Thank You Cards

           

            If you have been invited to a holiday party or get-together, it is important to show your gratitude for the invitation by sending a thank you note, or a thank you email or text at a minimum (or you could always call!)

            There are tons of inexpensive and beautiful cards you can find at Target, Amazon, and Hallmark. Stock up on thank you notes for every occasion for around $5, ranging from birthdays, weddings, parties, and holidays. They last for a long time, and are a great investment for future outings!

            You only need 2 lines to write on the note, but it goes a long way. It shows that you care about the invitation given from the host, and you appreciated the party they threw. Some people stop giving gifts for holidays when they are repeatedly not thanked, because they do not feel appreciated for throwing a party.

          Just think about it this way, if you were on the other end, you would like to be acknowledged for your celebration, and have your guests be grateful to enjoy it with you. It only takes a few seconds to do it, and you were always taught to say “please” and “thank you” so don’t forget to thank your host.

Holiday Place Settings and Decorations

        

             Ever stressing about what kind of table place settings you need for your holiday dinner? How fancy do you need to be? Are you trying to impress your in-laws or parents? Or your friends and coworkers?

            China is beautiful but not necessary in my opinion. China usually is passed down as an heirloom or we’ll register for china if we are getting married, but the formality of the meal is completely up to the host. Beautiful knock off disposal china place settings can be purchased at Costco, Smart and Final, or Party City. Table settings can range from one plate for the main course and one plate for dessert, to multiple plates and courses.

            Decorations are where you can have fun. Name holders for seating makes the feel of the meal more formal, and personally, I like to let people choose where they sit. Sites like Pinterest show amazing table layout arrangements from simple to advanced. If you would like to get the kids involved, you can have them help out with the decorations, maybe making holiday crafts for the occasion, or helping set up the table. This gives you a chance to teach the young ones about place settings and what the different utensils are used for.

            Putting flowers or holiday themed decorations on the table give a very fun and festive look. Candles are great if young children are not present, and make sure you don’t over decorate, you gotta leave room for the food you will place on the table!

            When hosting a holiday dinner, the table place settings will set the mood of the formality of the event. Opt for whatever makes you happy, whatever is easier for you to manage, and don’t stress yourself out! Holiday dinners are for getting to come together with your family and friends and celebrate the holiday season with those you love.

Hosting In-laws or Your Own Parents at the Holidays

            

            What should you do if family members are coming for the holidays? Do they stay over at your house? How will you entertain them? So many concerns!

            First off, the magic number in this situation is 3. That’s how many nights is the perfect amount of time for a visit from out of town. Any more can become super stressful. If your guests are traveling a far distance, it is okay to encourage them to stay at your house for a few nights, and then ask them to consider staying at a hotel for the rest of the visit. Although it may be uncomfortable to introduce, remind them that it is for their best interest (and yours). You always want to set a timeline for the visit before you make the invitation for them to stay over. You should always discuss this with your significant other, agreeing on a set amount of days and nights they can stay at your house.

            In order to keep your guests entertained, plan an activity for each day. Even if it’s something as simple as a card game or Scrabble, watching a movie after dinner, or taking the grandkids to the park, it gives everyone something to look forward to during their visit.

            You also are not expected to cook for your company every night of the visit. Ordering take out food or going out for dinner is fun and different. And your guests should at least offer to pay for the take out or eating out some of the times.

            Allow and encourage in-laws or your parents to get involved around the house. Everyone wants to feel needed and helpful rather than a burden when staying over at someone else’s home, so use those extra set of hands and let them help clean up after dinner or tidy up the living room.

           Finally, if you need some room to yourself after a long few days, encourage your house guests to take a walk to the nearest park or drop them off at the mall so you can get some alone time at your home, and maybe get some much needed work or rest done!

Hostess Gifts

          

       When invited somewhere, initially ask what you can bring. If you are told "nothing" or "don't worry about it" still don’t show up empty-handed. If they are welcoming you to bring food, bring your favorite holiday dish to share with the rest of the party. If it is a more formal occasion, show up with some flowers, or you can never go wrong with a bottle of wine or champagne to ring in the holiday. Wine charms are also a great gift, or cute paper hand towels for the bathroom are both decorative and useful. This is just a little something that shows you appreciate the host, and are grateful for the invitation to their event. 

       This week is a good week to stock up on hostess gifts for the holiday season if you aren't planning on hosting a party at your house, but you will be attending some in the very near future!