How to Host a Stress-Free Holiday Party

It is so easy to get swept up in the kitchen before and during holiday gatherings. You want the menu to be just right and maybe want to try out a few new recipes. It’s easy to say you’d like to make an extravagant sit-down dinner, but that involves pre-party prep and time away from your guests to cook during the festivities. Our advice? Keep it simple.

• Quick and Easy Apps - Party food can be totally on point without having to strap yourself to the stove. Standbys like pigs in a blanket, dips, charcuterie and cookies are more than sufficient to please your closest friends.
• Make-Ahead Items - If you’re set on having a larger, homemade meal, do the hard work ahead of time. Casseroles, soups and quiches can be assembled in advance, frozen and cooked/reheated on party night.

Time after time, hosts go overboard on the menu and wind up spending too much party time tending to the kitchen. Create time to mingle with guests by offering easy food options.

Friends pop in unexpectedly and relatives come to town at the last minute. Your best friend bought you something even though you’ve agreed not to exchange. Save face when you’re handed a gift by stashing away a few extra presents. Here are few ideas with wide appeal to get you out of a gift exchange pinch.

• Gift Cards - Who doesn’t love a free latte, a trip to the movies or maybe even a spa day? A gift card to a popular location goes a long way.
• Candles - Brr! Winter is the perfect time to burn a scented candle anyway, adding both warmth and a pleasant aroma. Pick up a few jar candles as gifts that promote relaxation.
• Ornaments - Ornaments are staple gifts for the holidays. Brightly-colored and beautiful, your friends will use them all season and think of you each year as they decorate the tree.

While gift exchanges are all about the spirit of giving, few things are more awkward than being handed a gift when you don’t have anything prepared. Keep a few options handy just in case.

Good conversation and food are essential to any holiday bash, but so is music to set the tone. Play your holiday favorites to underscore your event.

• Radio or Streaming - You don’t need to put the stereo on blast, but tune the radio to festive jams. To control the playlist, stream it from your phone or assistant device instead.
• Holiday Flicks in the Background - Not feelin’ the music? Play a holiday movie on low to offer up additional entertainment while still fostering active conversation among guests.

Music and movies are fun ways to spice up any party, and at holiday time, they help guests to get into a festive mood. What will be your party vibe?

Just like you don’t want to play chef all night, you might not want to act as a bartender either. Let guests handle the drinks on their own instead of pouring on demand or preparing a holiday punch. Easy standby options include:

• Beer and Wine - Provide your guests with a few varieties of wine, at least one red and one white, and do the same with different varieties of beer (domestic, IPA, light, etc). If stretched for space, keep a cooler of a few beer choices on the porch.
• Spirits - Liquor gets expensive quickly, so be modest in your selections, unless you know friends will gravitate toward cocktails. A few bottles of medium-tier vodka, rum and gin will likely suffice.
• Soda/Mixers - Friends with kids especially with appreciate a few non-alcoholic options, like juices and sodas. Of course, these and other mixers are also key ingredients to scrumptious cocktails.

A self-serve bar area provides both you and your guests with flexibility during the party. Just be sure to drink responsibly.

Does the evening-long party seem like too much? Host an open house instead. This is a fun and flexible alternative, because you can entertain throughout the day during a specified timeframe so guests can come and go freely.

• Deck the Halls - For this type of “stop and visit” event, dress your home up in its holiday best, from outdoor lights to tree trimming. Offer a house tour if friends are interested.
• Light Refreshments and Snacks - An open house makes food and beverage even easier because friends aren’t expecting a full meal. Make a few trays of appetizers that are best served chilled (veggie trays, deviled eggs, canapés) and take them out of the fridge as needed. And because guests might not stay as long, opt for spirit-free beverages, too.

Holiday parties come in various forms, and if a full house for four hours isn't your game, try something new!

While the season is sure to be magical, it’s pretty tiring, too. Recharge after the holidays at Sewickley Spa. Detoxifying facial or soothing Swedish massage, we have a full menu of services to promote relaxation. We look forward to seeing you.