This post is sponsored by Spot Shot® Instant Carpet Stain Remover, all opinions are my own.
One of the joys of the holiday season is entertaining family and friends. Whether it is hosting a large holiday party or a small Christmas dinner, spending time with the people that matter most to you is among the very best parts of the holiday season.
Entertaining doesn’t have to be difficult. We’ve shared tons of parties in our 9+ years of blogging, and while some were larger than others, there are some easy tricks we often use to make entertaining less stressful.
- Plan Ahead. I find the earlier I decorate my home each year, the easier my month of December is and the more time there is to enjoy the holiday. There is enough to do without the stress of putting up a Christmas tree or hanging lights outside on the day you are expecting guests.
2. Opt for simple, buffet style entertaining setup when entertaining. I display desserts and drinks on a table near my dining table even if we are having a seated dinner. That makes self-serve easier, and then I have less running around to do.
3.) A great trick to save time early in the party is to set out an easy charcuterie board with a little something for everyone–nuts, cheeses, fruits, meats etc.. You can prepare this ahead, and it frees you up as the host or hostess up to do other things since you don’t have to pass around appetizers. You can also set out pre-made drinks. This is a fun idea, use large dispensers like the ones below to make for easy bartending.
4) A sweet treats bar also is an unexpected but very fun holiday touch. Set out jars of treats and candy and everyone will feel like a kid for a moment, this makes dessert so simple. Fill apothocary style jars with candy, candy canes and other holiday themed candy for a serve yourself after dinner sweet.
5) Do not be afraid to give yourself a break by using high-end paper products this holiday to save on the number of dishes that have to be done post-party. One of my favorite holiday gifts ever was this one below from my girlfriend. She packaged up a beautiful gift of paper plates, napkins, and cups to give everyone a dish-free /no cleaning night during the holidays. It was so nice!
Once the toasts are made and the guests have gone home, there is always the inevitable post-party cleanup. While one easy way to keep it to a minimum is to try to clean up here and there as the party goes along, that isn’t always possible. Also, sadly holiday entertaining often comes with unfortunate accidents that result in food or drink stains on carpets.
We know this problem all to well as we have this expanse (you can see it above) of carpet between our entry, kitchen and family room. This is the main traffic area in our home, so when we have guests the carpet area sees all sorts of splashes and drips from drinks or food being carried through this space.
I deal with this problem by using Spot Shot Instant Carpet Stain Remover. Spot Shot makes quick work of these post-party stains (thankfully!). You just spray it on, blot it well and the stain is gone. My carpet looks like new again, and it only takes a few seconds to clean up a stain.
Be sure to pick up a can of Spot Shot Instant Carpet Stain Remover at Target when you gather all your other party supplies this holiday. That way when the inevitable spill happens you won’t have to worry. Be sure to print off this coupon to save $1 on your next shopping trip.
For more great DIY and cleaning tips, be sure to follow the Stain Fighting Community on Facebook.
Enjoy your holiday entertaining everyone!
XO,
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