What's the Secret?

Start early, start early, start early that’s all I can say. Once I get into my routine I mark a calendar I keep every year and I mark down what to do when from year to year. Then you know in advance what to plan for.

I mark my calendar in July to start my Christmas cards. Why not? I sit on my deck enveloped in my beautiful flowers overlooking the lake and work on them. What’s not to like about that?

Christmas comes early and alive at our home the week before Thanksgiving. I have Thanksgiving dinner every year and my dear brother-in-law, Joe, has finally accepted the fact that Christmas joyfully graces our home during that time.

Florist shops are a wonderful way to find unique decorating items. I love my waterfall glitter sticks. I put them into the top of our 11 foot real tree in the living room. (See picture). Thank-you to Nanette at Whistlestop florist who got me the unique Manzanita tree branches to decorate with this year. (See picture). I love finding or making place cards to use on the food table to label the appetizer. With so many people having food allergies it’s nice to label the ingredients (contains nuts, shellfish, etc.) then the guests don’t have to ask you what’s in them.

I keep a notebook which contains what recipes I’m using. Next to the recipes, I write down what serving dishes they will go in, a list of the guests and their addresses. That’s so important then you don’t have to look them up ever year. When my husband and I take a journey to furniture and accessory market in October, I take the list with me along with the invitations, stamps and return labels. By the time we return home they’re done! It never seems like a 12 hour drive to and from. How perfect is that. Organizing yourself is so important. The notebook (make sure it has pockets) is a wonderful way to help you. I have lists when to do things the day of the party such as light candles, light fire, turn coffee on and so on.

Enjoying the whole experience relaxed is what it’s all about and being organized is the way to do it.  Enjoy the photographs of the guests that follow. It was fun for my husband and me to relive the party again. What fun we had and so many new memories to cherish.

Sincerely,
Marcia and Rick