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It’s Christmas - the time to be jolly
I will walk with you –
In deep, green forests;
On shores of sand:
And when our time on earth is through
In heaven, too,
You will have my hand.
Robert Sexton
It is that time of the year when there seems to be a little bit of magic in the air. When all things seem possible, especially the impossible. Matters of love, matters of faith all take on a special light during this festive season. It is the celebration of the very essence of life. Now is also the time to throw parties and to get together with friends and family and celebrate this holiday season. Merry Christmas and have a great party.
It’s the time to be jolly…
Along with the excitement of throwing a party the creases on your forehead increase as you begin thinking of all the cleaning and decorating that needs to be done before you are ready to entertain. Yet more worry lines are added when you picture the day after the party. Somehow by the end of it all you find yourself overworked and exhausted, promising yourself that next year it will be different. Well, this year make it a happy and easygoing Christmas and New Year. Planning ahead of time is the name of the game. Break up your cleaning tasks and do a little bit everyday in the weeks before the party so that you don’t find yourself overburdened. Here is a ten step guide to a painless and successful Christmas party:
Create Master Lists
To start with decide the number of guests and the kind of group you are inviting, this will decide how formal and informal your gathering will be and accordingly the theme, the décor, etc. Have one master guest list and send out invitations at least three weeks in advance. A week before the party you should be sure of how many guests you are expecting. Have master lists for guests, menu and shopping.
Food and Drinks
Don’t overwork yourself by creating a very elaborate menu. Instead keep things simple, add to the menu only those recipes that you are confident. This is not the time to experiment on new and extravagant ones. Ensure that the quantity of hors d\'oeuvres and food is adequate for your guests. Stock up on more than enough non-alcoholic drinks. And unless you are having a cocktail party you need not set up an entire bar. It is fine to limit your selection of wine and beer and you could have a holiday punch. Serve alcohol in moderation or the only thing your guests might remember about your party is a hangover. Shop in advance for the drinks and non-perishable foods. You may consider cooking and freezing some of the food for the party. The day before the party recheck that you have everything that is required. Use appliances that make your job easier and better such as an ice stick tray that will allow the soft drink to stay cool, making it a more convenient way to handle ice for drinks.
Check Resources
Ensure that you have adequate plates and platters, serving utensils, glasses, silverware, cocktail and dinner napkins and table cloths. If you are short of crockery then it is a better idea to buy some new ones rather than borrowing it and then standing over the shoulder of a guest who is known to be clumsy, with your heart in your mouth.
Cleaning Up Your Act
Rather than ruining your festive season by being on the warpath to clean the entire house from top to bottom, simply divide the chores and start much ahead of time. This way the day before the party you only need to dust surfaces and organize things that cannot be otherwise stored away. Just remember that every bit of space doesn’t have to be spick and span, it should just look clean. The only part of the house that needs to be absolutely clean is the bathroom. This is the only place that your guests will spend time alone. So clean those floors up, leave the sink and faucets sparkling clean and ensure that the bowl is clean and fresh. It is a good idea to remove any unnecessary articles from the bathroom such as your bathrobe, toiletries, etc. Use a cabinet cleaner for the bathroom and kitchen. Put fresh towels and soaps and spray a fragrant deodorizer and then you are done here.
Apply a furniture cream to cover up any scratches, leaving the wood with a well nourished look. This will help remove later any finger marks and stains on the furniture. If you have a light colored rug or carpet you may want to consider using a darker color one for the party. In case of spills it will be easier to clean. Clear out the coat closet to accommodate your guests’ coats, purses, gloves, etc. In case you plan to open gifts place a few gaily decorated wicker baskets to put away the wrapping papers, ribbons, etc.
Décor
Choose a décor and color that suits your living room. Don’t try to make too many drastic changes in the color scheme or you may have to change a lot more than you bargained for such as the curtains. The easiest way to get a festive look is to use lots of ribbon to make bows that can be placed everywhere, from the doorknobs to the chair backs. Wire-edged bows are a good investment as they can be saved up and stored for future events. It is a great idea to light candles and place them strategically so that they are not knocked down. Especially interesting are the flickering scented candles in granular form these also come in various fragrances; choose one to suit your style.
Kitchen Cleaning
On the day of the party finish any cooking, cutting or arranging that needs to be done in the kitchen much ahead of the time of the party then clear the area and clean all surfaces well with a degreaser. Leave the sink and dishwasher empty so that it is easier to load it later. Finally use an air freshener of your choice to remove any persistent odors.
Setting the Table
The whole idea of a party is to meet up with friends and family and most importantly to break bread together. Food should appeal to the eye as much as it does to the nose and the taste buds. Create a centerpiece that commands attention, you could use flowers, candles or simply use fruits such as oranges that have been spray painted with some evergreens. Use colorful, large coasters to put the hot serving dishes on, this will ensure that any spillage doesn’t go through to the table cloth. Check to ensure that you have created space for all that is on your menu. You don’t want to end the party to find a salad left in the fridge.
Getting Ready for the Evening
Spend the last two to three hours pampering your body and getting ready for the party. So when the guests begin to come in you look radiant and welcoming.
Enjoy Yourself
Don’t worry if you run short of hors d\'oeuvres or if a glass breaks. If there is a spill on your favorite rug don’t let it upset you, just dab the stain (don’t ever rub it, it will only make it worse). Keep plenty of paper towels at hand.
End of the Night
After all the guest have left it is a good idea to put a lot of dirty dishes in the dishwasher or if you are washing by hand then simply clear the dishes of food residue and soak in warm water. Only take care of tasks that require your immediate attention. Give yourself a pat on the back for hosting a great party and get a good night’s sleep for you will need all your energy to clear up the remains of the party.
Christmas Tips
Choosing the right color scheme and décor for Christmas
· Select one that is in sync with the color and décor of the living room.
· Create an easy transition of colors from room to room. Repeat the same color but vary its use. For example if you are using red and gold as color scheme then you could consider having more of red with touches of gold in the living room while the dining area could be shades of gold with splashes of red.
· Use the same ribbon throughout the house as a unifying element.
· Wire edged ribbons allow precise arranging into perfect bows, swags, or loops and can be stored away for later use.
· Add wreaths on the front door, over the mantle or on front windows and decorate with pine cones, bows
Getting the house organized in time for Christmas
· Enlist the help of members of your family and put them in charge of clearing away their junk, waste paper and recycle accordingly. If things still look disorderly provide everyone with festive baskets adorned with ribbons and snowflake cutouts to put away things that have no permanent place.
· Add one extra chore to your daily cleaning and by Christmas your home will look cleaner and more organized.
· Send off Christmas greeting much before time, to ensure that you don’t forget someone and also to avoid the rush at the post office.
· Cook a couple of meals ahead of time and freeze them. Now when you get back home after your Christmas shopping you won’t have to worry about supper.
· Do your Christmas shopping well in advance to avoid long queues. Also buying wrapping papers and ribbons in bulk would economical.
· Check around to see if there are any good discounts on the groceries you will be using for your party. Before you go shopping make a list of all that you require, and double check key ingredients that you think you already have. It is irritating to start mixing ingredients for a cake only to find the required flavoring used up.
The Party Area
· Think of your lighting in advance and replace your regular-watt bulbs with softer lighting. These are more flattering to your guests, and if everyone thinks that they look good, they\'ll have a good time.
· Keep plenty of paper towels and club soda at hand for spills and stains.
· In order to avoid water rings on the furniture, position coasters and napkins strategically around the room before the party.
· Keep a dustpan at an easy to get to storage space in the kitchen to take care of any accidents leading to broken glasses or dishes.
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