Here we are exactly one week from Christmas! Everyone is checking off those to-do lists. Gift shopping is winding down. Food orders have been placed at the market. Place settings are being arranged. Presents are appearing under trees. That frenzy of activity as we try to make sure everything gets done before Santa’s arrival.
Those weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s really can be described as the best time of the year. It is full of visits with family, friends and colleagues either at our home, their homes or restaurants. We come together and share love and laughter. We exchange gifts. We eat and drink (often too much). The challenge becomes with all there is to do, how to keep it from feeling like the most chaotic time of the year?
A recurring theme you will notice with us, we have a distinct dislike of clutter. Not only in our home, also in our schedule, our daily routine. We try to keep things simple and organized. We try to not procrastinate daily tasks. And we try to do it with the least amount of stress possible. With that said, when your meek weeks turn into a bustling calendar ready to burst…feeling overwhelmed during the holidays can weigh on even the most organized.
A few tips that we have picked up over the years (some passed down) are a big help during these hectic holiday weeks of entertaining. We hope these come in handy for you and would love to hear any tips you have too.
“But have a cup of cheer!” Stocking of the wine and beer fridges as well as the liquor cabinet should be completed the week of Thanksgiving. Depending on your budget, you can do a bulk shopping or spread it out over a few weeks. This comes in handy. First, for any gatherings you have planned, you will have one less thing to worry about before your event. Secondly, and most importantly, you will be ready for any visitors that drop in on those weekends when your lounging watching Christmas movies.
“Mom’s cooking chicken and collard greens!” Okay so no we’re not suggesting that you should always be ready for a big feast like “Christmas in Hollis”. However, we are suggesting to plan for your gathering at least a week before so you have time to get to the market. Plan a menu ahead of time, whether it is a big sit down dinner, a smaller luncheon, cocktail party, or for that friend who calls that they are in the area and would like to stop by.
We try to plan for what we know our guests would like most and any dietary restrictions they may have. Get the food ready ahead of time and have everything on either serveware or baking pans in the fridge ready to get placed out on the table or in the oven. Huge time saver! We also try to have an assortment of cheese, crackers, assorted nuts, honey, sun-dried figs or cranberries, bread sticks, chips with either salsa or dip on hand for ‘just in case’. Also, have some chocolates (or your favorite Christmas candy) in the pantry ready for a candy dish. Not sure about your area, but we are lucky to have a local restaurant that makes appetizers (like scallops wrapped in bacon, spanakopita and stuffed mushrooms) and freezes them for you to warm up at home which provides quick and easy options for any type of event.
“Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays!” Begin to think of your place setting and decide if you want a casual or more formal table. Take out of the hutch the items you plan on using a few days before. This is a tip we learned the hard way. It is a great way to go through your linen napkins and place mats and make sure that they don’t need to be laundered or ironed. Double check the chargers to be sure there isn’t any staining that needs to be attended to or worst case scenario replaced. Which candle sticks or pillars will be used and do they need a little polishing? Are you adding a floral element and will those vases need a good washing? What about the plates, glassware, silverware? Trust us, it helps eliminate any last minute mishaps (and your sanity).
“There’ll be parties for hosting!” Lists and calendars are a life saver in our home. We have lists for gifts, food shopping, chores that need to be done, etc… Most of the time if we do not write it down we will forget. So as soon as an invitation is accepted it is put on the calendar. And then a list is made for everything we need to do.
Merry Christmas and Happy Entertaining!
D & C
Mt. Esty Manor 