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December, 2025 - Hosting What Matters

Dallas Holiday Light Tour Map

Dallas Holiday Light Tour Map

December 13, 2025 in Blog

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I'm a Southern girl who loves a good party, a house full of laughter, and a porch swing full of friends and family. I blog about how to host in a way that matters. Curious what I mean by that? CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND READ MY STORY.

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hostingwhatmatters

Lifestyle + Home + Party Inspiration 💙 Dallas, TX | Finding celebration in the everyday 🎉🎂💗
Your Virtual Encourager 👏🏻
I love to give good gifts 🎀✨🎀

Join me as I set up my Mahj table for an afternoon

Join me as I set up my Mahj table for an afternoon game with the most beautiful scalloped game topper from @francesfieldshome . This adorable topper is a part of the Winter Toile collection, a collaboration between talented designer, Carrie Hawkins of @pearlygatesdesigns , and @francesfieldshome . The candy canes and starry stripes are so beautiful! A perfect compliment to any game table. 🤩 I’m ready for a warm game or two or three by the fire. 🀄️

For 10% off of your order at Frances Fields Home use code HOLIDAY. 🎄

For links to these beautiful linens and my favorite mahjong accessories comment SHOP and I’ll send them to your DMs! ⬇ https://liketk.it/5Hk9c Merry Mahjong to you! 🥂

#ltkparties #gametopper #pearlygatesdesigns #mahjongparty #tabledecor

Some pics 📸 from the @abpa_hometour this year!

Some pics 📸 from the @abpa_hometour this year! Love seeing gorgeous, real homes dressed for the holidays! 🎄 Photo #2 is a tradition for this tour… 🤣 You know the vibes!

What slide do you love the most??👇

#abpa #abpahometour #christmasdecor #mantledecor

Called all my Mahjong loving friends and invited t

Called all my Mahjong loving friends and invited them over for a few hours of Merry Mahj to debut the ladies lounge! I only sat for one game and as luck would have it, won! 🀄️🎄🩷 Can’t beat that! My favorite part was walking around and chatting with each table of precious ladies as they played!

My Mahj friend, Melaina, is the resident Ladies Lounge bar tender (slide 4). She whipped up the Pink Squirrel cocktail for the occasion! If you’ve been to my house, you know that is fitting! 🐿️ I think you can also make this as a milk shake and top it with whipped cream and cherry! She graciously shared her recipe:

Pink Squirrel Martini — Vodka Edition

Flavor: Creamy almond-cherry-chocolate, lightly sweet, with a silky martini finish.

Ingredients
    •    2 oz vodka
    •    1 oz crème de noyaux
    •    1 oz white crème de cacao
    •    1 oz heavy cream

Instructions
    1.    Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice.
    2.    Shake HARD for 12–14 seconds (this aerates the cream so it’s velvety).
    3.    Strain into a chilled martini or coupe.
    4.    Garnish with grated chocolate, nutmeg, or a cherry.

If you are interested in links from some of the party decor comment SHOP and I’ll DM you the links. ⬇ https://liketk.it/5Gwrx 🀄️💕 Merry Mahjong to you! 🎄

#mahjong #merrymahjong #mahjongfood #mahj #mahjparty

I love a good gift! @citytins is such a fun gift

I love a good gift! @citytins is such a fun gift for friends and family! Makes a great stocking stuffer! Spend $30 at your favorite Dallas restaurants and get $10 off your ticket with one of these adorable coasters.

Why not make a progressive dinner out of your City Tins coupons? Pop in for appetizers, go see some Christmas lights, stop by one of the City Tin spots for an entree, go see more lights, then end with dessert! I’ve made a great map of the best Christmas Lights and City Tin restaurants along the route.

Comment LIGHTS and I’ll send you the map! 🎄

#citytins #dallaschristmas #christmaslightmap #hpvillage #christmaslights #dinnerideasُ

A little inspo as you trim your tree! 🎄I snappe

A little inspo as you trim your tree! 🎄I snapped these pictures at home tours over the years! What is the vibe of your tree this year??

