Your holiday party will be as lit as a Christmas tree with these planning tips
The holidays can be pretty intense. From shopping, to decorating, to attempting to find a moment to watch your favorite holiday movie for the 10,000th time, you're trying to check off a lot of things on your list in a couple short months.
And when it's your turn to host the holiday party, that pressure is magnified, especially because you can't just do the bare minimum. There are going to be a lot of these parties in a short period of time, and you want to make sure people remember yours.
So how do you throw a memorable party to wow your friends and family without the process completely stressing you out? That's where these handy tips and tricks come in:
Now bring us some figgy pudding
Simply put, food sets the tone of a party. People want something to nosh on, especially around the holidays, so make sure your snacks are on point.
You'll need the staples: candy canes, cookies, maybe even some gingerbread thrown in there (in house or person form.) But you can also do better than that.
Think of the internet as a portal to a whole new world of snacks and treats. There are recipes abound on Pinterest and other sites that can inspire a whole different menu of festive cocktails and bites.
Try your hand at making peppermint bark (which is easier than you think,) or red wine hot chocolate to add unique flair to your spread.
You can also put a new spin on the holiday meal with a festive turkey meatball recipe. These have an orange cranberry glaze, so it's like combining all the best elopements of a turkey dinner into one bite-sized morsel.
For chefs with a little finesse, try this pinecone cheese ball, too. It's a delicious way to add yet another winter touch to the evening.
Singing songs of good cheer
There's more to a party than just food, of course. You need something for people to do. Yes, talking and catching up is important, but you can only do that for so long.
Music is a crowd-pleaser, and games can bring everyone together. So why not bring the best of both worlds into your shindig?
Dropmix from Hasbro and Harmonix is a fast-paced game that allows you to mix music seamlessly. Whether you want to play and unleash your inner DJ, or you just want to watch, the game is extremely entertaining and is a new experience each time.
Create unexpected musical mixes with your friends using hundreds of cards featuring hit songs from some of the world's most popular musicians.. The basic set comes with 60 cards, and you can add to your collection with playlist packs and discover packs. These come with either 16 cards from a specific genre, or five random ones from artists that may not have anything in common, respectively.
The best part? You can save all of your mixes and play them again next year to send everyone down memory lane. Check out some great mixes for inspiration here.
Walking in a winter wonderland
Now that you've got food and entertainment handled, your home needs to look the part.
You can go all out and make your pad a festive wonderland. Layer cotton (which you can from Amazon or Target) on stairs, along windowsills, and above doorways to make it look like it just snowed. Sprinkle glitter on your fake snow for a twinkling effect.
Hang ornaments from the ceiling, or get inspired by other DIY holiday decorations on Pinterest.
Or you can keep it chic with white string lights and candles. Add silver accents like candle holder and serving trays for an ever more elegant touch.
My true love gave to me
It wouldn’t be the holidays without a gift exchange and getting everyone involved is a surefire way to spread cheer throughout the party. Make sure no one goes home empty handed with an annual grab bag or white elephant where everyone brings a mystery gift and people take turns picking a gift from the table. Turn your gift exchange into a high-stakes competition by stealing from someone who's already opened one.
For the super organized, Secret Santa exchanges are a great way to ensure everyone gets a gift specifically suited to them.
With the entertainment of Dropmix, treats to feed everyone, decorations to set the mood, and gifts for all, your party is sure to be something people look forward to year after year.
