This guest post was shared by Pippa Lord – the Aussie-born, Brooklyn-dwelling founder of SousStyle.com and Skype’s resident guru. Pippa is an influential lifestyle maven who represents a new generation of homemakers.

Here are her 4 tips to enhancing your holiday parties at home:

A SURPRISE GUEST – A super smart and chic idea is to host a dinner party and patch in a surprise guest speaker via Skype. It could be a good college friend, an out-of-town relative or someone of interest you know that everyone would love to see.

THE MOOD MAKER – I love to run a fabulous film in the background. It’s a great conversation starter and the perfect way to keep a lively, relaxed atmosphere. My favorites are Home Alone, Miracle on 54th St, A Mom For Christmas (!), It’s a Wonderful Life and   A White Christmas. 

THE NEW CHRISTMAS CAKE – Put your own spin on a traditional recipe like the old fashioned Christmas cake to jazz up the menu. My favorite is by my dear friend Mimi who whipped up this gorgeous berry and meringue sensation.

SEND A VIDEO INVITE – A fabulous way to invite your guests is via Skype’s new Video Messaging feature. It’s like a virtual Christmas card that you can personalize for every guest. And it doesn’t just have to be an invitation. It’s also a fantastic time to share your holiday sentiments and give a little update on the past year. So dress up, pose in front of your festive spot and smile! As a fun party favor, you can make sure to keep in touch in the New Year with Skype gift cards.