Christmas Party

getting ready for our party!

So I have made it very clear that I LOVE Christmas and I wanted to share that love with my friends…so the Obsessed with Christmas Party was born.  Here’s a peek inside:

Addie and I getting ready for our friends to arrive

Transfer alcohol to glass bottles and label them

I had hot cocoa and hot cider available for guests but I knew that some people would want to spice it up a bit.  So I put Baileys Irish Cream, Peppermint Schnapps, Spiced Rum and vodka in glass bottles and vintage decanters to keep my kitchen counter from looking like a bar.  Peppermint sticks were available for stirring and little marshmallows to finish off the cocoa.  Gotta tell you, the cocoa was a crowd favorite!

Cocoa and cider in matching chrome tea kettles

Cocoa and cider on the stove in matching chrome tea kettles.  I designed and printed out labels so people knew what was what.  Silver platters on the front (cool) burners held coffee cups and Irish Coffee mugs.

Coffee station with flavored creamers...NO packaging to be seen!

People know how to pour coffee from a standard coffee pot, but not everyone knows how to use a Tassimo machine.  I printed out instructions and set them next to the machine and the bowl of coffee capsules.  Vintage creamer and sugar bowls held flavored creamers which were also labeled. A ceramic log vase held spoons for stirring.

Simple platters? Not here. Think UP not out.

Keep it simple with food, if you’re having a cocktail party people won’t expect a ton of food and not everyone wants to try wacky hors d’oeuvres.  I had plates of various dippers: crostini, parmesan pinwheels, cheese straws, corn chips and crudites in decorative cups.  For dips I prepared two different salsas, one spicy one sweet, artichoke dip, spiced hummus and vegetable dip as well as a bowl of kalamata olives. On the beverage counter I had a crock pot full of lil’ smokies (they went FAST and Chris had to go to the store to stock up on more!) and platters of turtle cookies and sugar cookies with crushed candy canes.  Yum.

Have a variety of wines available with appropriate glasses on hand

Have a wood burning fireplace? Set up a s'mores station!

Have enough seating? Plan to have extra chairs if you don't have two couches

Make enough room around food and drinks that guests can linger comfortably

It’s almost like you were there, right?  Now get out there and host a great party!