Holiday Theme Parties

The holiday season is almost in full gear and a little planning will make things run more smoothly for your holiday get togethers. First, you must consider what kind of holiday party you would like to host.  Will you be throwing a formal, elegant party for family or colleagues, a fun cocktail soiree with your friends or a kid friendly party with activities and bite size treats? Once you’ve figured out what kind of party you want to have, planning the details will make your event unique and memorable for all of your guests.  We’ve come up with three complete crowd-pleasing party ideas to help you start planning your holiday get together.

The Elegant Party 

Impress the boss and your colleagues with an elegant get-together that is both traditional and chic!

Elegant Holiday Party

Décor: For a classy, elegant holiday party choose linens, napkins, and table décor in rich, decadent colors and textures. Dress up the table with floor length satiny linens. Use candles to add ethereal warmth to the table, creating a magical ambiance around the table.  Be sure to have a fabulous centerpiece; choose simple clear glass vases and fill them with flowers that fit your color theme. Consider using chair covers for a complete and luxurious look.  We like these choices from Mosaic. 

Gold Satin Linen

Mosaic Chair Cover 

     

Snacks: Ham, Gruyere and Honey Mustard Palmiers (Recipe)  and Toasted Brioche Roasted with Crème Fraiche Caviar (Recipe) 

Drink: Champagne

Music: A Charlie Brown Christmas Soundtrack (Listen) 

Gifts: Have your guests come with a small gift, wrapped anonymously. Later while enjoying drinks and dessert, play a trivia or guessing game.  Let whoever answers correctly (try to choose at least one suitable question per guest) gets to pick out of the present pile.

The Theme Party 

Invite the friends over for a night of fun holiday games, karaoke and tasty seasonal cocktails.  Holiday theme parties are a hit amongst close groups of people.  Have an Ugly Christmas Sweater party – for one night only you and your guests can wear your ugliest most obnoxious holiday sweaters for laughs! 

Fun Christmas Theme

Décor: Play with old-fashioned and somewhat cliché colors and prints for a fun, light-hearted feel that oozes holiday cheer. Use festive reds and greens in your décor and work with classic holiday motifs such as reindeer, elves and mistletoe.

Create a festive look with a bold color like red or a quintessential holiday plaid. Try these linens from Mosaic! 

Cherry Red Linen

Holiday Sparkle Plaid Linen

                       

     

Snacks:  Pigs in a blanket - or any finger food.  (recipe)  

Drink: Spiked Egg Nog (recipe) 

Music: Christmas All-Time Greatest Records (buy it here)  

Gifts: Secret Santa – A week or two before your party, try to gather your friends to pick a   name out of a hat for the person they will buy a gift for, set a money limit, and give each person a red or green bag (that way everyone’s gift looks the same) with a folded card to write the person’s name on.  Have your guests bring their gifts with the folded card to the party, the host distributes the gifts and the receiver must try to guess who the gift is from. 

The Kid’s Party

Show the kids some true holiday spirit with a party that celebrates the season.  Have a snowman building party with an array of “toppings” for eyes, noses, mouths and arms, decorate and bake holiday cookies, make ornaments, string popcorn garlands and watch Christmas movies. 

Kids Cookie Decorating Party

Décor: Fill the table with simple, fun and artsy items for the kids to use to make cookies, holiday cards, decorate ornaments or whatever arts & craft you will have them do.  Keep the feeling upbeat with bright colors and fun patterns like polka dots.  

White with Red Moon Dots linen

Snacks: Homemade Bagel Bites (Recipe) 

Drink: Hot Chocolate

Music: Children’s Christmas Favorites (try this) 

Gift: Be sure to send all your little guests home with their finished works of art, a goodie bag full of candy and a small prize.

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Pinspiration: Top 5 Thanksgiving Pinterest Boards

Getting ready for the holidays has become easier and lots more fun with sites like Pinterest which help get your creative juices flowing. You can create boards on Pinterest, which can help you organize your holiday planning.  With Thanksgiving just around the corner, use Pinterest for interesting and delicious recipes, clever decorating ideas, theme inspiration, color scheme or anything else which needs inspiration.  When done creating your boards, share with friends and have them give you their ideas too! Here are some of our favorite Thanksgiving Pinterest boards to help guide you! 

Chocolate Pumpkin Pie from Vintage Mixer 

VintageMixer : Salt Lake City foodie and hospitality guru Becky Rosenthal, shares her brilliant recipes and hosting tips on her blog, Vintage Mixer. Vintage Mixer’s pinterest boards are equally inspiring with lots of Utah-inspired recipes and traditional hosting techniques.  Find great recipes and party ideas on their “thanksgiving inspiration” board. 

