I’ve been collecting some great, inexpensive and easy centerpiece ideas and thought I’d share them with you. They’re inexpensive because everyone around here is trying to keep as much money as they can in a coffee can under their beds and easy because I have many skills but elaborate centerpieces are not among them.

At Craftershock, Wendy Chung has a great Paper Flower Tutorial. She attaches the flowers to twigs and puts them in vases on the table. I’m especially drawn to the square bowls of pears on the table. With a red runner on your table, classic Christmas colors. Instead of paper flowers, you could attach very small glass bulbs to the branches and make it even easier on yourself.

I love these wooden quilting hoops and simple wooden balls on the table from the Real Simple Holiday Decorating Ideas From The Craft Store feature.

Ribbon, just like I used last year to add a little color to my table. But I love how Better Homes and Garden uses a wider layer of red fabric and then ribbon. The glass bowls with ribbon flowers are also a cheap way to avoid fresh flowers. You can find the directions for those right here.

Party Perfect shares the work of stylist Molly Fitzsimmons in this post. A pile of oranges on a lovely tray, it doesn’t get much cheap or easy than that. Unless you’re talking about…oh, never mind.

The easiest part of creating holiday centerpieces is the fact that if you throw some red, white or green out there, you’re pretty much good to go. This candy cane covered vase is perfect. The best part for me is I can you my small round vases from last year to complete this project for next to nothing.

With all these great ideas, maybe no one will know how I threw this party together in about one day.

I am having the pronounced urge these days to detox from all things electronic, battery-operated, or otherwise backlit. And that goes for my holiday shopping list too.

No doubt Nate would be thrilled with anything with the letters PS and the number 3 in front of it, and my daughters go nutty for demonic dolls imbedded with voice chips that activate when you’re least expecting it. But still, I think there’s something to be said for the good old-fashioned fun found in a classic board game.

I think fondly of the game night we had in my family as a kid, long before there was such a thing as Game Night. We all convened around the big glass coffee table, set up the board, and played until it was well past bedtime while the hot chocolate flowed. As I recall, we never once complained that we were missing some TV show or that our Atari was calling; we were having way too much fun. Unless of course we were playing Monopoly, in which case my dad and my brother always ganged up on me and bankrupted me within like four seconds, then refused to loan me a single white, crinkly dollar bill so that I could stay in the game. Tears ensued.

This is like three years ago, by the way. Monopoly in my house is not pretty.

I’m hoping the friends and family on my list is feeling the same sort of unplugged nostalgia because some of their gifts are going to reflect it this year. Here are a few that I’ve got my eye on:

*If you don’t have a good game of Scrabble (with all tiles still intact) you can’t even begin to call yourself a game-player. Scrabble just came out with a
Deluxe 60th Edition Game although I really am getting all excited and twitchy about the Premier Wood Edition. I’m loving the prospect of sitting down to play an actual game with an actual person, and not some stranger on Facebook who’s claiming to take a phone call while checking his cheating dictionary.

*There is no better $5 gift for a child than Candyland, with Chutes and Ladders a close second. $5! Really! Kids as little as two will enjoy moving their pieces around on the board and playing with the cards, even if they’re too young to really understand the rules. Did I mention $5?

*Okay so Operation doesn’t entirely live up to the no-batteries requirement, but I still love the low-tech fabulosity and the $10 price tag. Kids will love it provided they don’t lose all the pieces under the couch and try feeding the adam’s apple to the dog.

*If your kids are already tic tac toe masters,
Connect 4 is the next logical step. It’s also awesome in that you get to say “Pretty sneaky, sis” every time you release all the checkers, and no one under 30 will have any idea what you’re talking about. That’s okay – just keep doing it. It will be our little secret.

