Christmas and Thanksgiving can feel more than a bit frantic, and there’s a list of maybe 78 items to get done before the guests arrive.
But no matter which holiday it is, I hope these ideas can make you feel a bit more relaxed while planning.
These are some thoughtfully helpful tips from the readers that might just make your gathering of 4 or 10 a bit easier on you.
So read them over, take some notes, and even share your favorite hosting tips; I might just add them!
“I love fresh flowers and like to have some for guests in their room. It doesn’t have to be a huge bouquet, just a mason jar with a few flowers. Or, if it’s a holiday such as Christmas or Thanksgiving, something appropriate to the season.
If they are coming for dinner or lunch and offer to bring something I always have a list of things that they can bring that’s not too expensive. People love to help and want to contribute! Thanks for thinking of me for your blog!”
– Susan Eades
“I supplying ice water or beverage of choice, a coaster, and a light snack.”
– Nikki Schannette
“My tip is to prep everything you can before everyone arrives. that way you can visit while things cook and you don’t have to spend hours prepping while you have guests.”
– Rebekkah Whittle
“One of my hosting tips is to make sure you have a smooth music selection. So try to ask the guest what kind of music they prefer to listen to.”
– Tristan
“I have a guest book! I have my guests sign and date the book. Then, I take a few pictures during dinner, after dinner coffee, etc. Later, I put a picture in the guest book. This way I always know who they were, what they looked like, how they were enjoying the event, along with an address and phone number.
Then, I send a little “Thanks for joining us” note to them a couple of days later, along with the best picture I took.”
– Cyndy Keller
“My top hosting tips is to make sure the bathroom is clean. The rest of the house does not matter as much as that bathroom!”
– Marilyn
“I start cleaning my house in October! That and everyone brings food so that I don’t have to do all the work. We decide a few weeks before what everyone will bring. Non-perishables like pop and juice that people are bringing is dropped off at our place so there is not as much to do on the day of.
Then, I start with all the areas that will be seen but not necessarily used in the weeks before Thanksgiving and Christmas.(we host Thanksgiving and Christmas every year because our house is the biggest). I clean baseboards and window sills and similar things first.
Two weeks before, I go shopping for all of the non-perishable items I will need–napkins, toilet paper, and paper towels, flour, sugar, canned goods, frozen foods, etc.
The week before the holiday, I capture cobwebs and dust, move furniture around to accommodate tables for guests, clean the refrigerators (we have two), take out baking dishes and other cooking items and label them with the dish I will be making and make sure I have all my serving utensils.
The week of, I shop for perishables, clean the kitchen, mop floors, vacuum, set up seating for everyone, set-up a drink table with soda, juice, and disposable cups, set out the silverware and dishes on the tables.
The night before I prep all the food that I can. We always have turkey for Thanksgiving and Prime Rib for Christmas.
Our tradition is always cinnamon rolls with friends on Thanksgiving morning. People come over, watch the Macy’s parade, and have cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate. We search the Black Friday ads for treasures and compare notes and see who is going where and give each other money to purchase things at stores we don’t plan on going to. We also start online shopping.
The family starts showing up around 1 PM and we plan on eating somewhere between 2:30 and 3:00. Everyone helps with setting the tables and putting food out. We usually have around 24 people for meals.
After meals, the “kids” do all of the dishes. They put on music in the kitchen and they get down to business and clean everything. After the dishes we watch football, play card games, and board games, draw names for Christmas gifts (on Thanksgiving of course). Around 7:30 we drag out dessert and watch a movie. Everyone disperses around 9:00.
The best part is the next day when everyone comes back over for leftovers. We hang out and eat and play games and talk.
Christmas is similar except we eat and then open family gifts and there is always a game or two involving white elephant gifts and what we call “granddad” gifts. We play games, watch movies, talk and eat, and then do it all over again the next day.
Being with family is the best part of both holidays and why I love them so much.”
– Vanessa Dolby
“Here’s one tip I have for you and your readers. A few years ago, I had friends over for one week just before Christmas. I bought loads of stuff to bake, as well as all the pretty candies wrapped in pretty foil, etc., and put them around the house in little candy dishes, just to give them a nice Christmas experience. Well, guess what? Just so happens they committed to each other not to eat any sugar during their trip. Wow was I bummed. I bought lots of stuff but couldn’t share any of it with them. In fact, I removed the candy out of their rooms, and out of sight, so I would not tempt them. Oh, what a bummer that was. Anyway, my advice to your readers is… find out what your visitors want (or need) days (or weeks) in advance before you shop, and before they arrive. And oh, I had to shop for a special frying pan because they would not eat anything if it was not cooked in that ‘special’ type of cookware.”
– Julie Collier
“Honestly my best hosting advice is pace yourself and don’t panic when it’s crunch time. If the 7 layer dip isn’t even made yet, your guests will understand why you need to finish up in the kitchen. ESPECIALLY if you have friends who arrive 15 mins before they are supposed to. In fact, ask them for assistance. It’s a great way to catch up and if they don’t know how to do something, teach them. Even if they do it wrong you can always fix it. Just make sure to distribute tasks accordingly.”
– Angelic
“To be honest the best tip I can give you is your mindset! Once you decide to host a party/get together just go for it. Don’t doubt yourself; be confident and do the best with what you have because you are enough!!! BELIEVE in Yourself!”
– Ines Wiebe
“How I organize Thanksgiving:
On October 25th I create an event on Facebook and with every invitation comes an assigned Dish and or task, depending on each person, plus they receive an itinerary for the whole day. This way everyone knows what to bring and what tasks ( i.e. trash, dishes, games, table setting, etc. ) they will be responsible for the day of. It may sound a bit harsh and the first year everyone was a little surprised. But by taking the time to anticipate the needs of each individual and having a plan in place, I am never overwhelmed and it makes the unanticipated chaos, that is sure to happen sometime during the event, easier to deal with.”
– Sarah Reynolds
Chasing Foxes was started in 2016 as a way for Grace and her husband, Silas, to start traveling. However, they started to realize that they had a passion for improving themselves, and wanted to help others level up their lives as well. So whether it's with cooking, travel, or staying healthy, they want to help you better your life bit by bit, as they do the same.