Holiday Preparations: Embracing Plaids and Tartans for Christmas

Celebrate holiday preparations this season by incorporating plaids, checks, and MacKenzie-Childs‘ festive hot chocolate mugs into your Christmas home decor. Join me on the porch as we begin decorating for the holidays at our home in Vermont with MacKenzie-Childs.

Because this year, it’s all about plaids, tartans, and checks.

What are plaids?

Plaids generally feature color bands or stripes that intersect one another, forming a particular shape. They can be part of a fabric weave or printed directly onto fabric.

Did you know that there are eight different types of plaids? Yes!

The tartan, gingham, check or checkered Madras, windowpane, Houndstooth, glen plaid, or the Prince of Wales check, and the Tattersall patterns.

We’ll embrace MacKenzie-Childs‘ tartans, plaids, and checks this Christmas season.

Christmas With MacKenzie-Childs

It’s a magical time of the year, and MacKenzie-Childs is here to make it your most colorful holiday yet.

From traditional reds and greens to bright pinks and shimmering silver and gold, welcome your guests with beautiful decor this season.

Whether you’re just starting your collection or adding new pieces to your current collection, you’ll find several incredible items you won’t want to pass up.

*In full disclosure, I am delighted to be a home decor ambassador for MacKenzie-Childs, but all thoughts and opinions in today’s posts are my own.

Christmas Preparations on the Porch

I want to welcome you on our porch today for a gathering of Christmas preparations and hot chocolate. We’ll pick some fresh greenery, dig out the vintage ski lodge decorations, and get cozy with blankets, sheepskins, and the cutest little hot chocolate mugs.

Won’t you join me?

Have a seat, grab a “Courtly Check” hot chocolate mug, and let me pour you a cup of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, nutmeg, a cinnamon stick, and a gingerbread cookie to help warm you up.

Well, because it’s chilly in Vermont right now…

Tartastic Flower Buckets

We begin today with this set of three metal flower buckets decorated with decaled red tartan and MacKenzie-Childs‘ distinctive logo plate, which is the perfect traditional touch for the holidays, especially when filled with fresh greenery picked from our very own backyard.

What is the difference between plaids, tartans, and checks?

The word plaid describes almost any criss-cross pattern. Within the broad heading of plaids, tartans should always have a pattern with a recognized name or history and are usually irregular patterns like these MacKenzie-Childs‘ holiday buckets. Tartan is very classic and traditional in its style. Check patterns are also plaids but usually have a regular pattern. Also, while most tartans have multiple shades, checks are typically only two colors. Make sense?

Set of 2 Tartastic Serving Trays

Next, this set of two serving trays, decorated with decaled red tartan and MacKenzie-Childs’ distinctive logo plate, is the perfect traditional touch for the holidays.

From the porch to the table, these terrific colorful trays are sure to impress this holiday season.

Beautiful tartan plaids paired with the “Courtly Check” teapot and hot chocolate mugs are Christmas season-ready.

You may also enjoy the Christmas Buggies & Go Karts Decoration Ideas: Get Creative & Enjoy The Ride! post.

Ella is touting her favorite holiday plaid scarf today, too, which was handed down to her by my father…

Christmas Preparation Bloopers with Ella

Courtly Check Tea Party Set

Today’s Christmas preparation gathering is furnished with MacKenzie-Childs‘ popular “Courtley Check Tea Party Set.” I used the set for my hot chocolate on our porch to indulge and warm up while collecting evergreens during our Christmas preparations.

I’m wearing a thrifted vintage ski sweater with reds and blacks to match this Christmas plaid affair.

The “Courtly Check” black and white pattern matches brilliantly with the tartan plaids.

24 Hot Chocolate Mugs Recipes

Do you love hot chocolate?

I rounded up 24 hot chocolate mug recipes for you to enjoy during your Christmas preparations with plaids, tartans, and checks this holiday and winter.

• Chocolate-Covered Cherry Hot Cocoa Bombs Make the Best Hot Chocolate!
• Dairy Free Chocolate Hazelnut Liqueur
• Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate
• Slow Cooker Mexican Hot Chocolate
• 7 Different Homemade Hot Chocolate Mixes
• How to Set Up a Hot Chocolate Bar + Hot Cocoa Recipe
• Oat Milk Hot Chocolate
• Ruby Hot Chocolate
• Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
• Jo’s Favorite Hot Chocolate Recipe
• Crockpot Hot Chocolate
• Creamy Crockpot Hot Chocolate
• Grinch Hot Chocolate
• How to Make a Festive Holiday Hot Cocoa Bar
• Kim’s Simple Hot Chocolate Sauce
• Slow Cooker Mint Hot Chocolate
• Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate Recipe and Ornament
• Copycat Starbucks White Hot Chocolate

Pin and save these recipes to your favorite Pinterest board for later!

Sterling Check Appetizer Plates

MacKenzie-Childs‘ “Sterling Check” appetizer plates are also the cutest pairing with the tartan plaids and holiday checks.

You may see more of the “Silver Check” plaids in the posts Summer Desserts with MacKenzie-Childs Check Designs and Fall & Halloween DIY Grazing Table with MacKenzie-Childs.

Courtly Check Kitchen Canister – Medium

The adorable “Courtly Check” glass kitchen canister is a tease on the tartan plaids.

It’s filled with devilish Biscotti cookies and accompanied by hot chocolate in the most darling mugs. Did I mention how much I love these mugs?

Do you like the silver spoons? Learn why they are so unique in the Order of the Eastern Star Amidst This Vintage Market Haul post.

Glass Tartan Plaid Tree Ornaments

And can we talk about this set of six glass tartan plaid tree ornaments? Wow, are they fantastic! A set of six hand-painted spheres in red and green tartan plaids accented with black and white patterns. Think of these as extraordinary basics that will make your tree even more delightful.

Or accent a Christmas garland on your mantel, door, or table centerpiece with these oversized ball ornaments.

Tartastic Table Runner

Decorate your tables this holiday season with MacKenzie-Childs‘ Tartastic Table Runner, which combines plaids, tartans, and checks in one fabulous piece.

Tabletop Rock Fire Pit

I’ve often shared this tabletop rock fire pit, but we enjoy it so much that it’s worth sharing again.

I found this rock fire pit at a crafts fair in Maine last fall. It’s one-of-a-kind, but you can also find similar ones on Amazon and other online stores.

I love the ambiance that this tabletop fire pit adds to our porch. It’s super heavy yet easy to light and put out with the Tree-Free Fire inserts, also available from Amazon. You can use them as a stand-alone unit without a tabletop fire pit. Carry them to the beach or camping, or plop them in the snow and light them.

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