Ep. 444: Holiday Throwback Special, Pt. 2 - Taryn's Hosting Tips & Tricks

Summary

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How to Decorate Podcast (Ballard Designs)

Episode 444: Holiday Throwback Special, Pt. 2 – Taryn's Hosting Tips & Tricks
Date: December 16, 2025
Host: Taryn (Ballard Designs team)
Guests: Caroline, Liz (and others from the Ballard Designs team)

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Episode Overview

This festive “Holiday Throwback Special” (part 2 of a 3-part series) features Taryn’s pick: a throwback to the 2024 Holiday Hosting Special, a lively discussion among the Ballard Designs team as they swap holiday hosting stories, practical tips, favorite family traditions, and their hard-earned decorating wisdom. The episode is a mix of Thanksgiving and Christmas advice, blending nostalgia and actionable tips for making hosting less overwhelming and more joyful. With plenty of laughs, genuine stories, and “Oh, I have to try that” ideas, the conversation is brimming with holiday spirit and useful hacks.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Thanksgiving Hosting Rituals

[Starts ~01:47]

• Friendsgiving Memories: Liz recalls hosting legendary Friendsgivings in LA, with up to 40 guests and long banquet tables outdoors, made potluck-style.

  “I would just put it on Facebook and say, hey, if you don’t have a place to come, come over. The largest one we had was maybe like 35 or 40 people.” (D, 02:14)

• Melding Traditions: Each host brings unique traditions, especially when merging families. For Liz, that means healthier sides and salads plus her cherished family pierogi.

  “I’m going to infuse my own family traditions... we have pierogi for every holiday. I make just gobs of it.” (D, 04:10)

• Trying New Dishes vs. Traditions: Debate about whether to stick with “tried and true” recipes or mix in something new. Most land on a blend—some classic, some experimental (e.g., Caroline’s Ina Garten mashed sweet potatoes made ahead for travel).

• Regional Holiday Food: Lively talk about traditional side dishes—like green bean casserole (is it a Southern thing? Midwest? Just American?) and everyone’s favorite “bad for you” casserole: stuffing.

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2. Planning & Hosting Systems

[Starts ~08:05]

• Hosting Systems:

  • Assign serving dishes in advance with labels, set up a drink station, and make a detailed prep list.
  • Caroline shares her beloved “master list” system: break down every task—cooking, décor, cleaning, even “extra toilet paper”—by the day, spreading the load pre-event.

    "Literally every single thing I need to do...then I assign it to a day so I know...what can be done ahead and what’s day-of." (B, 09:07)

• Delegation: Have the list ready so when guests ask to help, you can quickly assign something (“Check the list!”).

• Don’t Forget the Small Stuff: Even minor tasks—from adding ice to glasses to lighting bathroom candles—go on the list so nothing’s forgotten.

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3. Thanksgiving Recipes & Family Dynamics

[Starts ~13:49]

• Favorite Recipes Shared:

  • Winterberry Pie (Liz): Cherry-based pie with other berries and winter spices.
  • Admission that “Pillsbury does such a fantastic job” with crust and it’s all about the filling.
  • Pumpkin pie mishaps—don’t stress, just pivot to cookies if your pie flops!

• Dividing Duties Among Siblings: Assign dishes based on each person’s strengths and past “failures” (“Don’t let her do the squash!”).

• Holiday Chaos is Part of the Fun: Even with crowded houses, not enough restrooms, and sibling chaos, everyone fondly anticipates the mayhem.

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4. Transition to Christmas/Hanukkah

[Starts ~22:12]

• Timing Decorations:

  • When to decorate? Traditions range from waiting until after Thanksgiving to making it an event (“inspired by Carson Kressley,” some start right after Thanksgiving dinner).
  • Some families wait to put up the tree until a specific birthday (e.g., December 8th).
  • If you’re traveling for Thanksgiving, you might not decorate until December is already in full swing.

• Live vs. Faux Trees:

  • Some families insist on real trees (despite the chaos), others do both—live in the main room, artificial for convenience elsewhere.
  • Caroline loves “flocking” her tree for looks and longer life.

• Lights & Tree Tricks:

  • New compact Christmas lights—smaller and more plentiful bulbs—are a game-changer for tree twinkle.
  • Mix up ornament approaches (ribbon, bows, glass icicles for sparkle).

  "They have much smaller lights and like twice as many lights per inch as a regular string...my tree was more twinkly than ever." (B, 30:04)

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5. Low-Effort, High-Impact Decor Tips

[Starts ~31:51]

• Tree First:

  • Focus your effort on a dazzling Christmas tree. If you do nothing else, “take your tree up a notch.”

• Less is More:

  • Pick three spots (e.g., front door wreath, main tree, maybe mantel or porch) and “nail those.”

• Pre-lit All the Things:

  • Pre-lit trees/garlands save time and pain—just plug them in. Fluffing is optional if you’re short on time.

  “If you are just...no energy, literally, you just pop it up.” (C, 33:06)

• Porch as Living Room:

  • Decorate outdoor spaces like indoor ones (tree on porch, throws on chairs).

• Wreaths in Windows:

  • Inspired by Carson Kressley, Liz is adding lots of (even faux) wreaths to interior and exterior windows.

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6. Managing the Real-vs-Fake Tree Debate

[Starts ~37:10]

• Pro-Fake-Tree Arguments:

  • Up and lit in 20 minutes.
  • No stringing lights or vacuuming needles for weeks.

• Magical Real-Tree Moments:

  • The tradition of picking out a tree together is irreplaceable (“It’s like a low-commitment puppy—for one month!”).
  • Families often compromise: real in one room, fake elsewhere.

• Tree Skirt Dilemmas:

  • Tree skirts look pretty but get wrinkled and wet; tree collars (like wicker or metal) are recommended with artificial trees.

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7. Mantel, Stockings, and Incremental Updates

[Starts ~41:11]

• Stocking Holder Solution:

  • The “Essential Stocking Holder” from Ballard: weighty base, safe for lots of stockings, good for marble mantels and consoles, avoids the hazards of heavy weighted holders.

    “It goes across the whole top of your mantle. No hooks, works great on marble...highly recommend.” (B, 44:05)

• Mantel Styling:

  • Use a mix of faux and fresh garlands, or even experiment with different foliage (magnolia, flocked greens, spray-painted leaves).

• Incremental Updates:

  • Each year, add one thing to your collection (a new garland, more wreaths, new stocking holders, etc).

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8. Color, Wrapping, and Ornaments

[Starts ~46:50]

• Changing Color Stories:

  • Changing ribbon or wrapping paper colors can refresh your holiday décor without buying new ornaments.

• Ornament Tips:

  • Ribbon trees are great if you don’t have many ornaments (kid/pet friendly, not breakable).

• Gift Wrapping:

  • Hosts coordinate wrapping paper with their tree/theme; Ballard’s own line features some hand-painted designs by Caroline.

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9. Entertaining & Using Holiday China

[Starts ~50:51]

• Holiday Dinnerware:
  • Not everyone owns a separate Christmas china set; some use inherited, “festive-looking” non-seasonal sets, or vintage dessert plates.
  • “Accent” items (cookie plates, mugs) can bring holiday spirit without overtaking valuable storage space.
  • Sentimental memories—using grandma’s china, or even quirky vintage mugs—add meaning.

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10. Favorite Hacks & Final Tips

[Starts ~57:11]

• Wreath Storage:

  • Hang wreaths flat on basement walls (on nails) to keep them looking good year to year.

• Command Hooks & Fishing Line:

  • Command hooks (especially with movable arms) make for easy, damage-free garland and light hanging.
  • Use fishing line and hooks to anchor trees (especially if you have pets or kids: “Our tree fell over one year, so now we tie it to the wall.” (B, 58:06) )

• Pet Solutions:

  • Hang delicate/bird ornaments high or display separately if cats see them as toys.

• Estate Sale Gifts:

  • Shopping estate sales for unique gifts—decor, china pieces, vintage crystal—makes for memorable, sustainable presents. Use sites/apps for local listings (estatesales.net).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Hosting Sanity:

  “No task is too small to put on the list because there are always things for a party that I forget...halfway through the party, I’m like, oh gosh, I forgot to light the candle in the powder bath.” (B, 11:40)

• On Holiday Chaos:

  “It’s chaos because there’s not enough restrooms...you have to take your time slot for the shower that day, but I look forward to it, you know?” (C, 21:53)

• On Tree Debates:

  “It’s like a low-commitment puppy—just for that short time. And then we say so long.” (D, 40:14)

• On Pre-lit Trees:

  “There’s just something so great about having a tree up and lit in 20 minutes. That’s your selling point right there.” (D, 37:52)

• On The Importance of Enjoying the Process:

  “The holidays are about enjoying the process, even if it is a little chaotic.” (A, 64:13)

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Segment Timestamps

• Thanksgiving traditions, rituals, and recipes: 01:47 – 22:25
• Christmas & Hanukkah decorating (timing, tree types, lights): 22:25 – 31:51
• Low-effort, high-impact decorating tips: 31:51 – 37:10
• Handling real vs. fake tree debates, tree skirts/collars: 37:10 – 42:24
• Wreaths, mantels, and stocking holders: 42:24 – 46:50
• Color, ornaments, and gift wrapping: 46:50 – 50:51
• Entertaining, holiday china, and meaningful objects: 50:51 – 57:11
• Hacks, pet tips, estate sale gifting: 57:11 – 63:32
• Closing reflections: 63:58 – End

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Final Thoughts

The team’s practical advice, honest confessions, and creative tips remind us that successful holiday hosting is less about perfection and more about planning, collaborating, and enjoying both the rituals and the chaos. Whether you’re coordinating a potluck, plotting a new color scheme, wrestling with the real-vs-fake tree dilemma, or just trying to get through the season in one piece—there’s an idea here for making your space (and your sanity) a little brighter.

