Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Christmas Party #8: Christmas Holiday Charity Party

Golden Trumpet Gilded Pines Wreath, on Etsy

CHRISTMAS CHARITY PARTY ACTIVITY:

Meri Meri 12 Days of Christmas Cupcake Kit, on Amazon

Invite six or seven friends over to help work on a charity project you all agree on. You might be knitting holiday-themed baby caps and booties for a local hospital; stuffing charity Christmas stockings for foster children; organizing a food drive for a food bank; or working together on some other related assistance. Be sure to let your guests know the party's theme well ahead of time so they can bring any needed supplies.

Feed your workers but make sure they have plenty of time to get work done too! Because of this, I don't recommend a sit down meal.


CHRISTMAS CHARITY PARTY DECORATIONS:

Pinecone Christmas Paper Plates, on Amazon

Pinecone Topiary, from Pier 1

Pinecone Guest Towel, from Pottery Barn

Felt Mistletoe Decoration, on Etsy

Keep decorations simple and low-key. For a Christmas charity party, you don't want to be blitzy, blingy or over-the-top fancy. Acknowledge the season, but do it respectfully.


CHRISTMAS CHARITY PARTY FRAGRANCE:

Noble Currant Candle, from Illume, via Amazon


CHRISTMAS CHARITY PARTY MUSIC:

Silent Night, by Bing Crosby, on YouTube

Buy Bing Crosby's "Silent Night" MP3 on Amazon

The Christmas Waltz, by Frank Sinatra, on YouTube

Buy Frank Sinatra's "The Christmas Waltz" MP3 on Amazon for 99 Cents

Buy Nancy Wilson's "The Christmas Waltz" MP3 on Amazon for 99 Cents


CHRISTMAS CHARITY PARTY APPETIZERS:

Cheesey Potato Croquettes, from Honest Cooking

Crispy Prosciutto Baked Brie Bites with Honey Pears, from Half Baked Harvest

Holiday Spinach Salad Recipe, from Betty Crocker


Reindeer Cheese Appetizer Recipe, from Big Bear's Wife


Chevre and Roasted Bell Pepper Crostini Recipe, from Annie's Eats


CHRISTMAS CHARITY PARTY BEVERAGES:

Cinnamon Fig Martini Recipe, from Marie Claire


Christmas Glow Punch Recipe, from Taste of Home

Pama Pine Cocktail Recipe, from Marie Claire

Chai Cream Recipe, from Bakingdom


CHRISTMAS CHARITY PARTY ENTREES:

Sausage, Onion and Apple Sesame Plait, from Recipes from a Normal Mum

Healthy Christmas Salad, from Healthy French Wife

Apple Pomegranate Brussels Sprout Salad Recipe, from Joy the Baker

Asparagus and Gruyere Tarts Recipe, from Joy the Baker


Curried Apple Soup, from Little Toast


CHRISTMAS CHARITY PARTY DESSERTS:

Buche de Noel Cake, from The Pink Whisk

Cherry Christmas Slices Recipe, from Taste of Home

White Christmas Dream Drops Recipe, from MyRecipes.com


Eggnog Cupcakes Recipe, from Dashing Dish


Cranberry Eggnog Coffee Cake Recipe, from Hungry Girl Por Vida


Cranberry Almond Bark Shortbread Recipe, from Bakingdom


BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS CHARITY PARTY PLANNING:

Cake Pops: Christmas book, on Amazon


Holiday Snacks and Appetizers Cookbook, on Amazon


CHRISTMAS CHARITY PARTY INSPIRATION:


How to Host a Charity Party at Home, from Frog Prince Paperie


Baking Up Holiday Cheer, by Annie's Eats

RELATED LINKS:

Throw a Spirit of Giving Holiday Party (Create the Good)


--Copyright 2015 31 Days of Christmas Parties

www.31christmasparties.com

31 Days of Christmas Parties on Facebook

31 Days of Christmas Parties on Pinterest

Monday, December 7, 2015

Christmas Party #7: Christmas Wreath Making Party

Merry & Bright Wreath Kit, from Paper Source

CHRISTMAS PARTY ACTIVITY:



Ornament Wreath Tutorial, at Hope Studios

Gather a few friends, neighbors or some children to make homemade wreaths for all your front doors. Whether they're made of paper, real evergreens, wood branches, velvet strips or silk flowers, your handmade touch will bring extra joy to the season.

Poinsettia Picks, on Amazon

Set out a snack food buffet on a side table, so your guests can help themselves while they work. This way you can spread out your wreathmaking supplies all over your dining table. Wreath making takes up a lot more room than making Christmas ornaments or writing and decorating Christmas cards.

At the end of the night, I suggest photographing each person holding their wreath before they leave. Print out pictures on paper to include in your guests' Christmas cards this year; or take the easy way out and just Facebook the pictures.


CHRISTMAS WREATH PARTY DECORATIONS:

Airblown Inflatable Reindeer with Wreath, on Amazon

Christmas Wreath Pillow Cover, on Etsy

Caspari Wreath Napkins, on Amazon

Caspari Wreath Paper Plates, on Amazon

Meri Meri "Merry and Bright" Cupcake Kit, on Amazon

You're already making some decorations as part of the party, so just be sure your Christmas lights are lit, a few fragrant candles are lit around your home, and there's a fire burning merrily away in your fireplace.