*I didn’t actually discover dominos until I met the inlaws, who were serious domino junkies. Now, I count myself among them. A really nice set packaged in a beautiful burled wooden box makes an original family gift or hostess gift, and will last a whole lot longer than the fruit basket. Similarly, a beautiful backgammon set feels somehow indulgent. Especially when it’s only a backgammon set, and not some multi-game deelio that flips over to become a checkerboard.

*Do you know how hard it is to find just regular old Monopoly? You have to weed through shelves of Bass Fishing Monopoly, Elvis Monopoly, Fantasy Baseball Special Edition Monopoly, Disney Villains Monopoly, the Olsen Twins Goes Shopping on Upper Bleecker Street Monopoly…you only think I’m exaggerating. Traditionalists (like me) will appreciate the time that you take to track down the classic. The new library edition of Monopoly hasn’t changed a bit from your own youth, except that it’s packaged in a more bookshelf-friendly box. To be honest, it’s about time that someone figured out how completely annoying it is trying to fit those old board games on your regular bookshelves.

*Finally, I have to give a shout-out to Risk, which is not only the best ever rainy day killer, it’s also the reason I know how to find Afghanistan on a map. Be warned: It’s definitely not for sore losers. When your opponent is on the verge of world domination, it’s way too easy to slap your hand down on the board and say, “oops!” as all the teeny little armies go flying everywhere. Not that I’d know of such things.

So what am I missing? What are your favorite classic games that I should be adding to my list? And were there any games that made you cry as a kid (or a sensitive adult) or is that just me?

We love throwing parties all through the year but, as I mentioned, we’re especially fond of parties at the holidays. After spending a reasonable time putting up the tree and decorating the mantel, it seems economically wise to share your home with as many people as possible after all that work.

Best party advice I’ve ever gotten: If someone goes through the trouble to host a party, your part of the commitment is to make it fun. It seems like at the holidays every one understands that unspoken rule.

I am married to a graphic designer and when we plan parties my husband is full of inspiring ideas for the invitations. What he is not full of is the inspiration to find the actual time required to make these inspiring invitations. I’ve learned the best way to get him on the ball is to get ready to place orders for invitations, at that point he’ll either come through or I’ll place my order and have the invites one way or another. All without becoming the Nagging Harpy Of The Holidays.

Here are a few invitations from Target that will set the tone for any simple and elegant holiday parties you’re planning this season.

Pink Peony for a holiday invitation? Yes. It works because it’s understated and in the right color family. Your guests will expect a cozy holiday dinner at your home with this invitation.

This tea length invitation in merlot will slip through the printer easily and is easily customized with some free clip art. This is a great source.

Using red or green ink to fill in the details and switching out the black ribbon with the same will make this paisley flat card a holiday invite without any trouble.

The Crimson Deckle Edge collection is another simple way to invite your guests to your house for holiday celebrating.

This olive pocket card printed from your computer with a deep red ink will also set a simply elegant tone for your party. this set is intended as wedding stationary but you can use the pocket and response cards for extra information about your party. We like to hold a White Elephant Gift Exchange at our holiday party, use the pocket and enclosure card to explain the rules.

We have the tasks divided pretty well: My sigOth, the true gastronome of the family, seeks out the recipes for the finest sugar cookies, the lightest lemon cookies, the most perfectly spiced gingerbread men and women, while I scour the web for the decorating inspiration.

The food blogs are always a good stop (oh, thank you Tastespotting – thank you, thank you.) but I also find the myriad cookie photo groups on Flick’r are a fantastic resource for inspired design that I myself might even be able to replicate.

Some of the groups totally worth a look include Holiday Cakes and Cupcakes, Pretty Sweets, and The Cookie Jar. (But I warn you, steer clear if your culinary ego can’t handle it.)

From there I start making mental notes about color schemes, cookie cutter shapes, and of course, those shiny metallic edible balls that kids go nuts over. I fantasize about gift tins and big red tartan plaid ribbons; about presenting the cookies on crisp white dishes to visitors, or tucking them into little mesh bags and tying them to bottles of wine as hostess gifts.

