Tree-Trimming-Party
When I moved into my own place for the first time, it was around the holidays and I had visions in my head of a gorgeously decorated home with all the holiday trimmings. I picked out my first Christmas tree and then excitedly rushed out to get everything else to deck the halls. I didn't get very far. Basically I ended up with a tree with lights and a bow at the top. I spent most of my money on my tree! Then a friend suggested that since I had already planned on having a Christmas party, I should request everyone to bring an ornament to put on the tree. This idea turned into a Tree-Trimming Party. It was a great idea and we had a great time that night. Hanging ornaments actually added a lot to the festive atmosphere and helped make the party a success. If you want to entertain over the holidays but don't have tons of decorations, a tree trimming party is just the thing for you! Check out the step-by-step directions below to make your tree-trimming party foolproof.
Tree-Trimming Party Invitations
Although there are tons of Christmas party invitations on the market, it's kind of fun to make your own. If you do purchase them however, you may want to try to find some that look like a tree or an ornament to go with the theme of the party. The invitations we'll make are 4 5/8 x 6 3/16 and are stand up Christmas trees. Don't feel like you have to choose traditional colors either. You can use lime green and pink instead of green and red. You can use silver and blue or purple if you want. Anything goes! Just keep in mind that these colors will also be used inside your home as well. What You'll Need: Cardstock (solid color) 70# paper with a light holiday pattern with colors that match cardstock A-6 envelopes for mailing Scissors Glue (stick glue works well) Medium point marker for party information Glitter glue (optional)
Tree-Trimming Party Decorations Since the tree is going to be the main decoration at this party, you don't have tons to do. But there are a few things you can do to make your guests feel at home and you feel pulled together and ready to enjoy your evening. We are serving Frito Pie for dinner which is basically chili spruced up a little bit. I love this dish because it's self-serve and everyone can add the toppings they like. Anyway, I mention this here because your kitchen table or dining room table will serve as the buffet.
You'll have all of the food and drinks on this table so don't worry about a centerpiece for the table. You can add some candles to lend some warmth to the room. Use different sizes and types of candlesticks but use the same color candles. * Cut the wicks to 1/4 before lighting so they won't smoke.
Use regular silverware if you have enough. If it's a large crowd, use plastic but make sure it's high quality. (Little bits of fork tines are hard to get out of chili!)
If you have enough room, make a bar out of a sideboard or other table. If you decide to use a card table (and that's fine) use a tablecloth on this table as well. Put the cups and drinks here. Move the chairs out of the way and your guests can walk around both sides of the table (unless it's up against a wall). Spread the chairs around the room where the tree is so people will have places to sit.
You'll also need something to wrap around the bottom of the tree. If you don't have a tree skirt, use a white sheet. Fold in half lengthwise and wrap around the stand loosely making little drapes or waves.
Jo Ann's Fabric and Crafts is a great place to purchase these glass ornaments and fortunately, they're not expensive. You can also pick up any supplies here to decorate the balls if you want.
Tree-Trimming Party Food Appetizers Because the meal is kind of heavy and filling, you won't need much in the way of appetizers. Put out some mixed nuts for your guests to snack on and some cheese and crackers with grapes. Even though you will probably start in the kitchen, try to get everyone into the room with the tree by taking the appetizers out there. You can use one of the styrafoam bowls for the nuts and one of the plates for the cheese, crackers, and grapes. Make sure to wash and dry the grapes but don't take off the stem; just place the whole bunch on a plate. Have small beverage napkins available and small plates if your budget allows. Drinks The main beverage for this meal is your favorite kind of beer. Refrigerate the beer well in advance so it's nice and cold. Just before the party, fill a tin or plastic tub with ice and put the bottles or cans on ice. Place on the food table or on the bar you've set up. You may also want to have wine on hand and some bottled water and soft drinks as well. Put the water and soft drinks either in the tub or beside the tub. Have plastic cups for those who want one and put the wine (uncorked) beside the tub. If you don't have wine glasses just use cups, I'm sure nobody will mind.
Main Dish Frito Pie What You'll Need: Chili (use your favorite recipe or check my recipe here) Fritos Salsa Cheddar Cheese grated Onions chopped Sour Cream Tomatoes chopped The chili will go in a big pot and sit right on your table. Put a ladle beside the pot . Put all other ingredients individually in the styrafoam bowls except for the fritos. Put them in a basket lined with some of your paper napkins. Put these on the table as well with spoons for each dish. You can build your frito pie any way you want. I always start with a generous layer of fritos on the bottom. Then I add the chili, cheese, tomato, onion, tomatoes, and salsa. Then I top it off with sour cream. I build this in my bowl and then put the bowl on a plate for added support and to give me a place to rest my spoon. This is a good dish to place on your lap to eat since everything is in one bowl. And this allows you and your guests sit just about anywhere!
Dessert The dessert I serve with this dish is Breyers Ice Cream... Breyers Fried Ice Cream to be exact. It's a vanilla ice cream with honey and cinnamon mixed in. It goes well with any spicy/mexican food. If you don't want that, try a sherbert instead. You can serve both of these desserts in bowls or plastic cups with spoons.
A Note About the Flow Just before the party, put on some upbeat Christmas music (not too loud though) and light the candles. Next, sit down and relax a minute or two! When your guests first arrive, take their coats and offer them a drink. Put their coats on a coat rack or on the bed and walk them over to get a drink. Help them with the first drink, and then they're on their own. They'll ask you where to put the ornament they brought, so take it from them, thank them and place it near the tree but not on the tree. (Have a place designated for the ornaments.) Put the appetizers out in the room with the Christmas tree so people will gravitate there. Once most of your guests have arrived, and are settled in, you can start putting the lights on. After the lights are finished and the tree has been turned on, go ahead and put the chili and fixin's on the table. Have everyone fix their own plate. You may have to hand someone a bowl and plate to get the line started. Also, ask if you can get anyone something to drink while they're fixing their dinner. Tell everyone to just sit anywhere and don't wait too long before you fix your own dish. After dinner you can put the ornaments on the tree. Now is a good time to let everyone see the ornaments and to find out why they purchased this particular one to bring. Some of the stories can be really good! After decorating the tree, offer your guests dessert. You may want to serve coffee as well - it just depends. Stand back and admire your beautiful Christmas tree and thank everyone for their help! As long as you are relaxed and having a good time, your guests be will relaxed and have a good time too! Have Fun!
|
