Christmas Hosting Tips

Counting down the days until the BIG celebration is here! If you're like me, you're the hostess, and that means making sure your party is just right! There is so much to accomplish beforehand that it can get a tiny bit stressful ;). To make sure your Christmas comes together beautifully, I've learned from experience and from others the importance of STRATEGY. Here are some of the best bits of advice I've come up with when it comes to throwing a great holiday party:

1. Plan your menu. You might have the dishes you'd like to prepare up in your head, but with all the action of the big day, it's easy to miss popping that one casserole in the oven, or topping the cookies with a final sift of sugar.
2. Create a shopping list. Simple enough, but necessary so you don't have a sudden freak out moment when you forget to pick up that one ingredient. 
3. Prep your foods. I can't tell you what a life-saver this is! In the past, I've left ALL the cooking and baking until the day of the party and my anxiety went from a 5 to 100 in an instant not to mention, I'd always be late serving the meal. By prepping, you'll have so much less to worry about. Most dishes can be made and refrigerated before being baked or cooked over the stove, just be sure that you leave the toppings off until you're ready for heating up the dishes.
4. Check-Off. The day of the party, keep your menu handy and make sure to check off each dish as you complete it so you can keep track of what still needs to be finished.
5. Hors d'oeuvres! These are just as important as the main meal, because often your guests will lay off the food until attending your party. Guests expect to be treated and they might get a bit antsy if there isn't something to snack on while you add the finishing touches to dinner. Crackers, olives, cheese, and nuts are simple, but classic finger foods that guests can choose to pick and eat.