Christmas is in the air. We love festive holidays and that means a lot of parties, gatherings of friends and family. And if you’re actually planning to have your own mini Christmas party, this blog is for you!
We all know planning for an event or party can be really stressful. The preparation and planning can be dreadful and most of the time exhausting!
So to alleviate those stressful events, here’s a quick guide you can use to plan a nice Holiday Party!
Create a Simple Menu that is Easy to Do!
This stress-free plan comes complete with recipes done ahead of time (a few entrees and a dessert) and delicious store-bought extras. Even better: The grab-and-go, finger-food-only menu requires no utensils, which means less cleanup.
The Menu
- Crab and Chive Puffs
- Hot Ricotta Dip
- Maple-Glazed Ham with biscuits, mustards, and chutney
- Mini Gingerbread Cupcakes
- Store-bought goodies: Mixed olives, pickled vegetables, pistachios, and clementines
Create your very own cocktail recipe
A party isn’t a party without booze. So to get the groove on, pick one or two cocktail recipes below that you can serve to your guests. Or, you could easily buy beer and stock it in your freezer for less hassle preparation!
The Cocktails
- Pineapple Mint Punch
- Tequila Grapefruit Splash
- Winter Sangria
- Vodka Cranberry Cooler
- Spiked Sparkling Cider
- Bourbon Ginger Snap
Manage the Mood
Lighting
Turn off your bright overheads and use amber votive holders, which give off a warm glow. Decorate with metallic accents—they’re instantly festive and bounce light around. Tape light and dimmer switches in place so guests won’t lean on them and ruin the vibe.
Music
To infuse the party with holiday cheer without subjecting folks to back-to-back tracks of “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” and “Feliz Navidad,” mix “traditional holiday songs with favorite party tunes in a ratio of 3 to 10,” says Kobrin.
Work Some Behind-the-Scenes Magic
Rent a coat rack. It beats having guests pile jackets on your bed. Check party-rental sites. Coat racks cost about $20, and many times hangers are included. Put the rack in the entryway against a wall.
Soak dirty dishes. Fill a large plastic bin with warm, soapy water and keep it in the kitchen. Toss in used dishes during the party.
Clear the air. Open the window or put on a nice smelling air humidifier to clean up the air.
Keep prepared food warm. Heat up your oven and use it as a warming drawer for your food. This also frees up counter space and provides insurance that your food won’t burn if you forget to take it out.
Wind It Down
Signal that the party is over (subtly). Lower the music, blow out a few candles, turn on one light. If guests don’t get the hint, resort to plan B: Start cleaning up.
Dole out leftovers. Use Chinese to-go boxes for people to take extras home. The more you get out and give away, the better. (Takeout boxes, 50 for $19.50, save-on-crafts.com.)
Tidy up a tad (then hit the hay). After guests are gone, take out the trash and recycling so your house doesn’t smell like a bar when you wake up. “Check for furniture or carpet stains and treat those immediately, but otherwise leave the heavy cleaning and furniture moving until morning,” says Andalman.
Reference: Realsimple.com
Elaine Fernando is a Professional Organizer, a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) and a member of APPO (Association of Personal Photo Organizers). Elaine may be reached at 908-630-8995 or [email protected]
