Easy, fun, and Meaningful Holiday Get-Togethers

Everyone loves a good holiday party, but oftentimes as obligations and errands mount, even the most seasoned host can find herself strapped for time. Since the holidays provide the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with friends and family, focusing on creating a fun and manageable event just might be the key to pulling off the best holiday party ever (and keeping your sanity in the process!)

To keep this season a stress-free and enjoyable one, our holiday party planning experts at American Greetings have offered up the following tips to make your seasonal entertaining positively seamless.

• Why decorate by yourself when you can host a tree trimming party? While you might want to do the heavy lifting with setting up the tree and adding the lights, friends can often help you get a fresh perspective on the placement of your ornaments. (Bonus points for serving cookies and eggnog!)
• If you’re looking for something fun yet inexpensive for a larger group of people, try hosting a chili cook-off. Provide toppings such as sour cream, hot sauce, cheese, and macaroni and ask a few friends to bring their favorite chili to taste test (plus copies of the recipe to share!)
• Weekends often get cramped with parties, so alleviate the stress by hosting a weeknight dessert party. By limiting the menu to a fun assortment of delightful treats and beverages, you’ll not only save on the budget, but you’ll also gain favor with all of your friends looking to indulge in their seasonal sweet tooth.
• If you live in a cooler climate, it’s easy to get a little cabin fever during the winter season. Invite guests over to engage in a little friendly conversation and competition by providing some fun board games to play. It’ll remind you not only of the joy of playing games as a child, but of how important it is to share a laugh with a good friend.
• Start a new tradition by hosting a cookie exchange party. Each guest selects a favorite type of cookie to make and then is responsible for bringing the ingredients to bake 1 dozen cookies for each guest attending. At the end of the party guests exchange their cookies as well as a copy of the recipe.

The best part of the holiday season is the opportunity to spend time with friends and family. By keeping your events simple, yet focused on fun and conversation, you’ll quickly be known as the holiday party maven in your inner circle. Happy planning!