Looking to spice up your holiday festivities this year? Instead of the same old boring ham, cheesy potatoes and green bean casserole it may be time to try out some new recipes. Instead of just sitting around before and after your holiday dinner why not make a new tradition with a themed party? Here are a few ideas for holiday entertaining this year.

To keep the kids busy give them each a small gingerbread house to decorate. Have plenty of royal icing and candies available so each small guest can create their own masterpiece.

Do dessert fondue. Use mini fondue pots instead of one large one. This will ensure each guest will get served without too much fuss or mess. It also gives you the ability to vary the fondue flavors by serving both dark and white chocolate, caramel and everyone’s favorite nutella marshmallow.

Instead of an elaborate dinner throw a simple and modern cocktail party. Come up with a signature festive cocktail and then run to the store for pre-made deli appetizers. Use glitter, oversized sequins, fun patterned fabric and tulle to decorate your table.

To limit your baking time plan a cookie exchange. Set out everyone’s cookies on your buffet or dining room table. Be sure to leave room for recipe cards so that you can add new favorites to your repertoire. Have plenty of to-go boxes or holiday tins on hand. Serve milk and hot cocoa.

Have the kids do a holiday pageant. They can make up their own skit or sing carols. It’s a cute way to spend an evening. They could make paper mache puppets (think candy canes, stockings and gift wrapped boxes) and do a puppet show for the children.

By thinking a little bit outside the box you can wow your guests and add some new traditions to your family events.

Did you host a Labor Day party or barbeque?  Were you prepared for stains, spills, or any other mishaps that came from having a few dozen people walking through your home with food and drinks?  We’ve got a few great tips for your next hosting experience!

Today we will focus on how to get BBQ sauce out of carpet because that is a likely accident waiting to happen.

First, use a butter knife to scrape as much of the sauce off the carpet as you can. The sooner you catch the stain the better.

Dab some lukewarm water on the stain if it has already dried. Hopefully if someone spills they will tell you right away, but sometimes that doesn’t happen.

Add ¼ teaspoon mild detergent or carpet shampoo to 1 liter of cold water. Stir the solution in a bowl to mix thoroughly.

Before you apply any cleaner to your carpet, test the cleaner in a small patch where no one will see it. Wait a few minutes. If the cleaner discolors or otherwise adversely affects the carpet, remove it immediately with cold water and a sponge. If it ends up causing permanent damage, at least it won’t be right in the middle of the room.

If the cleaner does not affect the carpet, moisten a clean cloth liberally with the cleaning solution, and simply lay the cloth over the stain.

Use the bottom of a spoon to gently press down on the cloth. Gradually work your way all over the cloth, starting on the outside and working your way toward the center in a spiral to prevent spreading the stain. This process works the solution into the carpet without rubbing the stain in or damaging the carpet fibers.

Lift the cloth off the stain and gently spray with warm water.

Blot the stain with a clean cloth.

If the stain is gone, use a hair dryer on a low setting to dry the carpet.

If the stain is not gone, keep the carpet damp and call a professional dry cleaner as soon as possible.

At the end of the day a stain on your carpet is not the end of the world, however, they can be fixed if you follow the steps above. No need to let a little accident ruin your fun of hosting another party.