HOME GATHERINGS
40 | December 2019
SECRET
SAN TA
A kids-only gift
exchange, below
right, is a highlight.
Chelsea and Jamie
ask for early RSVPs
so there’s time to
draw names well
before the event.
Chelsea always has
a couple extra gifts
on hand in case
somebody forgets.
PARTI NG
GIFT
Foil-wrapped
candies in cute
boxes meant for
giving gift cards
(two for $4 at
Target), below, are
an easy thank-you
for guests to
grab on their way
out the door.
[HOSTING HACKS]
EASY
DOES IT
Chelsea and Jamie’s
tips for making a
party festive and,
above all, stress-free:
INVITATIONS
They spread the word
via digital invitations
from paperless
post.com. (When
stationers don’t worry
about paper
invitations, trust
us, you don’t have
to either.)
WHAT TO SERVE
Here’s their formula
for a menu that
“looks labor-intensive
but isn’t,” Chelsea
says. 1 Order a
HoneyBaked ham
and pick it up the
morning of the party.
2 Hit the freezer
section at Costco for
favorite side dishes,
such as scalloped
potatoes. Bake and
put in pretty
serving dishes, then
dress them up with
extra cheese and
fresh herbs. 3 Toss a
big green salad.
GREENERY &
FLOWERS
Chelsea orders
wreaths and garlands
from farmgirlfl owers
.com for about the
same price as she
could get them from a
stand, she says. She
buys white fl owers for
the buff et table
at Trader Joe’s. ■
BUYING INFORMATION: BHG.com/Resources
WE AREN’T TRYING TO IMPRESS WITH
FAMILY RECIPES. WE JUST WANT PEOPLE TO
COME RELAX AND HAVE FUN.” CHELSEA SHUKOV
