The Holidays mean entertaining. We get visitors from out of town during Thanksgiving and during Christmas. We also have people drop by and we always have to be prepared. That means having the house clean, food ready and lots of cheer. Entertaining can be a lot of work but it is worth it to have family and friends around.
It can also be stressful but it does not have to be. You can make the holiday easier. I have a few tips to make your Holidays a little easier and less stressful!
Keep the food and drinks simple:
I love entertaining and cooking lots of good food but when having a cocktail party, I keep it easy. Choose 3 or 4 main dishes then add a cheese platter and a few dips. I make a simple appetizers like meatballs, deviled eggs, stuffed dates and baby quiche. Buy pre-made pita chips, tortilla chips and crostini and set out dips. Buy a few cheeses, salami and olives and set them out on a cutting board and you are. These snacks are easy to prepare ahead of time and that leaves you the time to mingle.
Drinks? Make sure to have water, sodas, beer and wine. And have one signature drink like a margarita or sangria. You can make these ahead and guests can serve themselves.
Make it Festive:
Put out some lightly scented candles on tables and mantles for a special effect. Use fun items like placemats, fun coasters and festive dishes! Put out fresh flowers to make it look like a million bucks!
Have great music:
We grab our wireless speakers and place them around the rooms. Then we press play on our music and let it play. It is just background music so it doesn't have to be loud. The great thing about wireless speakers is that you can have music in any room you want!
For overnight guests, make sure they have all the comforts of home:
I make sure our guest room is clean and comfortable. I leave towels on the bed for my guests. I leave brochures, maps and information about the area on the nightstand. I also like leaving a basket full of snacks.
I also love leaving a basket full of toiletries and other products in the bathroom. If my guests forget toothpaste, lotion or soap, they will have it at their fingertips. If they need band-aids or mouthwash, it is there. Luckily, I always have J&J HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® products like Listerine, Band-aid brand, Neutrogena lotion and Aveeno shampoo on hand for this very reason! It is a special touch that will make their stay wonderful.
These are tips that I practice during the holidays. They make my life easier during the holidays and make my guests feel welcome at my home. They also ease the stress of the holidays. Keeping it simple and making it fun make all the difference when entertaining!
For savings on HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® products click here. Happy Holidays!
These are all great tips. I think the one that helps the most is keeping the food simple. It's too easy to get carried away and then be stuck in the kitchen while your family and friends are having a great time. PS: Those flowers are so pretty!
ReplyDeleteI like the Dinner party foods that are on the table! I usually make desserts to bring to my families big Christmas Eve bash and every one loves my desserts. I made a big giant cassarole one year called Shepards Pie, but that was so hard to make for everyone. But everyone loved it. Thanks for the easy party tips!
ReplyDelete