Elizabeth Dehn - HER LIFE Magazine

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fine thingsRinging in The Seasonwith Spectacular Style:Throwing an UpscaleHoliday PartyBy ch andra BlackwellDeck the halls with boughs of holly!'Tis the season to be . . .Hurried. Stressed. Overloaded. Any number of these less-thandesirableadjectives that have come to be associated with whathas been referred to in song as “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” How,then, does the holiday season manage to maintain its sterling reputation?Well, for one thing, there are theparties.holiday parties, when they’re doneright, provide an oasis of relaxation thatallows us to temporarily escape ourholiday stresses (Will the gift you orderedon Amazon for your mother-in-law arriveon time? Will your niece’s favorite colorchange—again—before you’ve finishedthe scarf you’re hand-knitting for her?Will your credit card disintegrate in yourhands after the millionth swipe?).Whatbetter gift to give your friends and lovedones?and what better way to give such agift than to make it an elegant, upscaleaffair? “Ugly sweater” parties and whiteelephant gift exchanges certainly havetheir place in the realm of memorableholiday traditions, but why not up theante a little and give your friends an36 HERLIFEmagazine.comopportunity to dress up and make aspectacular evening of it? Here are somekey considerations that can make yoursparkling holiday fete a success.DécorWhether you’re hosting a holidayparty in your home, or renting a spacefor the evening, you’ll want your venueto reflect your impeccable taste. Asa general rule, less is more when itcomes to elegant décor, so simplicity iskey. Think crisp and clean over frilly,solids over patterns, and a single color(creams, golds and silvers work wellat holiday time) over garish red/greencombinations. You might even start witha blank slate, removing all current décorfrom the room before creating your partyatmosphere.Food and Beveragesif there’s one element of yourholiday affair you plan to delegate tosomeone else, this may be it. Dependingon how many people you’ve invited toyour fete, fussing over food could detractfrom your enjoyment of the party. Evenif you prepare the food yourself, considerhiring or recruiting help (perhaps fromyour cousin’s college-age daughter whoneeds money for next semester’s books)to pass appetizer trays, offer drinks andkeep the buffet table stocked once theparty has started. Like the décor, the foodshould be simple yet elegant as well,whether it’s an array of gorgeous horsd’oeuvres or a full-scale, sit-down dinner.It can be fun, however, to slide in asubtle but fun “surprise” for your guests,such as miniature pigs-in-a-blanket, orHostess Sno Ball snack cakes.
Musicthe music you choose for yourevent is kind of like the director ofa play; not immediately present, butcrucial in setting the stage. Chancesare your guests will be having such agood time talking that they won’t befully aware of the music you choose foryour event. They will, however, noticeif there’s NO music, or if you’ve chosenan inappropriate soundtrack for theoccasion (German polka music comesto mind). There’s no need to fret overhiring a DJ or a small quartet for yourevent; just stick with music that’s festive,yet soothing, and make sure it keepsplaying. For most holiday events, musicthat evokes a sense of nostalgia is righton target; John Coltrane’s “FavouriteThings” is a classic holiday pick, asis “Christmastime Is Here” by VinceGuaraldi. If you’d like to treat your gueststo another little surprise, arrange for agroup of carolers or other musicians tostop by mid-party and offer a few minutesof live entertainment.Party Favorssend your guests off with happymemories to last through the season andlonger by offering party favors to cap offyour elegant event. Again, simplicity iskey and presentation is everything. Youmight even consider letting the partyfavors double as décor: for example,you could fill a beautiful glass bowl withsimple, hand-blown Christmas bulbs, andallow each guest to choose one on theway out the door. Or if you’re having asit-down dinner, consider using elegantsilver-plated or Murano glass bookmarksas place card holders. The possibilitiesare endless…and so, too, will be thememories of such a fantastic evening!And last but not least…YOURemember that YOU are the reasoneach and every one of your friends andloved ones responded “Yes” to your partyinvitation. Don’t allow yourself to getsucked into the kitchen, or waylaid byminor traumas (a wine spill on the buffettablecloth, or an imperfect chocolateglaze). It’s crucial for you to relax, mingleand have a good time at your own party.Otherwise, how can you expect yourguests to? So put on your party dress,smile and have fun! You deserve it, andyour guests do, too!HERLIFEmagazine.com 37
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Elizabeth Dehn - HER LIFE Magazine

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