This time of year, we host several gatherings in our home, from Thanksgiving to my daughter’s mid-December birthday party, as well as a Christmas party for friends.  I’ve found that simplicity is the key to really being able to enjoy hosting gatherings during the holidays.  I love to incorporate the sights, sounds, and smells of the holiday in simple & meaningful ways.   And my goal is always to create an environment that invites people to relax and linger longer, whether it’s with a roaring fire or festive decor or the fresh scent of pine in the air.

As I get ready to host these upcoming events, I tend to focus my efforts in two areas: 

1. Adding festive décor, and…
2. Creating a clean environment in which I can comfortably welcome my guests.   And since the kitchen tends to be the heart of the home, I figured we’d start there!

I created a simple wreath out of an inexpensive embroidery hoop and fresh cedar and eucalyptus.  (Want to know a little secret to keep that fresh greenery looking fresher longer?  Soak it in a tub of cold water for 24 hours prior to using it!)   I used floral wire to attach the cedar sprigs and eucalyptus and within a few minutes had a unique wreath with a minimal scandi holiday vibe.

Since so much time is spent congregating and cooking in the kitchen during the holidays, I decided to add the wreath as well as some garlands with dried orange slices in the kitchen where we can all enjoy the sight and smell of it for the holidays.

One of my favorite things to do at the holidays is to elevate everyday essentials, like hand soap and dish soap, by using festive scents.   This Iowa Pine soap scent from Grove Collaborative smells amazing and reminds me of a Christmas tree farm.  As a child we would go to a tree farm to cut down our Christmas tree every single year.  It’s a tradition we’ve carried on with our own kids to this very day.  And this Iowa pine scent reminds me of those happy memories, running amongst the trees in search of the perfect one.  

I started using Grove this summer and have continued ordering my cleaning products through them because I love the quality and convenience of it!  The holidays are crazy enough to begin with, so having Grove’s items show up on my doorstep means that it’s one less thing I need to worry about.  They offer many plant-based products which has become increasingly important to me in recent years, as I want to clean my home with products I can trust to be good for my family.  They’re currently offering a FREE holiday kit to NEW customers that make a $20 purchase – and let me tell you, there’s a lot in it! 

You will get ALL these things listed here for free if you spend just $20 – how awesome is that?!  Just head on over to Grove to get started and claim this free gift!

• Mrs. Meyer’s Holiday Hand Soap
• Mrs. Meyer’s Holiday Dish Soap
• Seedling by Grove Paper Towels (2 pk)
• Seedling by Grove Bath Tissue (4 pk)
• Grove Cleaning Caddy
• Grove Walnut Scrubber Sponges
• 60 day VIP trial to Grove Collaborative

You could also decide to bless someone else with this free gift by using it as a hostess gift or a holiday present!

Truly, between the ease of ordering my cleaning products & soaps through Grove, and keeping my focus on adorning my home with simple yet festive holiday touches, I feel confident about welcoming people into my home this holiday season.  Too many people find this time of year stressful, but when you focus on simplicity as well as using services that make your life easier, it really creates more room for the magic of the season to creep in and invade your days with more wonder rather than stress! 

This post is sponsored by Grove Collaborative but all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.  Thank you for supporting the brands that I love and partner with!