The holiday season often inspires hosts and guests to make an extra special effort. It can be surprisingly easy to take everyday entertaining ideas from blah to voila, with a few simple touches.
Dress up drinks and desserts
A well-placed garnish or elegant decoration added to a drink or dessert is a simple way to up the wow factor. Try using an AFTER EIGHT mint chocolate Straw as a tasty swizzle stick. Or jazz up a store-bought cheesecake by decorating the top with classy chocolates such as TURTLES OR AFTER EIGHT. These little touches create a restaurant-style finish that pleases the palette.
Music, lights, action
The right atmosphere can set the mood for a great party – so consider your lighting and music choices carefully. Mini lights, candles and table lamps soften a room, so give your overhead lights a night off when your guests arrive.
As for music, if you want to visit around the table, keep the volume low and the music subdued; if you want energy, then kick up the beat and volume. Why not premix a play list or assign a guest to be the DJ so the music keeps flowing? It’s one less thing to think about as a host.
Be a great guest
When you’re invited to a party, remember rule number one: always bring a gift for your host. It’s easy to be creative. How about a silver tube of AFTER EIGHT Straws in a martini shaker, along with a tasty cocktail recipe? Or tuck a holiday ornament into brightly coloured mittens. How about giving a small photo album, then sending your snaps of the party along with your thank you note? It will be a thoughtful memento for the host.
So this year, hosts and guests should try to go from ordinary to extraordinary with a little creativity, and celebrate the holidays with style and flare.