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For More Tips

Check out Ballard Designs’ show notes for referenced recipes (Ina Garten’s sweet potatoes, cranberry margarita, winterberry pie, garlic cheese green beans) and links to their favorite holiday products.

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Happy Decorating!

Transcript

[A]

Hi everyone and welcome back to the how to Decorate podcast from Ballard Designs. I'm Taryn and I'm so excited to be hosting part two of our three part holiday throwback series. I know Caroline kicked it off last Week with episode 117 with Janny Moster where she shares some amazing insights on tree decorating and holiday styling. So I hope you got a chance to listen back to that goodie because there were so many great tips and tricks in there. And next week Liz got to pick her favorite. But I, I'll keep it a surprise for now. I'm going to share with you guys. I chose episode 388 or 388 known as the 2024 Holiday Hosting Special. I picked last year's because we recorded in my house and we talked a lot about Thanksgiving, complaining about pies to make. And Caroline gives some tips and tricks on her system for planning out Thanksgiving task before a party. Because Caroline's known for her big holiday party and we discussed that. I think you guys will find some good practical tips tucked in there. So please enjoy this throwback episode and I hope you're having the best 2025 holiday season and wishing you and your family so much love and light this season. Now to the episode.

[B]

Marshall's buyers are hustling hard to get amazing new gifts into stores right up to the last minute. Like a designer perfume for that friend who never RSVP'd wishlist topping toys for.

[C]

Her kids who came too.

[B]

Belgian chocolates for the neighbor. A cozy scarf for your boss and a wool jacket for your husband that you definitely did not almost forget. Marshalls, we get the deals, you get the good stuff.

[D]

Even at the last minute. Phew.

[B]

Find a Marshall's near you. I mean, we can kick off with Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving, Yes. A week from now.

[C]

Amazing.

[B]

And yeah, let's talk about hosting. I don't know. I know Liz. We just were talking off mike about Liz is going to be hosting this year. But everybody maybe go around and let's. What's your. What are your hosting rituals? Do you have any?

[C]

Well, did you have them before you were hosting?

[D]

Well, it's been a few years since I've hosted Thanksgiving.

[B]

Okay.

[D]

When we lived in Los Angeles, we would have a friendsgiving for everyone who couldn't make it back to their respective homes. So I mean, honestly, that was early days of Facebook at this point, and so I would just put it on Facebook and say, hey, if you don't have a place to come, come over. And I think the largest One we had was maybe like 35 or 40 people.

[B]

Gosh.

[D]

And so we would put. Because it was Los Angeles, we would have. We had two picnic tables and we would put them head to head and just do one big long banquet table. And it was. It was fantastic.

[B]

That's really fun.

[C]

Outside, I assume.

[D]

Yeah. Where it was more of a potluck situation where I would make the dessert and the turkey and a couple sides and then everybody else would bring things to share. Yeah.

[C]

That's fantastic.

[D]

Yeah. So I'm actually really looking forward to hosting again. It's been quite some time since I've hosted Thanksgiving, so I'm really looking forward to it.

[C]

And how many people?

[B]

Four?

[D]

Seven. Seven people.

[B]

That's a good amount.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Not crazy and unmanageable, but, you know.

[C]

It still fits at a table.

[D]

Yeah, still fits. One table.

[C]

One table.

[D]

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. So it'll be the first Thanksgiving in our house. Yeah. And we have a 60 inch round table, so, yeah. Everybody gets to sit around.

[C]

Amazing.

[B]

That's really exciting. Are you, like. Do y' all do the sort of traditional foods? Are there different types of things you add in there? Are you like a turkey, fam? Some people don't like turkey.

[C]

No.

[B]

So true.

[D]

Very true. We'll do a turkey. Probably a small.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Small bird, you know. Yeah. And with. This is with my husband's family. And so their traditions are different than our traditions. And so we'll probably do a lot more healthier foods and salads and things like that.

[B]

Just because that's where.

[D]

That's where they're at.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

But I'm going to infuse my own family traditions of, like, you know, we have pierogi for every holiday. I feel like we talked about this last time, too.

[B]

Yes.

[D]

I make. I make just gobs of it.

[C]

Amazing.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Because they're. They're great leftovers, too.

[C]

Amazing. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. We did talk about it last year, which is so fun. And I love that, that you could. I feel like it's fun to be able to combine multiple families. I always like that, like, um, you know, going to someone's Thanksgiving and being like, oh, I really like their stuffing recipe. Or like, this is a really good. You know, and then it kind of gives you, like, a little bit of a new, like, angle for next year. I always like trying new recipes. It's. I don't have to do the same.

[C]

Thing every year, I think, because it's the same. It can be the same meal. Like, you definitely, like, I. I agree with you. Like, if you Get a new cranberry or a new.

[B]

Right.

[C]

Or even a full new dish. I won't even say, like, a version of it is very exciting, because you're like, oh, no, I kind of want to make this for my family next year. Yeah. Like, if you take it with you.

[D]

Yeah. But there are. But there are the staples. Like, I feel like this is pretty controversial. Like, do you try new recipes for when you're hosting, or do you go tried and true? I mean.

[B]

Oh, I like to. A little bit of both. There's some, like, I. There's some. I think I mentioned this last year, but, like, I have a sweet potato recipe that's just very easy. It's. It's the Ina Garten mash sweet potatoes.

[C]

And we knew it was Ina Garten.

[B]

Yeah. And I can make it the day before. It's easy to travel with. Like, this year, we're going to my parents, so we're gonna be traveling, so I'll probably make it here in Atlanta and then just, like, take it and warm it up there.

[D]

Nice.

[B]

So that's something. But then I might, like, try a new dessert recipe. So I feel like it's a mishmash each year of, like, some things I do over and over again and then some. Sometimes it's just. It's that recipe that works. You know what I mean?

[C]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

And if it works and, like. Yeah.

[D]

Keep it going.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

I think the thing I like about that is, like, I don't make sweet potatoes any other time of the year, so.

[B]

Right.

[C]

Like, you don't.

[B]

No, not.

[C]

Sorry. Not like the mashed. Oh, you know, like the sweet. Sorry, I should probably say. I don't make sweet potato casserole.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[D]

Like that.

[C]

No, no, I do chop up, and.

[B]

I was like, that's, like, such a. How would you not make it all.

[C]

I don't make it mashed like that. Yeah, I know, exactly.

[B]

No, the. The casserole with the casserole style is.

[C]

Not something I make except.

[B]

No, yeah, that's the thing.

[C]

I make green beans all the time. But, like, I know, like, the green bean casserole is a, like, Southern tradition.

[B]

I don't. I never have green bean casserole. I make green beans. It's not necessarily like, David's family.

[C]

It's one that we always have. I always have that one. We don't either. We just have fresh green beans in.

[D]

Like, the cream sauce and, like, the French. Like, the crispy onions on top, like, that kind of green bean. Or is that, like, a Midwest thing.

[B]

So I think that's a traditional green bean casserole, but is that what you're talking about? Oh, yeah, yeah.

[C]

Yes, yes, yes. That's a green bean casserole. I'm sorry. Yes.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

Yes. That is how we do it.

[D]

Okay.

[C]

Or they do it. They do it and. Oh, but David's mother's from the Midwest, so that checks out.

[D]

There she go.

[C]

She's from south, but I feel like.

[B]

That'S like a. I think it's traditional, though. It's an American thing. My parents never did that. But my. I don't know.

[C]

What's the, like.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

I don't know.

[D]

The regionality.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

What's, like, the cheesiest food you guys get? Or like the. Or casserole that's, like the worst for you that you look forward to?

[B]

Oh, well, I love stuffing.

[C]

Stuffing. Oh, yeah, I love stuffing. It's just salty, delicious bread, essentially. Yeah.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

And then I feel like recently I've had one. I can't. I can't remember who it was that made this, but, like, one that's cornbread. That's really good. Oh, it's using, like, cornbread, I guess, muffins or something. They make that into the stuffing. That sounds. It was really good.

[D]

That sounds amazing.

[C]

That sounds really good, too.

[B]

Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

[D]

Wait, now I'm hungry.

[B]

So what are, like. I feel like I have like a, you know, my, like, hosting sort of system.

[D]

What.

[B]

What do y' all do in order to, like, if you're hosting a big gathering, do you have certain things that are, like, your. Your routine?

