| You'll be slaving over a hot stove for
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| | wherever possible.
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| hours, preparing a feast fit for kings
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| | Napkins
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| this Christmas. From the turkey to the
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| | You don't have to limit yourself to
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| desserts, you put love into every recipe,
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| | simple linen napkins, although these work
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| and your family digs in with gusto. Why
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| | perfectly well. Use facecloths, small
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| not add some festive touches to the table
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| | hand towels, or handkerchiefs instead if
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| as well, and make the presentation as
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| | you prefer. Roll your napkins and fold
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| breathtaking as the dishes you'll be
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| | the roll in half, securing with a pretty
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| serving? It doesn't take much time or
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| | bow, or fold them origami style into an
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| money to transform your table from humbug
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| | interesting shape.
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| to very merry.
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| | Napkin rings can be made from pipe
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| Choosing a Theme
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| | cleaners, mini wreaths, licorice strings,
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| The easiest way to coordinate your decor
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| | ribbons, artificial flower stems, or
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| is to choose a theme. Your theme can be
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| | anything else you can think of that will
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| as specific as a single Christmas carol,
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| | look festive and do the job. Tie bells,
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| or as broad as a certain style or colors.
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| | small ornaments, pinecones, silk flowers,
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| For example, you could choose "Jingle
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| | or even small toys onto each napkin ring
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| Bells" as your theme, making the
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| | for added decoration.
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| centerpiece a miniature one-horse open
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| | Serving Dishes and Platters
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| sleigh, and attaching bells to everything
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| | Your serving dishes don't need to match
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| that doesn't voluntarily move. Or, choose
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| | each other to look pretty. A mixture of
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| a "Country Christmas" theme and add lots
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| | different styles and colors add whimsy
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| of country touches to your table, like
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| | and a country feel to your presentation.
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| felt cut-outs and cross-stitched napkins.
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| | If you don't have enough trivets for all
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| If you're planning on selecting colors
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| | of your dishes, cover pre-cut pieces of
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| for your table, stick with one main color
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| | thick cardboard with aluminum foil and
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| and a maximum of two accent colors.
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| | use these as shiny mats that will protect
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| Holiday colors of green, red, and white
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| | your table and still look nice.
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| look very festive, or accent with silver
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| | Place Cards
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| or gold for a more elegant touch. Blue
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| | If you want to use place cards to
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| and white work nicely together for a
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| | prearrange the seating at your table, use
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| winter theme.
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| | your theme to come up with imaginative
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| Table Coverings
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| | ways to create or display them. Gift tags
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| You may have your
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| | are an easy idea, and they can be
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| great-great-grandmother's handmade lace
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| | attached to each napkin or wine glass
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| tablecloth stowed away, ready to use for
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| | with ribbon or pipe cleaners. Miniature
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| your Christmas dinner. There's nothing
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| | artificial poinsettia pots are available
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| wrong with this, of course, but if
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| | at many dollar stores, and they make
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| spillage and possible staining are a
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| | gorgeous place card holders. Simply
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| major worry for you, save the lace for
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| | fashion your cards and attach them to
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| accenting your decorative holiday
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| | straws or toothpicks, then secure them
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| displays instead and pick up some
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| | into the pots.
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| inexpensive cotton or other fabric to
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| | Pinecones can hold name cards as well, if
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| cover your table with, or use clean
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| | you maneuver the cards so that the
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| sheets in various colors. You can even
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| | 'teeth' of the cones hold them in place.
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| use two contrasting colors of fabric, and
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| | Create shapes out of clay or dough,
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| use the second, smaller piece to hang at
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| | thread the cards through candy cane
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| an angle over the larger one. Christmas
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| | sticks, or simply place your cards on the
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| prints are cute and charming, but try to
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| | top of each dinner plate. The
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| steer clear of anything too busy or
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| | possibilities here are endless.
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| bright, as the fabric will overshadow any
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| | Extras and Finishing Touches
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| other accents you add.
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| | Adding candles of varying heights and
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| For a children's table, cover the surface
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| | colors will add warmth to your table
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| with butcher paper or inverted wrapping
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| | setting. Scatter tea lights, votives,
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| paper and provide crayons at each
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| | pillars, and tapers around the center of
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| setting. Christmas crackers are also
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| | the table, making sure that they are
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| great fun for kids, and look cute sitting
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| | secure and not interfering with anything
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| on each dinner plate.
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| | that could be flammable.
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| Centerpieces
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| | You can also decorate the stems on wine
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| Centerpieces can be as simple as a small
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| | glasses with purchased wine charms or
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| grouping of different sized candles. You
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| | pipe cleaners, or tie small bells to each
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| needn't go overboard and spend hundreds
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| | one with ribbon. Tie cutlery together in
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| of dollars on fresh flowers and a
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| | a similar fashion if you wish, or tuck
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| beautiful decorator's vase to hold them
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| | utensils securely inside rolled napkins.
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| in. Potted Poinsettias make a pretty
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| | For an added touch, decorate each chair
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| centerpiece, as do small baskets filled
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| | with bows, bits of garland, or pretty
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| with pine sprigs and pinecones, or clear
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| | fabric. Anything goes as long as it
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| glass bowls full of bright Christmas tree
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| | doesn't scratch or otherwise interfere
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| balls.
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| | with your guests' enjoyment of your
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| Keeping your chosen theme in mind, choose
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| | wonderful meal.
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| a centerpiece that will stand out among
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| | With a bit of extra effort, you can take
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| your dishes of food, and become a
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| | a plain and boring table and create a
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| conversation piece for guests. If you
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| | stunning masterpiece that will impress
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| plan to use lit candles, never leave them
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| | your guests even before the first course
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| unattended, and choose unscented candles
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| | is served.
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