There’s nothing quite like the familiar and festive “POP!” of a holiday cracker to bring cheer around the Christmas or Hanukkah dinner table. Make these joyful decorations in a snap with seven simple steps and completely customize them with personal messages and tasty treats to delight your loved ones.

Materials Required:

• Paper rolls
• Wrapping paper
• Scissors
• Tape
• Ribbon or string
• Cracker snaps
• Confetti
• Treats and goodies

Related: 12 Last-Minute Gifts for Everyone in Every Price Range

Step 1: Cut Wrapping Paper

Cut out a few pieces of bright wrapping paper approximately 14 inches wide and 8 inches long. Look for wrapping paper that features grid lines along the back for easy measuring and cutting.

Step 2: Wrap Paper Rolls

Line three cardboard paper rolls side by side and carefully wrap them by rolling along the paper. Secure the paper with a piece of regular tape, double-sided tape, or a bead of hot glue.

Step 3: Insert Cracker Snap

Slide a bon bon snap or cracker snap through the paper rolls from one end to the other. Secure one end with a small piece of tape. This will keep the snap in place when you fill the cracker and close the ends.

Step 4: Gently Crush Ends

Grab hold of the wrapped cracker with both hands and find the break beneath the surface where the paper rolls meet. Gently twist the rolls apart to form a groove in the paper.

Related: Transform Your Staircase With This Easy Pool Noodle Garland

Step 5: Close One End

Make sure the cracker snap is easily accessible on either end of your cracker. Carefully tie a ribbon or string to close one end of the cracker. Work the ribbon along the groove of paper to gently seal it shut. Once the ribbon is in place, trim the paper ends and lightly fluff them into shape.

Step 6: Fill Cracker

Now the fun part! Fill your cracker with items like personalized jokes or meaningful messages, paper crowns, balloons, candy, small trinkets or toys, and – of course – confetti!

Step 7: Close Other End

Repeat step five to close the other end of the cracker. Leave the ends tied simply with a ribbon or string, or dress them up with some jingle bells, small ornaments or colourful pom poms.

Set the Holiday Table

Make your holiday table pop with these fun and festive crackers!

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Images courtesy of Denise Dias

The holidays are right around the corner — and if you’re playing host this time of year, you can pretty much expect at least one wine-related accident. (Don’t worry, we’ve all been there.) While many of us certainly love to indulge in a glass of red wine on occasion, spilling it on a piece of furniture, like a gorgeous couch, can permanently ruin the fabric. That’s because wine contains a chromogen (or pigment) called anthocyanin, which is essentially responsible for its deep red hue. It’s the same chemical that lends red berries their bold colour. So, what can you do if red wine ends up on your furniture? Try these three expert cleaning tips for a quick wine stain fix that’ll put your mind at ease.

Related: How to Naturally Clean the 10 Most Stubborn Household Stains

Step #1: Blot the Wine Stain Immediately

Act fast, and resist the temptation to stare in shock and horror at the spillage. If you give the stain time to sit, it will inevitably embed itself into the fibres of your chair or couch. Grab a clean, dry cloth or paper towel and immediately start blotting the stain gently. Absorb as much of the wine as possible. (If the stain is already dry, it’s A-OK to introduce a bit of water on the cloth or paper towel before blotting to help with absorption.) However, be sure not to scrub at it furiously — this will only cause the stain to spread outwards and sink into the fabric.

Related: The Most Important Step to Treating Stains That Everyone Forgets

Step #2: The Magic Wine Stain Concoction

Once blotted with a clean, dry cloth or paper towel, use a combination of dry baking soda and a couple spritzes of vinegar. Make sure they are placed directly on the entire stain to thoroughly saturate the affected area. Let the treatment sit for about five to 10 minutes before blotting once again; if it’s bubbling up, then it’s working its magic.

Next, blot it gently again… this time with a damp cloth. If you’re still noticing some staining, repeat the above steps until it has completely disappeared.

Related: 15 Things You Should Be Cleaning With Baking Soda

Step #3: Voila!

Once the treatment has been removed and the stain is officially gone, vacuum the spot to remove any remaining residue.

Alternative Options for Removing a Wine Stain:

Don’t have any baking soda and/or vinegar on hand? Try the following combos for equally effective treatments:

• Three parts hydrogen peroxide mixed with one part dish soap
• Sprinkling the stain liberally with everyday table salt
• Equal parts white vinegar and club soda

In each of these instances, let the mixture sit on the affected area for roughly 10 minutes before removing with a clean, slightly damp, cloth or paper towel.

Each combination will absorb the wine and gently lift the red colour away from the fabric… saving both your couch and your sanity.

For more cleaning tips, check out all of our cleaning and organization content here.

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As you may have guessed by the title, I’m planning my champagne birthday this year. I’m turning *scoffs* years old, and like any good socialite, it’s important I make it one to remember. You may ask, “what is a champagne birthday anyway?”. Simply put, it’s the day you were born corresponding with the age you’re turning.

