Tree Trimming Party « Hellobee Boards

Tree Trimming Party

By Mrs. Lemon-Lime Sep 28, 2015

We're hosting a tree trimming party and I'd like some input on a few things. Let me just say Christmas is a very secular holiday for me.

Invites: one of my good friends is Jewish, would you invite him & his family? ETA: my husband has Jehovah Witness friends and he said not to invite that couple at all. I just don't want to offend.

LO Activities: there may be quite a few little people in attendance, some walking babies/toddlers to 2nd graders. I was thinking of putting a kid friendly movie on- not necessarily holiday related. Any recommendations for movies that won't inspire wild live action reenactments after it goes off? I was also thinking of cookie decorating that would mimic decorative ornaments. Thoughts?

Time: I really don't want a party that drags into the evening since lately my bedtime is 8:30. Is a party from 3 to 7 pm still festive?

Decor: All we have are door wreaths and ornaments for the tree. I plan to DIY table decor- modern Christmas trees with bejeweled appliques for the food buffet. Sounds tacky, but the Pinterest inspiration is really lovely. I'm kind of lost at what else I can do that will be high impact and festive, but not add clutter. Any ideas?

TIA

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25 comments

Mrs D
grapefruit / 4545 posts

Sep 28, 2015

@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Here are my thoughts...1) my jewish friends all love being involved in Christmas festivities. So I say yes. You could always approach it more personal with them "would love to have you come however I understand if you are not comfortable" 2) Movie is great! We played Frozen last year at our cookie party! I like cookie decorating, pine cone decorating, for the little ones you could have canvas's to make 'mistle-toes" - google it or other handprint things. 3) Timing from 3-7 sounds fab too me a pregnant mother of a 2 year old. Its after nap - but does cover dinner time for kiddos so may want to plan that with food. 4) I think making the foodscaping your decor focal point is perfect! I dont think you need to have the whole house done to the nines. If you want to add more to your already existing decor I would recommend Costco Garland. It was the perfect addition to my simple decor - its $30-40 per 9' section and GREAT quality. I also find cheap ornaments inside hurricans/martini glasses/vases to be gorgeous simple decor. And flameless candles (costco also has these) are lovely and safe for the kiddos!

Some food thoughts...hot cocoa bar (grown up and kid options), mac n cheese bar (again grown up and kid topping options) as well as other simple things. I LOVE Trader Joe's for easy appetizers!

ETA - they are Christmas related but I LOVE the older Christmas claymation movies...rudolp and the abominable snowman. Target usually has a 4 set DVD for a good price!
erinbaderin
pomelo / 5573 posts

Sep 28, 2015

I would definitely invite your Jewish friend. If they're not comfortable at a "Christmas" party they'll decline, but I would be more hurt over not being invited than being included in a party that wasn't about my religion.

I think a movie for the kids would be a good idea, except - will they be in the same room as you? I feel like there would be competition between the buzz of adults chatting at a party and a movie for the kids. And sugar cookies with icing and various sprinkles would be a great activity! Or maybe little gingerbread houses and candy?

I agree with Mrs D that those hours sound great to me, and would be great for people with kids, but that it's over dinner so you'd have to keep that in mind. I think, thought, that you could go even earlier - 1-5ish - and just have appetizers, apple cider, maybe some mulled wine.

I think with the tree and the wreath you don't need too much more! Maybe a string of lights around the ceiling or something, or some red bows on your bannister. And I'm again going to second Mrs D with ornaments in large vases. Maybe a few poinsettias.
Mrs. Lemon-Lime
wonderful pea / 17279 posts

Sep 28, 2015

@Mrs D: we have people coming in from out of town, so I'm making a full on holiday dinner. I love the hot cocoa bar idea! I stocked up on Moscato during a Fresh Market promotion and plan to get a bunch of Rosa Regale, a sparkling red that goes over well. What do people usually spike their hot chocolate with?
Mrs D
grapefruit / 4545 posts

Sep 28, 2015

@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: In terms of alcohol...you can do peppermint, khalua, prob bailys...all would be yummy. Then there are a bazillion "topping" options! Check it out on pinterest - they have loads of pictures of all kinds of cute toppings in glass ball jars tied at the top with ribbons for decor. Costco also has HUGE deals on large spools of ribbon for the holidays!
Mrs D
grapefruit / 4545 posts

Sep 28, 2015

Swoon!!!!
Mrs. Lemon-Lime
wonderful pea / 17279 posts

Sep 28, 2015

@erinbaderin: the kids can take over the family room for the movie. The weather will be nice enough outside for the adults to use the patio (we live in FL).

The ornaments in vases are totally doable! We have two large glass containers in the family room that house battery operated candles. The candles sit on dried beans, but I could swap out the beans for festove ribbon. Thanks to my past bday, I now am the proud owner of three obnoxious red vases that could house repotted white poinsettias or fragrant evergreen.
MrsSRS
nectarine / 2987 posts

Sep 28, 2015

Happy Feet is a good one if you want wintry but don't want Frozen. For my family of LOs a 3-7 party would be my dream come true. I would invite my Jewish friends if it was a pretty secular version of the holiday. Maybe a tree cut out of felt with felt ornaments hanging on a wall for the kids to play with?
honeybear
nectarine / 2085 posts

Sep 28, 2015

This sounds like a lot of fun!

One thought on cookie-decorating: Although this seems like it would be entertaining, I think it would drive me nuts as a hostess. I admit to having major issues with sticky fingers and faces on children (and even bigger issues when those fingers find their way to my walls and furniture before being washed...), but I would probably drop this activity in favor of something that won't attract bugs if you happen to miss an errant fingerprint when cleaning up, like making ornaments.

