Sweet Santa Claus is on the way, and while some of us wish it could be Christmas every day, we also have our heads buried under wishlists and party planning. You know the drill: the Christmas season brings on a swirl of joyful parties, decorating the tree, wrapping gifts, and so on. For those who are planning a flawless merry time, it’s time to Scrooge your way through things. JCPenney brings you Three Christmas party spirits – planning, prepping, and presentation, in the hope that these tricks will help you. It’s time to eat, drink and cheer, throw the perfect holiday soiree, minus the headache.
Planning
Great things can be accomplished with simple planning. Create a to-do list that will help you pick out chores, budget, and most important – your menu. To start with, ask yourself what sort of holiday party you would like to attend. Consider seasonal drinks, appetizers, and traditional holiday favorite meals. Also, be mindful of your guests’ eating preferences. Consider any allergies or dietary restrictions, and make sure you read the food labels before adding them to your cart.
Prepping
First, take a deep breath. Once your list is ready, it is not that hard to pull a rabbit out of the hat, or should we say a chicken! Check out our cozy Christmas recipes that will have you stacking on compliments. While you’re at it, take a look at our cocktail and mocktail concoctions that will have you in the Christmas spirit in no time.
Preparation
Your menu is set, now you need a coping strategy to keep the chaos in control.
Tip 1: Let the drinks keep flowing when you pick up one or two festive drinks. Consider classic eggnog or cranberry punch that can be easily prepped ahead and placed in a dispenser so the guests can serve themselves.
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Tip 2: Consider effortless appetizers which require no time to keep things easy. You could have cheese or charcuterie boards instead of losing your nerves over hot hors d’oeuvre. They can be as tasty and put together on an elegant wooden board or a marble slate. Just grab a few assortments of cured meat, cheese, olives, graham crackers, grapes, cherries, spiced nuts, bread sticks, and dips!
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Tip 3: If you plan to stock up your bar, create a chill cart to keep things hassle-free. Take an ice bucket and put salted ice water – one cup of salt per gallon of water. It will keep all your bubblies chilled and also free up your fridge space. Just ensure you keep a few napkins by the tub to wipe off the drippy bottles.
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| Tip 4: Keep things in line if you plan a buffet-style party. Place the drinks and food separately on the opposite ends of the room to avoid overcrowding. And instead of spending hours creating the perfect playlist, queue up online streaming services (and most of them are for free) and blast it over the speakers. |  |
Tip 5: The night before Christmas – the key is to set everything before. Set up the table, rearrange furniture, gather extra seating, and restock your bathroom with clean towels. This way, on the party day, you just have to put the food and drinks together on the table.
‘Tis the season of hosting! And holiday traditions don’t have to be stressful. Tell us how you’re hosting the holidays this season by tagging #AllAtJCP. Then, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to see if you are featured.