[D]

I mean, I definitely get out all the dishes that I need and get out all the serveware that I need and like, assign a. Serve a spoon to a bowl and kind of put a label in. Like, this is the mashed potato bowl so somebody doesn't come along and swoop it up and put carrots in it. Just. Cause you understand the scale and the quantity of what it is you're making in those bowls. Definitely set up a drinks area. Yeah. I don't know.

[C]

Have you ever seen in Martha Stewart Living how she has. She always has the calendar of what she's doing that month.

[A]

I love that.

[C]

From planning bulbs to the summer. She always has what she's making at the beginning of, like, Thanksgiving week, like, towards, like, her prep. And I always love.

[B]

Oh, that's what I do.

[C]

That you have yours.

[B]

I have a system sort of like that.

[D]

Okay, you need to tell us about this system then.

[B]

I mean, it's not like rocket science. I basically just, like, the week of the. And I did this, like, for a Christmas party. Like, the week of the event, or even two weeks, depending on how long it takes to prep. I'll basically just like, make a list of literally every single thing I need to do at. From extra toilet paper in the bathroom to polishing silver or whatever. Like, whatever is on the list. And then I just, like, assign it to a day. So then I. I know, like. Okay, a week before. There are certain things I can do to take off my list day of.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

To make room for things that I can't do in advance. Right. Like, whether that's stocking the guest's bathroom or. Yeah. Certain little things. And then I just sort of, like, assign little tiny tasks for each day.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And that way I can like, break up something. Like hosting.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Into manageable parts. I mean, it's not.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

It's just, like a big master to do list. So, like, if it's. If I'm gonna make a dish two days before, like, cookies, then I'll put. You know, I'll know, like, okay, I need to make those on Tuesday. And then I'll freeze the dough, and then I'll. Babies. And I just, like, assign it to a day.

[D]

Okay. So how early do you start this?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Depends on how big the party is. But, like, for a Christmas party that we used. We haven't done in a while, but that we used to do every year, I mean, I would probably start, like, two weeks in advance. Okay. And some of that's, like, decorating the house for Christmas. You know what I mean?

[D]

Like, Right.

[B]

I need to have my tree up and my lights done. And then. Yeah. The Sunday before, I know I'm gonna buy all my flowers, and then I'm gonna arrange them on Wednesday or what? I'm just making it up at this point, but, you know, that kind of thing.

[C]

And I think with that, you get into a rhythm, because I agree with you on that. It's like, I know a month before Halloween because that's when I do my big one. It's like, I. I make that a goal to, like, this is the day I get all the decorations up. Like, I need to have all the decorations in place by this date so that then I can do actual, like, party prep. And then down to, like, the things I can't do until, like, the day is like, you know, there's plenty you can't. But, like, even the black lights, I can't put them in until the day of because it's the worst. You can't live in black lights like, any other time.

[D]

I just love that you change all the bulbs in your house to black lights for your home.

[C]

Well, it does help with the ambiance.

[B]

Yeah, it does.

[C]

I know it's a little different, but I was just. It's the same thing where.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

I now have it down to about, like, a week out is where it really starts, like you said, where you're like, okay, I have to go to the grocery this day so I can make these certain things on this day. And.

[B]

Yeah, and then you can back out and you're like, okay, I know I'm going to make my cookies on this day, so I need to. If I'm grocery shopping this day, I know what to put on my grocery list. And I also feel like no task is too small to put on the list because there are always these things for a party that I forget about that. Then halfway through the party, I'm like, oh, gosh, I forgot to light the candle in the powder bath or something. So I'll do just even the tiny, tiny, tiniest thing, whether it's putting ice cubes in the glasses or whatever it is.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

So that I don't forget. You know what I mean? So then, like, an hour before. And I even, like, make time to, like, blow dry my hair. And like. Yeah, you have to, you know, I map that out on the day.

[D]

The other good thing about those lists is that when somebody comes in, it's like, oh, how can I help?

[B]

Yes.

[D]

You're like, check the list.

[B]

Yeah, exactly.

[D]

Yeah. No, I'm so glad we're having this conversation because I feel so out of practice. This is great.

[C]

And the. And making just like a. A list of things that, like, if someone's like, hey, do you need me to pick up anything? Like, the weird part is I always have ice on that list. I'm like, if anyone offers, I'm gonna say, yes, and it's ice. Or like. Cause you always need more ice. And I'm like, always grateful for the friend who always. Or the family member who's always like, hey, do you need us to grab anything while we're headed over?

[B]

And you're like, yes. Especially if it's like they're making a. A day of grocery stop or something. Yeah.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Cause that's something that I always feel like it's so easy to. In my head, I'm like, oh, I can just make a quick run to the grocery store, but really, that could take, like, an hour.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

And there's no time for that. Y. You don't have time for that. Exactly. Yeah. What about the table? What are you gonna do on your table? Yeah, that's right.

[C]

Isn't that your favorite, too? It's my favorite. The table.

[B]

Yeah. I love the table. I love a place card.

[C]

I'm always like, what can I paint on, Color on, draw on?

[D]

Okay.

[B]

That would be a great. A great job for kids, for high schooler.

[D]

That's actually when my family gets together, there's a lot more little kids. And so that's what we usually do. We set up a. At the kids table and, like, just come in with a whole bunch of crafts and be like, okay, make the centerpiece. That's cute. Yeah. So that's a lot of fun.

[B]

Yeah, it's a good note.

[C]

I should put. I should add that.

[B]

What are yalls? What does anyone have, like, a recipe that's their favorite they want to share with everyone?

[D]

I'm making a winterberry pie.

[B]

Oh, what.

[D]

What's that? And it's. It's. Yeah.

[B]

Tell us, what are winter beers?

[D]

I'm not ready for this, like, savory, warm goodness. So it's a cherry pie.

[B]

Okay.

[D]

With just kind of a lot of, like, warm winter spices, like a lot of cinnamon, nutmeg.

[B]

Like, I've never heard of this before.

[D]

And then I'll. I'll throw in some other berries kind of into the mix. So it's not just a straight up cherry pie. So I might throw some blueberries in there. I might throw a BlackBerry in there. I do not. I do not.

[B]

It's hard. I've never done it successfully.

[C]

I've never done a successful crust either.

[B]

Yeah, they're always too mealy.

[C]

I can't always.

[B]

Pillsbury is much better. You know what?

[D]

Pillsbury does such a fantastic job, and people are always complimenting my crust, and that's just fine.

[C]

But, like, it is something I wish I knew how to do.

[B]

But yeah.

[C]

Yeah. I failed so many times that I no longer want to try. Does that make sense?

[D]

I have some good recipes, but again, like, I don't have time for that. Yeah, there's a whole lot of chilling. There's a whole lot of, like, making.

[B]

Sure your butter needs to be the right temperature.

[D]

No, no. Like, Pillsbury is awesome. So then I. So I really focus heavily when I make a pie on the fillings.

[C]

Yeah. So, yeah, I make the best filling possible.

[B]

Absolutely. So might.

[D]

I might need to make a test buy. Yeah.

[A]

Are.

[B]

Do you. Are you gonna. Are you gonna do a tester before, or are you just gonna, like, wing it?

[D]

Sometimes I wing it.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Actually, a lot of times I just wing it. I have recipes, but a lot of times it's like water for chocolate. You just gotta feel it in the moment and put your energy and love into it and.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

See what comes out.

[B]

Oh, really? If it's a huge disaster, you can go get an additional pie somewhere else. You know what I mean?

[D]

Oh, that's happened to me before.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

See, I won't make pumpkin pies for this reason.

[B]

Pumpkin pie.

[D]

I.

[B]

What, you don't like it? Pumpkin pie.

[C]

Oh, you're not gonna be.

[D]

You do a pecan or a sweet potato or pie.

[B]

I love a pecan.

[C]

I do like dessert.

[D]

Okay.

[B]

But I also have made so pie.

[D]

It's such Pisces.

[C]

It's a. It's a Pisces.

[B]

I've made a caramel cheesecake. I'll make any. Anything that, like, feels follish. It doesn't have to be.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Will doesn't like pecan pie, but I really like pecan pie, so I don't know.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Anyway, sorry, continue with butcher pieces.

[D]

This happened many, many years ago, Thanksgiving at my. At my mom's house. And it was kind of the. The first year that my grandmother couldn't make the pies anymore. And so we're like, okay, we're gonna step into this role and we're gonna make the pumpkin pies. And we made the pies. And for some reason, we totally, totally mismeasured the salt.

[B]

Oh, no.

[D]

We're like, look, these look so beautiful. And we're like, let's just test. And we tested one.

[B]

We were like, oh.

[D]

And we just, like, puckered.

[C]

We just like a puck and curd.

[D]

It was like a savory pie. It was horrible. We could not serve it to anyone. They went straight into the trash. And we said, sorry. But yeah, that was.

[B]

So what did you do? Where'd you go get your pies from?

[D]

I mean, at that point, it was already Thanksgiving day. Like, we were just.

[B]

You couldn't even go to.

[D]

We were just Grocery store.

[B]

Oh, no.

