Hello, one and all!
I can hear those sleigh bells jingling as we make our way into late November, and I am ready to celebrate with the holiday spirit! As we talked about in our last post, things definitely look a little different this year, but there is no reason to stop the celebration! Whether you choose to host a virtual get together or a socially distanced soiree, this holiday season can still be something you look forward to.
While we went over exactly how to host a holiday gathering in our last post, this post is all about fun and safe party hacks, tips, and tricks to keep the planning focused on the fun! There are so many options here to make sure your holidays are spent in style, so please feel free to use these tips to your advantage and create the perfect option for you!
Virtual
Things to think about:
As we have learned, we rely heavily on our awesome technology…but it’s hard to find your turn to talk! If you plan to have a game or even engage in conversation over your meal, be sure to include a planned method. Consider taking turns saying what you’re grateful for while enjoying actively listening to your family and friends. Zoom calls are great, but make sure no one is getting spoken over!
Food:
Consider switching it up this year! If you are having a virtual get together, maybe choose a theme like Italian or Fall Favorites so that your family can all feel good about what’s cooking in the kitchen and share what they’ve made!
Entertainment:
There are numerous virtual options for your guests to feel included on. From Netflix Watch (watch a classic Christmas movie!) parties to trivia, be creative and fun and really think about what would help make the best memories a year from now. Hopefully, we’ll only have to do this once, so be sure to go out of 2020 with a bang!
In-Person
Things to think about:
When exchanging presents or holiday gifts with loved ones this year, we need to be sure we’re keeping things safe. Instead of a tangible holiday bundle, consider gifting virtual gift cards, sending a magazine subscription, or even a fun subscription box to the home of a loved one. We are spending much more time at home these days, and having cozy comforts like these make all the difference!
Food:
While you probably aren’t sharing the delicious turkey and sides this year, you can still partake in delicious food items! Keeping things single-serve is advised, and using paper napkins, disposable silverware, and recyclable cups will help the clean-up. From trendy safe-serve individual catered meals (check with your local caterer!) to untraditional turkey sandwiches, you can get creative and fun and have a meal to remember next year when we’re all (hopefully) gathered around the table like normal again.
Entertainment:
While the white elephant or traditional board games of the past may not work this year when trying to give each other space, you can still partake in many fun party games. Charades, improv, storytelling, and more! Again, I encourage you to get creative and fun, and really treasure this time. It’s history in the making and will be fun to look back on with your family for years to come.
I know this time is difficult and this year has been an experience to say the least! What I’m hoping these tips will bring you is joy and peace. This year is a year that will live in our history books, but it’s also made me more thankful. Thankful for my family, thankful for my home, thankful for my health, and thankful for you, dear reader! Enjoy and relax this year and look forward to the future. The new year is coming, and it’s going to be a great one!
