Five Tips to Make Holiday Entertaining a Blessing, not a Burden
(BPT) - ‘Tis the season to eat, drink and be merry! It is the happiest time of the year, yet sometimes hosting a holiday party can be stressful. To help throw the perfect holiday soiree and keep your spirits high all season long, follow these five tips for a stress-free holiday.
1. Redefine the "perfect" party.
When planning holiday festivities, don’t focus on achieving perfection, instead plan for the party you will enjoy. Set realistic expectations and create a checklist of details prioritizing them based on what’s most important to you. Whether it’s the company, the food or the decor, make decisions you’re happy with. Focus on the main course and then pick up seasonal items from the local store, like Frito-Lay’s holiday snacks, for appetizers, sides and yes – even dessert. This will make the planning more enjoyable and won’t cause added stress.
2. Put time on your side.
Start your party prep as early as possible and create a timeline to help manage all that needs to be done to help reduce last minute stress. Accomplish tasks such as decorating the house, pulling out party supplies and creating a holiday playlist a few days in advance to allow more time for food shopping and prep the day before the party. On the night before, set up as much as possible to allow extra time for anything unexpected that may pop up the day of the event.
3. Ditch the formal menu.
Serving food buffet style is an easy way to help lighten your load while also providing the added benefit of creating movement and encouraging guests to mingle. For the main menu, prepare one feature dish, like roast turkey, and pair it with a mixture of homemade or store bought sides. For dessert, serve a variety of seasonal treats, like apple pie, and pair it with the complimentary crunch and flavor of Stacy’s Gingerbread Pita Chips and sweet Turtle Cheesecake Dip recipe – that you can actually find of the back of the package. Or create a delicious popcorn bar for guests mixing savory cheese or sea salt varieties with sweet options like Cracker Jack Holiday Sugar Cookie Popcorn.
4. Carve out time for yourself.
The holidays are hectic with all the planning, entertaining and shopping. It’s important to have a balance of peace and quiet so you don't become overwhelmed. As you’re creating checklists and timelines, schedule in time to hit the gym, take in an afternoon movie or enjoy a bubble bath to help unwind. And when in doubt, look to chocolate for a pick-me-up, like Lay’s Wavy Dark Chocolate covered potato chips topped with dash of sea salt.
5. Be flexible.
You’re all set to tackle the holidays, but keep in mind plans are never perfect. When things go awry, avoid becoming upset or discouraged and instead think of a solution. Be flexible so if the casserole is burned, unexpected guests arrive or a drink spills, find an easy solution and no one will even know something went wrong. For extra comfort, have a contingency plan in place to help deal with any surprises.
