It’s that time of year, time for all the holiday parties! We usually host a little something on Christmas Eve and go to my sister’s on Christmas Day. The parties are fun but they can be a lot of work. This week we’re chatting about our top tips for holiday entertaining. What else would you add to the list?
One day I will host (maybe) but I love attending! I say always be prepared and never go empty handed. I always make sure to bring something whether it is a hostess gift, a dish or dessert or a bottle of wine. Just to say thanks. You rock. And you are braver than I am for hosting. 🙂
Amanda (@its_a_fab_life)is the mom of one boy and owns It’s a Fabulous Life, which is a one stop place for all things ‘Mom’. You can find recipes, DIY projects, frugal living, parenting and more.
Our holiday dinners are always VERY casual. We have a fairly large family and the house is always full of people. My biggest entertaining tip is to worry less about making your home look perfect for guests and think about ways to make your time spent with family and friends more enjoyable, especially for yourself! Consider using holiday plastic dinnerware so you don’t have to deal with cleanup afterwards. Buy a new game to play with family after dinner. Games are always on our list of things to do after dinner. One more thing I’ve learned, less is more! I’m talking food! We always end up with wayyyyyy too many leftovers. Less cooking means less stress on you, and more time to enjoy with the family.
Jenni (@sweetpennies) is the mom of one boy and writes at Sweet Pennies From Heaven. Sweet Pennies From Heaven is a hearth and home website that focuses on recipes, crafts and creating a comfortable home.
Getting together with friends and family is one of the best parts of the holiday season for me, but let’s be honest. It can stress me out. I’ve got two entertaining tips. Number 1: Don’t try to be Martha Stewart. The whole point is to spend time with your loved ones. Enjoy that and don’t stress about every little detail. Keep it simple. Number 2: Delegate. Get some help with the food and have every guest bring their favorite dish to share. People love to show off their yummy recipes so it’s a win for your guests and a win for you. You should enjoy your own celebrations so don’t try to overdo it, and don’t try to do it all yourself.
Lindsay (@SeeMomClick) is the mom of two great kids and owner of See Mom Click. She shares great deals, Disney happenings and recipes.Â
Since time is an especially precious commodity during the holidays, I often serve “medley” meals for company. That means I prepare some dishes but buy some items from the Farmer’s Market or grocery store. For example, whenever I serve Yorkshire pudding, everyone raves…and it’s from the grocery store frozen section! Because I serve favorite homemade appetizers, salads and the main protein, the entire meal is perceived as homemade. It’s a great time saver!
Stephanie (@spaceshipsLB) is the mom of one son and owns Spaceships and Laser Beams. Spaceships and Laser Beams is a great site full of party ideas, crafts and more all with boys in mind!
What are your best holiday entertaining tips?
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