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Homeway Homes

Quality Built for Better Living

Real or Artificial? It’s the centerpiece of the biggest holiday of the year, the focal point for parties and presents. If your preference is a real tree, balsam fir trees have a stronger scent and stronger branches to hold your ornaments. Scotch pines, however, will hold on to their needles longer indoors while spruces have that desirable conical Christmas tree shape as well as strong branches.

If your choice is an artificial tree, think of it as an investment. Higher quality trees have branches that more closely resemble the real ones and last throughout the years. Look for an option with a strong stand and hinged branches for easy set-up and storage, you’ll be glad you did!

Check Your Christmas Lights According to the U.S. Fire Administration, December is the deadliest month for electrical fires. Before you string lights on the house or the tree, be sure to inspect the strands to make sure there aren’t any frayed cords or cracked lamps. Replace any broken lamps and throw away strands with frayed cords. This will help prevent any accidental fires.

Holiday Hosting The holiday season can feel a bit overwhelming when entertaining or hosting guests, so make sure your home is stocked and ready well ahead of time. Whether it's creating welcome kits for overnight guests or making a fully stocked coffee station, the key is preparing in advance. Even something as simple as decluttering your kitchen can make a world of difference when an impromptu holiday party pops up at your place. This season, focus on what's really important: spreading that holiday cheer, and spending time with family and friends.

Fresh Baked Goodies As the holiday cookie season approaches, it’s time to break out the recipes and cookie cutters. But once your thumbprints and sugar cookies are complete, how do you keep them fresh well into the season? Keepin ‘em fresh comes down to moisture control. Allow your cookies to cool completely before tucking them away. When storing soft cookies, opt for airtight plastic containers that will limit the airflow and keep your cookies moister longer. Crispy cookies are best stored in a glass container, like a cookie jar, which lets a little bit of air in to keep your batch crunchy. As a rule of thumb, plastic bags shouldn’t be used to store cookies, unless they’re headed into the freezer.

Creative Gift Wrapping You’ve bought the perfect gift and now it’s time to wrap it. Why not ditch the store-bought paper in favor of one that is creative and personalized by you? Using white or natural craft paper, you can custom wrap each present for that special someone. Have a book reader? Repurpose an old book page by cutting out the shape of a Christmas tree, snowflake, or reindeer to paste on your gifts. Looking for a more rustic look for the nature lover? Forage your backyard or local park for tree clippings, pinecones, and other pieces of fresh greenery to top your gifts. Fast and free—it doesn't get better than that!