Party 29: White Elephant Gift Exchange Party

Spicy Cinnamon Candle, from L'Occitane

CHRISTMAS PARTY ACTIVITY:

Kasbah Canister, from Z Gallerie

Invite eight or ten friends over, encouraging them to bring silly or unwanted gifts they recently received. Provide one actually useful or potentially wanted gift to keep things interesting. Encourage guests to swap gifts and trade. Meanwhile, serve festive snacks and treats, but not a full sit-down meal. Play music (perhaps easing off on the holiday tunes a bit) and provide board games and card games after the gift exchange is over.

CHRISTMAS PARTY DECORATIONS:

Everglades Tray, from Z Gallerie

CHRISTMAS PARTY MUSIC:

Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time, on YouTube

Buy "Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time" MP3 by Paul McCartney on Amazon

We Three Kings, by Ella Fitzgerald, on YouTube

Buy "We Three Kings" MP3 by Olivia Newton John on Amazon

CHRISTMAS PARTY APPETIZERS:

Olive Penguins Recipe, from Once Upon a Plate

Chocolate Chip and Cranberry Biscotti Recipe, from Little Toast

CHRISTMAS PARTY BEVERAGES:

Spiked White Chocolate Steamers Recipe, from Brown Eyed Baker

Poinsettia Mimosas Recipe, from Big Bear's Wife

Caramel Apple Cosmo Recipe, from Professor Cocktail

Rosemary Gin Fizz, from Once Upon a Recipe

Gingerbread Man Cocktail Recipe, from What to Drink

Whiskey Sour Punch, from MyRecipes

CHRISTMAS PARTY ENTREES:

Christmas Eve Confetti Pasta Recipe, from Taste of Home

After-Christmas Turkey Pot Pie Recipe, from Taste of Home

Cinnamon Chip Scones Recipe, from Sweet Pea's Kitchen

Butternut Squash Pear Soup Recipe, from The Sweets Life

CHRISTMAS PARTY DESSERTS:

Pink Poinsettias and Apple Cranberry Cake, from Lulu's Sweet Secrets

Pear Cranberry Crisp Recipe, from Betty Crocker

Chocolate Raspberry Forest Cake Recipe, from Chocolate and Carrots

Peppermint Mocha Cupcakes Recipe, from Erica's Sweet Tooth

Peppermint Bark, by Williams-Sonoma, on Amazon

Eggnog Cheesecake Bars, from Brown Eyed Baker

BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS PARTY PLANNING:

Wacky White Elephant Game, on Amazon

The Book of Holiday Awesome, on Amazon

CHRISTMAS PARTY INSPIRATION:

Mermaids and Martinis' White Elephant Christmas Party

RELATED LINKS:

How to Host a White Elephant Party (Illi Style)

White Elephant Gift Exchange, on Wikipedia

White Elephant Gift Exchange

4 Tips for a White Elephant Gift Exchange (MSN)

How to Throw a White Elephant Party, on Squidoo

How to Throw an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party (Serenity Now)

White Elephant Fun (The Dating Divas)

Party 28: After Christmas Video Game Pajama Party

Poinsettia Table Runner, from Pier 1 Imports

CHRISTMAS PARTY ACTIVITY:

Rise of the Guardians, on Amazon

Invite five or six adult friends over for an all-day-long video game party. Encourage people to dress comfy or come in their pajamas. Set up your Wii, Playstation, or Xbox for a day of gaming. Ask people to bring extra controllers or games you might not own. Try to select games that multiple people can play together rather than single person shooters. Make snacks and tasty drinks available later on. Serve breakfast type foods earlier in the day; switch to popcorn and salty snacks as the day wears on.

CHRISTMAS PARTY DECORATIONS:

Holiday Snowflake Oven Mitt, at Sur la Table

Set out popcorn, chips and other salty snacks in colorful bowls. A snack buffet will let your guests munch and nibble between gameplay sessions. I tend to do wintry and snowflake/snowman decorations for this party, not Santa/Christmas specific ones. Everybody is a bit Christmased out at this point.