[D]

Out of luck. Yeah, we just, like, made cookies.

[B]

Oh, there you go. Instead. I mean, like. Yeah, there's nothing better than a. Like a warm chocolate chip cookie.

[D]

Right?

[B]

I mean.

[D]

But yeah, so, yeah, that was. That was that debacle. And my mom and I will not attempt again. Again.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I. We never had, like, pumpkin pie growing up. I mean, we never. It wasn't an anti. Thing, but it was just, like, wasn't a staple.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

So I'm. Any dessert, it works for me. It could be apple pie. It could be anything. I love pumpkin pieces.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

My. I feel like we. We never had pumpkin pie either, but I don't know why. We always had apple related things and, like, a chocolate pie.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

But we never had pumpkin pie. But I do, like, I like it a little, but not enough to order it.

[B]

Can you share your winterberry pie recipe with us? Sure. Okay. Yeah, no problem. What about you, Taryn? What's your favorite recipe that you've talked about that.

[C]

And I think I'm one of those people, like you said, who, like, I. A lot of the dishes we have, we only have during that time. Like, I don't even make mashed potatoes. Like, do you guys make mashed potatoes, like, on any other time of the year?

[B]

Occasionally, like, if we're having steak or something.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

Will really like steak and mashed potatoes as, like, a birthday dinner or something.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

So. But we.

[C]

We literally don't. Other than on shepherd's pie, like, that's.

[B]

The topper and that's about it.

[C]

And so I think I look forward to, like, the kind of repetition of the food.

[B]

So.

[C]

But again, just once, it's when you go to, like, a third Thanksgiving meal that you're like, well, that's done. And that's where I'm. I, like, love a version, but for me, I love, like, a good take on a cocktail. Like a spin on it, like a cranberry margarita or like, I love adding that into the mix. Like some kind of fun, different cocktail to kind of start the night.

[B]

Yeah. How do you break it? Because. Okay, you've got four sisters and your mom. So how do y', all, like, divide up the day? Does someone do the turkey? Everyone does. Decides, like, what, What. What happens. Yeah.

[C]

Based on who's the best at what.

[B]

Right.

[C]

Like, everybody's made a mistake, like she was saying, and we're like, no, do not put them in charge of the squash. So one sister's pretty good at making sweets, and so she usually comes up with something too decadent and. Right. Cool. You make that? Yes. I was working. And then one who's a little healthier, he was like, all right, I'll bring the green beans and I'll bring the squash.

[B]

And. Yeah.

[C]

So we divide.

[B]

Are your sisters and is everybody good cooks? Yeah.

[C]

Yeah, it's pretty. I mean, it's pretty simple, though. I.

[E]

My.

[C]

My parents are from Maine, but, like, very, like, bland eating. Like, I grew up very bland. So, like, they're like, anything. If you add too much of anything, my mom's like, whoa, what is going on here? This wasn't salt and pepper. Even garlic or lemon?

[B]

Garlic and lemon.

[C]

That's what I meant by, like, I want to give you a level. So you knew where we were at.

[B]

We're like, so you need those in every recipe, basically.

[C]

She has never cooked with either in her life.

[B]

Yeah. Okay.

[C]

Yeah. Just to give you a perspective on. I think I was just simple. So.

[B]

So do you feel like your sisters, like, went the opposite direction?

[C]

Yeah, like, we've all. I think, brand, like. Yeah. But I also feel like that's where the Internet and, like, you know, has really helped all because. To be like, oh, you made that. Or, like, that looks pretty. Let's make. Try that.

[B]

So. Yeah. Yeah.

[C]

I always think the fun cocktail is always kind of fun, so I feel like I'm usually the one who brings that. And then we have some sisters who are just lazy, who are like, I'm gonna roll in. There's two of those. Everyone else is helpers.

[B]

But the other ones who aren't.

[C]

No, they're not. So they'll say it.

[B]

They're like, so everyone sort of splits their responsibilities. Oh, yeah.

[C]

The lazy ones will say, I'm not doing the dishes. They will avoid.

[B]

Do you go to Augusta?

[C]

Yes, we do it in Augusta.

[B]

Who sets the table?

[C]

Um, my mom. She likes to, like. She likes to do traditional when I do it here or when we, like, David's family's a little more flexible. And I'll set a fun table here. I think that's why I was saying, like, ooh, I love it. Like I did last year, like, the pumpkins in the middle with the moss and the wooden little mushrooms, and it was so pretty and fun. Or for friends, I'll do that because I'll do a friendsgiving, too. But for actual Thanksgiving, it's pretty. It's pretty traditional. My mom just sets out the same stuff. But I think I love that about Thanksgiving and my other big Thanksgiving day one is we always start with the Macy's Day parade. Like, we do not move until that is, like. I mean, you get, like, two hours in and you've lost everyone, you know, because it's a pretty long parade.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

But that first, like, hour when it's, like, coming and they're like. And sin is coming. I'm like.

[B]

Do all the sisters come over?

[C]

Most do. Yeah. Most of the time in PJs or what in PJs? Well, most are at my mom's house, it's a five bedroom, and we each family essentially only gets one room, so we make it work. There's a lot of kids on sofas and stuff, but yeah, it's.

[B]

That's really fun.

[C]

It's chaos because there's not enough restrooms. Literally.

[B]

There's.

[C]

There's one upstairs with the four bedrooms, like we grew up, with one restroom upstairs and four bed. Four.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

So it gets a little. It's a little like you have to take your time slot for the shower.

[B]

That day, but if it's open, then you're. That's when you're showering. It's not like a. Yeah, yeah, exactly. So it's.

[C]

It's a little. It's that chaos. But I look forward to. I like, look forward to it, you know?

[D]

But anyway, yeah, there's joy in the chaos.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. Should we switch to Christmas now?

[C]

Yes.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

I feel like we. We had our. Our list of Christmas points to hit is much longer, so I want to make sure we have time for it.

[C]

Okay, let's do it.

[B]

Unless there's anything outstanding about Thanksgiving we want to talk through.

[C]

No, I think Thanksgiving is just that, like, again, it's the launch. Like, it's the launch season.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And it really feels like that whole, like, here we go. So that's what I love about Thanksgiving.

[B]

Well, maybe we can post our favorite recipes in the show notes. My sweet potatoes from Ina garden.

[C]

I love that you have that and I mine. I definitely made a great cranberry margarita. And I will look that up. I will send that one.

[B]

And winterberry pie, obviously.

[D]

I'll. I'll throw that in. It's. Yeah, it's winter cherry berry pie.

[C]

Oh, I also have some garlic beans. Garlic green beans that are, like, super good. They have, like, cheese on them. I mean, what's not to like about that?

[B]

Yeah. Love it. All right, so Christmas, I assume that right after Thanksgiving, it's going into high gear for everybody.

[D]

Yes, it is.

[C]

And Hanukkah falls after it starts on Christmas Day this year. So that's the fun part too, is if you. If. If you're a dual family and. Or so it's kind of a fun. That'll be right after. Which is.

[B]

That is fun.

[C]

Oh, wow.

[B]

Thanksgiving is so late, so. Yeah, it's.

[C]

Yeah, we have a squish season, so. Sorry.

[D]

So.

[C]

Yes. Christmas. When do you start decorating? Is that what you started with?

[A]

Is that what you said?

[B]

Well, that's what I was asking. Yeah.

[C]

When do you start?

[E]

I mean, well, this episode is brought to you by State Farm. Listening to this podcast. Smart move. Being financially savvy. Smart move. Another smart move. Having State Farm help you create a competitive price when you choose to bundle home and auto bundling. Just another way to. To save with the personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts, and savings and eligibility vary by state.

[C]

I have heard people. Because of how late. Like the.

[B]

They want to do it before.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

Because it is so late. I mean, I kind of got really inspired by our conversation with Carson Kressley, who starts decorating the tree on Thanksgiving Day, brings the tree out after dinner and has everyone help trim the tree. And I just think that sounds so fun. That just sounds really fun. And anybody who did listen to last year, I'm. I'm still like, recovering after, like, lugging the tree up last year and then nobody wanted to help and I was like, eh. So I'm gonna make it an event.

[C]

I like that.

[D]

I'm gonna do that.

[C]

Especially if you're hosting. This is your chance.

[A]

I like this.

[C]

Making the best.

[D]

Yeah. So, yeah, so I think we're gonna do that. But traditionally our family doesn't put the Tree up until December 8th, which is my dad's birthday.

[B]

Oh.

[D]

Like, that was kind of like a.

[B]

Like to celebrate his birthday or in order for him to have a birthday that's pre Christmas.

[D]

I don't know. But that was kind of like his rule. Like, the tree doesn't go up. Like, he. I think he probably wanted that separation.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, it didn't go up till after his birthday or on the birthday. The day either. Either.

[D]

Yeah. But that was when we always had a live tree, and we don't have a live tree right now, so. Yeah, it's going up.

[C]

Yeah, it's going up. Yeah.

[B]

I. Well, we are going out of town for Thanksgiving, and so I'm. I didn't really think about that. And so now I'm kind of annoyed with myself because that means we really can't decorate until the next weekend.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Because we won't be, you know, in town, so.

