Hosting an Un-Trim The Tree Party can be somewhat bittersweet but fun. As you put the Christmas season to bed, celebrate all the warm feelings the season offered. This is also is an opportunity to have an impromptu get together as well as have a small troupe of elf-helpers put your Christmas away. Host the party on the twelfth day of Christmas [the last day of the holiday season] or the closest weekend. Invite friends and neighbors even business colleagues, why not? The more the merrier!
Invitations – Â Sending informal invites via e-mail is acceptable. An un-trim the tree party is light-hearted in nature, not a formal affair.
Set the Mood – Make a crackling fire, light candles. Warm up apple cider with cinnamon sticks, Play Christmas songs as mood music. Play classic Christmas movies [soundtrack off]; A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.
Organize Storage Boxes - Clearly label what goes in what box and put boxes next to un-trimming areas. Have plenty of bubble wrap or colouful tissues for wrapping fragile ornaments. Make instructions and place atop boxes if necessary.
Greet Your Guests - As each guest arrives, offer them a hot cider or Christmas-themed cocktail and a Christmas cracker. Have each guest draw a task from a bowl; put ornaments away, remove lights, put the mantle decor away, take-down, take-out or put the tree away?
Have A Buffet - Make a buffet with assorted finger foods for snacking. Serve foods that are snack-able and not greasy . Your guests will be handling fragile and delicate items, you don’t want any mishaps to occur. Food items to serve; a cheese plate with grapes, fig jams, nuts and assorted crackers, imported olives, and pickled vegetables & peppers. To serve a more substantial buffet, you can add ready-made appetizers; mini quiches, lobster bites, crab rangoons, coconut shrimp, pastry bites with feta cheese and caramelized onions [available at Trader Joe’s, Target and Whole Foods]. Also place bowls of leftover Christmas treats and cookies by un-trim areas.
The Wrap-Up - Once the tree is un-trimmed, ornaments and lights packed away, the tree is out, have the vacuum ready to scoop up needles and wrapping paper bits. If you had a live tree, the scent of evergreen adds to the experience. Have game boards out and turn the party into a game night.
Gift Bags - Parting gifts are a wonderful way of saying thank you and a nice take-home memory as well. Buy Christmas ornaments on super reduction to attach to the gift bags. Wrap-up gift bags with wrapping paper, twist tie to close and attach thank you notes with leftover hang tags. Put in leftover Christmas cookies, treats or candy. Why tempt yourself with remaining sweets for the new year?
Photos – Dont’ forget to take snaps to share with your SocialMedia freinds and family! /;-)
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