Hosting A Holiday Party Means...

We are now 6 days away from my holiday party. So here is a little post to lighten my spirits and hopefully yours too!

Hosting A Holiday Party Means:

- Planning a date and time for an event to invite people to

- Organizing the details of the event such as food, drinks, any activities, and decorations

- Thinking of a plan for any emergencies should they happen

- Actually begin the decorating

- Start to collect gifts for the guests

- Trying to wrap gifts as nicely as possible

- Begin to do deep cleaning of the house

- Trying to figure out an outfit to wear

- Trying to plan the jewelry to match with the outfit

- What makeup look am I doing? I gotta do a nice makeup look or else my whole vibe is wrong

- Make a playlist for the party

- Creating a scavenger hunt that's fun, age appropriate, and a little tricky to figure out

- Having to go grocery shopping because I am insane enough to actually COOK for my friends

- Also having to pick up the items needed for my hot chocolate station

- Needing to fill up the sweet treat goodbye containers that I give my friends as they leave

- Stressing out because you've found out two of the gifts you've ordered may not arrive on time

- Wondering if hosting a gathering is worth all the trouble?

- Questioning why I feel the need to do this every year?

- Starting to self-analyze and go into introspection for no reason

- Brainstorming a backup plan in case the gifts do not arrive in time

- Having to venture out in the world to get said backup gifts

- Having to wrap the backup gifts

- Cleaning the house again because all the glitter from ribbon has spread EVERYWHERE

- Having to actually start baking the cookies

- Cooking the meal

- Cleaning up the mess that comes from cooking and baking

- Welcoming people into your home

- Sacrificing having a seat because a good host doesn't allow their guest to sit on the floor

- Jumping up to get whatever the guest want

- Starting conversation with guests

- Maintaining conversation

- Trying not to let the conversation frizzle out into content silence paired with the occasional noncommittal humming

- Serving dinner

- Serving beverages

- Walking around and making sure everyone has had enough to eat and has enough to drink

- Asking if someone would like you to refill their drink or fix them more to eat all while silently hoping they tell you no and they'll do it themselves

- They say yes and now you must go refill their drink or plate

- Being one of the last to eat and drink at your own event

- Not finishing because someone calls your name

- Making a mental note to just eat more when everyone leaves later

- Begin more conversations

- Make lame jokes

- Make some good jokes

- Bask in the glory that you made people laugh

- Make your friends do a scavenger hunt that may or may not ruin friendships, but it's okay because "it's all in the name of fun!"

- Smooth over the rants and arguing that your competitive friends have engaged in

- Laugh it off

- Gift exchanges!

- Hold onto hope that the enigma of a friend that you got for secret santa actually likes your gift

- Celebrate if they like the gift

- Mourn your money in silence with a painted smile on your face if they don't

- Bring out the hot chocolate

- Playing the role of bartender for the hot chocolate

- Taking photos with everyone and making sure you get the photos to post later

- Wondering which photos to actually post

- Start funny conversations

- Ignore all the things that make growing up difficult

- Ignore any stress that's come from the outside world

- Relax when you see that everyone is enjoying being together

- Feel happy because everyone is getting along well and making plans for the future with excitement

- Schedule lunch dates and figuring out what movie you want to see next

- Wishing people a safe ride home as they leave

- Changing into pajamas and taking the makeup off

- Getting cozy and replaying it all in your head

- Smiling because you know it'll be the same place and time next year