Wool Acorn Utensil Decor 

The Wool Acorn:  Proudly titled “the BEST Thanksgiving Board Ever,” The Wool Acorn’s pin holiday pin board features simple yet clever ideas on how to enhance your Thanksgiving décor. 

Thankful Pie Craft by My Sister's Suitcase

My Sister’s Suitcase: Celebrate:”2 sisters who share a love of all things creative!” The two share inspiration for home décor, DIY projects, upcycling, kids activities, and free printables!  Their board “Celebrate: Fall”  has plenty of fun DIY crafts and recipes to try in the fall!

Koyal Centerpieces 

Koyal Wholesale Weddings : Not only are they one of the largest weddings and event supply companies out there, but they also have one of largest number of Pinterest boards ever!  With 100 boards of full of ideas for themed weddings, party décor, lighting ideas, and style inspiration.  Their board “Thanksgiving Parties” is full of beautiful ideas and yummy treats to suit any Thanksgiving party. 

Delicious Turkey Recipes

Family Circle Magazine :  Family Circle Magazine is dedicated to putting families first.  In both their publication and on their Pinterest boards, they deliver wonderful ideas, recipes, and living inspiration.  Their “Thanksgiving" board is full of side dish recipes and different ways to make your holiday turkey.  Also check out their “fall décor” board  for fun fall crafts and their “turkey” board for ideas on how to use leftover turkey.  

Follow Mosaic on Pinterest  for great party ideas and inspiration! 

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Thanksgiving Table Settings

Your table gives guests their first impression of the kind of mood you’re setting for dinner.  The biggest dinner party of the year is just around the corner, so now is the time to start planning how you want to present your Thanksgiving feast.  Making your Thanksgiving table unique is not difficult and creating it can actually be fun too.  Let the table be inspired by the season and the beautiful colors that dot the landscape, as well as a reflection of your home by adding personal touches. Consider incorporating handwritten place cards or menu cards,  or even add pictures of the family as part of the centerpiece.  Here are some great ideas on how to make your Thanksgiving table welcoming and special for you and your guests!

Festive Linens

 Fall Colored Linens 

 Start designing your Thanksgiving table with fabulous linens that will act as the backdrop for your other décor.  If you prefer printed linens, go for something subtle yet festive so not to distract from everything else happening on the table.  Or if you prefer solid linens, choose one in a bold fall color for a rich festive look, or a natural color and texture for a rustic, traditional look.  Mosaic has hundreds of linens to choose from to make your holiday table look stunning!

Moss Sonoma Linen by Mosaic

Go for a classic detail in muted colors for an elegant, traditional look.

Orange Fortuny Crush Linen by Mosaic

Play with bold colors in interesting textures for a cheerful and festive look. 

Copper Sheer Circles by Mosaic

Choose a sheer linen with a clean modern print for an updated, chic look. 




                               









Unique Center Pieces

Grape Centerpiece

It doesn’t have to cost a fortune to create a unique and very attractive centerpiece, in fact a quick trip to the grocery store or farmer’s market can be all you need for a great fall centerpiece like the one above. On trend, centerpieces can be informal arrangements comprised of grapes, mini pumpkins, gourds, kumquats, oranges and fall leaves.  Click HERE for instructions on how to make this fall centerpiece.

Printed Menus

Thanksgiving Menu

Having a menu set out on the table for your guests to see is a creative way to engage guests, adding a thoughtful touch to your evening.  If you have nice handwriting, try writing  your menu on a thick cardstock, or simply make one in a word document and print them out. Here is a great site that will show you how to make your own printed menu. 

Place Cards

Place Cards

Avoid seating arrangement confusion by setting place cards down for your guests.  These are also an affordable and fun project, and the perfect way to let the kids get involved with the decorations on for your Thanksgiving dinner.  Make sure you get a list of everyone who is coming and the correct spelling of their name.  Then the rest is up to your imagination! Print out the names and place them onto real fall leaves or paste the names to pumpkins for a cute souvenir.  Click HERE  for great place card ideas. 

Pick a Theme

As stated before, your Thanksgiving feast should be a reflection of you and your home from everything from the setting and décor, to the food you will be serving.  Here are a few themed Thanksgiving dinner table ideas. 

Classic Table Setting

Classic Setting 

An elegant classic table setting is fit for any home.  Use seasonal colored roses for centerpieces, formal china, white or ivory linens, and place your hor d’oeuvres on pedestals made from plates and bowls.  Copy childhood pictures of your guests in black and white and set them as place cards. 

