WHAT LISTS SHOULD YOU HAVE ON HAND TO PLAN YOUR PARTY
Welcome! I’m so glad that you stopped by so we could plan a party for lunch and snacks in mind. We are going to cover some of my favorite recipes for snacks and lunch along with several lists that will help you stay on track and organized.
Over the years, since I got married and started our own family traditions, I’ve learned a few things that work for me and my family. I’m going to share some of my ideas with you in hopes that these things also help you. And I’m going to give you a hint—-lists.
As my son and daughter were growing up, my one big goal was to be as much over the gift buying finish line by November as I could. I wanted November and December free of shopping. I like to be able to concentrate on Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. Addressing and mailing cards, gift wrapping and baking all the Christmas cookies, pies and cakes that we all loved all need to be done during November and December. These jobs are big enough that it always warrants all gifts being had by November—at least to me.
So let’s start with the lists that I make to stay organized.
HOLIDAY BUDGET/GIFTS LIST
This, to me, is one of the most important lists and decisions to be made. That’s because I always try and not use credit cards. I like knowing that when January rolls around and all the hubbub is over, I can smile at myself. I can smile in satisfaction, because I know I don’t have to worry about paying against our credit cards.
First thing on the list is everyone that you want to get a gift for or ones you expect to get a gift for. Don’t forget the office Christmas Party Round Robin or for your hostess/host when going to a party or gathering. Extra funds for the church, etc. should also be considered here. Along with any decorations or gift wraps that need to be purchased.
It’s really these types of things that a lot of people don’t think they need to pay attention to. But if you want to keep your budget under control, thereby creating much less stress for you, add everything you can think of to this list.
Cheesy Bacon Pull Apart Bread
by Two Peas and Their Pod
FAMILY PARTY TIME
My daughter was born in December, so I knew we’d be doing a birthday party a week before Christmas. That meant, I had to put all things to do with that party on this list so I could keep a handle on our budget and still get things done. It also helped keeping the food to just snacks and lunch type recipes.
Cranberry Cinnamon Whiskey Sour
by Ashley with Baker by Nature
Time to Party Plan can help you with choosing appetizers and drinks for your party.
After you have everyone and everything needed on this list, put at the top in big, bold numbers, the amount that you want or can spend on this Christmas season. Then you get to go over the list and put an amount you want to spend for each person and/or item on that list. You may have to erase these amounts several times in order to stay within your budget. Then you can start putting down possible gifts for each name on your list that again–stays within the amount you assigned to any one person.
Your budget/gift list may be the hardest one to work out so you may want to tackle it first. You may want to ask your family for a wish list from them to help decide some of your gift giving. These wish lists can also be shared with other family members.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Sloppy Joes
by Sabrina Snyder with Dinner Then Dessert
MASTER CHRISTMAS CARD LIST
This is a list that you may want to keep on your phone somewhere. Start by writing down everyone and every family that you will want to send a card to. Throughout the year, go about getting these addresses when the time arises. This will keep you from having to collect all this information in a fury during this season. This way you will be ready to roll with addressing your cards.
By keeping a master list on your phone or in the cloud, you will always have the list with you to make changes if you need to.
EVENTS/TRADITIONS LIST
Make a list of any seasonal events that you and your family want to attend. A Christmas Tree lighting, riding around neighborhoods looking at decorated houses or church on Christmas Eve. Put each of these events or traditions on your list and include what you might need for each. Then write them on your planning calendar that I wrote about in the post before this one.
When our kids were growing up, we had a Christmas Tree decorating party every year. Our kids loved it, we loved it and our friends loved it. We had tons of food and drink, our kids had friends to play with and we got to visit with our friends. All while we decorated our tree and when the angel was put on top of the tree, we all cheered. It was always a gathering that we looked forward to.
GOOD IDEA
One of my friends holds a cookie exchange party every year. I’ve always thought this was a wonderful idea as everyone attending brings 1 dozen cookies to exchange with everyone there. Every year, I come home with an unbelievable amount of cookies that my family absolutely loved. This allows each of us attending this exchange to try cookies that we may not have made and get new cookie ideas—what could be better!
And don’t forget about caroling or watch Christmas shows and movies that you can only see this time of year. All great traditions in my book.
Crockpot Chicken and Salsa
by Kellie with Freebie Finding Mom
TO DO LIST
This is a list that evolves as time goes along. This is your master list to help get things done on all the other lists and also get your home ready for the season. Things such as, gift wrapping, decorating, a trip to the post office, etc. This is the list that keeps growing as you mark things off. Set a date in your calendar to get specific things completed and work your plan, you will survive the season with much less stress.
Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joe Sliders
by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventure
FOOD LIST–LUNCH AND SNACKS
Last, but not least, make your “food” list. We all have certain dishes that our families like and expect during the holidays and for the big dinners. Plan these menus out and make a list. Make up one section of your list for things you can purchase right away and store till needed or for foods you can make ahead of time. The other section of your list is for those items that need to be bought closer to the time of using.
PARTY HELP
If you hold a gathering during the holiday season, check out Part One of this series. I provided a guide for how much food and drink you would need per guest to help you plan your party. I also provided easy, make ahead recipes for breakfast dishes to serve your guests.
Part two provides lots of appetizer and drink recipes for your gatherings. To further the theme of family and seasonal party time, I’ve got some good lunch time and snack recipes for you. I went with various sliders.
They are so easy to make in an assembly line, you can make several different types, serve with a big salad and your family and guests will love them. They also work with leftover turkey or chicken. So let’s get to the goodies……
BBQ Turkey Cheddar Sliders
by Dorothy Kern with Crazy for Crust
OK, I was just at a Thanksgiving gathering this week and the hostess served these incredible little snacks. I asked if I could share these crackers with my readers for a holiday series I’m doing. Three ingredients; 1 bag of saltine crackers, 1 lb. of bacon (cut strips in half) and some brown sugar.
Wrap the half strip of bacon around the cracker, put on cookie sheet. Continue until either the bacon or crackers are gone. Bake in the oven for about 1.5 hrs., at 200 degrees. Pull out and lightly sprinkle the crackers with with the brown sugar and bake for another 1/2 hour. Ta Da!! How easy is that. And they taste divine!
By Pam Morgan, Remax Allegiance
To round things up, I hope you like what I’ve presented. And if nothing else, I have given you some ideas on how to get through one of the busiest times of the year.
Stay Awesome,
Cher
Relevant Reading
Time To Party
Party-Dinner and Desserts
Party-Appetizers and Drinks
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