And yeah, I think about eating them.

Here are just a few images recently that have sparked some ideas that I think I could actually do. I mean inspiration is nice and all, but not when executing it requires $600 worth of equipment, a professional convection oven and a culinary arts degree.

From Dano: I love how simple and elegant these trees are. Definitely something I could do myself without messing it up too much.

 

Evanrudemi:

I also adore how this baker sprinkled some sparkly clear sugar over top to make the snowflakes glisten. I never would have thought of that and it’s a really smart touch.

 

From Amy_B: It is highly unlikely that I will pull off something like these clever Thanksgiving cookies, but they don’t seem all that complicated, provided you have some pilgrim heads lying around. They’d be great with Santa heads too, swapping in green and red sprinkles.

 

From finna dat: Once in a while, more is more. I think it’s cool how absolutely covering these trees in sprinkles and red-hots works better than sprinkling them on sparsely.

 

From Solyanka: Gingerbread people get so elegant with stark white piping over a deep brown cookie. And I love those little cars! Makes for a speedy getaway when you’re trying to bite off their limbs I suppose.

 

But alas, I have kids. Which means we all know the reality of the cookie decorating situation.

 

Oh well. At least they taste just as good going down.

What are your holiday cookie plans? Is it a big deal in your house? Does everyone get to pitch in or are you all control freak-y and want them to turn out perfect as only you can make them?

A list like that can quickly induce stress and anxiety – things that are the exact opposite of what the holiday season should include. I remember as a kid, the holidays were so much fun for me. They felt light and airy and exciting. Obviously, my parents were doing a lot of behind the scenes work to make those feelings possible, but there’s no reason I shouldn’t still have that joy of the holidays without the stress now that I’m a parent myself. 

So this year, I challenge you to change your to-do list. And while there are details that certainly have to be covered, it’s equally important to include some items on your list that serve no purpose other than providing you with pure, simple f-u-n. 

Grab a piece of paper right now (or open up a blank document on your computer) and create a “Fun To-Do” list. Put down things that you loved doing during the holidays as a kid, or always wanted to do. As a kid, I loved our annual night of driving through neighborhoods to look at lights. My parents would make hot chocolate for us, we’d put Christmas music on in the car, and we’d drive around for a couple of hours “oooooohing” and “ahhhhhing” over the lights. And one thing that I always wanted to do, but never did, was make a gingerbread house. That’s something I’d love to try with my kids this year. 

Speaking of kids – if you have them, let them join in the process of creating your “Fun To-Do” list. What a great example you can set for them by showing that it’s not just the details in life, but that having fun is just as important. And they are most likely to come up with the best fun items on the list. 

Finally, think ahead to early January. How do you want to feel, and how do you want to remember your holiday season? Do you wan to remember a month of fun and excitement, or of stress and anxiety? Be sure to make your lists accordingly.

Fill your freezer with as much ice as you can fit in there. But remember ice can do more than just keep a drink cold. It can be pretty. It can be a conversation starter. It can be fun!

In addition to using creative ice trays, like this one that makes ice kebabs, there are a few simple things you can do to make your ice gorgeous.

~ Make Clear Ice
Homemade ice is usually cloudy. To make ice crystal clear, use distilled water and boil it before putting it in the tray. Make small, clear cubes and it is like chilling your drinks with diamonds.

~ Make Flavored Ice
Choose flavors that will compliment the beverages being served. Then, make flavored ice cubes by using two tablespoons flavored syrup for every cup of water. As the ice melts, a subtle flavor will be added to the drinks rather than watering them down. For instance, lemon ice cubes would compliment iced tea or a gin and tonic, while cherry ice cubes would compliment a cola or bourbon.

~ Make Special Ice
After filling your tray with water, add berries, edible flowers or mint leaves so they’ll be suspended in the ice. Get creative! This is a chance to make an edible garnish that will make your drinks stand out.