[C]

And then you're in December already.

[B]

Yeah, It'll be like December 8th, so. But I mean, I don't know. I just celebrate my dad's birthday.

[D]

That's awesome.

[C]

Is what I'm hearing.

[B]

So I'm like, kind of annoyed by that. But I mean, like, something really I can do about it. I mean, the good news is I feel like we are. We are staying here sometimes. Like, I like to decorate early because we often go out of town on Christmas and so then it's like you're not in your own own house for Christmas.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

It feels like such a letdown because you put all this work in decorating your own house and then you're not there. So at least we'll be like around. So that's good. Yeah. But Norm. Yeah. Normally I would love to do it like on Saturday or Sunday of Thanksgiving would be like my normal kind of routine.

[C]

Yeah, well, we're. We're starting sooner this year as well.

[B]

So you are going to do it.

[C]

We usually wait Thanksgiving weekend. That's like the. All right, haul it up. Because it's usually with having the four days off, it's like, you know, Thursday, Friday are generally actually Thanksgiving ish related. And then Saturday, Sunday or like football. Nothing, you know.

[B]

So you do a real tree?

[C]

We do. I still, I still love it every year.

[B]

But I.

[C]

We get a scraggly one with a hole or squirrel or you know, and I'm like, why? But I love it.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

We have.

[B]

I.

[C]

And I think I probably said this last year. We have. I have a fake one I put in this corner so that. Because I love seeing twinkly lights in someone's front of their house. So I, I distinctly bought a big one that's just fake for the front of the house. And then the kids. And then I have another one for the kids. And each of them have their own little tree for their room. And then I do a real one in the living room because I want to sit and smell. Yes to the fireplace. A tree. Like, I don't want my presents under there.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

So I do multiple. But I don't full. Like, I don't. I'm not as. I don't have the bandwidth to decorate them all. Like to like.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, of course not. That's a lot.

[D]

Yeah, it's a lot of work.

[B]

So is the. I assume the fake one is at least pre lit, so.

[C]

Yeah, fake ones are all pre lit. So I don't have to do any work. I can just plug them in and put a bill on top. Technically. Yeah. But this year we actually have David's company. They're going to have their holiday party here, so. But that is December 5th.

[B]

Oh my God.

[C]

So as soon as you guys leave.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

We finish taping Thanksgiving surprise. We're going to go into the basement and get the fig tree. Yeah. So we'll probably start that the weekend before Thanksgiving now. Just because I was like, I got to like, that's a lot. Lots of juicing up this. Everything you've shoved into a box for a year. They're like, oh, this garland's.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

The fake stuff and the real stuff.

[B]

So.

[C]

But it is hard to buy the real stuff in advance because you are like, I don't. I want it to last.

[B]

This.

[D]

You want it to last?

[C]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Anyway.

[B]

Well, I will say that is one advantage to flocking your own tree. It sort of mummifies it.

[C]

And I didn't even think about it that way.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

I love that you do that every year.

[C]

I do love that you.

[B]

Well, now that I've just. It's so pretty that I like, can't do it.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

So it just, you know, I do. And I have it to a system to where I feel like I can.

[C]

You've done it enough years. Now that you guys know how to do it. You lost. You're over the hump of like learning. Right, right, right.

[B]

And it doesn't really take. It made me. Takes me 45 minutes.

[C]

That's pretty good to hosing and like dumping the stuff.

[B]

But you just have a mister on your hose and mist the whole thing down and then get out there with a paper cup, sprinkle on the snow, hose it down again.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah. It's not like too, too crazy.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

But did I tell you all about my new Christmas lights?

[C]

Do you remember the end of last year?

[B]

I bought them last year for my Christmas tree.

[D]

Okay.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

These are the ones that are small and big.

[B]

Yes. Aha.

[C]

Memory.

[B]

Yes. Okay, well then that means. I talked about on the show. But I will say they were totally life changing. So if you're, if you're. If you feel like you might be in the market for some Christmas tree lights.

[C]

Yes.

[D]

Okay.

[B]

And they need upgrading because I feel like, you know, after like 10 years, they say it's kind of.

[C]

10 years is aggressive. I was gonna say like five years. I feel like you get kind of.

[B]

Like, I don't know when they start go out.

[D]

Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

I don't know. But the compact Christmas lights that we sell and we like other people sell them, it's not like exclusive to us, but they have much smaller lights and like twice as many lights per inch as a regular string of Christmas lights. And so I just felt like my tree was more twinkly than ever. It has two different colors of light. It has like a more blue and a more warm. Maybe not blue Blue is the wrong word. A more clear and a more warm. Okay. And that just. It was. It was just so pretty.

[D]

Your tree last year was so.

[B]

It was the prettiest tree I've ever done. Thinking about it, I'm worried that it won't be exposed. I always do ribbon. Yeah. This year I was thinking about doing, like, bows maybe. What you're thinking of is I tie my icicles to the tree with, like a white quarter inch satin ribbon.

[D]

Yes. Okay.

[B]

But that's. That's.

[C]

I thought that was such a great ad. Especially right now. I think we've all seen the bows and the ribbons.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

On everyone's trees. So, like, tying.

[B]

You know what? I saw it. Will's aunt did an entire Christmas tree of all glass ornaments one year, and it was like, the most spectacular tree I've ever seen. Um, and so that's what gave me the idea for the. For the glass icicles. And then when we had kids, it's just the only way to make them, like, really stay on the tree was tying it to the. The branch.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And it works really well. I mean, they stay on there. I haven't had any breaks yet. Half time, but the glass icicles are really just so pretty. Yeah, those are so pretty. So that's my favorite part of it, you know? Okay, well, that actually ties in. I was gonna say we. I had. I did ask some girlfriends to send me their holiday questions. So some of these are.

[C]

Oh.

[D]

Oh, great.

[B]

Just some. Some, you know, holiday questions. And one of them was, what's the most low effort, high impact decorating tip for those of us who hate Christmas decorating? And. Okay, so I was thinking about this a little bit. I know I've just sprung it on you, but I was thinking that I really feel like the Christmas tree. If you can just do, like, take your Christmas tree up a notch, that is like, put your effort there. Right? Like, and we even. I did a. I did a house tour with Maggie Griffin, who we all love, and it was her holiday house. And that was kind of one of the things she mentioned, like, doing less spots in your house. Like, pick three places and really nail those. And then just kind of, like, let everything else go. Unless you sort of get a wild hair and, like, you know, want to take it on. But I feel like a great wreath on the front door. Like, whether that is a fake wreath you buy somewhere, if you go to your nursery and just get like, a really big, great, fresh one and a good bow and then a really beautiful Christmas tree and to Me like, you kind of do those up. You can like let everything else kind of. Yeah. Go on the back burner.

[D]

Yeah, that's. That's totally true.

[C]

I was gonna say the pre lit tree for me again. That's one that like, if you are honestly, if you are just. There is no energy. Those things literally, you just literally pop it up and.

[D]

Right.

[B]

But what about fluffing? Do you not feel like you have.

[C]

To fluff it up if you want it to look really good? But again, I'm. I'm saying like say, say you are taxed on time. You generally depending on how you stored it. It's. It's okay. It needs a little zhuzhing even. It might not at all stick out in the room. You can just do the side that sticks out. Like the side you see.

[B]

Like if it's in a corner, you can just do the front half.

[D]

Yeah, seriously, you can go boom, boom. And then like, you know when you get a glass of wine later on and you feel like you can judge a little bit more, go in on that. But like.

[C]

Yeah, I think the entrance, like you said, I think there's that whole like bringing that seasonal into your entrance of like greeting people, like saying you are having that and then a place where you're always at like, that's what I love about Christmas is like there's a designated space where you guys sit and enjoy it. And I think that space being like perfect or like making that feel the way you want it to feel for the season.

[D]

Yeah, I'm gonna focus a lot on my front porch and just kind of. Because I don't have an entryway to kind of welcome people in. I'm using my front porch and I've redecorated it for fall and kind of really focused on that. And now I'm really kind of excited to do that for. For Christmas.

[C]

Like, what are you gonna do? Like, are you throws on chairs, change out? Are you full lights?

[D]

I'm gonna take the chairs down to the basement and gonna put a full up Christmas tree on the porch.

[C]

I love it.

[D]

And then, and then our big Christmas tree is right when you walk in the door. So I, I feel like, you know, got a little forest vibe going on and. Yeah, I'm just gonna own it.

[B]

Yeah, I like that. Love that. Yeah, I love the idea of decorating the porch like it's a living room. Yeah, that's.

[D]

Yeah, I'm really excited by that.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Well, then you kind of get. Yeah, you kind of get to like there's Something like you were talking about having the twinkle lights in the front window and I just feel like that is driving down your neighborhood when you can see everyone's Christmas tree. And I just love that. Right.

[C]

It's really the lights that. Yeah, yeah. I love going to like look at the lights in the winter, like December being able to drive around and everyone.

[B]

I started noticing like there have been a few pop up.

[D]

I've seen a few already.

