Party Planning:
Here is your holiday-hosting survival guide
By Karen Petcoff
(NC)-You drew the short straw making it your turn to host this year's holiday party for friends and family. And, while you'd rather take an extra shift supervising the Photos With Santa booth at the local mall, this party isn't going to go away and you will be judged all year on your hosting abilities at the long-awaited annual holiday soiree.
It's time to get tactical.
After all, by sweating the small stuff ahead of time, you'll be able to mingle all night with guests and present a memorable party that appears effortless. Won't that be disarming to any nay-sayers?
. Try sending out invitations through an online service like evite.com. This way, guests can see who's attending and decide ahead of time who they want to cozy up to and who they want to keep at bay. The party starts online as guests share their enthusiasm.
. Plan your menu early. Anything that can be prepared ahead of time should be. A big pot of chili, soup or stew can be warmed up the day of the party and served in small appetizer bowls.
. Festive favourite cocktails can be mixed in large quantities and served from fabulous glass pitchers. The LCBO's new "One Pour Cocktail" section offers a wide selection of ready-to-pour cocktails, which makes preparation foolproof. For example, whip up a batch of some Merry Margaritas using Salvador's Original Margarita for a twist on Christmas tradition. You'll find this an inexpensive treat for guests, but say nothing. They'll think you spent a fortune on them.
. Create a warm, inviting ambience. Dig out those old photos of holiday seasons past that feature some of your guests. Plaster your fridge with them or assemble a vignette in a high traffic area of your home.
. Accept offers of help. Many guests are quite happy to contribute to the success of a party. Keep it to finger foods, where possible. Shortbread: yes! Baked Alaska: no.
. Model the season. Enjoy a game where guests bring a toy for someone they know at the party. The toy should reflect what the person would have liked as a child, whether that might have been sports, dance, reading or, in fact, party planning. Gifts are presented out loud by the giver, celebrating the unique interests and talents of each recipient that likely originated in their childhood. At the end of the game, collect all the toys and donate them to a local children's charity.
. Parting shots: Make CDs of the party pics you snapped and hand them out as favours when guests are leaving.
. Have the number of a cab company handy and use it freely. It could be the best gift you give of the season.
Hosts notes:
. Salvador's Original Margarita, which has the tequila already in it, can be found at the LCBO in the One Pour Cocktail Section or visit www.lcbo.com to see if the LCBO store nearest you carries Salvador's (product # 697797)
Tell your friends you saw this article on Taste of Whatcom.com
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About The Author
NewsCanada: www.newscanada.com
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(12-2007)
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