~ Make Ice That Doesn’t Pick Up Unwanted Flavors
Keep the ice safe from being the other things in the freezer by storing it in a covered container.

First thing is to figure out what, in fact, you’d like to host. Family stuff? Neighborhood potluck? Fancy New Year’s Eve bash? Figure out what’s within your space and capabilities. For example, I’ve realized I must never host a fancy dinner party again. Last time we tried, there was smoke, and weeping, and hissed, hasty fights with my now-husband.

I’ve found cool party ideas at Real Simple, Cooking Light and Evite, which also has planning lists, budget and drink calulators, and cute favor ideas.

Then get the word out quickly. People’s calendars fill up fast at this time of year.

Next up, figure out what kind of partyware, serving pieces, glassware, and linens you need. Drag everything you’ve already got out of anywhere you keep it — this will give you the chance to figure out what needs to be cleaned or replaced and what you still need. All of the stores are having sales right now on items for entertaining, so make sure your party budget includes some cash for that.  And if you have kids coming, think of several options to keep them entertained and out from underfoot. Cookie decorating, movies,
helping out with table setting and the ever popular movie watching are all things that can entertain a wide age range.

Then, lists, lists, lists. Lists of what to buy — I organize this by where to buy it — who’s coming, what to set up where, what needs to be dragged from the basement, cleaning lists, meal lists, and so on. Keep it in one place, in one notebook or pad of paper, so the one of you who is the Party Drill Sargeant (aka me) can avoid snapping at the one who is all chilled out and thinking this is supposed to be fun (aka my husband) when they ask “What can I do?” I come by this honestly. My brother and I still tease my mom for her Thanksgiving morning meal lists that invariably start out “turkey” — or at least I did until I hosted Thanksgiving for the first time and did the day’s meal game plan and yes, turkey topped the list. If you’re doing something more involved, like Thanksgiving dinner or a New Year’s Eve party, I’d also recommend writing in your planner or online calendar what you can do what days — like ironing tablecloths and napkins several days ahead, preparing dishes that can hold or freeze each night the week of the party,
and shopping for things like drinks and paper plates as far ahead as you can.

Mock the lists if you will, but if you plan well enough, by the time your friends start showing up, you’ll be calm, socialable, and ready to party. 
Amy Kuras’ entertaining skills are now mostly limited to what can be done after the children go to bed and the occasional all-comers blowout. She blogs at www.savvysource.com (among other places), writes, edits and wrangles two lovely children in Detroit.

If I sound like an insufferable Pollyanna, I apologize. Perhaps it’s not fair for me ponder as I’m a celebrator of Hanukkah. While my family gets plenty gifty during this time of year (and we even hang stockings and invite Santa to visit), we only give presents to immediate family. We don’t engage in the popular Christmas practice (among a few of my friends at least) of giving gifts to everyone.

To me, the first line of holiday anxiety defense is to drastically pare down the gift list. It works in everyone’s favor: you save money, time, and sanity, and your friends and family suffer fewer awkward but-I-didn’t-get-you-a-gift moments. And you know what? They secretly want to get off the runaway gift-giving train, too.

Next, I try to pick up gifts as I see them, then “shop” my closet when the holidays arrive. I mentally record my kids’ pleas of “I love that!” and “Can I pleeeeease have it?” (My reply of “Add it to your wish list” mysteriously satisfies them. I think it’s more about being heard than actually getting the toy.) Later, when I have some time to myself, I pick up a couple of their “wish list” items and stash them in my office closet. This, more than anything else I do, simplifies gift-giving because I can sit back, smugly admiring my cache of presents, while I watch the crowds of holiday shoppers from afar.

Of course, this makes me looks a lot more together than I actually am. I’ve forgotten about presents hidden in the recesses of my closet, and I inevitably neglect someone and have to rush out into the dark of night for a gift. This year, I’ve scheduled BUY LAST-MINUTE PRESENTS in my calendar on December 1. That way, I can still avoid the worst of the holiday crowds or score Amazon’s free shipping with plenty of time to spare for wrapping.

