Create My Event - Event & Party Ideas Blog

Christmas Tree Decorating Party

Well, it's time to start decorating for Christmas.  Why not make it fun and invite a few friends  - have a tree decorating party this weekend!  Sendomatic.com has a great Christmas invitation that has groovy music and animation that will get your guests in the mood for fun.  Set out your ornaments and let your guests help you decorate your tree. 

Whip up a batch of Carmel Apple Cider (Heat Apple Cider, a bit of caramel topping, and a dash of vanilla in a saucepan and top with whipped cream). 

Christmas cookies are always a must for Christmas party, so buy or make a batch or two for your guests.  Easy cookies that I like to make each year are "Holiday Almond Crescents".  Heat oven to 325 degrees.  Beat 1 cup margarine and 1/2 tsp. almond extract until fluffy.  Gradually beat in 3/4 cup sifted powdered sugar.  Add 2 cups flour and mix well. Stir in 1 cup oats and 1/2 cup finely chopped almonds.  Shape into crescents and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake 15 -18 minutes or until light golden brown.  Sift powdered sugar over warm crescents.  This recipe makes about 4 dozen.

For an extra special touch, wrap some Christmas ornaments for a party favor and "Thanks for Helping" gift.  Then, sit back and enjoy a beautiful tree!

The Day After...

It's over! The turkey's been stuffed and so have you. Many people find pleasure in cramming themselves in the "after-Thanksgiving" sales racks while others are content to relaxing and watching movies with the relatives who have stuck it out for the long weekend. Lucky you!...While my idea of Friday after turkey day is much more boring, clean out some closets, pull some weeds, file some piles...alas, I have found a better way to spend today and the rest of this weekend and it involves relaxing, accomplishment and, a bit of time away from the loved ones...
This year try getting some early Christmas shopping done online. I have found two great sites to help you locate the most "exquisite throw" grandma will ever see or feel. Or even the perfect digital camera for the nephew who is just learning to experiment with electronics. This year, one of my favorite sites is personalshopper.com. What's really fantastic about this site is that they too, like the gift of giving and have made shopping online super easy. There are hundreds of suggestions. You can even buy gift cards online from some of the biggest names out there. How easy is that?
Another favorite is 2modern.com. This site has great gifts, big and small for the modern guy or gal in your life. There is even an area for your eco-conscious friends.
Speaking of the eco-peeps in your life. How about donating a dinero or two in their name at places like Surfrider Foundation, Greenpeace or even Charity Navigator.org. Charity Navigator has hundreds of online ways to support wildlife in areas around the globe. You choose an area of interest for "giver" and there is bound to be a site in need. Your green friends will be green with envy that they didn't think of this gift first...
Either way, don't stress yourself out any more than cooking the turkey did, put on the tea pot, grab the "comfy's" and sit down in front of your computer for some good "new" fashioned holiday shopping.

Thanksgiving Toasts

Impress your friends and relatives with a thought-provoking Thanksgiving Day toast.  I found some really great ones at Hallmark.com (of course!).  My favorite is one that is easy to remember ..."Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart".  Short and sweet.  The quote is by Seneca, so just in case someone asks who that is, I looked him up so I sound educated.  Now I can respond with "he's a roman philosopher who was alive around the time of Christ".  Boy, am I going to wow the in-laws!

Properly Placed Table Settings

If you are anything like me, I like to have a properly set table but can never seem to remember which fork goes where and which glass sits above the knife and which sits above the spoon. I know there are others who are just as unsure of themselves as they set their Holiday table settings so I have decided to write a quick reference for everyone to use this Thanksgiving.

1. Start by placing the dinner plate in the center of each setting, placing any smaller plates or soup bowls on top of the largest plate. You can also use a pretty charger under the largest plate to create a dramatic setting for each place. Chargers are for decoration only and should not be used for food service.

2. Silverware will sit on both sides of the plate(s), starting with the dinner fork on the left, closest to the plate and then the salad to left of the dinner fork. On the right side of the plate, starting from the inside, closest to the plate is largest serving knife, (rounded side facing left), followed by a smaller knife (same position), then soup spoon. Above the plates, place the dessert fork, prongs facing right, then the dessert spoon above the fork, round side facing left.

3. The Napkin is placed to the left of the furthest fork. You may also place the napkin under the forks if space is an issue.

4. Bread and Butter plate are placed above the forks about 1-2 inches, if you have the space. You may also place a butter knife across the top of the bread plate.

5. Glasses are next. The largest glass will be for water and it should be placed above the largest knife setting (a good 3 inches above the knife and slightly to the left). Next place the white wine glass to the right and slightly below the water glass followed by the red wine glass, again slightly below and to the right of the white wine glass. Once you sit down, if your guest is not drinking wine, you may remove one or both of the wine glasses to make more room. This is also a polite gesture in the event that your guest does not want to draw attention to the fact that they are not drinking alcohol with their meal.

This easy guide should help everyone as they begin their Holiday feast preparations. This is also a preparation that you can do days in advance so that you are not rushing to make a pretty setting the day of your meal. A properly placed setting as well as a fabulous centerpiece will get many compliments. Many people notice the extra touch and appreciate the time you have taken to create a lovely setting for everyone to enjoy.

