Holiday Entertaining Guide

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 What would the holidays be without stockings? Host a gathering where guests (and their kids) prance about in their sportiest socks, then have a contest for the funkiest footwear. Another comfy idea: Host a posh pajama party for your girlfriends who love to get together but never have the time. If you don’t already own a pair of super-cute pajamas, head to Napa Valley Vintage Home and splurge. 1201 Main St., St. Helena (707) 963-7423.

Visit a local retirement community and spend time with a relative or stranger. Play board games, read a story, take a walk if they’re able or just offer an open ear to listen. Contact your local retirement community for visiting times and locations.

A festive wreath on the front door offers a warm welcome to visitors and makes your house shine with holiday spirit to all who pass by.

Take the family out to your local Christmas tree farm. Let the family select the perfect fit for your home, and cut it down as a family activity. Napa County: Napa Valley Christmas Tree Farm, 2130 Big Ranch Road, Napa (707) 252-1000. Solano County: Silveyville Tree Farm, 6208 Silveyville Road, Dixon (707) 678- 2304; silveyvilletreefarm.com. Yolo County: Jacob Mini Farm, 34905 Creeksedge Road, Davis (530) 753-3037.

Game time, whoot! Break out the dartboard, cards, and board games—Wits and Wagers is a staff favorite (Target, $29.99)—or set up the Wii with bowling, tennis or Guitar Hero, and let the fun and games begin! Make sure to have prizes on hand for winners. For a large crowd, set up games in different rooms so that folks can try their luck throughout the house. Add themed snacks like poker pretzels, popcorn balls and mini-burgers and guests of all ages will jump into the fun.

If there is any time of year to splurge on fresh flowers for your home, the holidays are that time.

Entertainment doesn’t have to be fancy, just fun. Poll your friends: Are musicians willing to play a song or two? How about two actors performing a comedy routine? A magician? A children’s choir? Have someone give salsa lessons and dance the night away. Or go all-out and hire a professional performer through Celebrity Gems, 4061 E. Castro Valley Blvd. #118, Castro Valley (510) 581-5964; celebritygems.com.

Mix up some homemade eggnog (perhaps two blends: one for you, and one for the kids). Go to foodnetwork.com and search for “eggnog” to find your ideal recipe.

Work smart, play hard. The key to enjoying your own party is planning and preparation. Set the house up two days before the event. The day before, prep all the food and beverages. The day of the party, just pamper yourself, set out the food, light the candles, and turn on the tunes. Most importantly, enjoy yourself!

While seasonal candles provide aroma, why not use the real thing? In a saucepan, simmer cinnamon sticks, cloves and nutmeg in water—better yet, apple or cranberry juice—and let your home be filled with natural fragrances of the season.

An old-fashioned black-and white flick like It’s a Wonderful Life is sure to put guests in the spirit when played on a big screen in the background with the sound turned off.

Drive the family around town and look at all of the houses decorated for the holidays. Call your visitors bureau for some popular drives.

Decorative pillows are one of the easiest ways to add a festive touch. Use decorative pillowcases, instead of having a whole set of pillows that takes up storage space for the rest of the year.

For eco-chic entertaining, serve water in pitchers versus bottles, buy locally grown foods, reusable dishes (if you don’t have enough, rent) or biodegradable dishware. Instead of cut flowers, check out your local nursery for what’s in season and repot them in creative containers to match your party theme. Afterward, repurpose or repot them indoors or outdoors. For a wide selection of biodegradable dishware head to Nugget Markets, 130 Browns Valley Parkway, Vacaville (707) 469-6900; nuggetmarket.com.

 

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