New Year's Eve Parties

It's New Year's Eve! Got plans? Many of you will be having small, intimate dinner parties at home, others will be traveling to restaurants for dinner and in some cases, dancing, yet others will opt for more formal galas to bring in the New Year. Here's wishing all of you a very Happy New Year and we'll talk and share ideas about more parties for 2008!!

Christmas "grab bag" gift party

I recently attended a party where I was asked to bring a wrapped Christmas gift. I brought my gift and received a ticket in exchange. After we ate, the first ticket was called, a guest went up to a table and took a gift. The next ticket was called and that guest had the option to take a wrapped gift or take the one from the first guest and so on. The last guest had the option of choosing the last wrapped gift or any of the gifts that had been opened. Lots of "stealing" and laughs ensued. How many of you have been to this type of "exchange?" And what is this game/idea called?? No one could agree! I've heard several names for it....what's the consensus? (By the way, I got a very nice array of red scented candles which I will use during the holiday season.)

A Re-Gifting Party?

I just became aware of a new trend, a "re-gifting party." It occurs after the holidays and guests are asked to bring a gift that they would like to "re-gift." Does the adage about someone's trash being another's treasure apply here? I guess you'd have to be careful not to bring a gift if the giver of your "treasure" could possibly be in attendance! What's your take on this new trend? Have any of you been to one of these? "Recyling" idea or not?

Christmas Tree tailgate

We see license plates from several hours away coming to the Hudson Valley to get that perfect tree. Why not add a tailgate when picking out the tree? Pack a picnic of sandwiches, snacks and hot chocolate. Make it an event!

Trim-a-Tree Party

'Tis the season.....why not make trimming the tree another opportunity to throw a party? Everyone brings an ornament and adds one to your tree. You could incorporate the "pot-luck" here very easily. This is great for young people who are just getting started collecting holiday decorations, or a great way for older couples to "downsize" and donate a treasured ornament from their tree. If you have a "theme" tree, mention the theme in the invitation.

Holiday Cookie Exchange Party

How many of you have been invited to a cookie exchange and declined because you are too busy to make the required cookies? (I'm guilty!) Rethink this, it's not as scary as it appears. As the host, give a few weeks notice, invite a few friends and neighbors over, ask them to bring maybe 3 dozen of one cookie,(adjust this according to the size of the group)and a large container to take home the offerings. Have holiday music playing in the background, spread a festive cloth on a table, serve some nibbles (or just more desserts) and beverages. Everyone will gather around the table to collect their cookies, they will receive the amount they brought. Even if some cookies are large, others are small, it will all even out in the end. Ask each to bring a copy of their recipe to pass out. We're all busy, but maybe this is just what some of us need in this busy time of the year? Allow ourselves to schedule this in order to make time with friends and neighbors. By making just one kind of cookie, we get to take home several dozen different kinds of cookies for the holidays. How many have been to one and who's planning one for this year?

Holiday Wrapping Party

How many of us are up very late wrapping holiday presents alone? Why not turn the chore of holiday wrapping into a party? Invite a few friends, maybe incorporate the idea of a Potluck party (or at least a few snacks and beverages) and wrap your gifts together? Bring and share your supply of boxes, bags, tissue, wrapping paper, ribbons, gift tags, decorations and all your creative ideas. Do your gifts usually look the same as they did last year? (and the year before?) Perhaps one of your friends brings a different perspective to wrapping a package, while another is a whiz at bows? Is there someone who can write the names on the gift tags using calligraphy? Even if another is "all thumbs" they could be go-fers and keep the food and beverages coming. Channel the particular strengths of the group and have some fun...while getting your holiday chore done!