[B]

Yeah, it's really exciting. You know what? I think that we, we did not actually take the Christmas lights out of our maple tree. So I think we can just go ahead. Hopefully they actually work.

[C]

And yeah, I was wondering when people do the whole tree, like each of those branches, how many people like actually take it off versus keep it all.

[B]

Season Because I mean we'll see. I, I'm, I was worried, I'm worried that they're not going to be functioning now. Luckily since I bought all new Christmas lights, we just took the old lights and put them outside. So it's not like I bought brand new Christmas lights that now are going to be dead because that would be really upsetting. But, but yeah, we'll see. I'll let you know. I actually just thought about that recently because you know it has, it has leaves on it right now. So I kind of forgot like does it still have the Christmas lights on? I think it does. I don't think we ever took them. So. Yeah. What about. Okay, so low effort, high impact decorating. Any other thoughts on that?

[D]

Yeah, I mean the, I, the pop up, the like prelit tree is like number one or pre lit garland, pre lit anything. It's just so it's, that's, that's easy.

[B]

The lights are the biggest headache I think.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

That's why if it's pre lit. Yeah. Like again, save yourself. If that's an area you find tension and makes you not want to do it. Avoid, like just avoid it.

[B]

Okay. Well, one question we had was how to convince my husband to get a fake tree.

[C]

Oh.

[D]

Oh. Well, I mean, yeah, I mean I was anti fake tree for quite some time. Like we always had to have a real tree and. Yeah. Until we, until we bought like an a nine foot tree and we had to get it home in a Honda Fit. That was fun. We did it. We got it home and then we had to actually put it up. Yeah. It didn't fit in the house. We had to cut it. But I, you know, I was always, always real tree. But there's just something so great about being, having a Tree up and lit in 20 minutes. Like that's, that's really your selling point right there.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

You know, the fact that you don't have to string all those lights unless you want to go the extra mile and add more lights in or things like that. So just like invest in a really good. A really good pretty one. Where'd you get yours that you wanna use? I got mine from Ballard Design.

[B]

Which one is it?

[D]

We don't sell this one anymore. It's a vintage light one. It's really the first tree that we did that you put the parts A, B and C on top of each other and they automatically connect. And it has three different size lights in it. So it has very small lights, regular lights, and then it has the classic vintage bulbs that are all white. So I think I've got another year of it. I've had it for, for some time now, for maybe nine years. And I think the, the lights are starting to. We'll see. We'll see how, we'll see how she does this.

[B]

That was gonna be my next question. Like, what about like, do they go out? Is that annoying? I don't know.

[D]

I. I have a vague recollection that like, there was one string that was like, not totally on, but it was like the medium one so that I could like fake it with some. With adding more in there. So I'll. I'll have to see.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Like where, where the tree's at.

[B]

But that's the place where it would get really annoying to me that it almost feels right. Not worth it.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

But it's not working.

[D]

But seriously, I've had this one for probably eight years.

[B]

I. Every year at the end of Christmas. And then like, maybe next year is the year we get the fake Christmas tree because it is such a headache. So I am pro.

[C]

But yeah, I. Yeah, it depends if her husband's the one dealing with it. I'm kind of like. Do you have an argument? Yeah, I'm.

[B]

You mean if he's the one setting it up and putting the lights on?

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

Yeah. Now if you're the one who's doing it, I can see again. You're like, I am tired of being covered in SAP and.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Putting these, you know, and their needles.

[B]

All year and like it's crooked this year. Tell them good luck.

[D]

Okay. But there is something super magical about going to the Christmas tree live and finding the tree that you're gonna bring home. There's something really like, it's. It's like a low commit puppy. Right?

[C]

Like you know, like for one month.

[D]

It's just, it's just for that short time.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

And then, and then we say so long. But like, so we do. So we do a real tree in our family room. In, in. Again, like in the spot where we're going to spend the most time, where we do want the smells and like, so I feel like that's kind of the best of both worlds. To have multiple trees is to have multiple trees. And that second tree does not need to be a big tree. It can be a four foot tree. You know, a smaller investment. Like. Yeah. And then you can go wackadoodle on that one. Like that's the one that we go like hot pink or like do. Or do something like really one or.

[B]

On your fake one.

[D]

On the real one? On the smaller one.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Oh, got it, got it. Yeah, you get a little one at the tree lot. Yeah.

[D]

So we get a smaller one at the tree lot and then everybody's happy. And then. Yeah.

[B]

You do, you do a little experimental, your tree skirts. Do you all have a traditional fabric tree skirt? Do you have a wicker tree skirt? What do you do there?

[C]

I have the Jonathan Adler one I bought years ago. It's felt. Yeah. So I mean, that's what I have right now.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

But I have had it for a few years.

[B]

It drives me insane how it always gets wet and then it like gets rumpled. It always moves around. I'm really kind of thinking I might need like a collar. Yeah.

[D]

I think the collar on an artificial.

[B]

Tree just like it. What?

[D]

It does not get rumpled or, or wet on a.

[B]

That's true.

[C]

There we go. There's another solid argument, but I do think the wicker or the collars have been actually a great.

[D]

Those are really.

[C]

Yeah, those are really pretty because to your point, they just don't get nest.

[B]

And mine always like. I bought a really pretty one that was in Suzanne Casler's collection years ago. But it's like whenever I wash it, like it's gotten. It doesn't, it doesn't look right. And then I'm like, oh God, I'm gonna have to iron it anyway.

[C]

It's just kind of a. Yeah, it's.

[B]

Sort of a headache. Maybe that's what I need to get this year. I, I feel like we all last year talked about how we kind of add one little thing to our collection each year. That has to be my thing this year. What's on your list for this year? Oh.

[D]

More wreaths. Again. After talking to Carson, he was Talking about how he puts a wreath in every window. And I just loved the thought of that. Yeah. So I hit Joanne's this weekend. Yeah, I totally did. And just like got like a bunch of small faux wreaths that I'm just gonna string up with ribbon in. Definitely my kitchen and family room. And then I.

[B]

On the inside or the outside?

[D]

Inside.

[B]

Inside.

[D]

Yeah, inside. And then I got an estate sale this weekend. Also, like found three matching medium size wreaths.

[B]

Oh, amazing.

[D]

Yeah. And so those are gonna go on the front porch. Yeah, so. And you know, the, the ones from Joanne's, like, they're a little wimpy and.

[B]

You know, that's, can you shove some extra?

[D]

Exactly. So I'm gonna, so I'm gonna, It's huge.

[C]

Is really helpful.

[D]

Yeah, yeah. So I'm gonna hit and get some fresh, some fresh branches.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

And then shove those in there.

[B]

What's on your list, Taryn?

[C]

I, yeah, you were just asking that. I was thinking some of our. I need to do some new stocking holders. So I was thinking about getting ours because they're pretty cute.

[B]

You know what? I, I, I love the essential stocking holder.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Do you have the essential. I don't.

[C]

That's what I meant. Like, I need to just get that.

[B]

And if anyone is like annoyed. Here's the thing that's annoying about stocking holders because my mom has all, you know, with all the grandkids you've got to have all these stocking holders, but then when you put stuff in them, they get too heavy and then the thing is really heavy. And if a child even touches the stocking, it turns into like a concussion.

[C]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

You know, right there. And that is what is so great about our essential one, because it's just like a long sort of heavy band. It goes across the whole top of your mantle. You don't have to put any hooks in. It works great on marble too.

[D]

Like, it's, it works good on a console if you don't have a fireplace.

[B]

Yep. You can get as many hooks as you need. Oh my gosh. I love it. Every year I'm like, this is the greatest invention ever.

[D]

Maybe I need to get that.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's good. It's. I highly recommend. I tried to convince my mom to get it, but she had already had like all the stocking holders. And every year I'm like, yeah, but someone's gonna get, go to the emergency room.

[D]

I, yeah, I feel like I'm, I'm over my stocking holders. Yeah. I've Kind of done the. The bisque little houses that light up on my mantel, and then, like, stocking holders that are little houses that you put a tea light in, and they're very sweet and charming, but I think I want to do something different.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. Well, highly recommend our essential one. It's not, like, super decorative, but it is a good base for anything decorative you want to put on top of it, you know?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, you know, garland or whatever. That is something that I need to work on this year.

[C]

Otherwise.

[B]

Well, I haven't. You know, I perfected my tree. I feel like I have a system for, like, what I. Where I like things, but I have never really gotten my mantle to a place where I like it. There's something about the wall color in there. It's like that mauve pink color, and I just haven't got the right. Like, I need to work on it. I feel like the. I got the angel pine garland last year, but I think I need to wrap it with some fresh garland to, like, help it fill out a little bit more. And then, I don't know. That green just kind of looks weird in there.

[C]

I don't know. Maybe you need, like, magnolia leaves or something instead.

[B]

I was thinking maybe I need to, like, flock some of the garland a little bit.

[D]

I was just gonna say, like, what if you did something that was a different color.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

And green.

[B]

And then I was also thinking maybe I should, like, spray paint some magnolia leaves and stick that in there, like, metallic or something. I don't know.

[C]

Yeah, you should always try it, because.