Giving Thanks and Giving Back

In my opinion, there is no better way to count your blessings than to give back to your community during the Holiday season. Whether it's donating food to a local food drive or even volunteering your time at a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving day, there are countless ways to give back to those who have less fortunate lives than you and I. Many of us will be spending time with family and friends this Thanksgiving weekend. Since this tends to be a four day weekend for most people, there is always plenty of time spent doing a whole lot of nothing. While the thought of sitting on your sofa and chillin' out sounds divine, how about gathering your loved ones and giving back to your community by volunteering some of your weekend at your local Habitat For Humanity.
By researching your local chapter of Habitat to see what sort of volunteer help is needed, just log onto www.habitat.org and search for your local affiliate by typing in your zip code.
Habitat For Humanity is an International, non profit organization whose mission is to provide housing for the less fortunate through the donation of time, and both monetary and material donations. Founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller, Habitat for Humanity has been dedicated to addressing the issues of poverty housing for 30 years. The Habitat website is very helpful in learning more about this organization as well as finding ways to donate money or materials if your time is limited but your heart is big.
Spending time with your family during the Holidays will be some of the fondest memories that you will keep. This year, consider volunteering your time as a family at your local Habitat for Humanity project and walk away from the Season with a full heart instead of a full stomach.

Red or White...A Thanksgiving Wine Guide

With the Thanksgiving Holiday right around the corner, it may be time to start planning your wine "pairing". Wine What? If you love the taste of wine, but tend to buy a bottle based on the label alone here is a quick guide to choosing the right wine to serve with your traditional Thanksgiving meal. I myself will not pretend to be a wine connoisseur, but I do like to serve a nice wine to my guests or even bring a nice wine to my host. During the holiday season I tend to prefer serving a red wine. Call it the designer in me, but a red glass of wine looks festive against my fall or Christmas table decorations. Now, I realize this is not the best theory for wine selection so I have also listed a few more "valid" suggestions for your Thanksgiving wines.
Most traditional Thanksgiving flavors tend to be abundant in the "sweet" department. Sweet potatoes, cranberries, pumpkin pies...you catch my drift... Because of this, serving a wine which is also sweet may send your guests over the top. Try to find a wine which is soft and medium bodied. Often, these wines are red and described using words such as berries, cherries or plums. A good example of such a wine is a Pinot Noir. A Pinot Noir is a red wine that is also referred to as "starter wine". Most people who enjoy a red wine like the mild flavor of a Pinot Noir. Another red wine which can be paired well with Turkey and stuffing is a Syrah or Shiraz. The peppery flavors of this wine can gracefully handle the many flavors of Thanksgiving. In my opinion, Pinot's and Syrah's are best served at room temperature although some people will argue this statement. You may have a guest or two who would prefer to drink a white wine this holiday. To be prepared, look for a medium priced Sauvignon Blanc and keep it on hand in the refrigerator. Sauvignon Blanc's tend to be crisp and earthy and work well with the traditional herbs found in Turkey based menus.
The wine you serve this Thanksgiving does not have to be expensive. With the thousands of winery's in California and Oregon alone, we have a multitude of great tasting, domestic wines under $15 to choose from. If you are still uncertain about your wine purchases, don't be afraid to ask the sales clerk. In California, we have hundreds of smaller chain grocery stores such as Trader Joe's or Beverages & More. These places tend to have a generous selection of wines and an educated staff. Even by shopping in the smaller stores, you should be able to get a nice wine at a decent price.
Beyond the basics listed above, the only other advice I can offer would be to enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday. This is supposed to be a day spent enjoying the company of your guests and sharing stories. When it comes down to it, a decent wine and a lots of food is all you really need. With these things, a memorable Thanksgiving holiday will fall right into place.

Thanksgiving Table Decor

For a simple, classy, and natural look to your thanksgiving table, place about a dozen colorful leaves in the center of your table.  It easy and it looks really beautiful.  This decoration can even be turned into a fun Thanksgiving Day craft for the kids.  You can scout out a few colorful, leaf-dropping trees and make a "treasure map" to them.  Then the kids can follow the map to the trees and collect a few leaves.  At home, you can have a paper runner that they can glue the leaves to.  I suggest using a glue stick so the glue won't have a long drying time.  They can also wrap leaves around cut 1.5 inch rounds of empty toilet paper rolls for napkin rings.  They can also write the names of the guests directly on the leaves with felt tip pen for place cards.  It is hard to go wrong with simple fall leaves, so collect a bunch and use your imagination.

"Entertaining Out Of Towner's"

Ever get the call, "Were coming to town"... or how about the late night dinner party and one of your guests is too tired to drive home? I know when these situations arise, I immediately run through the list of a hundred things that I need to do before I have a sleep over. With the Holiday's right around the corner, here are a few helpful tips to make you look like the stellar host to your guests.