Rustic Setting



 

Rustic
Natural details like fall leaves and sprigs add a rustic and simple touch to this setting.  Garnish each of your napkins with a fall leaf, use gourds as centerpieces, and branches for décor.

Modern Setting

Modern and Chic
Shiny silver pieces arepaired with a black and white base and accented with ivory pumpkins, roses, and candles -perfect for a modern Thanksgiving in the city! 

Kids Table 

Kids Table

Accommodate your young guests and their short attention spans with a paper table cover and some crayons tucked into their napkins. Perhaps provide a couple books about Thanksgiving and a fun craft for them to work while the adults linger over coffee and dessert.  Here are some great “kids table” ideas.

                                                                                   

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Pumpkin Play

One of the most exciting things about fall is picking out a pumpkin, carving it, and displaying your masterpiece for everyone to see!  Pumpkins are great for fall décor, they make lovely dishes both savory and sweet, and they come in beautiful shapes, sizes and colors.  Enjoy the pumpkin season by carving or painting them, using the pulp for yummy recipes and roasting the seeds!  It’s almost impossible to waste any part of a pumpkin! Here are a couple ideas for what to do with pumpkins this year.

Pumpkin Centerpiece 

 Pumpkins look great when they are incorporated into centerpieces, wreaths, used as porch décor, or just tastefully placed around the house.  If you’re not a fan of messy pumpkin carving, painting pumpkins is just as fun and looks great!  We love how silver or gold gilded pumpkins look for a modern and chic style, or chevronstripes in different colors for a trendy-boho inspired look.  Play with shapes, sizes and textures and pair them with votive candles and glassware to create a lovely fall centerpiece.

Etched Pumpkins 

Learning how to carve a pumpkin takes practice but with a little time and patience, you can create some pretty amazing things with them. Traditional funny-faced jack-o-lanterns are a safe place to start and add a fun flair, but if you think you can handle something slightly more challenging, try doing something a little untraditional like etching a silhouette  , elegant monogram or harlequin print into the thick skin of your pumpkin.  HERE are some simple instructions to get you started on etching a beautiful pumpkin. 

Pumpkin Penne

Once your pumpkins are carved and looking fabulous, what can you do with all the leftover pumpkin seeds and pulp? Pumpkin’s rich, creamy texture makes for wonderful soups and sauces, it can also be grilled or sautéed as a tasty addition to any meal.  This pumpkin penne recipe is perfect for a chilly fall evening.  

Pumpkin Apple Cider

Jazz up your usual apple cider with a dollop of pumpkin puree.  This particular recipe includes standout fall flavors (vanilla, ginger, and pumpkin).  Entertain with this drink and you’re guest will love it!  Try the recipe HERE. 

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Pop-Up Craze!

In an age where we have everything at our finger tips and know what's going on at any given moment (via smart phones and the Internet) the "unexpected" sells!  Pop-up events are beginning to be all the rage in marketing, event planning, and promotions.They are not your typical event planned and executed to perfection with months of lead time: instead they are set up in temporary sites, and are done so with whimsy, flair and at times with a bit of urban grit and humor!  Usually they are set in an unexpected place; think impromptu art galleries in abandoned store fronts, temporary designer shops in market squares, or surprise yoga classes on college campuses. Their short life line tends to grab the interest of people for its randomness and draw them in before it's gone forever.

Benetton's Pop-Up Experience

Pop-up shops have become popular with retailers.  Large corporations such as Target, have pitched random tents all over the US for week-long pop-up fun and then tear down the next week.  Target celebrated the release of designer Isaac Mizrahi's fashion line for Target by pitching a 1,500 square foot pop-up in Rockefeller Center.  United Colors of Benetton has also opened a pop up store in Soho,NYC from early September to December 31st to honor the "art of knit."  The store is a mixture of retail and an art gallery featuring the provocative works of You Nguyen.

Pittsburgh's Project Pop-up Night Market

In Pittsburgh, the Downtown Pittsburgh Partnership has been on the Project Pop-Up: Night Market. It first "popped-up" at the July Gallery Crawl, in a parking lot on Liberty Ave. between two buildings.  The night market featured 15 local vendors, food from Conflict Kitchen, and Tugboat Printshop, while a DJ accompanied the entire event.

In London, The London Fashion Bus tours the streets of Britain and visits areas that may lack in the popular  uber-trendy shops and boutiques that London is known for. The bus parks and opens its doors to the public to reveal a lovely boutique on the inside that showcases over 1,400 pieces by 40 designers.

The pop-up craze fits right in with the entertainment economy, experience economy and surprise economy.  It's all about surprising the customer and getting a viral outburst of marketing.  It also helps make use of the space that is already provided and doing something fun, productive and entertaining with it.    