[B]

Worst case, you just don't use it. Yeah.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Anyway, so that's kind of something I need to, like, work on for this year. But other than that, I kind of, like, have gotten to a place where I'm happy with it, you know?

[C]

Yeah. I think we just, all, like, need a little update.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Yeah. I'm ready for the update.

[C]

Yeah. And I. Yeah.

[B]

Do y' all change. Do you do, like, you've talked about how you do, like, some hot pinks and things? Yeah.

[C]

What is your color? It's the same. Like, maybe I'll. I mean, I feel like there's been so many colors since then that I'm kind of like, maybe I will do a color update. But that's just in my mind, a few ornaments, like, a good chunk of ornaments to get that story across on a tree and the ribbon to, like, complement it. I did love all the ribbon trees last year, so I'm thinking about doing. Maybe I'll. Maybe I'LL do a play on that.

[B]

Yeah. I love the ribbon trees for a few reasons. First off, if you don't have a ton of ornaments, it's a great way to make your tree, like, feel more, you know. And then also they don't break and they're great if you have kids, pets. If your cat climbs your tree, like, you don't have to worry about the ribbon. Yeah.

[C]

You know, and ribbons, generally, you get it reasonably well.

[B]

I told you about Amazon. I love my Amazon ribbon. Highly recommend Amazon for ribbon.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

You can get like a 50 yard spool.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

For like $10.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

I think I went on a diatribe last year about Target having terrible ribbon and I stand by it.

[C]

Oh, I do. You know, another area that we didn't talk but is like, what is your scheme for presence? Do you have a scheme for your wrapping?

[B]

Close your eyes. Exhale. Feel your body relax and let go of whatever you're carrying today. Well, I'm letting go of the worry that I wouldn't get my new contacts in time for this class. I got them delivered free from 1-800-contacts. Oh, my gosh, they're so fast. And breathe. Oh, sorry. I almost couldn't breathe when I saw the discount they gave me on my first order.

[D]

Oh.

[B]

Oh, sorry. Namaste. Visit 1-800-contacts.com today to save on your first order. 1-800-contacts.

[C]

What do you like? So wrapping is another area where I get really excited. And I bet Liz, because she's in a packaging kind of mindset, also gets really excited. So, like, whatever wrapping paper I decide is going to go with my tree.

[B]

Yes. I want it to coordinate.

[C]

Yes, yes, yes. Have you decided any of that yet?

[B]

Yeah, that one's hard because then it just. Matt, it just depends on what you can find. You know what I mean? So if I find like a good wrapping, then yeah, I mean, I've, at this point, I kind of like my color palette for holiday, so I kind of just try to find wrapping that goes with it.

[C]

Fair enough.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

But that's fair.

[B]

Yeah, but, yeah, in the past I have tried, like, I'll do like pink and red or, you know, craft paper with bow or something.

[C]

Cool.

[B]

I do love our ribbons. I mean, I do love our papers. That you did. Yeah.

[C]

Oh, thank you. I. I painted a few this year and they're. I'm excited. Like, I need to buy a few rolls.

[B]

I really like that blue stripe one with the red. I might get a few rolls of that one. Yeah.

[C]

Thank you. I'm excited I'm excited to see if. If it. If people buy it. But yes, I'm gonna get a few rolls myself. Is my main. Because I want to do it. Because I can be like, look, see, I made the wrapping paper too.

[B]

Yeah, exactly. That's the gift surprise. Are more rolls of wrapping paper.

[C]

But I do think that's a fun way too, if you're. If you're feeling extra crazy, like, or creative in the season, I think thinking also, like, yeah, totally.

[B]

I mean, wrapping paper, some ribbons, and, like, one box of ornaments from Target. And you can totally change the color palette that you've had.

[D]

Oh, totally.

[B]

That is something that always I love. And that's why one of the reasons I love doing my tree so much, because I can. I can make it look different each year while essentially using all the same ornaments. The same at radiant.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, if I change the ribbon color or. And I change the wrapping paper, it totally makes it look new. And that's always really fun for me. Like, you know how to make it take it up a notch, I guess.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Oh, that's fun.

[B]

I just think the tree. To me, the tree is where, like, that is where the effort really pays off, I guess.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. I don't know.

[D]

Nice.

[B]

What about hosting? Are y' all hosting in the holidays? Do you host out of town guests? Do you host Christmas?

[C]

I go a lot. Again, we go out of town. We don't host as much. I feel like.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And Christmas other than. Again, like a friend. A friend's event.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

But I do. I love it because I definitely have plaid tablecloths and I look forward to, like, any. To use holiday china and stuff too. I love, again, just the seasonality.

[B]

When do you bring out your holiday china? After Thanksgiving.

[C]

I truthfully, I don't have, like, a place to. I don't have a display place for it, so I just. At the meals, like, I'll bring it out.

[B]

Yeah. But do you. When do you start using it? After Thanksgiving? Yeah, just like when you decorate.

[C]

Well, I'll try to. Yeah. I mean, if I'm gonna own it, I'm gonna use it, you know? So I do try to use all the holiday stuff throughout the season, so. Yeah.

[B]

So where did your. Was. Where did your Christmas pattern come from? What did. Is it just, like, things you collected? Was it. Did you. Some people. I feel like some people register for it for their wedding or.

[C]

I didn't. My mom has some Lennox traditional. I may be the holly one, but I. I painted one for Ballard, and that's the one I use.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

So, yeah.

[D]

Oh, that's nice. I don't. I don't have separate china for Christmas. Yeah. I do have some, like, little dessert plates and like, melamine things for, like, kids table and things like that. But yeah, I just bring out my grandma's dishes, which I think are just so sweet. And anytime we get to use them, I just feel really happy and connected to her.

[B]

Yeah. Oh, that's sweet. Yeah.

[C]

But you.

[B]

I know I don't have a Christmas pattern. I. That. I don't know. I mean, I love dinnerware, but I think I've told you this. I. I don't know. I don't love like one season things. Like, it just seems like.

[C]

I don't know why I like to use it for the whole season versus, like the one meal.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Because you are kind of like wolf.

[B]

Right. So I. I have like, certain of my china patterns that I think are more festive.

[D]

How many different china patterns do you have?

[C]

That's gonna be the next question.

[B]

I mean, I have like, my grandmother's. I have. Well, I have both sides of my grandmother's. Like, both of my grandmothers have, like, multiple patterns. Anyway, it's a lot. I have the pattern that my grandmother used every year for Thanksgiving. So I'll use that at Thanksgiving. But it's not like a Thanksgiving theme.

[D]

No, but I love it.

[B]

It's sort of like a red, orange color palette that works.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

And then I have, like, my other grandmother's, and then I have the one I registered for. So I really only have three. I kind of have like, certain random plates, like sets of 10 plates or something. Yeah, but. Yeah, no, that's awesome.

[D]

That's really awesome. Yeah, I'm like, I'm starting to think about that too. Like, okay, I have my everyday plates, and then I have my. My grandmother's china, which is not really China. It was just what she.

[B]

Like a dinnerware pattern?

[D]

Yeah, it's a. It's her dinnerware pattern. And it's. I. I think it's super sweet, like mid century cutie. And then I have stoneware that was my husband's grandmother's.

[C]

It's awesome. But it's nice. You have. I feel like that's the best part, right. Is like, remembering it and like the things.

[D]

And then when you find a piece that goes with it at an estate sale or it really. Oh, my gosh. Yeah. Well, yeah, that's.

[C]

And I. I feel like to speak back to yours. I do try not to get too much. That's of seasonal. Like, for instance, like, I put out this tray today because it's mushrooms. And so, like, that's like a very kind of fall ash.

[D]

Yes.

[C]

And, like, tortoise, you know, is so great for the, like, fall and winter because the brown hues and wood bowls and more of. So it is funny how I'll use certain materials where, like, I feel like, in the spring, ever got everything white and green and, like, a lot more white ceramics and that and that.

[B]

I love that. I. I guess it's like, just the. You know, and I appreciate the Spode Christmas.

[D]

I love it.

[B]

Like, my mom has some mugs and stuff that I think is fun to use, and I love when people use it for their. I just. I don't know. I guess if I had. If I'm gonna buy a whole new dinnerware pattern, there are other ones that I'd rather do that I feel like are more versatile throughout the year. So that's all.

[D]

But, you know, what's good is a cookie plate, like, those kind of accent plates and. And that kind of thing. And then, like. Yeah. You know, if there are mugs that are specific to the season, like, there's nothing that, like, makes me feel more nostalgic than a Marshall Fields cocoa mug. Like, because we would go every year to see.

[B]

You know, it's funny, my Will's mom, like, collected Santa mugs. You know, those ones with, like, Santa's face on them. And so I think, like, somehow we got them maybe out of their attic or something, and we were using them, and we were, like, really excited to use them, especially with the girls. Like, they were old enough to, like, want to drink hot cocoa and stuff. But there's something about them, and I think it's because, like, the handle is hollow. Oh, they're so. You cannot hold it.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

It's so hot. Like, because the handle is hollow, the coffee or the cup actually goes up into the handle, and so you can't actually hold them. We don't get them out anymore because they're so, like, they're. They're not usable for, like, a cup of coffee.