Of course, there is the normal house cleaning to do. For handy "quick tips" on how to spruce up the place in record time, refer to an entry previously posted August 23rd, called "Quick Pre-Party Cleaning". There are some great tips there which cover the cleaning basics.
But how do you go the extra mile for those guests that are planning to spend the night?
I know that I personally love to stay away in a hotel. Having fresh sheets and towels everyday is a luxury to me. Okay, maybe not eco friendly but it is fun. I also love the idea of someone else cooking and cleaning up. When I have guests, my goal is to make my them feel like they are getting special treatment right in my own home. I'm not talking 5 star accommodations, but try adding special touches to help your overnight guest feel like they are on a well deserved get away.
For starters, make sure the guest room is clean. This includes fresh sheets, and a tidy, freshly vacuumed and dusted room.

Next make sure that the temperature in the guest room is nice and comfortable. In the summer, provide a fan for your guests if you don't already have one in the ceiling. And in the winter, provide an extra blanket at the foot of the bed, in the event that your guests get chilly during the night.

I suggest taking your guest room for a "test drive". I recently spent the night in my guest room to uncover any areas which may need adjustments before anyone further stayed the night.
Right off the bat, I noticed that the room was very bright in the early morning hours. I promptly purchased a much better window shade to provide more privacy and filter the early morning rays.
Speaking of light, consider the lighting fixtures in the room. Is there enough bedside light for reading? Preferably, you should provide light fixtures on either side of the bed. This will allow 1 or 2 guests the option to read at night without disturbing the other with a bright overhead light. In addition, bedside lamps are much easier to turn as opposed to getting out of bed when you are cozy under the sheets.

If budget allows, try splurging on your guest with a few of these simple ideas. How about a few current magazines in subjects of interest to your guest. I have a dear friend who travels a lot for business, when she stays with me on the occasional layover trip, I provide her with the latest travel magazines to dreamy destinations or even some of the latest gossip magazines to take her mind off of work and stress. My husband is an avid surfer so I place a few of his old surf magazines in the room for the guys to enjoy.
I have a bookshelf in my guest room stocked with books that both my husband and I have already read. This will allow your guest an opportunity to pick up a book and get cozy. I have left a framed note in the bookcase which invites my friends to take the book with them. Being a devoted reader, I have lots of books which I don't need. I keep my "special" books in a different area. For out of towner's who are staying a few days, I provide a few local area maps and a book about Orange County. They can use the information to map out their visit and familiarize themselves with my town.

I also like to leave a few bottles of water for my guest. Travel can make people dehydrated, offering water in the guest room reminds them to drink up and stay refreshed.

Another tip that seems to be a hit with my guests is providing the often forgotten "essentials" I found a basket in my closet and filled it with 2 toothbrushes, travel size toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner and lotion. I have recently added chocolates to my basket in case the late night sweet attack plagues your guests. The basket is a nice touch and is easy to refill. You can store the basket in a closet when there is no one visiting.

Don't forget to provide ample space for luggage and clothes. I picked up an inexpensive luggage bench like the ones you see in hotels. These racks can be found at places like the Container Store and various online travel stores.

In addition, if you have a dresser in your guest room, make space for your friends to unpack. Clear some space in your closet and provide extra hangers.
Don't forget to have an alarm clock beside the bed. Many people do not travel with them and if they like to be on schedule, this will help. I chose one with a radio so that my guest can listen to music if they prefer while getting ready.
A full length mirror is a definite in a guest room. I know I like to check out the whole outfit before I leave. Your guest will thank you for this detail.

If your guests have their own bathroom, be sure the towels are clean and you provide plenty of wash cloths. I also like to leave a few candles with matches near the bathtub along with scented bubbles and a warm cozy bathrobe to encourage a relaxing bath if they have time. While your guest are visiting invite them to relax and take some time alone in their room to read or nap. This will give you time to prepare a wonderful meal for your guests.

Speaking of meals. Try to plan ahead and cook at home for at least one meal while your friends are visiting. Having a home cooked meal is always nice when you are traveling. It's also a good way to spend some quality time catching up. There is nothing worse than being hustled out of a restaurant so that the server can turn her table.
Find out if your guests have any food allergies that you need to be aware of. Your meal does not have to be gourmet. Attempt to create a meal that you can enjoy cooking, eating and cleaning while hanging out with your guest. Offer a drink and snack to linger on while you prepare the food. Don't forget the background music while you enjoy each other's company. Unless your guest is dying to watch their favorite program, avoid turning on the TV. The visit will be much more memorable if you spend time chatting and catching up.

Before heading to bed, find out what your guest's schedule involves. Do they need to be up early and out the door? If so, it's always nice to get up a few minutes before your guest and brew some coffee or tea. Your guest will appreciate the smell first thing in the morning and it will make them feel comfortable knowing that they are not waking you. If you have time for breakfast, an easy suggestion is fresh fruit, yogurt, and some bagels or croissants.

Entertaining out of town friends or late night dinner guests does not have to be stressful. I have made a checklist that I refer to when I know I need to get ready for my guests. I try to keep my "essentials" basket stocked and my guest room clean. This way when I get the unexpected call or the dinner party runs late, I don't go into panic mode. It's easy enough to stop by the market to pick up a few snacks and quick meals. Relax and enjoy your time with your guests. Don't be surprised if they come again... soon.