- Planning Creative Holiday
Parties
|
BY LILLIAN
VERNON
 |
(ARA) - "You're
invited . . ." are always popular and welcome words around
the holidays. If you're like me, you love to host a party. But
if you're a hostess with the "leastest" amount of time,
a party is a lot of work. Entertaining requires considerable
planning and preparation because there are so many things to
do.
Think about
the parties you've attended and what made them special. Was it
the food, guests, laughs, decorations, ambience? The parties
I liked best were the ones that touched me in a personal way. |
A special party
creates lasting memories for you and your guests. No matter who
is on the guest list, the basics of organizing a party are almost
always the same. What's different is how you customize the details.
Here are my
tips to get you started:
* Make a master
list of what must be done a month, week and day in advance and
don't forget the day-after cleanup.
* Decide what
kind of menu you want as far ahead as possible and whether you
want a sit-down dinner or a buffet. Think about every course
from hors d'oeuvres, to appetizers, salads and dressings, breads,
entrees, vegetables, desserts and beverages. Always include some
healthy and low-calorie selections. Prepare and freeze whatever
you can, so you don't have to do it all in one day. Home baked
cookies and brownies can be stored in tins; roasts, cooked the
day before, can be served cold. Nibbles like crudités
can be chopped and stored in plastic bags in the refrigerator.
Order specialty items from the florist, butcher and bakery, and
extra chairs and tables in advance.
* Buffets are
usually easier than sit-down dinners. Avoid anything that can
spoil when left out for hours. Utensils and napkins should be
available everywhere there is food and drink. Tie silverware
and napkins together with festive ribbons and a candy cane. Buy
paper napkins with fun and witty sayings or personalized with
your name or initials on them. Decorate tabletops with spray-painted
gold pinecones, holiday ornaments and candles.
* Make or buy
plenty of ice cubes and place them in a large galvanized tin
bucket decorated with a big red ribbon. Using food coloring,
make festive red and green ice cubes. To cut down on misplaced
glasses and wasted beverages, buy holiday wine charms for every
glass. For coffee or tea, use colored sugars or rock sugar stirrers
instead of regular sugar.
* Before the
party starts, place cloves, cinnamon and orange peels on a baking
sheet in the oven. Set on a low temperature for an hour; the
heavenly aroma will fill your house for hours. Mull spiced cider
in a large pot on your stove for a warm winter drink with a holiday
fragrance.
* Make your
guests feel welcome from the instant they arrive. Line the driveway
with luminarias and decorate the front of your house and lawn
to set a celebratory mood. Place a guest book at the front door
for expressing sentiments.
Family Parties
Ask guests
to bring a family photo to make a personalized ornament for your
tree. Childhood photos make great place cards for a sit-down
dinner. Begin a family album, highlighting favorite recipes,
anecdotes, pictures, and memorabilia. Include a family tree with
small pictures.
Parties
For Neighbors
Enlist at least
two outgoing guests to help you make introductions. Instead of
gifts, organize a future neighborhood activity where everyone
can pitch in such as a spring planting, a summer block party,
an Easter egg hunt, or autumn leaf raking. Give gift certificates
of time to each other, offering to shovel snow in the winter,
take care of pets while someone is vacationing, or baby-sit a
newborn so parents can have a night out.
Parties
For Co-workers
Organize a
"Secret Santa" giveaway or ask your guests to bring
funny gifts for a grab bag. Holidays are a good opportunity to
meet the families of co-workers. Plan activities that allow everyone
to mingle and learn more about each other. Ask guests with special
talents to entertain. An aspiring magician can perform magic,
someone who has a great voice can read "A Christmas Carol,"
and someone who likes to sing can lead the caroling.
- The goal of
a holiday party is to put everyone in a festive mood and set
the tone for the coming year. With advance planning and preparation,
the host will be relaxed and everyone will have a good time!
- _______________________________________
For more festive
party ideas, visit www.lillianvernonproducts.com.
- Courtesy of
ARA Content
- _______________________________________
- ARTICLE POSTED
DECEMBER 22,2003
|
WHAT'S NEW?