Lisa Barlow’s Guide To Doing Big Things This Holiday Season

While some of us are dreaming of a white Christmas, Real Housewife Lisa Barlow already has a first-class ticket to a winter wonderland — right in her Salt Lake City, Utah, backyard. ICYMI, Lisa is always doing big things (per season 6 of RHOSLC), and the holiday season for the Barlow family is no different. “We have a couple traditions that we love. Like every year, we go to the movies on Thanksgiving Eve and Christmas Eve,” Lisa told me during our chat. Ahead of the biggest shopping time of the year, she said she loves stocking up for the season with her Amazon go-tos, like a Le Creuset Pie Bird for baking or VS flannel PJs for getting cozy by her (always live, never fake) Christmas tree. But naturally, some of the Housewife’s favorite things are also a little outside the designer bag box, like books from Louis Vuitton’s secret library in the back of the store or floral beef tallow (“I’m very into beef tallows!” she told me).

If you want to live a totally different life, instead of the same old winter blues, keep reading for a guide to Lisa Barlow’s holiday favorites, from hosting hacks to festive treats!

Edited for clarity.

Lisa Barlow’s Ultimate Gift Guide

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Betches: What is one holiday tradition or something you incorporate in your holiday routine that makes your celebrations larger than life?

Lisa: We have a small family here in Utah. It’s just like me, John, Jack, and Henry. So we’ve had to find ways to make sure that we’re doing stuff that creates traditions for the future that they love.

Like what?

We used to host a seafood night where John would go through this amazing dinner. We’d have it catered. And I’m thinking about starting it up because I found people that want to do this with us. But traditions are a huge thing for us. For Christmas, we always go to New York, take in all the festivities, go to Bergdorf’s, get ornaments. So the kids have been collecting ornaments since birth that go on the tree.

Sounds like that party could rival Kathy Hilton’s.

Maybe not Kathy Hilton, haha! But yeah, but we love an open door where people can stop in, visit with us. Now that Jack’s at the U, we had a bunch of his friends over from that are on the football team last night, and some of them can’t go home for the holidays. So they’ll be spending the holidays with us, which I’m super excited about.

Do you have any holy grail winter picks that you always bring out when it’s cold out?

I love La Mer facial cream. It’s very dry. We live in the desert. It’s a dry cold, but year-round, you definitely need to hydrate, moisturize. On TikTok, it felt like every other advertisement was about a beef tallow.

Oh my gosh, yeah.

And it grossed me out, I thought it was like, disgusting! [But then] John started working on a beef tallow product that is great for Fresh Wolf. I actually had the purveyor create a custom [lemon] body scrub for me that I’ve been living for. I love my spray tans, so with that comes major exfoliation and hydration. And they’re doing a rose one for me that I should have in the next week. But beef tallow, I am all about the beef tallow.

You should definitely get that rose beef tallow scrub on the market.

I had an almond mom, and I love my fast food, but I also love my almonds. And I’m very into trees and nature and grounding, and it’s like my hippie side, I guess.

There are a lot of friend groups getting ready for Secret Santa right now. So based on your own experience, what’s the perfect gift to give a girlfriend in 2025?

I am a huge fan of books, and really good coffee table books and candles. My favorite candles right now are the Baobab candles.

Another thing that my girlfriend gave me — she’s a billionaire, by the way, so I was like, this is the weirdest gift [but] it’s my best friend ever — she gave me Pura Air Fresheners and their diffusers for the holidays. I love a hotel scent in my home. My house smells good when you walk inside, like, that’s a necessity. We usually give each other this great outfit from Versace or a Chanel bag. So I was like “Oh, I’m getting a Pura?” but I’m now obsessed. We restock. My kids are addicted. I’m addicted.

Oh, kind of obsessed with that, too.

There’s something I love that I think is so special. [You see it] on one episode where I’m walking into Whitney’s party this season. I have an envelope in my hand and it looks like a manila folder, but it’s actually a Louis Vuitton slip cover. If you buy certain books from them — which I love to give Louis Vuitton books — the sleeve it comes in is so gorgeous. Their books range from like, $50 to thousands. So you can definitely give a luxury gift with a beautiful package on a budget. But for really good friends, I’ll invest and buy them Pura.

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So only really good friends get a Pura. Are any of your fellow housewives getting one this year?

I will definitely be gifting Meredith [Marks] one. All of my neighbors as well, I live in a bougie neighborhood, they expect it. I usually fly in cookies from New York [from] this Italian bakery that my mother has had do cookie displays for every major event.

But you know what’s a great gift to give? Melissa Gorga’s Sprinkle cookies are probably the best Italian cookies I’ve ever had in my life. So many Bravo celebrities have great books out right now, like Erin Lichy’s new cookbook I think is amazing. And Vida Tequila, always.

Are there any hosting tips or tricks that you use to keep the good vibes going around the dinner table?

A great cocktail is always a necessity. If you’re not a bar expert or mixologist, you don’t really even need to know how to be an amateur bartender; you can get the perfect mixing items on Amazon.

I buy candles like crazy. I have them on auto delivery when [I’m] setting up for a holiday party. If you have little kids, get flameless. They have candles that look so real. You saw I did it at my Besos party last season on Housewives, but really go the distance with candles. They change everything. My whole house is on a dimmer panel, [but] if you don’t have that, you can kill some lights and load up the candles. You have to create a mood.

So, set the scene and keep the drinks flowing?

Obviously, I’m in the liquor business, so I’m always like, what’s the perfect winter margarita? You can go to Trader Joe’s and get their spiced apple cider or go on Amazon and get a prickly pear puree, which is delicious, it’s like pink and festive…but on arrival is key. You never want people in your house for more than a minute without having something in their hand.

What else are you adding to cart before you host your next holiday party?

The perfect serving spoons that are disposable to put, like, your gingerbread cookies in, with a little frosting dip in there. I’m a baker, I don’t cook [so] that’s my little tip or trick. And then buy all the little decorating accessories for your kids to decorate their gingerbread man.

My aunt makes the best meatballs when I go home for the holidays, [and] you can make it look like you had it catered by buying these disposable spoons. Something that’s simple and delicious all of a sudden looks elevated and so sophisticated. I love 90-degree angles, so I love the rectangles and the square little bowls for one simple serving of salad or that little piece of creme brulee that you want to put in there.

It’s all about the details again.

I love the mini sizes because it makes it look like “oooh, we’re so chic!”

A lot of people are going to be flying home for the holidays, and probably some in 17C. Is there anything that you pack for the plane to make the ride more comfortable?

These bottom of your shoe covers. Put them on. Step on them before you get on the plane in case you have to go in the bathroom. You can toss them after. They’re the best thing ever. It’s under the spray tan section [on Amazon].

Image Credit: Getty Images

What’s one thing that you are saying “dismissed” to in 2026?

Oh, negativity. Which I don’t think I’m getting away from, but I do want it dismissed.

If you could ask Santa for one wish at Bravocon, what would it be?

That I keep my voice the entire time, and maybe I get to sing on stage.

After “Away In A Manger,” the fans are waiting for it.

I’m all about chestnuts are roasting on an open fire!