It dawned on me today that there are 16 people coming for Christmas lunch on Saturday and I am pretty much flying solo. Yes, my marvelous Husband will be here, but he cannot decorate to save his ass. It also dawned on me that I
1. Have little or no idea how to decorate a Christmas table
2. Am utterly clueless as to how a proper Christmas menu works
3. I have not wrapped a single gift
4. I THINK all the gift shopping is done
Just about the only thing that’s organised is the meat. Everyone knows what to bring (not that I’ll be eating any of it). And there will be potatoes and rice. The rest is, well, vague.
A friend suggested I visit the Martha Stewart website and I was all hyped up and couldn’t wait to get to my laptop tonight. I was rubbing my palms in glee and had my pen and paper ready to take notes and make detailed lists.
Only, my interwebs was borked. My 3G was borked. Broken. Finito. Kaput. Fast Forward to about 15 minutes ago when I finally decided, after much quality time on the phone to Vodacom, to plug my laptop into the actual modem and now I’m connected. Only, it is now 10h55pm and I’ve run out of steam. So, I’m going to do this little rant and go to bed with my (broken) pen and paper and make some lists.
I’m beginning to think it’s harder work to organise Christmas than to actually be AT work.
Doesn’t help that Husband is baffled as to why my nickers are in a knot. He clearly missed the Mother and Mother-In-Law and Sister-In-Law coming over for lunch bit. The man has no idea of the inner workings of the female mind. If I fuck this up I’ll never hear the end of it. Never.
Updates to follow…
You will be fine. Stop stressing, crank up the Boney M and start enjoying this Christmas thing! Here’s my tuppence:
1. We cover the table with Christmas wrapping paper, gooi crackers, red/green/Christmassy serviettes, some green leaves with red berries as fake holly, tinsel and cottonwool as fake snow – voila – easy-peasy decorations – you’re aiming for a red, green, white and silver or gold colour scheme – edible Christmas decorations are also a safe bet
2. Our Christmas menu: Starters: prawn cocktail and/or caprese salad (tomato + mozzarella + pesto + basil)
Main: turkey, gammon, cranberry jelly, croquet potatoes, brussel sprouts, peas, carrots, chipolata sausages in bacon
Dessert: traditional family trifle
3. & 4. Make your lists, skat! And make like Santa and check them twice.
Looking forward to the updates.
You’ll be absolutely fine – last night may have just been a case of feeling a little overwhelmed for being so exhausted..
Christmas table does not have to be OTT.
I have a plain cream table cloth & a pretty Christmas Runner, add Christmas Crackers to the mix.
This year I bought table confetti from Spar, decided to use the silver & green ones, of which I will sprinkle just a few (as there is no DG to help clean & DH.. welll.. you know what they’re like), Some Green & White Christmas Serviettes & Walla.
The glasses for juice, beer & wine are going on the side board(less clutter on table), more space for food.
Prep as much as you can in advance, gammon can be served cold – mmm with yummy mustard..
Good luck… PS don’t forget to pour yourself a glass of red or white or some bubbly, helps take the edge off..
Hee, we don’t even know WHERE we will be on Saturday. As long as the kids are happy, the rest can take care of itself.
Don’t Stress! Our Christmas menu: Every one brings a meat, so Mother in law is bringing Lamb, my mom is doing gammon, i’m doing chicken (no one in our family likes turkey) Some potatoes, and some veg. We don’t even worry about starters cos otherwise there is too much food. Trifle for dessert.
On the table, i normally use a plain table cloth with placemats, add crackers, christmassy serviettes or if i cant get those i co-ordinate with the crackers so maybe red or silver, the centre piece is usually a wreath with a big candle in the middle. I don’t put too much on the table otherwise it can get very cluttered. I also put wine glasses on the table. I usually try serve the food away from the table as there is more space.
I would suggest you go with what you are comfortable with. Remember it’s about family and being with the people you love not about how professional a spread you put out. Just relax and try enjoy it!
I have been forbidden from making a starter and I LOVE prawn coctail! Thank you for all you suggestions!
Thank you for the lovely comment and trust me, there will be wine in my glass from early on!
That’s divine, have a great day!
Our spread sounds a lot like yours, the meat is distributed, so I’m battling mostly with the side dishes.
Thank you!!
just go with the flow,i find a healthy dose of winging it always makes for a good event.
LOL, winging is normally my middle name 🙂 Thanks for popping in!
Whahahaha :). Ons maak beurte om Kersfees te host. Elke gesin bring een koue vleis en een slaai of ander goed soos deur die hostess versoek, bv sjampane, crackers, ens. Ek doen tong en rysslaai. Die rede vir die koue kos is dat almal dit die dag voor die tyd kan maak en net Kersdag saambring. Niemand werk hulle self dood op kersdag nie en almal eet hulleself stukkend. Die kos wat oorbly word verdeel onder almal en almal het oorskiet vir die volgende dag 🙂
Omw! Thank goodness I have never had to host Christmas lunch (yet)! Good luck!!!
Thinking back our side dishes have always been a green salad, potato or pasta salad, roast potatoes and a few basic veg like pumpkin, etc. BUT personally I would go with whatever is easiest! I am eternally lazy 🙂
just want to wish you oceans of luck! i have nothing worthwhile to contribute since i have never hosted the Christmas do … YET! I will surely be in a flat panic the day I have to!
you got loads of great ideas here though!
Dis hoe ons dit ook gewoonlik doen, maar my Ma is nog ‘n bietjie plat, so ek staan maar bont.
Dit werk die beste so!
O, en die oumense MOET warm aartappels en rys kry…
Honey, I have the lazy certificate!
Thanks for the feedback!
What a lovely croud to make such great suggestions!
I have 14 for Xmas dinner with no help from any of them
For the table think candles and balls on the table,strings of lights also look great on the table with organza.
I do the traditional roast Xmas dinner…turkey and gammon with potatoes and veg.
Shout if you need recipes,have mine all out and ready for the day.
Best of luck, and here is my advice: look in control, but just a touch frazzled. You are usually so calm in the chaos (or at least appear to be wink, wink) they might not realise how hard you are working. Make them realise 😉
P.S. You are free to ignore this advice as I have just returned from the dentist. Half my face is still non-functioning which probably means half my brain is non-functioning too. And it being the left side, logic is out the door.
Yikes. Also don’t know where we’ll be yet. Just going to jump in car and park off at the first place that grabs us. Will be thinking of you with the Outlaws watching you.
You are awesome, thank you 🙂
LOL, it’s the wine that makes me look calm sweetie!
Eeek. Dentist? Are you ok?
Snort @ Outlaws. They are quite cool, just set in their ways.
Have a wonderful Christmas Shell!
brilliant!!
oh sucki.. you sure do know how to make me laugh.. hope the half brain/half face wore off quickly
@T Nothing too serious, took great big bite from corn on the cob, piece of tooth shouted noooo! and quickly vacated my mouth. But luckily it’s one almost at the very back so I just go a filling. However, if I hang upside-down with my mouth wide open it’s not gonna be pretty, so don’t look back there…
@C Sadly, it has worn off which means I am once again forced to admit the sleepy brain is a normal state of mind. But, as long as it puts a smile on your face, I’m a happy girl 🙂
Mwah.