I’m not ashamed to admit that I start counting down the days until the Christmas season begins right around Halloween. I absolutely love the time of year and it brings back some of the best memories from my childhood. My mother always went out of her way to make sure it was special and as I have gotten older and we’ve reminisced about Christmas’s past I’m floored by how creative she got over the years to make the holidays truly special. Especially when I talk about a particular Christmas that stands out from my childhood where she wrapped all of my favorite treats and she tells me how she was barely making ends meet during at the time.
My Mother instilled a love of the holidays that is present for me even today, which is why for the last 5 years I’ve thrown my annual Christmas Jammy Jam. The invite is open to all and my only ask is that you come in your flyst Christmas pj’s and ready to party.
Each year just gets bigger and bigger which makes me happier and happier. I see it as my opportunity to show the people in my life just how much they mean to me.
Last year the guest list was nearing 75 so I enlisted the help of my Bestie who helped take my Winter Wonderland themed party to the next level.
Shay (Bestie) was in charge of decor and I was in charge of entertainment and food, which was pretty much me putting together a menu that included a chili bar with 3 different kinds of chili, all the fixin’s, cornbread, party wings, fried and regular rice, two kinds of party wings, and meatballs.
In keeping with the theme the desserts on our table were all blue and white. I was so sure that guests would be afraid to eat from the table because it was so pretty, but I kid you not, every single thing was gone by the end of the night. I mean not a CRUMB was left.
and what is a Christmas party without your nearest and dearest?
Mine came decked out in their comfiest, coziest jammies because nothing says I love you like wearing a Christmas onesie out in public.
I always try to implement some fun surprise into my Christmas parties – one year it was karaoke, another a fun photo booth. This particular year I wanted that fun element to transport my guests back to the Christmas parties of old, where you sang around a piano and drank brandy and smoked cigarettes inside the house. But since we didn’t have a piano and well smoking will kill you…Enter The Jolly’s, an acapella caroling group who perform Christmas classics with a contemporary twist.
Finally what party is complete without Santa and his trusty, errr dog.. My
My final festive twist what an appearance by Santa Claus complete with a bag full of gifts!
I was sure that my Dollar Tree finds (though super cute) would be left behind, but much like our dessert table I was happily surprised that everyone took their gifts home and actually found good use for them!
I’m gearing up for my Christmas party this weekend where the theme is “Cute Comfy Christmas”. I’ve challenged my guests to do the opposite of digging up an ugly Christmas sweater but have challenged them to come in their most stylish! Let’s see how this one goes!