So, unfortunately, for everyone below the legal drinking age, you’re straight out of luck. For those who can celebrate, I’ve created a checklist of everything I’m considering when planning this event. From tablescapes to venue selection and a well-crafted guest list, these are the most important things you should consider when planning your champagne birthday.

Pick a Theme

This is definitely one of the most exciting parts of planning your champagne birthday. Your theme can be anything your imagination can muster up! I personally take a lot of design inspo from Pinterest and Airbnb when planning parties. For example, if you’re into a pop of colour and whimsical decor, this Wes Anderson film-inspired home is the perfect blueprint for mapping out your party. While I enjoy a splash of colour here and there, I’ve followed many design trends for 2023 to gauge my inspo.

Pro Tip: Find your favourite celeb and see what they’ve been up to with their home (like Pamela Anderson and her chic Ladysmith home reno).

Selecting Your Venue for Your Champagne Birthday

Where you plan on hosting your champagne birthday is crucial based on a few factors: space, capacity and, of course, vibe. The worst thing is to book your space and find out it doesn’t actually fit your desired party size. It’s best to plan ahead of time for this, as most event spaces tend to book out well in advance. Your options can vary between restaurant event spaces, pop-up venues, condo party rooms and the most affordable option, your home.

Personally, I don’t love cleaning up after a party, so an event space is the best option for me. Regarding accessibility, I’m leaning towards my condo’s party room since it generally fits a larger amount of people for an affordable cost.

Ask for Help

Planning an event like this can be stressful. That’s why I always recommend asking for help from your close friends and family. Having someone to lean on makes the experience all the more exciting. The added benefit is gut-checking things that might not make sense concerning decor, budgeting or the guest list.

Meal Planning for Your Champagne Birthday

Depending on the vibe of your party, you may want to menu plan in advance. For the most part, champagne birthdays consist mostly of, you guessed it, champagne. There are instances, however, where food can (and should) be served. If you’re hosting at a restaurant, you’ll have the privilege of choosing between a ton of menu options (at a hefty cost). On the other hand, you could always order in or make your own food. My suggestion is to order take-out and make an easy snack board. It isn’t the most glamourous in terms of presentation, but nothing a few serving platters can’t fix.

Pro Tip: I recommend purchasing a decent-sized serving platter. That way, you can display your food on something befitting your special day.

Prioritize Self-Care

Through all the running around, planning, phone calls and spending, there’s one thing I am choosing to prioritize: my self-care. What’s the point of working so hard if, in the end, you’re worn out from all the stress? I’ve taken the liberty of booking a very lavish spa day on the morning of my birthday. Don’t feel like you need to book a spa day to practice self-care. It comes in all forms! Whether that’s taking time to yourself and reading or going for a jog before the celebrations, you vibe at your own pace.

Make it Interactive

Sure, the allure of expensive champagne is enough to excite anyone, but there should be other forms of entertainment. Consider adding games to your party itinerary. Games can be a fun and interactive way to keep people engaged. I personally love to play card games to keep things casual. However, any game is applicable when you’re the one hosting.

Be Sustainable

I know how tempting it can be to pick the cheapest and most affordable options for birthday decor, but if you can, try and be sustainable. There are so many single-use plastics littering landfills that aren’t biodegradable. Opt for actual glass versus plastic if you want to buy champagne glasses. The same rule applies to plates, tablescapes and cutlery: try to avoid plastic. The added benefit is that you will have all this great entertainment partyware the next time you host a big event.

Pro Tip: Luckily, Amazon has a ton of affordable glassware options like this six-piece set champagne flute set. You can even find some great items for less on Facebook Marketplace!

Make it a Destination

This might not apply to everyone, but if you’re willing to go the extra mile on this special day, plan a trip abroad. How chic would it be to host your birthday bash in Bali or the South of France? Your champagne birthday only comes once in life, so why not live it up? Alternatively, if you’re strapped for cash, curate your birthday theme to fit your dream destination!

Feature image courtesy of INSERT. Images courtesy of Pexels, Sabrina Stavenjord, Getty Images. 

We use self-serve bars at many of our parties. Whether we’re hosting a casual Sunday brunch, a mixed grill barbecue, or a more formal cocktail hour, we find them a stress-free way to present drinks to our guests. With a self-serve bar, you don’t have to worry about running around and making sure your guests’ glasses are always full, and you can spend more time with your guests. Self-serve drink stations can be set up quickly and don’t need specialty liquors or garnishes, making them perfect for impromptu get-togethers. We’ve come up with a few key ideas to get you set up a self-serve bar in no time.

Location 

Set up your self-serve bar somewhere central. Keep in mind that guests tend to congregate wherever the drinks are, so make sure it’s not blocking any seating or food. We typically set ours up at the end of a buffet bar or on its own on a small table set against one wall.

