Martha Stewart recently visited the set of Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live to share some tips for the holiday season. Appearing on the episode alongside Christian Siriano, the 80-year-old icon graciously offered her advice for the holidays in a segment called ‘Martha May I?’— and she had some surprising answers to Andy’s questions about holiday dos and don’ts. Whether you’re hosting or attending as a guest, you might want to start following some of these rules, if you aren’t already.
What is the perfect host gift?
According to Martha, you don’t need to spend a lot, nor does it always have to be a bottle of wine. So, what’s her fail-safe host gift? “A dozen eggs from my own chicken coop,” she said. In other words, sometimes you can offer something homemade, or a more personal gift.
Should you ever regift?
Thinking about regifting a host gift or old Christmas gift someone gave you? Martha’s advice: Don’t do it. “You always get caught,” Martha warned. “Always.”
Do you buy a gift if someone says “No gifts”?
Even if the host says, not to bring a gift, Martha said you must bring one. Period.
What do you do with guests who overstay their welcome?
How do you politely ask a guest to leave who doesn’t seem to get the hint that the party is over? According to Martha, “You just say, ‘I’m going to bed now, so I’ll see you at the next party.’”
When is the best time to arrive at a party?
If you live by the motto that it’s “better late than never,” you may be on to something. Although Martha doesn’t suggest showing up to parties extremely late, she does recommend showing up slightly later than expected. “A little past call time is always nice for the host because they’re never quite ready,” Martha suggested. In other words, if a host tells you to arrive at 6:00 PM, there’s nothing wrong with showing up at 6:20 since it gives the host a little extra time to prepare.
How long you should wait for a tardy guest before serving dinner?
“Not too long,” said Martha. “Just leave the plates — actually, push their plates to the end of the table.”
Should you ever move place cards if you don’t like the person, you’re seated next to?
“No,” warned Martha. “You’re not allowed to.”
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Check out the video below, along with Martha’s recipe for molasses-ginger crisps. Enjoy!
