The past few weekends have been chuck full of holiday entertaining in our home. It all started with Thanksgiving and Nora?s birthday party, and it continues for the next few weekends as apparently our new kitchen nominated us to host every single holiday party this season!
Truthfully, I don?t mind 
I?m?ecstatic?that our house is finally at a point where we can have people over without excusing our renovation mess or asking them to keep their shoes ON because of construction debris everywhere.
However, after hosting events last night, tonight, and again tomorrow night, I?m sure I?ll be ready for a 5-day break before yet another round of holiday parties starts next weekend!
Whew?
If you?re also entertaining this holiday season, here are 10 simple tips that should help things go a bit smoother ? and actually let you enjoy your time with family and friends!
1. Only clean what the guests see.
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No, I?m not encouraging you to stuff things in your back closet or under your bed, but I AM telling you not to waste time cleaning every nook and cranny of your home before your guests arrive.
Not only will they NOT notice if your upstairs hall closet is perfectly organized or if the baseboard behind your couch is dust-free; they also won?t care (or at least they shouldn?t). Your house should be clean enough for you and your guests to feel comfortable? but not to the point where you have to spend days cleaning your home before hand.
I like to make sure the bathrooms and kitchen are clean, the living room is decluttered, and the floors are vacuumed/swept. This is good enough for me? and I can do it all in under an hour.
2.?Designate?a spot for coats, shoes, bags, etc.
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Since we don?t have a mudroom (or even an entryway closet) and since I don?t want people to dump all their belonging right in front of the door (it?s surprising how many people naturally do this!), we always take people?s coats/bags and put them on our bed.
I also put a long rug next to the front and back doors for shoes ? however, if it?s not raining or snowing, I honestly don?t care if guests wear their shoes inside.
If you have a huge mudroom, this probably isn?t an issue for you ? but for all the rest of us, it?s definitely a good entertaining tip
3. Spread out the food and drinks.
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Since our house is ?normal? size, it starts to feel crowded when 25 people are all huddled around the food on the kitchen table or island. And since I don?t like feeling crowded, I usually try to spread the food throughout the main living areas of the house.
For example, I set up a drinks station next to the refrigerator with cups, ice, water, pop, and anything else we?re offering. Then I set up an appetizer station on the kitchen island with plates, napkins, and all the savory foods. Finally, I put the desserts and coffee in the office (which is open to the living room) and provide more plates, napkins, cups, etc.
It doesn?t take much additional work on my part, and it forces my guests to spread out, mingle, etc.
4. Use paper and plastic.
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I know it?s not exactly ?green? but it makes things SO much simpler. Unless you?re having a formal sit-down dinner, I would highly encourage you to use paper and plastic plates, napkins, cups, and maybe even utensils.
I usually set out Sharpie markers so everyone can label their cups (especially if kids are involved). I also set out several trash/recycling bags so it?s obvious where the trash needs to go? and so I (hopefully) don?t get piles and piles of cups and plates on my counter!
5. Triple-line ALL trash cans.
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Speaking of trash and recycling?
It?s a really really good idea to put two or three trash bags in every trash can. Not only will this help protect against a ripped bag that leaks gross stuff all over your trash can, it will also make it really easy to take out the trash when it gets full. You don?t have to mess with putting another bag in? just remove the old bag and you?re ready to go.
6. Always have extra food.
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There are times when I host a party and make all the food (like for Nora?s birthday party)? but there are plenty of other times when I ask everyone to bring a dish to pass. I usually give some??guidance? as to the recipes or types of food I?m looking for (appetizers, desserts, vegetable, salad, etc.).
However, I?ve never hosted a party where every single person showed up and brought what they said they were going to bring. This used to bug me (a lot) but now, instead of getting annoyed, I just plan ahead and make a few extra items that can go in the freezer if we don?t end up eating them.
For example, I?ll make a few extra desserts and keep them in the pantry just in case. If we don?t need them, I?ll put them in the freezer for later ? but if we run out of food, I can quickly grab a tray of bars, sweet breads, a variety of crackers and cheese, or even something store-bought!
Running out of food is not OK with me ? so by making a few extra things ?just in case?, we?re always covered and usually have a nice little freezer stock-pile once the party is over!
7. Have your recipes ready.
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I know that whenever I go to someone else?s home, I?m always interested in the recipes they make. And I can?t tell you how many times I?ve been asked to email someone a recipe only to forget once I get home.
So now, I?ll often print off a few copies of each recipe I make so I?m ready when anyone asks (or I just direct them to my blog if the recipes are posted here).
This is also helpful if anyone at your party has?allergies?or?dietary?restrictions. Just show them your recipe card and they?ll know if they can or can not eat your dish.
8. Provide disposable containers for leftovers.
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I don?t always do this, but depending on the situation, I?ll set out a big pile of yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, and Cool-Whip containers for everyone?s leftovers. That way, we can wash all the dishes and send everyone home with clean plates and bowls.
This is definitely not necessary, but I find that people really appreciate it ? especially if it?s an all-day event (when unwashed dishes can get smelly or baked food gets crusted on).
9. Have a cleaning kit ready.
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It?s almost inevitable that someone will spill something over the course of your party. And if you?re house is?furnished?in mostly white (like ours is) it?s probably a good idea to have some cleaning supplies easily accessible.
I usually just keep a basket in our laundry room (which is right off the kitchen) filled with several rags, carpet cleaner, and?upholstery?spot treatment. When the situation arises, I simply pull out a rag and cleaner and clean up the spill ? no frantically looking for my cleaning?supplies!
10. Don?t be a helicopter host.
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While I think it?s totally acceptable to quickly clean up a large spill or potential stain, I DO NOT think it?s appropriate to ?hover? around (like a?helicopter)?picking up trash, wiping down counters, fluffing pillows, and being ?busy? all night long.
Once everyone has their food and drink, make sure you also get your food and then sit and relax. Don?t worry if the kitchen looks like a disaster or there?s trash everywhere. I?ve found the guests often feel uneasy when the host is a busy-body all night long.
Wait until everyone is gone and then race against the clock to see how quickly you can pick everything up (Dave and I do this and it?s crazy how fast cleanup actually goes!)
If you?re hosting any type of event this holiday season, I?m confident that these 10 tips will help you to simplify the whole process ? and hopefully even enjoy yourself!
What are your best tips to simplify holiday entertaining?
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Source: http://www.simpleorganizedliving.com/2012/12/08/10-tips-to-simplify-holiday-entertaining/
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