CHRISTMAS PARTY MUSIC:

Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters' "The Twelve Days of Christmas," on YouTube

Buy The 12 Days of Christmas MP3, by Bing Crosby, on Amazon for 99 Cents

CHRISTMAS PARTY APPETIZERS:

Popcorn Snowmen Recipe, from Spoonful

Cranberry Almond Streusel Muffins Recipe, from Daily Homemade

Eggnog and Cranberry Scones Recipe, from Vanilla Garlic

CHRISTMAS PARTY BEVERAGES:

Poinsettia Sparkler Cocktail Recipe, from Pammy Cakes

Yuletide Punch Drink Recipe from Marie Claire

Cozy Pama Cider Cocktail Recipe, from Marie Claire

Orange Cranberry Milkshake Recipe, from The Pearfect Pear

Merry Margarita, from The Hip Stir

Eggnog for Breakfast: 5 Festive Recipes (TheKitchn)

CHRISTMAS PARTY ENTREES:

Gingerbread Caramel Corn Recipe, from Heather Christo

Christmas Pancakes Recipe, from Raspberri Cupcakes

Snowflake Pancake Molds, from Crate and Barrel

If guests come over early enough, serve them snowflake-shaped pancakes.

Apple Cinnamon Pancakes (Little Toast)

CHRISTMAS PARTY DESSERTS:

Eggnog Cupcakes with Nutmeg Frosting Recipe, from Bird on a Cake

Cranberry Meringue Pie Recipe, from The Baker Chick

Bourbon and Brown Butter Brownies Recipe, from Raspberri Cupcakes

BOOKS FOR PARTY PLANNING:

Christmas With Family and Friends Cookbook, on Amazon

Party 27: Snowman and Sledding Party

Snowman Beverage Dispenser, from Macy's

CHRISTMAS PARTY ACTIVITY:

Joyful Snowmen, from Pier 1 Imports

Invite four or five other families over to go sledding or make snowmen - assuming you have snow. If not, take the night off from partying, clean your house, and bake yummy things for tomorrow's party!

CHRISTMAS PARTY DECORATIONS:

Jacquard Snowman Kitchen Towel, from Sur la Table

Wilton "Woodland Friends" Baking Cups, on Amazon

Snowman Salt & Pepper Shakers, on Amazon

Snowman Teapot, from Pier 1 Imports

Snowman Cookie Jar, at Neiman Marcus

CHRISTMAS PARTY MUSIC:

Sleigh Ride, by Andy Williams, on YouTube

Buy "Sleigh Ride" by Andy Williams MP3 on Amazon

"Sleigh Ride" by Ella Fitzgerald on YouTube

Buy "Sleigh Ride" MP3 by Ella Fitzgerald on Amazon

Buy the Puppini Sisters' "Jingle Bells" MP3 on Amazon for 99 Cents

"Sleigh Ride" Lyrics

Frosty the Snowman, by Bing Crosby, on YouTube

Buy "Frosty the Snowman" MP3 by Bing Crosby on Amazon

Buy "Frosty the Snowman" MP3 by Ella Fitzgerald on Amazon

Buy "Frosty the Snowman" MP3 by Fiona Apple on Amazon

CHRISTMAS SLEDDING PARTY APPETIZERS:

Snowman Cheese Ball Recipe, from Betty Crocker

Figs and Prosciutto Recipe, from Martha Stewart

Creamy Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe, from Oopsey Daisy Blog

Creamy Chevre and Caramelized Onion Toasts, from Raq in the Kitchen

Cheese Balls Three Ways, from Martha Stewart

CHRISTMAS SLEDDING PARTY BEVERAGES:

Mulled Wine Recipe, from Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Spiced Hot Cocoa Recipe, from 3 Kids and Us

Hot Buttered Mulled Cider and Rum Recipe, from Well Seasoned Willy

Cider Rum Punch Drink Recipe, from Verses From My Kitchen

CHRISTMAS PARTY ENTREES:

White Christmas Chili Recipe, from Taste of Home

Caramelized Onion Tart with Olives Recipe, from Martha Stewart

Fig, Pancetta and Bocconcini Pizza Recipe, from Spicy Ice Cream

CHRISTMAS PARTY DESSERTS:

Christmas Red Velvet Snowman Cake Recipe, from Raspberri Cupcakes

Snowflake Sugar Cookies Recipe, from Erica's Sweet Tooth

Coconut Snowmen Macaroons, from Diamonds for Dessert

SLEDDING PARTY INSPIRATION:

Ice Skating and Sledding Party, by Moodylicious Children's Spa

BOOKS FOR PARTY PLANNING:

Fireside Feasts & Snowy Day Treats, on Amazon

History of the Snowman, on Amazon

RELATED LINKS:

Nordic Ware Snowflake Shortbread Pan, on Amazon

How to Create a Cheese Plate (Our Best Bites)

3 Tasty Drinks to Warm the Bones (One Hungry Mama)