How to Throw a Quick and "Sweet" Holiday Party!

At this time of year, many of us will be attending some amazingly well-planned holiday parties that are gorgeous to witness and a blast to attend. While those may be fun, for many of us, that's not part of our reality when it comes to time, space, and budget! So, I (and some of my friends!) have come up with suggestions for how to throw a fun party, on the cheap!! Just because you don't spend a lot of money, doesn't mean you can't have an amazing party and a great time. Here is my idea:

Host a Cookies and Cocoa Party!

{Photo: Williams Sonoma...I chose this pic because this hot chocolate is DELISH! Click here to check it out!

A Cookies and Cocoa Party can be thrown together super quickly and can really be fun for friends of all ages! Here are a few suggestions on how throw this party and still be able to relax enough to enjoy yourself!

{Photo: Williams Sonoma...yum!}

* Keep your decorating SIMPLE! At the holidays, you can find Christmas plates, napkins, tablecloths, placemats...all of that is great, but put it all together and you can end up with a jumbled mess if you're not careful. You can never go wrong with solid colored plates, and I've found that white plates always make whatever's on them look even better!

* Limit your drink options. Beverages can get super pricey super fast, so I always like to limit my drink options. Not everyone's going to like the same thing, so make sure you options on hand, like water and punch, but don't overdo it. And if you choose to serve alcohol, don't worry that you don't have a fully stocked bar! It's a family party...pick up a bottle of Bailey's (I LOVE the Mint Chocolate version!) for people to add to their hot chocolate if they so desire!

* Include your guests! Ask everyone who comes to bring a dozen cookies with them. Whether the cookies or homemade or store bought doesn't matter a bit. You can find a variety of delicious cookies in your supermarket, and no one's going to judge you...especially at the holidays when we're all crazy busy!

* Create a cookie decorating station. Little ones can get restless when attending parties where mom and dad just stand around talking. A cookie decorating station is just the thing to keep them occupied for a bit, and allow them to get creative! Set up a table with your favorite homemade or store bought icing (...again, no one's judging!), some sprinkles and candies, and let them go to town! Some adult supervision will be necessary to make sure the mess doesn't get TOO out of hand, but for the most part, this is something they can take complete ownership of!

* Make sure you have plenty of "to go" boxes! If you're like me, the last thing you need is to be stuck with a ton of cookies at the end of a party! As your guests leave for the evening, be sure to stick some of the remaining cookies is a cute box for them to take home and enjoy. It's a great way to give your guests a little thank you AND save you from digging in as you clean up afterwards!

Hopefully, you've found some ideas that you'd like to try out in your home with your family and friends! It really doesn't have to be expensive and stressful to throw a super fun holiday party that your guests will be sure to enjoy!

COMING SOON! A Guest Post from my buddy Melissa from Truly Chic Inspirations on How to Throw a "Chic" Holiday Party...on the cheap! :)