Season’s greetings, dear readers! In this issue:

• Opening your home to guests

• Holiday party ideas to keep things calm and bright

• Easy invitations that will impress

• Time for yourself

• Words to live by

Creating joy for the holiday season

There's something magical about welcoming guests into your home as the temperatures cool and the days grow shorter. No matter what or how you celebrate the season, this time is made for cozy gatherings and friendship.

The first rule is that there are no rules. Just start with what brings you joy and spread it widely, whether it’s a formal sit-down dinner, a potluck, or a casual open house. The goal is to bring people together and give you the breathing room to enjoy the festivities with them.

Use shortcuts that make things easy for you. Potlucks take a lot of pressure off and often yield some interesting food. Doing the cooking? There’s absolutely nothing wrong with store-bought cookies, frozen appetizers, or takeout; there are many delicious options available. 

Ask for help. Before you feel overwhelmed, line up a family member or friend to pitch in, whether it’s decorating, setting a table, cooking, or helping you come up with ideas.

Holiday party ideas

The classics. Traditions as old as St. Nick, these gifting ideas are fun and easy. Set a dollar amount on the maximum amount people can spend to keep everything even.

• Secret Santa: Participants draw a name and anonymously give a gift to that person..

• White Elephant: Everyone brings a wrapped, often humorous gift, and then takes turns selecting one for themselves. The option to steal another's gift can lead to lots of laughter.

• Gift card swap: Ask your guests to get a gift card within a specific price range to exchange. 

All sorts of swaps. From homemade cookies to scarves, holiday gift swaps open the door to a spirited gathering. Consider these ideas, some classic and others new:

• Cookies: Have cellophane bags, cookie boxes, or tins for everyone to use.

• Ornaments: These can be for any holiday or motif.

• Books: Guests bring a book of either a theme (recent bestsellers) or genre (children’s books)

• Mugs: Encourage your guests to fill these with goodies.

• Scarve: One size fits all!

A festival of food  

Open house

What are the holidays without food, or the deluge of recipes for the season? This time of year, I focus on creating a menu that offers a range of flavors, many of which can be store-bought. My favorite open house that I hosted featured specialties from around the globe, keeping my daughter and me very busy. Halfway through baking and cooking, we realized most of the entrees and desserts were available from nearby restaurants. So have some fun: order appetizers or entrees from a variety of restaurants for your open house. Don’t rule out American classics like barbecue, deli platters, or a variety of sandwiches, with coleslaw and potato salad on the side.

Sit-down dinner

My mother’s birthday was on Christmas Day, so we always indulged in a formal dinner on Christmas Eve to kick off the celebration. This is our tradition, made easier with store-bought sides. Astericked items are store-bought:

A simple salad served with gougeres

Tenderloin of beef (foolproof; perfect every time)

Horseradish sauce*

Gingerbread brownies (already made and in the freezer; thaw in the fridge overnight)

Freshly prepared creamed spinach*

Mashed potatoes*

Tea party

I know someone who hosts a holiday tea party each year for her girlfriends and their grandchildren, and I fell in love with the idea.

• Choose a theme, like a "Winter Wonderland," or an English Queen’s tea.

• Set the table with beautiful disposable tea sets, so breakage is not an issue. 

• Use a small cookie cutter to create holiday-theme finger sandwiches.

• Mini quiches, croissants, pigs in a blanket, and scones are available frozen.

• Purchase tea cookies, macarons, or holiday cookies.

• And…if you want to serve tea, be sure it's decaffeinated!

The envelope, please

Thanks to digital innovation, you can instantly send beautiful invitations by email or link, or have them printed for mailing. Even better, there are countless festive options – some even animated. And for that personal touch, many companies let you design your own invitation or add photos. 

Added benefits include an RSVP tracker, guest list, and more. You’ll have free rein (no pun intended) over the fonts, message, colors, and other design options. Customizations often include your logo if you’re throwing a company party. 

And look for ways to send your online invites for free!

Paperless Post 

Punchbowl 

GreenVelope

Time for yourself

Learning and exploring are key to finding purpose, joy, and community. Enter the Oasis Institute, offering in-person and virtual courses for older adults to encourage lifelong learning, keep you engaged, and supporting your cognitive health. Learn more

We look forward to building this tapestry of experiences with you.