up in half the time because they know the routine as well as I do. The first few times you host a casual dinner party I suggest making a list for yourself of all the things you need to do. My list always has a to-do and then notes to go along with it. Something like this…

• Buy Ingredients for Salad (what bowl am I serving in?)
• Have Boys clean their room (pull out UNO so they can ask friends to play)
• What am I serving for dessert (ask Jonathan for his cookie recipe)

Getting organized will help you feel calmer and less frazzled come party day!

Need some more ideas on what to eat? Check out our Dinner Section!

Want to get your Party Supplies organized? Check out This post!