How to Host a Stress-Free Holiday
The holiday season means spending time with family, eating delicious food, and overindulging in sweet treats and mulled wine! If you are planning to host an event this festive season, whether it’s a cocktail party with friends or a full Christmas dinner, you want everything to go smoothly. Here are our best tips to save time, money, and stress this holiday season, leaving you to enjoy the more important things at hand:
Make a list
Just like Santa, who makes his list and checks it twice, a list can be a fantastic way of outlining everything that needs to be done in a clear and concise way. Whether it’s a shopping list for your turkey dinner, or a list of gifts to purchase, making a list allows you to plan ahead and leave nothing to chance. Another benefit of a list? It can be shared, allowing you to ask for help if you need it.
Prepare beforehand
Do as much as you can before your big event, leaving you more time on the day to spend with your guests. Choose to make food dishes that can be prepared the night, or even the week, before and refrigerated or frozen.
Stock up
Stock your pantry with staples such cookies, crackers and nuts, so you never run out of nibbles. The same can be said for beverages: always have a good supply of soda, cocoa, coffee, tea, beer, wine, and, of course, liquor on hand!
Set up your space
Consider the event you’re hosting and how you can make best use of your home’s space to accommodate your guests. A cocktail party requires ample floor space for mingling with some comfortable seated areas. If you’re providing some casual snacks, a buffet style table would be the perfect way to keep a good flow.
Let music set the tone
Before your event, create a CD or playlist of holiday songs to set the mood. Hosting a dinner? Keep music low to create ambience without disrupting the flow of dinner conversation. Perhaps even consider choosing songs without lyrics. Hosting a cocktail party? Choose upbeat seasonal favourites to get people into the holiday spirit!
From the very merry team at Royal LePage Performance Realty, we wish you all the joys of the holiday season and happiness throughout the coming year. If you, or someone you know, is looking to buy or sell their home in 2018, we would be more than happy to assist. Happy Holidays!