[D]

They're good. They're good for leaving milk out for Santa.

[B]

Yes. There you go. Yeah, we. Yeah, that's what they're.

[D]

I know, but that's what we use them for. That's what we use them for. Yeah. No, because. Because. Yeah, you can't put hot liquids in them.

[B]

I know.

[C]

It's, like, so silly, especially if you're, like, White Russians. But why do you need.

[B]

But we don't need 12 mugs for Santa. Like you gotta think of a good.

[C]

Drink that goes in there. Yeah, like a good.

[B]

Yeah, White Russian.

[C]

Something that needs a mug like some kind of mule, you know, that needs like a bit of fun way to do it.

[B]

But they're really cute on your. On your shelf if you wanted display them but you can't.

[D]

That would be okay. That would be really fun. Like going back to your like party cocktail theme. Like to do to like have a row of those out on a console with like some punch.

[B]

Yeah, that would be fun.

[D]

That would be funny.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Because you'd want you.

[B]

You would not drink out of it.

[C]

Yeah, I drink from that.

[B]

Any hacks that you've learned over the year? I feel like the hack is the faux Christmas tree. Oh, you had a great one last year actually where you talked about hanging up your wreaths just on a nail in your basement so that they're like stay flat and everything. Yeah.

[C]

Praise be. That that was a great one.

[B]

Still.

[C]

Still gets me.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

I mean everything just stays so nicely. That's a good one. I do love a good command hook. They make so many different sizes and a lot of them are re. Or the plastic part is reusable and you just buy the stickers. So those have become in real handy. You'll probably see them all over my house from Halloween. I was kind of like, do I leave them up or not?

[D]

Right.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

I put something here.

[B]

So I love the ones with the like movable hook.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Do you have any of those? Those are so handy because you can like put them on the underside of something. Like. Those are great. I love this.

[C]

So I definitely think command hooks has been like a. Definitely a good friend of mine in the of recent years.

[B]

Fishing line.

[C]

Yeah, fishing. Yes.

[B]

We. We. Our tree fell over one year. So we like attach our treed the wall into.

[A]

Oh wow.

[C]

I love it. But it makes sense.

[B]

But we just leave the hooks up year round and then you just string the fish.

[C]

Doesn't your cat get on yours or something?

[D]

Oh, man. So yeah, she.

[C]

I think it's a normal thing. I think most cats get injuries.

[D]

She's not getting into the tree. But what she. What she does is like. Well, for Finn, like ever since Finn was baby, I've been getting a bird ornament every year. So I can't put the bird ornaments on the tree.

[B]

Does she try to eat them?

[D]

Because. Yeah, she's like toys.

[B]

She thinks they're real birds.

[D]

She thinks they're toys.

[B]

Oh, okay. Yeah. So it's like, yeah, well, we talked about last year, but you need to get. You need to get one of those, like, display trees things.

[D]

I need to display a way to display them, but a way that is, like, higher up. So maybe. Maybe that's something I'll. I'll try to figure out this year is, like, how to display them.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

We might have to circle back in December once we've decorated on this, because I feel like the problem is, is I've been 11 months since I've hit this holiday, so I'm like, Like, yeah.

[B]

When do you start planning your holiday stuff? Like, when do you start thinking about it in the year?

[C]

Now.

[D]

Really? Right about now?

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[C]

I need Halloween to end. Like, I take every holiday by the. Like, I don't get ahead.

[B]

So you don't do any planning, like, pre Halloween? I'm not saying, like, putting stuff up, but just, like, you know, thinking about it.

[C]

Like, I won't even look at the sections in the store until Halloween. And like, all right, now, really?

[D]

Yeah. This was really just to scope it out.

[B]

I have to see what everybody brought out as new. Like, what am I going to want to buy?

[C]

I do that in August for Halloween. But, like, I don't. Yeah, Christmas. I like to wait till I feel like Halloween's a bit.

[B]

When do you start your Christmas shopping?

[C]

Oh, that's a good one, too.

[D]

See, I'm really. I feel like I'm turning a corner where. Actually, I do have a few Christmas presents already.

[C]

Dog girl.

[B]

But not.

[D]

But, you know, I mean, there's a lot of folks to shop for, so between nieces and nephews and parents and siblings and.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

And everything. So I do have a couple things, but yeah, that's really hard for me because I can't keep a secret, so I have to hide them from myself.

[B]

That's great. Oh, gosh. Have you ever lost them and found them later? Cause I did that once.

[D]

Yes, I used.

[B]

And I was like, where did that thing go? I don't know. I then found it like, a year and a half.

[C]

Oh, my gosh.

[D]

Mid January, I gave my husband a laser level that I found later.

[C]

Happy New Year.

[B]

This is your birthday present. That was six months ago. I've already bought lots of Christmas presents. Oh, I started shopping in, like, you're July.

[C]

So when do you start? Because you were shocked.

[B]

Well, I probably start, like, maybe late July or August, it depends. But I just. I always have a list on my phone as I think of ideas of, like, this would be a good gift. So smart. I've sort of been thinking of like, like if I see something go on sale, like I'm gonna buy it when it's.

[C]

Yeah, that makes sense.

[D]

Right?

[B]

Also it's. I don't know, I feel like spreading it out into more months makes it feel. That's my, that helps my bank account.

[D]

That is.

[C]

No, it is the. I think most people.

[B]

Yeah. So I just start stock. Stockpiling things and even just like. And like we went on trips, so we bought like a ton of Chris stocking stuffers on our trips and stuff. Yeah.

[C]

Okay.

[D]

Okay. So back to my estate sales. I've been hearing a lot of them lately.

[C]

Theme of this is estate sales.

[B]

I love this.

[D]

I've been getting things like vases or Audubon prints or like things, things like that that are, are unique that you're not going to find everywhere else for. Especially for like mother in law who has everything already or things like that. So she's not, she's not a listener, I hope. But. Yeah. So I'm, I'm finding things that way too. And that feels a little bit more sustainable as well.

[C]

Yeah. Oh, good. Yeah, I know you guys need to give me all the tips. Have you found anything?

[B]

Great.

[C]

I need to know. Except again, I need to find my own estate sales. It sounds like.

[D]

No, Come on. What do you do on Saturday? Let's go.

[B]

Yes. That's a great idea. I love that too. Especially because, like there's always like, you know, I don't know, random things that if you were to buy new, like, would be. You couldn't. You wouldn't.

[D]

Right.

[B]

Like a silver tray or something or candlesticks or something. I don't know.

[D]

Yeah. Or, you know, if there's something that someone collects. If you know somebody who collects Waterford crystal and like you find like some pieces that are at an estate sale, it's going to be a lot.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

That's expensive. And, and you know, it's still fantastic. Yeah, it's still fantastic.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Like old books or something.

[C]

You know, I haven't been to one in a while. I'm feeling rested.

[D]

I know.

[B]

I. You know what? I always see the signs around. It's like always when I'm going somewhere in a hurry or something, you know, I don't know. I need to be better about just being like. I can stop.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

It's. It's worth it to stop and just take a few minutes and run through. You never know what you're gonna find. Like. Yeah. Yeah. Should I give you a plug for where I Find them all.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Estatesales.net oh, there's an app, there's an app for that.

[B]

Okay. They tell you when they're popping up in your area.

[D]

So I only hit ones that are within a few mile radius from where I'm. Yeah, I'm not going too crazy. Yeah, I'm not going too far out. But like, yeah, I've, I found some in some really incredible homes here in.

[B]

Atlanta and just send you a notification.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

All right, I'm gonna try it. Yeah.

[A]

That was such a fun trip down memory lane. Guys. Thank you so much for listening to our holiday hosting special. It's always a good reminder that the holidays are about enjoying the process, even if it is a little chaotic. I'm still thinking about Liz's winterberry pie. I didn't make it last year so I definitely need to add follow up on that this year. And Caroline, who is essentially the Martha Stewart and her genius mapping out of her task before a party. I really need to get on top.

[C]

Of that this year.

[A]

I still have time so let's hope I can follow through on that as well. Also great reminder, pre lit trees, just lean in. They are so good now. Thank you all again for joining me for this part two of the holiday series. Next week is Liz and she'll be here to share her favorite holiday throwback episode and I promise you'll love it. Don't forget to send us your own holiday decorating and hosting tips. We always love hearing what you guys are doing and what you guys are inspired by and if you've had any wonderful wins or if you just want to, you know, complain about something that was frustrating during the holidays. We love those stories too and would love to share. Please write to [e-mail] and happy decorating. I hope you have a wonderful festive week.

[D]

Hey, Ryan Reynolds here wishing you a very happy half off holiday because right now Mint Mobile is offering you the gift of 50% off unlimited. To be clear, that's half price, not half the service. Mint is still premium unlimited wireless for a great price. So that means half day. Yeah. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment.

[B]

Of 45 for 3 month plan equivalent to 15 per month. Required new customer offer for first 3 months only. Speed slow 135 gigabytes of networks busy taxes and fees extra. See mintmobile.com.