In theory, we all want to be the most phenomenal hostess and throw the perfect 10 holiday party after holiday party. In practice, hosting can be just plain exhausting (not to mention pricey), especially if you try to do it independently.
Between the holiday card writing, menu planning, and events, the “to-do” list just doesn’t quit this time of year. And rather than waiting to see friends at more formal festivities, we’re switching it up. Instead, we’re getting things done while our friends come over. That way, we can hang and still get those gifts wrapped.
This is by no means new—your grandmother and her friends knew that the key to the New Year was to share the love (and the tasks). The most classic party of this kind is the cookie swap.
No matter what you do or when, the key is having plenty of fun and coming away with even more to eat. You could gather in your kitchen and cook some healthy meals to prep for houseguests, you could polish your tamale skills with a Tamalada, or take a page from your grandmother and make cookies.
But this is 2016, not 1961, so even the most classic gathering deserves an update. Decorate your place festively with some easy décor, set out a few easy nibbles, and bring everyone together to frost holiday cookies (make enough, of course so that everyone can take some home). Oh, and serve some bubbly. Because if there’s ever a time to sip and celebrate while you cookie bake, it’s this time of year.
At our cookie party, we went all out on the sweets, bringing seasonal candy, crafting a few homemade treats, and popping open a few bottles of bubbly. We partnered with Cupcake Vineyards for the occasion, and its Sparkling Red was a total hit (not to mention we all decided we wanted a nail polish shade in the same color as the wine).
It was like a grown-up tea party with lots of gorgeous festive details, and it made getting our ” to-do” list tackled feel like something to celebrate.
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More Entertaining Tips
Looking for more holiday entertaining tips. Here are a few of our favorites:
Sponsored Content: This post was brought to you by Cupcake Vineyards, but all content, ideas, and words are our own. Thanks for supporting these sponsors who allow us to keep Salt & Wind running. © 2017 Cupcake Vineyards, Livermore, CA.
