The seasons change quickly in Northern California if you aren’t paying close attention. It hardly seems possible, but last weekend I suddenly found myself bundled-up in a sweatshirt, complete with wool cap and scarf. I was a bit late in planning it, but this season I wanted to do something special to symbolize the close of another year, and for that reason I decided to host a yule-time soiree. After choosing an appropriate date, scheduling a babysitter, and creating the guest list, it was time to send out invitations. I had procrastinated a bit, and needed to alert people immediately. I didn’t have time for writing invitations, buying stamps, and sending invitations via the postal service. The solution was via the ubiquitous social networking website Facebook. It was so easy that I wanted to share the tip, along with a few others I’ve picked up along the way, for my fellow party-planning procrastinators.

Save stamps and time with a Facebook event invitation.

One of the best features within the site is the event application. The benefit is that it allows those invited to view the event details, participate in a discussion board, and quickly RSVP. Using this feature allowed me to get the ball rolling quickly. I received many RSVPs instantly as they were sent to my inbox. Of course, not everyone is a fan or user of the website, so a few calls were sufficient to alert all the guests. *Tip: to avoid a social snafu, make sure your event is set as private, or else those left uninvited will be able to view the invitation and crash your get-together.

For new recipe ideas, search the web, but read the reviews.

There are a lot of different taste buds within most circles of people, and the same is true within my social circle. In smaller gatherings, when the menu is too complicated, it can be a difficult task to please everyone. I have found it displeases the host as well! If you are tired of your own library of recipes, search the web, but pay attention and look for recipes with a comment section. The Internet has endless pages of helpful websites where I have found great recipes for tasty holiday treats. The benefit of using the web is that most recipes come reviewed by dozens of people. I find that listening to the reviews, as people test out each recipe and give feedback, can prevent a kitchen disaster. I typed these phrases into my favorite search engine and browsed for the easiest recipes: Creamy Artichoke Dip, Spicy Tapenade and Goat Cheese Log (all of which can be served with water crackers, pita chips, and raw veggies). It fascinates me… what did people do before the Internet?

Create a seasonal ritual your guests can share with you year after year.

Times may change, but there is one holiday tradition that isn’t going anywhere. The holidays create a craving in most people for hot, festive beverages. I believe there is a consensus that makes people excited about certain drinks only around the holidays. Old memories remind me of what it was like sipping hot spiced cider as a child on winter vacation. Even now I am excited about the smell of cinnamon that will fill my kitchen as I prepare for our party. I’ve collected four different holiday drink recipes from the past several years, and have decided to incorporate them for the soiree: Hot Spiced Cider, Hot Buttered Rum, Mulled Cranberry Cider, and spiked Italian Coffee. The first three are also easy to find using the web and can be served with or without alcohol, but having the spiked Italian Coffee is a special treat for adults. I was introduced to this drink from a close family friend. Every year, their family would serve the adults this drink after their Christmas dinner. Three years in a row I attended their family holiday, and have since become a fan of this ritual. The coffee is made with two lumps of sugar, one shot of Jameson Whiskey, a splash of Bailey’s Irish Cream, and topped with homemade whipped cream. Oh, sweet divinity! Make your holiday parties memorable by creating a tradition around a hot, uplifting beverage.

No live music or DJ? Get help from friends with your party’s soundtrack.

Next on my checklist of things To-Do is creating the mood, which often goes overlooked. All of the human senses must be satisfied to make the flow of the party comfortable, and I want everyone in attendance to feel at home and have a memorable time. An important part in creating the proper mood is selecting the music fit for the party, and making sure there are plenty of songs to be played during the whole time guests are present. If you are like me and don’t have the budget or space in your home for live music or a DJ, then make a simple playlist for your iPod. That way the music never stops. I started compiling songs for the party but soon felt overwhelmed. I decided to outsource the music selection and asked a few trusted friends to create playlists for their iPods that would be played throughout the night. Not only will this help me by cutting time off my planning, but it also allows me to listen to what other people want to hear. It builds my taste in music and lets the guests participate in organizing the party.

Increase comfort with mood lighting and easy-to-find, natural decorations.

Nothing kills the comfortable party atmosphere quicker than a bright light. People generally like sitting in rooms that are softly lit, but bright enough to see comfortably. Creating this scene will be simple by shutting off most overhead lighting, turning on desk lamps, burning candles, and stringing Christmas tree lights around the border of the common areas. For those guests who enjoy gathering outdoors, we will have a fire in the chimney out back that will provide both warmth and lighting. Perhaps I will decorate the grate from our Weber with chestnuts roasting on the open fire! It makes me happy to use things from our yard as decorations. As I raked the yard I set aside some beautiful leaves, walnuts, and sticks for the table décor. The red holly berry bush outside our yard will add the perfect holiday touch around the house. It is one time when bringing the great outdoors inside is appropriate.

The party is now two weeks away, and I sit here prepared despite getting a late start. I have the details organized, my grocery list compiled, the guest list tallied, and my decorations collected. Once all the food is made, the drinks served, the fire roaring, and candles lit, our home will be filled with the warmness and aroma only this time of year can provide. Each season has its specialty, but there is something magical about the holidays. I can feel the excitement already, and am looking forward to this holiday season. Cheers!

By Amanda Daley