The Holiday's are Coming to Town!

It's never too early to get in to the Christmas spirit. Growing up every year on the day after Thanksgiving we would pull out all our Christmas decorations, including a great 7.5 foot tree, and start setting them up while listening to Christmas music and eating leftovers.

I loved it and those are memories I will never forget. This year it's just my husband and I in our little apartment. We plan on a few decorations, but we really don't have the room or storage! Even though we don't have a big 7.5 foot tree or any of those decorations and things we enjoyed growing up, that's not going to stop us from having a great little Christmas party with our friends!

Whether you are like my parents or like me and my husband, anyone can throw a great looking and easy Christmas party. I love to cook, so one of the first things I do when planning any type of party is figure out what I would like to serve. Many times I do a pot luck type of party and have everyone bring something. That way everyone has something they like.

Edible Ornaments

Fun desserts and different drinks rather than just the regular sodas and water are also something fun to have. Try making a Christmas tree out of cupcakes or even cute little edible ornaments. If you don't feel like baking and decorating try The Cupcake Bar. They are exactly what their name says, a full service bar for cupcakes. They have 75 toppings, 20 flavors, and a spread of different fillings. You just walk up to the bar and tell them what type of cupcake you want, what you want on it and what you want in it. Sounds fun and delicious to me!

There are tons of drinks you can make for the holiday's that aren't just your regular eggnog. Try a few non-alcoholic drinks such as a S'more Mocktail with marshmallow cream topping and graham crackers or a Cranberry-Mint cooler with a frozen holiday wreath made from a shot glass mold with mint and cranberries . If you can't do with out the eggnog, try this new version with a cookie ornament garnish.

Ornament wreath

Decorations are next on the list of party planning, but are pretty easy around the holidays with the abundance of Christmas trees, snowmen, nutcrackers, and lights. If you want something easy, fun and inexpensive, you can make an ornament wreath. It's as easy as taking an old wire hanger and forming it info a wreath shape and adding ornaments of your choosing.

There are tons of other ideas and inspiration you can find, so these are just a few of my favorite things. At this time of year don't forget all the special people in your life and everything you have to be thankful for, including all the little things most people take for granted, such as their health, mobility, job, family, money, friends, and whether you are married, getting married our just engaged this holiday season, you are blessed to have found someone to love you and take care of you for the rest of your life.

Making memories with Mom

Now that you're all grown up, planning your wedding, and about to start a family of your own take a long moment to just look around you and remember your past. Who was next to you? Who did you go school clothes shopping with? Who packed your lunches every night before school? Who gave you advice on boys?

Was it your mom? I know that's my answer.

Now, back to the wedding... Sure you are planning the wedding of your dreams and it should be all about you and your fiance, but don't forget those who helped you get to this point in your life. As you go through all the different planning stages of a wedding, invite mom along and even your groom's mom. Planning is fun and everyone wants to help.

Just remember, even  mothers and daughter who don't typically argue may find themselves squaring off about certain details or having heated "the way I always pictured it" conversations. Here are a few tips to keep the peace:

MOM: Remember this is NOT your wedding and the brides choice should trump all. Even if you're paying for part of the wedding choose to pick your battles. Maybe you have always wanted to invite your great aunts and those long lost relatives from Germany... if this is something you feel strongly about then make your case! Otherwise keep your mouth shut when the bride wants to give her guests what you call "a tacky wedding favor." The key words here are "the bride wants."

BRIDE: Remember that your mom has dreamed about this day for as long as you have been born! Give in a little to that wonderful mother who spent 8 hours in labor and drove you to every sports practice, game, dance class, birthday party, and put up with you breaking curfew more than once.

If things do end up heating up why don't you call a time out. Mend your hurt feelings and forgive each other over pedicures at the local nail salon. You can even hold a girls night at your place and watch a movie you have both been wanting to see.

Just take a deep breath and remember this is day for you, your fiance and friends and family to celebrate your new marriage...if something goes wrong no one will notice. Just smile, because you paid a lot for that photographer! :)