Entertaining Christmas Parties

There's so much going on during the holidays, but the best part is getting together with your friends and family. If you plan on hosting a Christmas soiree this year, how do you keep it festive and fun? This topic comes a little early, but if you are a compulsive planner like I am, you are already thinking about your seasonal party. Here are some ideas to get you started....

1. Bake off - Every guest needs to bring a plate of cookies to share. You provide the milk! Then guests vote on the best cookie. If everyone emails you their recipe ahead of time, you can compile the recipes and print them out, so everyone gets a pack of Christmas cookie recipes as a party favor.


2. Cookie decorating - If it's a cozy and casual vibe you are after, why not fill your home with the smell of freshly baked cut-out cookies? Make all the cut-outs before the guests arrive and cover the table with a protective plastic sheet and all the toppings and icings you can find! Let the guests go wild decorating their cookies. This is great for little kids and adults.


3. How about an ornament decorating station? Have lots of glitter, puff balls, pipe cleaners, etc. Best ornament, as voted on by the group, gets an awesome prize! Hang all ornaments on a tree as they are finished, so everyone can admire them. Beware - as the amount of alcohol served at the party increases, the ornaments will get more silly and/or raunchy. Good way to break the ice and let grown-ups play with Elmer's glue again. They'll do things with pipe cleaners that would embarrass their children. Fun!
   


4. We have always done a "white elephant" gift exchange at my family's Christmas party. Guests should bring something from their home that they don't want anymore (or they can purchase something, but that takes some of the challenge out of it in my opinion) and wrap it nicely. The funnier item the better. We've had macrame plant holders, a dashboard hula girl, a clown wig, a beer hat, a bottle of moonshine, a giant Hillshire Farms sausage... And you draw numbers to see who goes first. After the first round, people can chose to open a new present, or steal a gift that has already been opened. I suggest putting limits on how many times an item can be stolen each turn, or it gets out of hand. This game gets really competitive and fun! You would be amazed at the crazy items people are desperate to get!! Oh, and it's nice to let the person who drew number 1 go again at the very end of the game, so they at least get one chance to steal.


5. Live music. Whether you hire a five piece jazz combo, or you lead a carol sing-along, nothing gets people into the holiday spirit like a little Christmas music.


6. Dress up. There's something thrilling about having a chance to go out on the town looking like a million bucks. Insisting on "Holiday Dress Up Attire" will ensure that guests come to your home with a sparkling attitude. Make the most of the fancy vibe by serving cocktails or champagne and using non-disposable dishware.


7. If all else fails, there's always beer pong.