while i'm not really one for throwing parties, i'm usually my friends' helper when they have shindigs of their own. the pressure, the lack of time, and the not-knowing-where-to-start all make me too apprehensive to dip my toe in the party-planning world. but now, as a married lady, i feel the desire to have friends over to our home, share food and drink, laughs and hugs, and be in the company of people we love.
however, i have yet to invite enough people over for it to count as a real party (our apartment is a bit snug), but random get-togethers have occurred, and when they do i basically freak out about every little detail (which totally ends up not mattering at all!). so when i decided to take on the role as a planner for a weeknight holiday party, i thought i was totally in over my head. how does one realistically get off of work and then have time to put a party together!?
as i dissected this idea, i came up with a solution: weeknight parties are for appetizers and booze, and that's about it! taking on the challenge of making a meal was not going to happen, so i bought some pre-cut and pre-made items, paired them with goods in my pantry, strung up some twinkling lights, struck a match to some tea lights, and threw some pretty stems in vase! basically a holiday party in a pinch.
each friday for the month of december, i'll be over on Gardenista sharing various holiday goods. for today, i'm sharing this weeknight holiday party menu, with some tips and step-by-step instructions on how to prepare each appetizer, along with a super fizzy (and boozy) festive punch!
'tis the season, friends! xo