Open to virtually any page of the voluminous Holiday Inspirations and you'll find a good-looking photograph showing a way to bring holiday magic into your home. Start with decorating ideas that flow all through the house and into the yard: furniture spruce-ups, tablescapes, indoor and outdoor lighting, festive accessories like pillows and lamp trims, even ways to give your spare room a Christmas makeover to delight overnight guests.

Then choose from a wide range of styles to achieve the perfectly dressed tree, splendid wreaths, and lovely ornaments. Select from among dozens of recipes to stage a wine-and-cheese party, serve a multicourse Christmas dinner, host a New Year's feast, bake up a dessert bonanza, and more. Give thoughtful, handmade presents such as a themed basket that caters to the book or movie lover; pamper a friend with a collection of home-spa goodies; or whip up some easy gifts in the kitchen. Then package it all with some clever wrapping tips. Encourage the kids to get involved, too--check out the chapter devoted exclusively to things youngsters can make, including cards, ornaments, and cookies.

Holiday Inspirations is not geared solely to Christmas. Hanukkah makes an appearance in a number of recipes and several decorating ideas, and there are a few Kwanzaa recipes as well. Most projects throughout the book are quite easy and feature step-by-step directions when necessary, but rather than a project-driven format this is a book of ideas, and there are lots of good ones here. --Amy Handy

Book Description
Let your home reflect your festive personality for Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and New Year's with the impressive ideas and decorations in Holiday Inspirations, a guide for celebrations from Better Homes and Gardens (R).

Card catalog description
"Let Better Homes and Gardens Holiday inspirations be your guide this holiday season. Packed with tempting recipes and simple ideas for decorating and crafting, this book is your ultimate resource for the holidays..."

From the Inside Flap
The Christmas season is a magical time of year ... a time to create lasting memories of love, laughter, and friendship. Now you can turn to Better Homes and Gardens (R) Holiday Inspirations for tempting recipes and creative decorating and crafting projects to make and share during this cherished season.

Consider the possibilities:

* Dress your home in holiday finery with festive slipcovers, pillows, rugs, and window scarves.
* Learn to make informal and formal displays for your entrance, sideboard, mantel, or side table.
* Arrange a magical glow of lights on an artificial or freshly cut tree.
*Make ornaments to hang on your tree or to give to friends and neighbors.
* Create unique indoor and outdoor wreaths using easy-to-find materials.
*Curl up by the fire and read a favorite family story after a supper of Minestrone or Nacho Cheese and Corn Chowder.
* Spend an afternoon baking and decorating an edible neighborhood of cookie house fronts.
* Pair wines and cheeses and invite friends over for a fun, informal gathering.
* Plan a holiday party -- a formal sit-down dinner or a casual buffet.
* Brush up on the basics of buying, thawing, and cooking a holiday turkey.
* Delight loved ones with gifts from the kitchen such as Buttery Cashew Brittle, Cookies-in=a-Jar, or Pear-Cranberry Conserve.
* Show affection for those on your list by making them a gift such as a Christmas Memory Tray, a Recipe Box, or Aromatic Bath Oils.
* Involve your kids in crafting for the holidays with cards, gifts, ornaments, and projects you can make together.

ANNOTATION

"Let Better Homes and Gardens Holiday inspirations be your guide this holiday season. Packed with tempting recipes and simple ideas for decorating and crafting, this book is your ultimate resource for the holidays..."

FROM THE PUBLISHER