Saturday, December 5, 2009

TWOC: Holiday Parties

So this week is all about Holiday Parties. I have to tell you about a little party I have every year. It is called the Annual GirLiE Christmas Party.

It all started 7 years ago when my brother was engaged to my sweet sis-in-law Alicia. I thought it would be fun to have a Christmas get-together for the girls in my family and the girls in her family so we could all get to know each other a little better. Add a few great friends into the mix and it was so much fun that we have continued to have it every year and it just keeps getting better.

The party is always the Sunday before Christmas. Everyone knows. So that when the planners start to fill up for the month of December, this event is already on the books. No one can miss the Annual Girlie Party!

Here's the breakdown of the party elements {it is really quite involved}:

Attire: PJs. Everyone wears pajamas. This was a new tradition implemented last year. It really takes the fuss out of having to look cute {although everyone still does) and it gives us an excuse to buy new Christmas jammies! Win-win.



{I added the zit for effect...not!}

Food: I love to make A LOT of very fattening, yummy food for the party. This year I let everyone make a request on the Evite for the dish they would like to have. So far this year's menu is Spinach/Strawberry Salad, Tuna Sandwiches {think Panera}, Spinach Artichoke Dip, some type of soup, and enchiladas were requested, but I'm still trying to fit that one in. Maybe enchilada soup? I am glad I did the request thing this year because now I don't have to plan the menu.

Annoying Ornament Game: Everyone brings an ornament. We begin the party by doing a little ornament swap. Each guest pins the ornament they end up with on their shirt. {This was really funny last year because I didn't tell anyone what the ornament was for and some people brought HUGE ones that nearly touched the ground.} There is a designated word such as "gift" and if you ever hear someone say that word you can take all their ornaments. Guests get to take home all the ornaments they still have at the end of the night. Pretty fun! Here is a pic of my sis-in-law sporting her ornaments mid-party last year.


Gift Exchange: We have a traditional "Chinese" gift exchange. The kind where everyone argues over the rules from year to year and you get to steal stuff. That one. Everyone brings a $15 "girlie" gift--jewelry, frames, home decor, candles, etc. We really get down and dirty with this game. Stealing is the name of the game. But in the end everyone is happy because all of the gifts are always great. This year I decided to change things up a bit by having a theme for the gifts. We are bringing Christmas platters or cookie jars. I can't wait to see all the beautiful selections!

Game: We always try to play one game. The favorite of years past has been Catch Phrase. It is fairly simple and fun for everyone. I tried Bunko one year and it didn't really go over too well. Any game will do.

And finally! The best part is the...

Cookie Swap: YES! There is a cookie swap, too. Everyone brings a lot of a unique cookie or bar to share. At the end of the night I give everyone a box to fill up. That way we have just enough sweets to carry us through to Christmas just a few days away. Here is a pic of the goodies last year. Sorry for the poor quality--it really is a sight to behold in person, but I had to scan these.



I think that's it. Whew. You know those movies where they take parts from a bunch of different movies and put them all together as a parody? Well this is kind of like that for Christmas Parties. Except for the parody party... It's a lot of stuff going on for one party but it is so much fun and worth every second of planning and prep! I can't wait 'till Dec. 20th!

It would be awesome to have one of these parties with all of you gals who have been participating in TWOC! We could really have some fun! I know I haven't been able to comment a lot on all of the posts that have been linked up in recent weeks, but I have been to visit you! Each and every link is so inspiring! I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you all a little bit through all of it! Only 2 more weeks after this one!!! Where has the time gone?


The Giveaway!
This week Linda from Craftaholics Anonymous is giving away some really cute Party Coasters for a random winner. You can click on the picture to find out just how she makes them. I just love them. The coasters for this giveaway will be Christmas themed. Craftaholics Anonymous is a GREAT blog for all you DIY'ers so go check it out! It will make you smile:)




  • For 1 chance to win these Nifty coasters, link up a post that is about Holiday Parties.

  • For 1 chance to win, leave a comment letting me know you are a follower who wants to win.

  • Do both and be entered twice!



It's that simple! I can't wait to hear about all of your holiday festivities!

Twelve Weeks of Christmas

Click above to find out about TWOC or to view previous weeks!




10 comments:

  1. What a great party!!! I started hosting cookie exchanges about 18 years ago, but people complained that they didn't want to make all those cookies...(imagine that!?!!) so I made it an ornament exchange. What fun. Your shin-dig sounds so much more fun!!! I will be posting next weekend about my ornament exchange and you can hear what all we do. I just wish I lived near you and was on your invitation list!!!

    sweetjeanette.blogspot.com

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  2. i'm a follower and would love to win - craftaholic is awesome :D

    that party sounds like a blast, wish i could come :D

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  3. Your GIRLIE party is the IT party of the season. I know the three of us in my family look forward to it ALL year long. Mom starts asking in August if you've mentioned what we're doing this year as far as gifts, food, etc. lol. Love it, love it, love it! I still can't believe I missed last year. Curse you stomach virus!!!! Can't wait for this year! And has it really been 7?!

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  4. The party looks like loads of fun, food, and more! : ) Merry Christmas!

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  5. What a blast! I think I need a party like that one too!

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  6. I have been having a Girls Christmas Party for 20 years. We may see each other only at that time and what fun we have. A neat thing I have done is take questions from "The Christmas ? Conversation Piece" book by Bret Nicholaus and Paul Lowrie. I have put one question each on slips of paper and let guest draw a question and we all answer. Example: Santa's load is a little heavier this year and he needs two new reindeer to help pull the sleigh, what would you name the new reindeer? Example #2: If you could see snow in any other color than white, what would you want to see?
    I have also made a notebook with a question at the top of each page....people write their answers down...I am so happy to have answers from my dad and learned a lot about him because of this.
    You get wonderful and thoughtful answers to these questions. I love it.

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  7. Of course your party is the best! You couldn't be happy with the Chinese Gift Exchange (Jeff calls it "Dirty Santa") or the cookie exchange! That is great that you do both and play a game, and have fun wearing your pj's, too! I wish my sister-in-laws and Mom-in-law lived closer, so we could do that.

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  8. I LOVE this idea! I may have to steal this for next year!!

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  9. I love that you're all wearing PJs! I'm going to one at friends's house this Saturday, I should suggest that! Looks like a lovely assortment of cookies and a big help with holiday baking.

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