Howtodecorateyourhome for Theholidays

HowtoDecorateYourHome for theHolidays

‘Tistheseasontomakeyourhomesparklewithlightsandotherfestivedecorations.Herearesometipstomakeahappyhomeandimpressyour entireneighborhood.

DecoratewithClassandStyle.Gettingreadyfortheholidaysisn’tjustaboutputtingyourdecorationsup.It’salsoaboutwheretoputthemandtheoverallfeelingyou’reseeking.Betastefulandspecificaboutthedecoratingmoodyouwanttoset,whetherit’sanoriginalholidaythemeorasleekmoderndesignthatincorporateslightsandcolortocreate an icy postmodernfeeling.

Don’tHurtYourself.Becausewegenerallyonlyputupdecorationsduringtheholidayseason,it’sagoodtime fortheunskilledtoaccidentallyhurtthemselvesbydoingsomethingsilly.Makesureyouhavetheproperextensioncordsbecauseover-workedorfrayedextensioncordscanbeafirerisk.Fortunately,LEDlightsdon’tgethotthe way old incandescent tree lights did. Using in-door lightsoutside canpresentnotonlyafirehazardbutcanalsoshockpeoplewhocomeincontactwiththem.Finally,onceyouhavetherightlightsandsafetycords,remembertoturnthemoffbeforegoingtobed. Itdoesn’ttakelongfortheheatfromabunchofholidaylightstocatchatreeonfire.

Don’t Forget Seasonal Elements. “Festive” can mean a lot of thingsto different people. To switch things up, you can take a morerusticapproach by bringing in bits of bark, lanterns and pinecones.

Don’tExpectPerfection.YoumightnotbeaDIYenthusiast—andthat’sokay!Don’tacceptthepopularexpectationforyourhometolookpro-fessionallydecorated.Instead,makeitlooklikeyou.Planyourholidaydécoraroundwhatyouknow,howmuchyoucanhandle,andholidayfun will be sure tofollow.

ENJOY!

Pecan SandiesRecipe

Ingredients

•1/2 cup all-purposeflour

•1/2 cup whole-wheat pastryflour

•3/4 cup finely choppedpecans

•1/2 teaspoon groundcinnamon

•1/8 teaspoonsalt

•1/4 cup almondbutter

•3 tablespoons unsaltedbutter, at roomtemperature

•1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoonsconfectioners’ sugar, plus more for dustingcookies

•1 eggwhite

•1 teaspoon vanillaextract

Instructions

1)Preheatovento350degreesF.

2)Whisk together flours, pecans,cinnamon, andsalt.Creambuttersandsugar.Addtheeggwhiteandcontinuebeatinguntillightandfluffy. Beatinvanillaextract.Onlowspeed,graduallyaddflourmixtureandbeatuntiladoughforms.

3)Shapethedoughinto3-inchballs,about1 heapingtablespooneach.Placedoughballs2inchesapartonbakingsheetslinedwithparch-mentpaper.Bakeuntillightlybrownedonthebottom, 10minutes.

4)Whilecookiesarestillhot,siftconfectioners’ sugaroverthetops.Transfertoawirerackandcoolcompletely.

Recipe courtesy offoodnetwork.com