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In an interview with Veranda, Martha Stewart described five things she makes a priority when hosting holiday parties: cleaning and polishing her home, preparing fireplace wood, making eggnog, bringing in houseplants and sending guests home with a homemade treat. Her advice combines practical preparation with small details intended to make guests feel welcome; the report does not specify when the interview took place.
Martha Stewart has shared five holiday-party rituals she says she returns to as a host, including getting her home clean, preparing a fireplace, making eggnog, adding houseplants and giving guests a homemade treat to take home. The tips appeared in a Veranda interview about her seasonal hosting routines and offer readers a practical look at the details she prioritizes beyond the menu and decorations.
Stewart said she starts by getting her home ready for guests, including cleaning and polishing silver and brass. “There’s a lot going on, so I just make sure that my house is in very nice shape and sparkling clean,” she told Veranda. Her preparation also includes making sure fireplace wood is fresh, dry and stacked, so she can light a fire if friends or out-of-town guests arrive.
Food is another part of her routine. Stewart said she makes eggnog for Christmas parties, describing it as a crowd-pleasing drink that can be prepared in a large batch. The recipe described in the report calls for a dozen eggs, baking spices and whipped cream, with bourbon, dark rum and cognac as possible additions. Because the drink can be strong, she recommends limiting guests to one glass or using less alcohol.
Her final two priorities are greenery and a take-home favor. Stewart said houseplants help make a home feel happy, and she suggested seasonal displays such as paperwhites, amaryllis and poinsettias. For guests to take away, she favors something edible she has made, such as a special cookie, candy or loaf cake.
Small Rituals Shape the Welcome
The list is less a set of elaborate party rules than a snapshot of how Stewart approaches hosting: prepare the home in advance, make a shared seasonal drink, and give guests personal touches they can enjoy during or after the gathering. For readers planning holiday events, the suggestions range from basic upkeep to optional decor and food, so they can be adapted to the size and style of a party.
The advice also distinguishes essentials in Stewart’s own routine from requirements for other hosts. She calls these practices her nonnegotiables, but the interview presents them as personal preferences, not a standard that every holiday gathering must meet. The eggnog’s optional alcohol and the range of plant choices leave room for hosts to adjust according to their guests and homes.
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Five Parts of Stewart’s Routine
The Veranda report frames the interview as seasonal entertaining advice, covering what Stewart does before an event as well as a recipe and ways to make visitors feel welcome. Its five listed practices move from preparing the house to finishing the gathering with a favor: cleaning and polishing; stocking fireplace wood; making eggnog; bringing in plants; and offering guests homemade food to take home.
The article also notes Stewart’s partnership with Miracle-Gro, where she is identified as the company’s chief gardening officer. That connection is relevant to the section on indoor plants, but the supplied report does not say the partnership prompted or shaped her other hosting recommendations.
““There’s a lot going on, so I just make sure that my house is in very nice shape and sparkling clean.””
— Martha Stewart, speaking to Veranda
Interview Details Not Specified
The supplied Veranda report does not give the interview’s date, the publication date, or a full version of Stewart’s eggnog recipe. It describes the ingredients and optional spirits but does not provide preparation instructions or measurements beyond the dozen eggs. The story also does not say whether the five practices are followed at every event or only reflect her general holiday routine.
Stewart’s comments are personal hosting advice. The report does not establish that these practices are necessary for successful parties or that all guests prefer the same foods, drinks or home setup.
Putting the Tips Into Practice
The report presents Stewart’s recommendations as ideas for the approaching holiday season, with no announcement of a scheduled event or further interview. Readers who want to follow the list can decide which steps suit their gathering, prepare the home ahead of time and adapt the food and drink to their guests. Those seeking the full eggnog method would need to consult the recipe linked or published separately by Veranda; the supplied material does not include it.
Key Questions
What are Martha Stewart’s five holiday-party nonnegotiables?
She named cleaning and polishing the home, preparing fireplace wood, making eggnog, bringing in houseplants and giving guests a homemade edible favor.
What does Stewart put in her holiday eggnog?
The Veranda report describes a batch with a dozen eggs, baking spices and fresh whipped cream. Bourbon, dark rum and cognac are optional additions; the supplied report does not provide the full recipe or measurements.
What does Stewart suggest for guests who take eggnog?
Because her version can contain several spirits, Stewart suggests limiting guests to one glass or cutting the amount of liquor in half if guests are especially thirsty.
What homemade favors does she recommend?
Stewart mentioned a special cookie or candy, as well as a loaf cake or a generous slice of something delicious for guests to take home.
Source: veranda.com
