Experts reveal how to keep the season merry and bright over Zoom

According to a study by , 67% of Americans believe it is more important than ever to celebrate the holidays despite the pandemic.

Fifty percent are actually excited to have a reason to stay at home this holiday.

While traditions will have to be adjusted, Bed Bath & Beyond’s findings also revealed that families are going all-out on holiday cheer to ‘enjoy the present’ this year.

Illustrator and Author of Celebrate Everything!, Darcy Miller, and the duo behind JWP production company, Josh Wood and Mimi Eayrs, reveal how to embrace the changes to make sure the season stays merry and bright.

Love is the answer: According to a study by Bed Bath & Beyond, 67% of Americans believe it is more important than ever to celebrate the holidays despite the pandemic. Just because your holiday gathering has moved to Zoom, that doesn’t mean you can’t fill it with festive cheer

<img id="i-47e2f120d870314b" website height="625" width="634" alt="Go for it: 'A fun, fast, and free way to bring instant ambiance to your Zoom holiday party is to customize your Zoom background,' shares t‘String them into garlands, hang them from the bookcase, mantel or window behind you, or from the ceiling above you so that anyone who Zooms in is seeing stars,’ she suggests.’

Simple: ‘One easy DIY way to decorate is using gold paper straws .You can turn them into shiny gold stars to fill your Zoom universe’

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Personalize: ‘And while you’re at it, put on some gold jewelry to match, whether it’s the real thing or a letter “pendant” made out of gold straws and a pipe cleaner and tied onto a ribbon as a necklace’

‘And while you’re at it, put on some gold jewelry to match, whether it’s the real thing or a letter “pendant” made out of gold straws and a pipe cleaner and tied onto a ribbon as a necklace.

‘You can also make these for your friends, sending them their initial in the mail before the Zoom, so everyone can coordinate.

‘Even if you have pajama bottoms on below the screen, some festive jewelry or red lipstick will make you feel like you’re at a party.’

Wolf & Badger Creative Director and Co- Founder, Henry Graham agrees.

‘Accessories are the order of the day when it comes to video calls,’ said Henry.

He suggests a statement piece of jewelry, a light-weight scarf, or a cute hat.

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Bracelet Sleeve Pajama Set by Not Just Pajama, $435;

Earrings by Milou Jewelry, $175;<a style="font-weight: bold;" class="class" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" website wolfandbadger.com

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Pucker up: ‘Download our printable mistletoe stirrers and tape them to skewers to swizzle in your drink. Or, throw in one of the gold paper straws you have left over from making the stars’

Everything you need to know: As a founding editor of Martha Stewart Weddings and author of Celebrate Everything!, Darcy knows a thing or two about throwing a beautiful party

Make a festive toast

A toast is something you can do together without physically being together, and a signature drink can add to the celebratory spirit, according to the author.

‘You can all mix a drink together, there are fun recipes for cocktails in my book, Celebrate Everything.’

Darcy recommends describing your drinks and sharing recipes with your loved ones on the call.

For a speakeasy-approved beverage, don’t forget the garnish!

‘Freeze cranberries and mint leaves in ice cubes for festive (and flavorful) mix-ins.’

Touches: For a speakeasy-approved beverage, don’t forget the garnish! ‘Freeze cranberries and mint leaves in ice cubes for festive (and flavorful) mix-ins’

Name tags: ‘Print and cut out our holiday wreath wine charms to accessorize the stem of your wine glass

‘Download our printable <a style="font-weight: bold;" class="class" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" website stirrers and tape them to skewers to swizzle in your drink. Or, throw in one of the gold paper straws you have left over from making the stars.

‘Print and cut out our holiday wreath wine <a style="font-weight: bold;" class="class" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" website to accessorize the stem of your wine glass.

Cheers!

Santa emcee: Josh Wood and Mimi Eayrs, the dynamic duo behind JWP , one of the world’s leading forces in event production, fundraising, and celebrity engagement, reveal how to keep a Zoom call under control

Josh Wood and Mimi Eayrs, the dynamic duo behind one of the world’s leading forces in event production, <a style="font-weight: bold;" class="class" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" website reveal how to keep a Zoom call under control.

Assign roles

‘Designate a host who will take care of sending out invites and setting up the Zoom room,’ said Josh and Mimi.

Is someone in the family particularly tech-savvy?

The duo behind the Highline Festival with David Bowie suggest having them on standby to assist relatives that will inevitably experience complications.

To prevent Zoom call madness, they recommend appointing an emcee.

‘By sorting out roles and responsibilities ahead of time, you’ll set the family up for a stress-free holiday,’ shared the experts.

Team: Josh Wood and Mimi Eayrs, the dynamic duo behind one of the world’s leading forces in event production, JWP , reveal how to keep a Zoom call under control

Organize: ‘Designate a host who will take care of sending out invites and setting up the Zoom room,’ said Josh and Mimi

Have a plan and set expectations

‘Wherever possible, consider topics of conversation and organizational strategies (hand-raising, host control of participant volume, etc.)’ to avoid total chaos where everyone is shouting over one another,’ revealed the business partners who produced virtual events such as City Harvest’s New York Foodathon hosted by Seth Meyers.

They believe that this will ensure even shy relatives have the opportunity to catch up with everyone.

Mimi recommends keeping virtual events under an hour or so.

Don’t abandon tradition

‘Every family has its own intricacies, including holiday traditions. Does yours always sing a certain song before dinner, pose for family portraits throughout the day, or enjoy a certain dish?

‘While things cannot and will not be exactly the same this year, many of these things can be translated to a virtual setting,’ they declared.

‘Go ahead and sing that song before dinner, choppy Zoom lag and all; snap that screenshot at the end of the day, and be sure to ask Aunt Mabel for her famous pumpkin pie recipe ASAP.

‘The only downside there, and it’s a big one, is that you’ll have to bake it yourself.’

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