Setup + Equipment

Set up your drink bar in the way a guest would make their drink. That means glasses first, then alcohol, mix-ins (juice, soda, etc. ), and garnishes. There’s no right or wrong way to set up the bar, but we like to place the glasses on a small tray and place the alcohol in an ice bucket (except red wine, of course). Right beside the alcohol, we have the mix-ins in glass pitchers. You can also serve these on ice, but it’s not essential. At the end of the bar, we place the garnishes in small bowls alongside some cocktail napkins and stir sticks.

Related: How to Be a Better Host: The Best Tips for Entertaining Family and Friends

What You Need to Set Up Your Own Self-Serve Bar

• A large tray, placemat, or cutting board to ground the drink station.
• A small tray for glasses
• Glasses.
• 2 Large Buckets. One filled with ice to use in the drinks and one filled with ice to hold the cold drinks.
• 3 Pitchers (for the mix-ins)
• 3 small bowls (for the garnishes)
• Cocktail napkins
• Small tongs or toothpicks for picking up the garnishes.
• Small spoons or stir sticks for guests to mix their drinks.the drinks

Tips to Remember

• Self-serve bars should not require your guests to become mixologists.
• Keep it simple with one to three alcohol options, three mix-in options, and three garnishes.

Drink Options and Garnishes

Alcohol

• Champagne
• Vodka
• Tequila
• White wine

Mix-Ins

• Orange juice
• Cranberry juice
• Grapefruit juice
• Lemonade
• Soda water.

Garnishes

• Sliced grapefruit
• Sliced lemon.
• Sliced lime
• Pineapple chunks
• Cherries
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Blackberries

Related: How to Make Your Own Gold Tumbler & Glasses for Your Next Entertaining Gig

Drink Combination Ideas

Be sure to try some of our favourite combinations to make from the self-serve bar for your next party!

• Vodka + lemonade +lemon slice
• Tequila + orange juice + lime slice
• White wine + soda water + blackberry garnish
• Vodka + soda water + cranberry juice + frozen cherry
• Champagne + grapefruit juice + pineapple

The weatherman said it would be a perfect evening. So, why is it raining on your beautifully prepared al fresco buffet table? Ah, the weather, such a fickle friend. You can’t let the changing whims of Mother Nature prevent you from experiencing the joys of entertaining in the great outdoors this summer. Just make sure to cover all your bases with a “Plan B” that will ensure your party keeps on going, even in stormy weather.

Party Tent Perfection: If the long range forecast before your party calls for a very high chance of rain, it may be a good idea to rent a party tent and set it up, rain or shine. Move guests indoors if lightning makes an appearance, but otherwise, you should be able to dance the night away under the sturdy roof of the rented tent.

Recreation Room Respite: The basement rec room is a great place to move a party when the skies open. Place a drop sheet at the top of the stairs so guests can wipe wet feet and remove shoes. Enlist a few strong souls to help carry down tables, chairs and food, then turn up the tunes and let the party continue!

Garage Rock: If you have a garage, use it! Even if the weather reports call for fun in the sun a few days before the party, take a little time to tidy out the old car park. Throw old blankets, drop sheets or tarps over those particularly nasty areas, and make sure there is plenty of room for tables and chairs. Then, if the weather goes south, you can herd the group into a clean, dry area.

Hosting Tips: How to Plan a Party on a Tight Budget

Tarp Time: Get your hands on some large tarps and twine, and if the skies begin to cloud over, tie them to trees or posts over main areas. This way, you can stay outside and remain dry. Watch out for lighting, though, and if you see some, move your guests inside. You don’t want to endanger anyone.

Rainy Day Games: In addition to the outdoor activities you may have planned, be prepared with a few rainy day games. Trivia or definition games that can be played in teams are a good idea. Also, parents will thank you if you rent a few movies to keep younger guests occupied if they end up stuck indoors.

Fireside Fun: Got a fireplace? Stock up on firewood before your party, and if the skies open up you can offer guests a cozy area to warm up and dry off.

Sweater Solace: Being cold and damp is never fun. If you have some extra sweaters and blankets available, your guests will marvel at how thoughtful you are.

Cover Me! For light drizzles, buy extra drop sheets and use them to temporarily cover food and beverage tables. Then you won’t have to rush everything inside for a simple sun show.

Beat the Heat: Rain isn’t the only type of weather that can put a damper on a party. Climbing temperatures can be a real bummer, too. Get out the sprinkler, open up the pool, or organize a water balloon fight. Don’t forget the extra towels and make sure you have plenty of water and non-alcoholic beverages to keep guests hydrated. Also, set up as many chairs and tables in the shade as possible and consider erecting a tarp.

Family Flight Plan: Get your family together and establish a stormy weather game plan, giving each person a job. If it starts to rain, instead of panicking, you’ll all spring into action and the party will be saved in no time!