Home(keeping) For The Holidays

Tis the season, my few but mighty readers, to enjoy the company of our friends and loved ones in the privacy and comfort of our homes, apartments, condos, lean-tos, igloos, yurts and teepees.
The urge to entertain is strong among some of us and I, for one, get that urge MIGHTY bad at this time of year. The only problem is that this season is jam-packed with lots of other things too so the prep time to have friends to the apartment is scarce so I have a few helpful hints to help you connect with that fantastic entertainer inside you just bursting to get out and spread holiday cheer.

Ready? Here we go....

•  Remember that a clean house is not just for guests. And clean doesn't mean surgical scrub nurse clean. All it means is that things are picked up and put away and there isn't a mound of dirty clothes in the hall or dishes in the sink. The basics of "clean as you go" come in very handy here. Also, keep in mind that the rooms are going to be filled with revelers so no one is going to notice that tiny stain near the chair leg or that smudge on the coffee table so don't drive yourself nuts. There are limits and the party is for YOU too!
• Take out a saucepan. Fill it with a mixture of one part apple juice or cider, one part orange juice and three parts water. Now, get yourself a coffee filter and some dental floss - yes, dental floss.    In the coffee filter make a little mound of cinnamon, cloves, ginger, black pepper, whole or ground allspice, and ground nutmeg. You can even add a dash of vanilla and almond extract.       Next, twist the coffee filter into a little bag and tie tightly with the dental floss. Toss it into the saucepan  and set to simmer. Don't let the liquid boil away. Once it starts to smell fantastic and before your guests arrive, take the pot off the stove and walk around the house with it letting the scent waft around. Instant potpourri from stuff you had in your spice cabinet!
• You are not feeding and watering a third world country here. Something to think about when you're planning what to serve is that most people who were raised right (and why wouldn't YOUR friends be in that group?) would never dream of going anywhere empty handed so there might be more wine or spirits or food than you could possibly use. DON'T over-serve.
• What you DO serve should be house friendly. If you value your home you might consider not serving anything difficult to negotiate while carrying a glass. I love hot wings but the carpet is not too fond of them....just sayin'. There are a lot of finger foods that are tasty as well as neat and tidy. If you serve red wine, just make sure there's white as well - to help inevitable stains.
• YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH ICE!
• A very important entertaining tip...You are NOT Martha Stewart. Well unless, for some strange reason Martha is reading my blog, then you, Martha, can back me up on this...not all of us can afford the same extravagances that the more well-to-do can and do. But that doesn't mean that your decor can't be beautiful, exciting and impressive. You just need to know where to shop and what to do to cut the cost without cutting the visual impact. Did you know that they make plastic flatware that looks like stainless? I KNOW! Cool, huh? And they also have plastic plates that have the same look as those beautiful white banquet dishes with the silver or gold edges. They're washable, reusable and pretty darned good looking for a buffet or cocktail party.
• Things don't have to be expensive. Ever heard that saying, "It's the thought that counts."?           It's really true. If you put thought into what you do before you do it you can make it a truly spectacular celebration without breaking the bank.

If you have any specific questions about what to do or where to buy things, please don't hesitate to contact me. Leave a comment and/or a question and I promise I'll answer. Between us, we can have some amazing and wonderful parties this season and many more to come!  Have fun!!!