#christmastreedecor #christmastree #christmasdecor #christmastreeideas

Last week was like a progressive dinner of speakin

Last week was like a progressive dinner of speaking engagements and it was so much fun! I met so many wonderful people!

It was such an honor to be a guest speaker for @northviewbaptist Friendsy and celebrate 20 years of gathering! Amanda McWhorter @mommastables shared about celebrating Jesus! ❤️ I was so grateful to get to share about celebrating others and yourself. I shared some of my favorite hosting tips and tricks and identity statement as a tool to celebrate yourself.

Next, I had the privilege of being the guest speaker, alongside talented Interior Designer, Elizabeth Hamilton, with @elizabethhamiltoninteriors at the @womenofargyle gathering. Check out the beautiful florals and table settings that Elizabeth exhibited at the meeting. I loved sharing hosting tips like being a student of your guest, incorporating an element of surprise, and communicating value to each guest.

Ended the tour with the precious ladies of @ncllegacyhv ! It was such a treat to share Hosting What Matters with the class of 2027 and lead them in creating a gift of encouragement to share with someone this holiday season. 🎀

Thank you to @northviewbaptist , @womenofargyle , and @ncllegacyhv for having me! 💕

#hostingwhatmatters #hospitalityspeaker #hostingtips #holidayinspo

A few snaps from this year’s @kbshowhouse . As

A few snaps from this year’s @kbshowhouse . As always, inspiration abounds! I’ll share some detail pics later of things that stopped me in my tracks. But, for now, you should know that this year’s hottest accessory was the 🚬🤣 No one is smoking, but the vibes are 🔥 Stay tuned for those detail shots later 😆

Until then, enjoy these snaps of rooms draped in affordable painter’s drop cloth, moody colors, faux wall finishes - what a comeback!, outdoor furniture that truly feels like indoor, Gucci towels as fabric skirts, backgammon over Mahj, a dose of 🐍, color drenching, and serene scenes. Details rule decor in my opinion and there were lots to note here 📝

Tell me which scene is your favorite! 👇 Can you guess which photo I’d happily move in to and live?

#homedecor #interiordesigninspo #kbshowhouse #decor #paintcolorideas #designinspo

Recently, I’ve been surveying people about the m

Recently, I’ve been surveying people about the most meaningful parties and gatherings they’ve attended. The most common thing I’ve heard as to what made that gathering so meaningful was the PEOPLE. In a sea of well decorated parties and incredibly stocked buffets, the guests are what made the event memorable!

How can we replicate these impactful events? SHOW UP! And show up with flair! I think these pictures capture it. ❤️ Ladies from my Bible Study gathering at the local High School while wearing my kid’s face on their hearts for the entire game. Cheering for her and then insisting on pictures with her as her biggest fans! The love from them overwhelmed her! 🤗

My older daughter traveling home, surprising her sister for Homecoming and being present for a big weekend! 📣

Showing up is sacrificial. It takes time and effort. But, I’m convinced it’s the most impactful thing you can do to celebrate others!

These buttons are a great tool to celebrate people! Birthday buttons to wear at work for someone’s milestone bday! Gameday buttons! “John is my Hero!” Buttons. The options are endless. If you want my button source comment “button” and I’ll send you the info!

#buttons #partyinspo #hostingwhatmatters #partyideas

You asked, I delivered! Some of my fave stills fro

You asked, I delivered! Some of my fave stills from Kappa Tablescapes last week ✨. The details though! 🔍 Perfect timing for dinner gatherings and holiday cheer! Which one resonates with you?

PS… I dressed as a flight attendant for the event. 😆 kidding! That’s just how I feel when wearing a scarf. My blue and blue 💙🗝️ @celine scarf was a hit! I received so many compliments on my vintage find. If you want to know how I score designer things like that authentic scarf for $5, join my free broadcast channel. Link in bio 👆

#kappatablescapes #tabledecor #floraldesign #tablesetting #kkg

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