CHRISTMAS WREATH MAKING PARTY FRAGRANCE:

Yankee Candle "Christmas Wreath," on Amazon


CHRISTMAS WREATH MAKING PARTY MUSIC:



"It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas," by Bing Crosby, on YouTube

Buy Perry Como's "It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" MP3 on Amazon for 99 Cents

Watch Perry Como "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" on YouTube


Dean Martin "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" on YouTube

Buy Dean Martin's "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" MP3 on Amazon for 99 Cents


Ultimate Classical Christmas Album, at Amazon

Making wreaths is such a traditional, time-honored Christmas activity, that I would recommend sticking to real traditional songs and classical or choir music.

Avoid music that might get too boring (such as Gregorian Christmas chants) but also try not to play anything too rock or pop or modern. Pick songs with a good upbeat tempo so you aren't falling asleep while crafting your wreaths.


50 Most Loved Christmas Carols, on Amazon



Leonard Bernstein: The Joy of Christmas, on Amazon


CHRISTMAS WREATH MAKING PARTY APPETIZERS:

Whipped Potato and Capicola Bites, from Honest Cooking

Snowman Cheeseball Recipe, from Eating Richly

Mini Sausages Wreath Recipe, from Free Fun Christmas

Christmas Meatballs Recipe, from Taste of Home


Walnut Cream Cheese Finger Sandwiches, at Taste of Home

Because this is a weeknight party and the wreath making supplies will take up all of the dining table, you might want to set out a buffet for snacks and appetizers. Use your sideboard or buffet if you have one, or two end-to-end card tables if you don't. Reserve your coffee table to place coffee, cocoa, drinks and desserts on at the end of the evening.

Slice a fresh baguette of French bread, set out a storebought spinach artichoke dip, offer a fruit tray and a veggie plate with dip, and serve a baked brie at the last moment. (It will get cold and harden fast, so be sure to invite your guests to dig in right away). A bowl of olives here, a bowl of peanuts there, a small plate of pickles and pickled corn will round out your party offerings.

You can also set out some baked appetizers from Trader Joe's, fingerling potatoes rolled in olive oil and sea salt on skewers, and finger sandwiches.


CHRISTMAS WREATH MAKING PARTY BEVERAGES:

Pomegranate and Orange Champagne Punch, from Foodie Crush

Cranberry Apple Sangria Recipe, from Greens N Chocolate

Winter Dreams Cocktail Recipe, from Nutmeg Nanny

Baileys Cherry Cafe Cocktail Recipe, from Marie Claire


Peppermint Patty Cocktail, at What To Drink

Offer a traditional non-alcoholic drink or two (apple cider, non-alcoholic eggnog, punch) and your signature cocktail for the evening. Open a bottle of red wine too and make that available.


Comfort and Joy Tea, at Republic of Tea

Later on, when it's time to signal the evening's end approaching, offer hot coffee or tea (both with decaf options), hot cocoa or hot spiced apple cider.



CHRISTMAS WREATH MAKING PARTY DESSERTS:


Mini Gingerbread Cake, from Erin Made This

Christmas Wreath Macarons, from Raspberri Cupcakes

Cherry Cheese Wreath Pound Cake Recipe, from To Food With Love

French Almond Cake Recipe, from The Cafe Sucre Farine


If you have the time and talent, bake and decorate Sandra Lee's wreath cookies the day before the party.


Cranberry Coffee Cake, at Ifood.tv

Serve desserts on your coffee table, so guests have an excuse to get up and stretch after hunching over their wreaths for so long. Offer just two choices - perhaps a nice hefty slice of fresh baked gingerbread cake, or a slice of cranberry coffee cake


Christmas Wreath Cookies, from Bright Ideas

Or you might find the M&Ms Christmas wreath cookies (shown above) fun to make and display.


BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS WREATH MAKING PARTY PLANNING:



Ultimate Wreath Book, on Amazon


Great American Wreaths: Best of Martha Stewart Living, on Amazon


Christmas Decorating: How to Make and Decorating Your Own Festive Cards, Baubles and Wreaths (on Amazon)

Deck the Halls: How to Make a Christmas Wreath, on Amazon


RELATED CHRISTMAS WREATH PARTY LINKS:

Simple DIY Christmas Wreath Tutorial (Love of Family and Home)



Holiday Cheer Book Wreath, from Homemade by Jill

Christmas Wool Felt Wreath (Heart of Light)

Christmas Wreaths (Family Crafts at About.com)

DIY Cascading Holiday Wreath (Ruffled Blog)

DIY Star Holiday Wreath (Transient Expression)

DIY Wreath Roundup (Bride Side of Life)

Festive Cranberry Wreath Place Names (Festival Brides)

Holiday Wreath Making DIY Video (Coco Cozy)

Homemade Christmas Wreath (Simple as 1-2-3)

Host a Wreath-Making Part (Hip Girls Guide to Homemaking)

Make a Christmas Carnation Wreath (Better Homes & Gardens)

Menswear Inspired Holiday Rag Wreath (Home Sweet Homemade)

Pottery Barn Christmas Garland Tutorial (Between Naps on the Porch)

Red and White Christmas Wreath (Cupcakes and Crinoline)

Simple Poinsettia Wreath (V and Co)


-- Copyright 2015 31 Days of Christmas Parties

www.31christmasparties.com

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31 Days of Christmas Parties on Pinterest