We’ve all had the occasional nothing-to-wear nightmare. Tearing through your closet in a sartorial panic– it’s your wedding day, prom night, interview morning — and everything you own is useless.

This season, get yourself some girl armor, the perfect little black dress. As usual, Target has your back with lots of great options for under $40.

Maybe you need two.

Sateen Pencil Dress

$39.99

Embroidered Lace Dress

$39.99

Ponte Tab-Waist Dress

$24.99

Neck Pleat Dress

$24.99

Flocked Strapless Dress

$39.99

Ruffle Sleeve Sweater Dress

$27.99

Cap-Sleeve Ponte Dress

$39.99

One Shoulder Special Occasion Dress

$39.99

Flared Sweater Dress

$34.99

Pleat Scoop Neck Ponte Dress

$17.49

I hate public speaking. I love throwing parties. I have a friend who would speak in front of a crowd of angry cougars happily and she’d win them over, but she hates throwing parties. The thing these have in common is the only way either one gets easier is doing it a bunch of times.

Each year my neighborhood hosts a Progressive Dinner at the holidays. A Progressive Dinner is a nice way to celebrate the holidays with your neighbors without putting the job of having a neighborhood party on one host. Some people sign up to host a course of the meal: appetizers, soup, salad, main dish and dessert. The rest of the people volunteer to bring the food, except for the main dish, that is most easily made at the host’s house. Last year my husband and I offered our house up for the main dish and dessert part of the meal.

 

Decide what you want the party to look like.

The nicest thing about planning a holiday party is that we always want our house to be decorated for the holidays anyway. This means we don’t have to go above and beyond what our house would normally look like for the holiday to get it ready for the party, we also don’t have the hassle of putting up decorations for just one night.

 

Be Flexible About Space

My house is laid out with a large kitchen and dining area that are open to each other. For 6-8 people it’s plenty of room for dining, but for 24 people it wouldn’t work. Unless we were hosting a pie eating contest and no one needed to use their hands at the table.

Next to our dining room is a larger living room where we don’t have a lot of furniture, we moved last year from a much smaller space, making it easy to transform the room into a dining room.

With borrowed long banquet tables we were able to create a long dining table with our Christmas tree, a crackling fire and decorated mantel as a back drop for the meal. For no extra money.

We moved our living room sofa into the dining area of our kitchen, creating a great lounge area for chatting and mingling, since guest always congregate in the kitchen anyway.

 

To Save Money, Aim For ‘Simply Elegant’

To decorate I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on extra decorations and the best way I know to do this, and make it look beautiful, is to keep everything very simple.

I borrowed three long white tablecloths from a neighbor and purchased four low glass vases to put on the tables.

Then, while out getting food for the party, I found white hydrangeas. In December! I would’ve rather had a bright color bloom, but they were $10 for 2 stems with 4 big bunches of blooms. I ended up buying two packs, each pack filled two of my vases.

So, to add color, while still paying the price that made sense for this party, I added cranberries to the water in the vases. This added color and was more than cheap because I’d bought these cranberries at Thanksgiving and didn’t use them all. Even if you don’t think ahead, a pack of cranberries is around $1.75 at the market during the fall/winter season.

We rented plates and flatware in white and the result, even with the cranberries was still a little, well, white.

I also found a roll of red ribbon with my christmas stuff I’d bought on clearance the year before. I used it to create a thin runner down the all white table. On top of the runner we used all the votive holders, around 20, we had left from our wedding reception 10 years ago.

We ended up with a great looking table for around $25.

This is the table all set for the party with the rest of our holiday decorations. You should definitely move here.

The best way to throw a party is to remember everything doesn’t have to be perfect. Nothing kills a party faster than a stressed out host. My mantra is “Whatever gets done is what gets done.” After that? A cocktail and enjoy the night.