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Amazing Winter Getaways for Every Type

Winter is just around the corner and now is a perfect time to plan and schedule a winter getaway.  Whether you plan to stay within the country or travel to a far – off destination, a winter getaway can be just what you need to ward off the cold-weather-blues. A winter vacation should be an extension of your individuality and personal aspirations- a little bit of something you like and something to which you would like to be exposed. Here are six great getaways for every type: from winter loving snow bunnies to hot weather beach bodies, soul searchers in need of spiritual healing, food lovers in search of a new culinary experience or families looking to engage in quality time.  Here are our favorite choices for a perfect winter getaway! 

Sun and Fun – Miami, FL

Miami Beach

WHY: From its colorful night life to its warm beautiful beaches, a winter Miami vacation is an ideal place to round up a crew of friends while having the time of your life! Miami hosts endless sources of entertainment, high-end shopping, great food and an amazing cultural scene. Celebrate the holidays by having Christmas dinner on the beach with your friends; some of the restaurants along the boardwalk serve versions of Christmas dinners on open terraces or ring in the New Year with one of the biggest parties in the world, New Year’s Eve Party at South Beach. Take a walk or go biking on the boardwalk, or go sailing on Biscayne Bay. Have authentic Cuban food in Little Havana. Check out the tons of art festivals Miami has going on during the winter months and end the day with its very lively and exclusive nightlife. 

Outdoorsy- Aspen, CO

Aspen, CO

WHY: If you’re the outdoorsy, adventurous type, Aspen is the ideal winter destination for you. Ski on Aspen’s steep, powdery mountain slopes, go hiking in its beautiful aspen groves, or curl up by the fire in the warm and cozy log cabins. You can find some very reasonable winter vacationing packages that come with complimentary instructional classes and tours HERE. 

 Romantic - Venice, Italy

Venice

WHY: Are you planning a winter honeymoon? Or perhaps just need to spend some quality time with your sweetie?  Why not take them to one of the most romantic places on earth?  Rich in history, famous for its food, cafes, and watery roads, Venice, Italy is for lovers.  Though prices are never going to be cheap for Venice, winter rates are far lower than the spring/summer fares, and with less crowds and traffic you can enjoy a less hectic and more relaxed slice of life in Italy.  During the “off-season” Venice’s art scene is in full swing with InvernoVeneziano – the Venetian Winter Festival, the festival goes from November to February and is full of special events, performances, and concerts to enjoy. Indulge in authentic Italian food, sip wine by candlelight, or take a romantic gondola ride.  Find a good package for your Venice vacation HERE. 

  

Healing - Sedona, AZ

Sedona

WHY: In need of some R & R? Perhaps the healing powers of the Sedona Vortexes can help? Sedona, Arizona is known worldwide as a spiritual healing mecca for its mysterious vortex meditation spots, luxurious spas and yoga retreats.   Characterized by the surrounding red rock formations and Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona is the epitome of desert beauty.  It is visited by people from all over the world who come to experience the healing services Sedona has to offer.  Visit the famous vortexes and experience their mind altering effects, get a massage and an organic facial at one of Sedona’s well-known spas , or take a relaxing, scenic hike through the red rock canyon.  Find the perfect healing retreat HERE. 

Family Time – Cayman Islands

Cayman Islands

WHY: Spend some quality time with your family by enjoying a fun, action packed trip to the Cayman Islands. The kids will never get bored at the Caymans because there is so much to do: playing with sea turtles at The CaymanTurtle Farm, learning to surf and snorkel at Black Pearl Skate and Surf Park, swimming with friendly stingrays at Stingray City, or playing on an actual pirate ship while learning about the Cayman’s pirate and maritime culture.  Families will love engaging in the culture and experiences the Cayman’s have to offer!  It’s sure to create unforgettable memories that the family can share forever.  Book your family winter vacation at the Cayman Islands HERE. 

Foodie – Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok

 WHY: For food lovers and enthusiasts, Bangkok Thailand is a must!  Walk your way through the delicious vendors of the Bangkok street markets or river markets  and taste the many interesting flavors of Thai cuisine.  In the markets on the streets of Bangkok, wander among the stalls to find delicious sausages, amazing desserts, authentic soups and noodles, and off-the-wall delicacies.  Thailand doesn’t have much of a restaurant culture; instead, it’s all about market food so take your time and try a different place for each meal, each day of your visit. Take a Bangkok food tour, which can help guide you to key places for must-have, mouthwatering, authentic Thai food.  Catfish with mango sauce anyone? Click HERE to schedule your Bangkok food tour.  

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