The Perfect Christmas Party (For the Ladies)

Every since I was a youngyin I have always loved Christmas. I loved all the parties, everyone coming together, the music and the treats. In high school my friend and I would put together an annual Christmas Party for about 25 girls. Yes it was stressful, especially as a high school student, but definitely worth it! Every year we would have a theme (because theme parties are the best!) One year we had pajama theme and our senior year we did black cocktail dresses. Now my family throws an annual Christmas party for the ladies. We had so much fun at these Christmas parties, laughing and making memories.   That is why I am so excited about this blog post. I am excited for others to make memories like I create every year!

Secret Santa
About two weeks before the party put every bodys name attending in the bag and have everyone randomly draw names. The name they receive is who they will be buying a gift for. At the Christmas party you find out who your Secret Santa is!
Other Things
    If someone forgets their gift or doesn’t show up, then give the missing persons gift to whoever their Secret Santa was.
Make sure there is a reasonable price limit.

Ginger Bread House Competition
This may get extremely messy and competitive, but that is what I look forward to every year! I google how to make a foundation and cute ideas before the party, because I love winning. Usually the winner get a $5 Starbucks card and I am obsessed with my Starbucks. So here were go.
On a banquet table set up table cloths that you are willing to get dirty, disposable ones are the best.
Buy about ten ginger bread house kits and set them all out on the table.
Put all the decorations like frosting and candy down the center of the table.
Set a time limit of 30 minutes. This may seem like a long time but getting the foundation down takes awhile.
Have one judge who hasn’t seen whose house is whose judge and announce the winner.
*If you make this an annual party buy the gingerbread kits when they go on sale after Christmas.

The Ornament Game
Every person comes with a wrapped ornament. Put these ornaments in the middle of the room, so everyone can see all the bags.
Based on the number of guest who attend, you will write 1 through that number on separate pieces of paper. Then put all the papers into a hat.
Have every guest pick a number. One gets to go first.
They pick a wrapped ornament, unwrap it and show everyone what the ornament is.
When two goes, they have a choice to steal the ornament from 1 or pick a new gift. There are two steals, which means the ornament can only be taken two times then the ornament is dead.
Keep playing the game with he two rule steal until the last present is picked from the table.
Now you have something special to add to your tree!



Cookie Exchange
Every guest brings 3 dozen home made cookies (we do three dozen so each guest can take home two cookies)
Along with the cookies, bring copies of your recipe to share! We may want to recreate the delicious treats.
At the end of the party every one gets to pick up 2 cookies from each tray and a recipe and they are good to go!
*Have someone bring to-go boxes to hold the cookies in for each guest

Enjoy the party and take many photos! I would love to see how your party turned out...especially those gingerbread houses! Happy Holidays!

Christmas Gift Party For Kids

At my elementary school volunteers would help up a “Holiday Store” in the music room for children to shop for Christmas gifts. Volunteers would help you pick, wrap and tag all the presents. I thought that was a genius way for the children to give something from the heart as Christmas gifts. Although that way was fun, my family has created a new way for children to gift.

What is a Christmas Gift Party?

 

Each family brings a craft to supply to all the children at the party.
For example, my families craft was mod podge plates. We brought 20 plates, 4 yards of fabric, brushes, mod podge and wax paper. Through the day the children, create, decorate and tag their homemade gifts.

What to do!

 

Each family brings a different craft. We had mod podge plates, bookmarks, bracelets, homemade fire-starters, almond roca bark, mason jar bath salts, snack mix, hand soap, hand scrub, laundry detergent and a “Smiles of the year” jar. Each craft is explained and demoed to the children. The children then create the crafts themselves. (with adult guidance of course)

*Make sure every child has a box to carry their things out with before all the fun begins.

Create at least 4 different tables with table cloths 

(use ones you are willing to get damaged, a party with children always gets messy)

For fun table.

This table will keep children entertained if the current craft is too advanced for them.
2 bowls of beads
2 pairs of kids safety scissors
Jewelry cord
Scrapbook paper
Markets
Festive Stickers
cards
stencils



Gift wrapping table.
3 Adult Scissors
Assortment of wrapping paper
ribbons and bows
bubble wrap and cardboard (for the breakables)
4 tapes
Glue gun

Demo table.
This table only really needs a table cloth since every family will be bringing different supplies for each project.

Munchies table.
Veggies
snack mix
coffee
creamer
stir sticks
real food (something so the children don’t eat sugar all day)

 

The Party Timeline

Make sure and plan what order the projects will be made. If something needs time to dry, make sure that project is first so the children can wrap the gift before leaving.
20 minutes maximum creating the the project at the demo table.
10 minutes to decorate, wrap and tag the gift.
*Keep repeating until all the gifts are complete
TADA! That simple!

*Send out the invitations by the beginning of November. (so people can start planning their craft)  Make sure there is an RSVP date because it is very important to have the craft for EVERY child.

Have a festive and jolly Christmas!

Why You Should Travel

Every travel I have taken has made a impact on me in some sort or another.  Traveling does the heart, body, mind and soul good. So the question is why travel?

Travel to spark your creativity.
Anyone with a creative mind understands being inspired is a huge part of moving forward. Travel allows you to see, feel, hear, taste new things. All these new things can inspire you not just in that given moment but for the future. Every time I travel I easily come home with 100 dress designs in my sketch book. Every time my mom travels she gets inspired to add something new to her kitchen. So go travel and get that creativity flowing.

Travel to learn about different cultures.
This summer I worked at a summer camp in Running Springs, CA with about 80% of the staff coming from Australia, 15% from England and 5% Americans.  Although I didn't travel anywhere but CA, I was emersed into a different culture and I loved it. I learned about how special tea was in England and what makes tea a good tea. I learned that what we as Americans call things aren't always what other places call things. An example is a jacket here is called in a jumper in Australia. It is great to see something different and learn, so travel.

Travel to remind you of your dreams.
Sometimes we get stuck in a certain place for so long it becomes acceptable. Don't stay stuck in your bubble, travel and remember what you want for you, not for anyone else. I travel to LA about once a year to remind me of where I want to be and what I want to do. This keeps me motivated to do everything in my power to be in LA and make it. Travel to remind you of what you can have if you really want or wanted it.

Travel can bring you closer to friends. 
One night one of the girls invited us to this party 45 minutes, which is rediculously far in my book for a party. So we went. That night we all drank a little too much and talked to people we probably wouldn't have sober, but that night I invited a girl on my cheer team who I really didn't know to a road trip I was planning and she said yes!After the road trip all of us were always hanging out, till this day four years later we are all still friends and I became closer with the other girls too.

Just Do It.
The trip doesn't need to be planned for months in advance and a schedule of what you will be doing and at what time. Just go. If someone call you up and says there's a concert this weekend four hours away that you should go to then go! Those are some of the best trips I have been on. You will never get these chances again, so you go and make some amazing memories and let go of that stress you have been dealing with at work or home.

Some pointers for traveling
If you go to www.southwest.com early enough you save so much on your ticket if you get the "Wanna Get Away" tickets you save about 50% of the regular value, plus with Southwest you can check in two bags for free.

Make sure to get on Groupon and Living Social while you are traveling. These are discount sites with everything from food to activities being about 70% off.

In LA and NY you can attend TV shows for FREE! Go to on-camera-audiences.com to reserve your ticket.

Right now I'm planning a trip to New York this summer!
NOW GO TRAVEL!