Ornament on a Tree
Christmas, Hanukkah and Holiday Parties are coming and we know what that means – Stress. I bet you thought I was going to say joy, happiness… Hah! That said, the holidays don’t have to be stressful. Given the state of the economy, I have learned to focus on the important things but still maintain a cheerful atmosphere during this festive season without breaking the bank.
Here are 4 Tips to make sure you have a Chic Holiday Season.
1. Don’t be afraid to Mix ‘n’ Match: If you a lot of people coming over, it’s okay that some guests get the good china and some get the everyday. Unless the President is coming over, no one cares. That goes for accessories, like glasses, napkins and napkin rings One year, I went out and bought 10 very nice wine glasses. In my opinion, the hostess (you) is the only one who deserves the nice glass. Don’t dismiss, Target and K-Mart. They have great looking holiday dishes and trust me no one is the wiser. Mix-n-matching makes the party more festive and ecletic.
2. Prepare the Menu in Advance – Don’t be afraid to save yourself time and energy by going the store bought route. There is nothing wrong with store bought dressing or appetizers. Do the prep work earlier in the day. I like to either make a lasagna or another casserole dish in advance so all I have to do is prepare the day before and then 2 hours before my guest arrive, cook the casserole. As the hostess, you want to be able spend time talking to your guests and not spending all your time in the kitchen.
3. Allow for an hour of “Me” time – If you time it correctly, you should be able to get in an hour prior to your guests arriving to take a nice hot shower, put your make up on and have a glass of wine. There is no reason that the hostess shouldn’t enjoy herself. There have been times where I didn’t have enough time to change my cooking clothes and felt icky all night. It’s a holiday party and shouldn’t you enjoy your own party.
4. Fresh flowers and candles to set the mood – You don’t have to spend hundreds on either. There are inexpensive flowers or even a poinsettia plant that you can purchase as a center piece. Also, there are inexpensive drug store candles that really makes a difference in the tone of your party.
Enjoy the Holidays, you deserve it.
All great tips! Let the pandemonium begin!