Have fun at your own party!

Giving a holiday party always sounds like a good idea at the time you make the decision.  When it’s party time, you are wondering what you could have been thinking.  It is such a frantic, busy time of year.  Here are some tips and ideas and a few accessories that might make your party prep easier and fun.

Getting Started:

• Send invitations early before everyone’s calendars fill up. The simplest way is to use an online invitation service like Paperless Post. It is faster, easier, eco-friendly and cheaper than sending invitations by mail.
• Before you spend a lot of money on decorations, party supplies and groceries, shop in your closets. Look in your food pantry to see what you have , look in your storage spaces for china you have forgotten about, and in your cabinets for other items you need.
• For the groceries you do have to buy, don’t scrimp on quantities. It will give you peace of mind to have more food and drink than you think you need. Send your guests home with a little box of leftovers.  They’ll thank you the next day!

Food Tips:

• One way to simplify is to skip a full bar and serve a special cocktail.
• Save some money by offering Cava or Prosecco instead of Champagne.
• Buy all the food items you can without sacrificing quality to save yourself time and effort. You’ll be amazed at how delicious many of the frozen food items are these days. Trader Joe’s is a great source.
• When friends offer to bring food or drink, accept!
• This Christmas tree silicone mold can be used for cupcakes, small cakes, muffins, Jell-O or chocolates.  It produces 12 jumbo tree molds waiting to be decorated.  $14.99.

Having holiday themed items make everything more festive.  Here are a few I like:

These glass storage bowls are so pretty they could double as serving bowls!  The two-piece set is on sale for $24.95

These red shiny charger plates are 13” and made from heavy durable plastic. A set of 10 is $32.00.

These snowflake stemless glass wine glasses are pretty.  Each is 15 oz. A set of four is $29.99.

My favorite holiday candles are Rigaud Cypress Candle.  The small size is $40.00.

And

Nest’s Holiday Votive Candle.  $16.00.

The only thing missing now is a great playlist.  Spotify’s Ultimate Holiday Playlist has great artists and over 100 Christmas, Chanukah and seasonal songs.

It gets dark early this time of year, so we like to add twinkle to our decorations.  Check out the ASE article on String and Fairy Lights.

and

A Sharp Eye’s Favorite Holiday Articles