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Homeway Homes

Quality Built for Better Living

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!

Clean Floors & Warm Toes Sure, the snow looks beautiful outside, but snow and salt can wreak havoc on your floors. Protect your floors with quality floor mats and place them at entranceways. Look for mats with solid, non-slip backings that will not discolor the wood, and opt for those made with absorbent fibers to capture as much moisture as possible. Place a basket next to the door and fill with soft, fuzzy socks. You can even find these at your local dollar store, so stock up and as you take your shoes off, slip on a pair to keep your toes cozy and warm!