Katie's Party Tricks!
We love to party and have a few tricks to share for all those looking for a little inspo going into the next few weeks of celebrating. As always with advice: every last one of what follows is a gem and should be implemented in any gathering that includes more than 2 people. It is shocking to contemplate that it takes more than the outfit to make the party a smash, but alas, it is a cruel confusing world in which we celebrate.
Thoughts on Food
- We suggest not to aim to be the best meal your guests have ever had. The bar is set very high because your guests have been to some very nice places and have also experienced a grandma-figure's cooking. So make it fun!
- Sonny, the shop's 11 year old, is always in charge of making cheese puffs (literally puff pastry from the freezer section wrapped around a cube of cheese). They make the house smell so good and guests will give you alot of props for getting the kids involved, so it's a mom win. (Éloïse makes truffles which are equally easy but have a solid dash of pretentiousness that a teen loves to serve when gathering with her mom's people.)
- Get a punch bowl from a thrift shop. You can snag them cheap because somehow they seem like an unnecessary life tool to most people. However, they make for a high-drama centerpiece for the mingling: everyone loves to use a laddle, & maraschino cherries promote joy.
- People are much more mentally nimble when on their toes. Keep them standing, keep them mingling, aka provide little seating options.
Set the Mood
- Hosting a party is a gift to your loved ones and they appreciate it so much. Which means you have the crowd on your side when you pull a mid-party outfit change! It's a privilege only the host and toddlers hold.
- Give guests jobs, especially those that need purpose (not necessarily in life, but not mutually exclusive): Music, bringing coats up, filling cups, gossip collector, etc. Have toonies on hand to give out to anyone under the age of 12 or over the age of 35 who does a good job. A little jingle-jangle sets the party tone.
- You obviously have flawless taste and beauty surrounds you, but may we suggest you go full bonanza on 1 element: have candles lit everywhere and no other light, put bows around EVERYTHING, stick little Santa hats on your plants, make your guests walk through a wall of garland to use the restroom. A dash of bad taste makes your guests feel at ease.
Take it Up One Notch!
- Put on Charlie Brown's Christmas and ask the kids to compile a list of all the swear words they learned. *An extra toonie for the kid who also learnt the correct context to use the word.
- Your guests need to move a little. If you can convince them on a walk, bravo to you. Musical chairs is fun for a couple rounds, Twister is only fair if you're okay with paying for potential tailoring consequences, but asking "wanna see this weird thing my body can do?" often gets people moving in new ways.
- People like to feel a dash of debauchery at the end of the night: mistletoe, a discrete bowl of cigarettes on offer, being told a secret and/or a lie, or use the best trick of all: bring out one last hot/greasy bite of something no one still has room for but cannot resist.
- The biggest box under the tree must be: To You from Santa with a highly visible note in which Santa salutes your abilities to bring joy, togetherness and warmth to your people 364 days a year and he can barely handle his 1 night a year.
