Thanks for stopping by my website. My name is Annabelle Collins. My husband and I live in a large house with our two teenage children. We’re fortunate in that we’re able to have a cleaning service come and clean on a weekly basis. In the past, I found that it was difficult for me to exert myself when it came to hiring and communicating with our cleaning service. I’ve never been very authoritative, and that shone through in a not good way. I wanted things to be done in a certain way, but found it difficult to ask for what I wanted. I have come to realize that in order for the service to do the job I want to be done, I have to ask for it to happen. I doubt that I’m alone in the fact that this is difficult, and want to share my experience and growth.
If this will be your first year hosting a holiday party, you're probably apprehensive and excited all at once -- and if you're like many fledgling hosts, you're feeling a bit intimidated. Perhaps the holiday parties you've attended have been seemingly seamless productions that you feel you can't possibly echo with your limited party giving skills -- and naturally, you want your first seasonal soiree to be as elegant as possible. Fortunately, strategies exist to help neophyte party host throw a bash like a pro. Read on for tips and tricks designed to make novice holiday party givers into shining stars on the hosting scene.
Count on a Caterer
Unless you're a crackerjack cook with plenty of time to spare, contact a good local catering company to provide at least a portion of the food. Most catering companies allow customers to pick and choose from a list of services in order to customize their own experience. For instance, if you're not feeling up to par about cooking a traditional turkey but are a whiz with side dishes, you can ask a catering company to provide the main dish while you work your magic on the sides. You can also ask them to provide a grand finale in the form of a fabulous dessert, or even provide the whole roster of food and drink so that you're free to mingle with your guest -- after all, that's what holiday gatherings are all about.
Invest in First Class Glassware
Even mediocre holiday beverages taste sublime when served in top-quality glassware. A great strategy is to set up a stand-alone bar cart in a central area so that guests can serve themselves, allowing you more free time to greet and mix. Simon Pearce glassware is an excellent choice for everything from basic water glasses to Champagne flutes. Handcrafted barware twinkles and shines under holiday lighting for an extra-festive accent -- hardly anyone will remember what they drank, but they'll definitely remember how gorgeous everything looked. Also, keep in mind that top tier glassware is an investment in your quality of life. You'll be using this at holiday gatherings for decades.
Create a Tradition
Creating a tradition at your first holiday gathering sets the stage for good times for years to come. For instance, you may decide to serve a signature drink, sing a specific song, enjoy a particular dessert, or any other activities that speak to the uniqueness of your group of family and friends. If you're an expert at making Champagne cocktails, for instance, your tradition could be a round of these delectable delights served in crystal goblets to get your party started on the right foot. Or perhaps your specialty is herb-crusted prime rib -- plan on serving it every year to provide your holiday party with a sense of continuity.
Enlist Assistance
Don't shoulder the entire burden by yourself -- enlist the assistance of the more experienced party hosts, particularly those who are in your circle of family and friends. They'll be glad to give you advice, and they'll have the type of insider information necessary to suit the needs and preferences of your particular crowd.
Relax and Enjoy the Party
The biggest mistake that most fledgling party hosts make is allowing themselves to get too wrapped up in making certain that every little detail is as perfect as can be, which can minimize their engagement with guests and decrease their own overall enjoyment of their own party. Keep in mind that it's just as important for you to enjoy your own party as it is to provide an optimal experience for your guests -- and if you're too preoccupied, that's going to have a negative effect on the overall mood of your gathering. Relax and enjoy the company of your family and friends instead of fussing over every detail.
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