The holidays are in full swing, and I’m partnering with Cracker Barrel to make my table pretty for family and friends as part of what we’re calling “Joy to the Table.” Bringing Joy to the Table (and the entire home) is as easy as J-O-Y. What’s the J-O-Y stand for? Happy to share because it helps me in all my holiday decorating. Find out how Cracker Barrel came to my rescue this Christmas and some tips and tricks to add the J-O-Y to your home this holiday season.
Let’s face it: the heart of the home is the kitchen. Because..FOOD! My family of four (including a teen and a tween) spend the majority of our time in the kitchen and its neighboring room, the den. So when it comes time to decorate for Thanksgiving and Christmas, my first focus goes into these spaces. Cracker Barrel has come to my rescue this Christmas with stoneware that flawlessly fits my home and has helped me find the JOY in entertaining and how I approach decorating.
This year, my decorating got delayed more than I would have liked because our home improvement/renovation project went WAY longer than expected. (As in 5 months instead of 5 weeks). So I especially needed some tools to help expedite the holiday season. Well, Cracker Barrel certainly saved me with plates and decorative pieces that rounded out my table and kept me from losing my “overstressed from renovations” mind.
When I started thinking about what really helps me get in the holiday spirit, I’d have to say it’s the decorating. From trimming the tree to hanging the stockings, everyone has a role to play and can contribute. If I think of one word I associate with the holidays, it would be JOY. It’s so positive and uplifting, isn’t it?
Actually, when it comes right down to it, JOY also spells out how to be successful in your holiday decorating.
I’ve partnered with Cracker Barrel on this post to share my love of the holidays and how Cracker Barrel can help bring #JoytotheTable.
How to Bring J-O-Y to the table in Holiday Decorating
The J-O-Y in holiday decorating stands for Jolly, Ornaments, and Yuletide.
J is for Jolly
Think of setting the kitchen table as adding the “holly jolly” to the holidays. Go with a theme to decorating and combine several of the same objects. This theme can be centered on anything that brings joy: trees, snowflakes, greenery, topiaries, or candles. Cracker Barrel has many patterns and collections that can be considered very jolly, including gardens and animals. For instance, this woodland tablescape with diverse plate settings pops with a burlap runner, some branches, and candles.
I love the Woodland stone salad plate featuring a crafty fox. Imagine it paired with a unique all white tree (which I found in the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store!)
O is for Ornaments
Ornaments for a table can be anything from centerpieces, napkins, or salt and pepper shakers. Whatever gussies up a table counts as the ornaments. For instance, one of our favorite extras for the holiday table is a Christmas cracker. We laugh at the lame jokes, wear the goofy paper hats, and play the miniature games or prizes contained inside. We place the Christmas cracker on top of the plates instead of a napkin and it adds just the touch of Christmas whimsy that we like.
Y is for Yuletide
Consider the occasion for the decorating. In this case, the Y stands for Yuletide which means Christmas. Incorporating colors that remind of Christmas are the perfect seasonal touch. Red is my very favorite Christmas color, so these plates with the red poppies paired with the black and white design blend nicely.
Go Beyond the Table and Bring Joy to the Entire Home
The beauty of the Cracker Barrel collections are that they take the guesswork out of setting the table. I’m no interior designer, but I do like my table to look pulled together and festive for the holidays.Bring JOY to all of your home decorating with these tips that go beyond the table:
1. Add flair to a hot chocolate station with these charming rooster mugs. See how well they coordinate with our hot chocolate signs and Keurig? Not all holiday decorating needs to be Christmas trees and snowmen. Our family runs on hot cocoa, especially in the winter and it makes an exceptional holiday snack.
2. Practical use for trivets: line them up along small spaces to create a design element for an otherwise bland space. Before we put in a backsplash, I had this small space above the oven with 3 matching trivets and they seamlessly added texture and interest to an otherwise unusable space. I’d suggest the Cracker Barrel white metal flower trivets for this precise purpose.
3. Who doesn’t love a fun game? Cracker Barrel’s classic peg game made an excellent addition to our table. Plus, as an added bonus, it reminds me of eating at Cracker Barrel!
4. Spruce up the house with original containers that add pizzazz. A peacock bowl captures the beauty of the bird’s majestic feathers–check out these gorgeous colors! And a gold aluminum antler bowl provides the most masculine touch to an office or mancave.
If any of this brings you JOY, then you can find these holiday dinnerware and table décor goodies and more on the Cracker Barrel page because it is all exclusively theirs!
Wishing you and yours much JOY this holiday season!
-Sherry
Disclosure: Cracker Barrel provided me these beautiful stoneware dishes and table accessories. As always, you can count on my honest reviews.
