Saturday, December 26, 2015

Christmas Party #26: Boxing Day Party

Jewels Nested Gift Boxes, from The Container Store

BOXING DAY PARTY ACTIVITY:

Invite just a small group of four or five friends over for a very relaxed, very casual after-Christmas afternoon party. Everyone might be Christmased-out, so keep things light and stress-free. Many of your friends might be away for the holidays still, but those who remain or who have returned already may be grateful for a respite from family. It's great to relax with good friends after potentially stressful family visits.

Serve light snacks and appetizers, avoiding a big heavy entree as your guests might be overstuffed from the previous day's festivities. If guests come in the morning, make omelettes and serve festive oatmeal.

Put on football, soccer or a funny non-Christmasy movie for people to enjoy. Set out board games, card games or other diversions.

CHRISTMAS BOXING DAY PARTY DECORATIONS:

Keep your Christmas decorations up, but tidy up for the party. Put away gifts you've received, extraneous wrapping paper and ribbons, and stacks of gifts you might be waiting to drop off at someone else's house.

CHRISTMAS BOXING DAY PARTY MUSIC:

Do You Hear What I Hear, by Andy Williams, on YouTube

Buy "Do You Hear What I Hear?" MP3 by Andy Williams on Amazon

Buy Whitney Houston's "Do You Hear What I Hear?" MP3 on Amazon

Buy Johnny Mathis' "Do You Hear What I Hear?" MP3 on Amazon

Good King Wenceslas, by Blackmore's Night, on YouTube

Good King Wenceslas, by Bing Crosby, on YouTube

Buy Bing Crosby's "Good King Wenceslas" MP3 on Amazon

CHRISTMAS PARTY APPETIZERS:

Avocado Deviled Eggs Recipe, from The Berger Bungalow

Pumpkin Cranberry Bites Recipe, from Just Us Four

Roasted Bacon and Goat Cheese Truffles Recipe, from How Sweet Eats

Asparagus and Cheese Mini Quiche Recipe, from Girl Plus Food

Ham and Gruyere Thumbprints Recipe, from Martha Stewart

Chocolate Oatmeal Recipe, at Steph's Bite by Bite

CHRISTMAS PARTY BEVERAGES:


Spiked Eggnog Mocha, from Sweet C's Designs

Candy Cane Cocktails Recipe, from She's Becoming Doughmesstic

Mocha Nog Punch Recipe, from Exhausted Mom Diary

Cuppa Good Cheer Recipe, from What to Drink

Fizzy Fig Cocktails (The Party Dress)

CHRISTMAS PARTY ENTREES:

Twice Baked Artichoke Brunch Potatoes Recipe, from Sweet Peas and Saffron

Baked Ham with Cranberry Curry Glaze Recipe, from Spoonful

Christmas Breakfast Casserole Recipe, from Taste of Home


Rustic Winter Potato Leek Tart Recipe, from Katy Elliott


Cranberry Eggnog Scones Recipe, from Once Upon a Recipe

Three Bean Holiday Chili Recipe, from Betty Crocker

Sausage Wreath, from Time to Cook Online

CHRISTMAS BOXING DAY PARTY DESSERTS:

Peppermint Brownie Trifle Recipe, from My Cooking Spot

Sugarplum Shortbread Cookies, from Wicked Good Kitchen

White Chocolate Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe, from Celebrating Sweets

Hot Cocoa Pudding Mugs Recipe (Love From the Oven)



Candy Cane Cupcakes Recipe, from Cake and Allie


Cherry Pie Shortbread Bites Recipe, from Raspberri Cupcakes


Red Velvet Cupcakes Recipe, from Dashing Dish


--Copyright 2015 31 Days of Christmas Parties

www.31christmasparties.com

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Friday, December 25, 2015

Christmas Party #25: Christmas Day Brunch


The Twelve Days of Christmas, by Laurel Long, on Amazon

CHRISTMAS PARTY ACTIVITY:

Invite local friends and family members over (long after their morning gift-opening time) for brunch. Keep it stress-and-obligation free. This is a great party for people who aren't traveling to visit relatives and don't want to be "alone on Christmas" but need downtime too. They can come to your brunch, go home and relax in front of their fireplaces. Serve a hearty festive brunch, encouraging people to eat comfortably on your couches rather than sitting formally at your dining table.

CHRISTMAS PARTY DECORATIONS:

Red Christmas Wreath, on Amazon

The great thing about this party, is you've likely already decorated for Christmas long ago. So your setup and prep time for this party is already done!

CHRISTMAS PARTY MUSIC:


Joy to the World, by Bing Crosby, on YouTube

Joy to the World, by Whitney Houston, on YouTube

The First Noel, by Frank Sinatra, on YouTube

Buy "Carol of the Bells" MP3 by Celtic Woman, on Amazon

CHRISTMAS PARTY APPETIZERS:

Christmas Bread Recipe, from Taste of Home


Pear Cranberry Muffins Recipe, from Hungry Girl Por Vida


Cranberry Orange Cinnamon Rolls Recipe, from Annie's Eats

Christmas Jam Recipe, from Taste of Home

CHRISTMAS PARTY BEVERAGES:

The Rudolph Drink Recipe, from What to Drink

Noel Spritzer Recipe, from Betty Crocker

Serve hot, strong coffee flavored with seasonal tastes such as these from Amoretti: Chai, Cinnamon, Eggnog, Gingerbread, Nutmeg, and Pumpkin Spice.

CHRISTMAS PARTY ENTREES:

Christmas Tree Pancake Stacks, from Houston Family Magazine

Breakfast Wreath, from No Biggie.net

Christmas Morning Cheddar Breakfast Sausage Recipe, from Whipperberry

Christmas Tree Waffles Recipe, from Little Sunny Kitchen

Christmas Breakfast Pastries Recipe, from Hungry Happenings

Christmas Brunch Casserole Recipe, from Little House Living

Christmas Morning Frittata Recipe, from Taste of Home

Christmas Morning Cinnamon Rolls Recipe, from Better Homes & Gardens


Gingerbread Pancakes Recipe, from Dashing Dish


Eggnog Waffles Recipe, from Cake and Allie

CHRISTMAS PARTY DESSERTS:

Christmas Wreath Macarons with Matcha (Sumo Pocky)

Cranberry Orange Trifle Recipe, from The Recipe Rebel

Chocolate Chestnut Truffle Cake Recipe, from Food to Glow

Traditional Christmas Cake Recipe, from Adeline and Lumiere


White Christmas Pie Recipe, from What Will We Do Today?


Citrus Gingerbread Trees Recipe, from Hungry Girl Por Vida

BOOKS FOR PARTY PLANNING:

I'm Dreaming of a Chocolate Christmas, on Amazon

Sweet Christmas: Homemade Peppermints, Sugar Cake, Chocolate-Almond Toffee, Eggnog Fudge, and Other Sweet Treats and Decorations, on Amazon


RELATED CHRISTMAS LINKS:

7 Tips for Photographing Christmas Morning (The Sits Girls)


--Copyright 2015 31 Days of Christmas Parties

www.31christmasparties.com

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31 Days of Christmas Parties on Pinterest