Holiday Entertaining from the coast of Maine

So now that your menu has been set, food has been ordered, (Remember you can still order if you find you have more guest then expected. That tends to happen when they hear Maine Lobster is being served!) make your holiday memorable by planning a party that no one will forget. Keep it simple but play up color and elegance. Use traditional ideas, but add your own touch to them. Here are some of what my family does to add a coastal twist to our holiday. 

as seen on coastalliving.com

•  Instead of the typical Christmas gingerbread house, try building a lighthouse shaped gingerbread structure or a simple Christmas tree. First draw a template on plain white paper, purchase candy such as rock candy for the walls of the lighthouse and pretzels to create a watchtower railing.
• When wrapping presents, don't always stick to regular wrapping paper. Use brown paper and dress it up with colorful ribbons or stamp art on the actual paper. For a coastal touch, add a shell through the ribbon and tie tightly.
• Stockings and ornaments do not always have to be traditional. Try using lots of color when creating stockings and hang tree ornaments that are sea shells.
• Create a wreath with foliage instead of evergreen branches. Berries also work and they add great vibrant color.
• Although red and green are the most popular seasonal colors, white is very festive when matched with seasonal decorations such as a wreath. White not only looks fresh and clean, it matches any other pattern you are using.
  

  

  as seen on marthastewart.com

• Create wreaths made out of shells for a seaside touch. Pick shells at the beach throughout the year and then display them for the holiday season in a wreath layout. Use a piece of cardboard for the template, then hot glue the shells on.
• Don't feel limited to buying red Poinsettias. There are many different colors being grown each year and although you may want the plant but not the red blossom, any other color is just as festive. The plant itself screams Christmas, so the color can be changed. Poinsettias thrive in indirect light. Keep soil moderately moist, but don't allow water to stand in the bottom of the container. Poinsettias do best when daytime temperatures stay between 55 degrees and 70 degrees.