Would you link to the applique trees you're using as inspiration? I love making Christmas decorations!

For movies, I really like A Charlie Brown Christmas. It has a wonderful, festive soundtrack!
looch
wonderful pear / 26210 posts

Sep 28, 2015

One thing I like for kid activities that are not at all messy are foam kits...they have ones that are trains, gingerbread houses, etc, and it's basically stickers and foam boards.

http://www.amazon.com/3-D-Christmas-Train-Foam-Kit/dp/B00H31GA8A/ref=lp_9474016011_1_3?srs=9474016011&ie=UTF8&qid=1443469021&sr=8-3
plantains
grapefruit / 4671 posts

Sep 28, 2015

I have nothing to add except to say that the party sounds amazing!!!
Mrs. Lemon-Lime
wonderful pea / 17279 posts

Sep 28, 2015

@honeybear: here's the decor link!
http://fabricofmylife.co.uk/2011/12/02/deck-the-halls/

I'm not a fan of mess either and I would rather the parents complete the cookie decor (or whatever project) with their kids and not me anyway. That means I'd have to obligate them though and they may not like that too much. I really like the felt idea @MrsSRS: mentioned. A friend of mine growing up had one of the 12 Days of Christmas calendars made out of felt and we enjoyed sticking the pieces all over the place.

@Mrs D: that is a very festive cocoa bar! I don't think anyone else enjoys the beverage as much as I do, so all that joy may be lost on them lol.
honeybear
nectarine / 2085 posts

Sep 28, 2015

@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Thanks! I like that a lot!

Ornament-making doesn't have to be messy. This post has a bunch of ideas that you could adapt: http://handsonaswegrow.com/30-homemade-ornaments-for-the-kids/ I particularly like the snowflake with pipe cleaners. You could skip the beads for the toddlers.
Mrs. Lemon-Lime
wonderful pea / 17279 posts

Sep 28, 2015

@looch: thanks! Those foam kits looks like a winning activity. They're popular too, a few that I clicked on are out of stock. Plus a no-mess activity let's me reclaim the kitchen table since the kids can play with the foam kit on the fam ro floor.

@plantains: thanks! We may even top it off with a gender reveal. The real purpose was to see my FIL & BILs over the holidays because we spend every Thanksgiving & Christmas with our moms.
psw27
pomelo / 5220 posts

Sep 28, 2015

This is such a cute idea!!
Mrs. Lemon-Lime
wonderful pea / 17279 posts

Sep 28, 2015

@honeybear: with a little prep the woven cardboard would be really fun too! Thank you for the ideas.

The other activity that I wanted to do was karaoke, now at that point the adults would take back the family room, but I'm sure the older kids would have a blast. That may be asking too much of my friends & family though, lol. My husband vetoed a fire pit for roasting s'mores already.
MrsLonghorn
clementine / 806 posts

Sep 28, 2015

@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: people seem to have already covered this, but I'm Jewish and would LOVE to be invited to a tree trimming party! I think it is so fun to experience other people's holidays with them. I know people who would decline if you were inviting them to Christmas mass, but experiencing a holiday/tradition at your home would be fun. Also, it is very important to us that DS gets to experience other people's religions and traditions.

We did a hot chocolate bar at our house warming/holiday party a few years ago and it was a big hit with both kids and adults -- definitely recommend it!
avivoca
watermelon / 14467 posts

Sep 28, 2015

This looks like a lot of fun! I may need to get something together to do with my friends this holiday season.
mrs.shinerbock
pomegranate / 3779 posts

Sep 28, 2015

No suggestions that haven't been added already, but this looks like a lot of fun.

The foam kits are probably out of stock because it's so early in the season. Wait a few weeks and they will probably be there. And felt or foam trees for the kids to decorate or ornaments would tie nicely to the theme.
MrsSRS
nectarine / 2987 posts

Sep 28, 2015

Or try oriental trading company for foam/ornament craft kits
jhd
coconut / 8079 posts

Sep 28, 2015

This sounds awesome! You could also try Michael's for foam crafts. I have purchased kits for school in the past with 40% off coupons.
birdofafeather
pineapple / 12053 posts

Sep 28, 2015

Mulled apple cider is super easy and you can put whiskey or run out for people to spike it with if they like. Add cloves, cinnamon sticks, all spice into apple juice and put into a pot or slow cooker and you're good! Always the first thing gone at our Christmas party.
ALV91711
pomelo / 5621 posts

Sep 28, 2015

Your party sounds amazing! I'd like to invite myself, lol!!

I think a non messy kid craft is good, as much as I love decorating cookies all I see in my head is icing everywhere.
Mrs. Lemon-Lime
wonderful pea / 17279 posts

Sep 29, 2015

@birdofafeather: how does the mulled cider taste cold/ room temp? Last year I made an apple cider punch with champagne, some cranberry juice and sugared cranberries and oranges. I served it chilled in my punch bowl. As far as drink containers go I already have a punch bowl, drink urn, and pitcher. I'd love to just use what I already have especially for the Virgin drinks.

Regarding #1, I sent my friend a save the date text!
regberadaisy
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts

Sep 29, 2015

@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: this sounds so fun!!! I think baileys could be yummy in hot chocolate. Will be so fun for the kids too.
I love love Rosa Regale!

What does one do at a tree trimming party?

I want to do a casual holiday party too. Maybe after Christmas when BIL's two girls are here too. Depends on how finances go.

Love the idea of foam ornaments for the kids. Way less messy and no supervision required.
Mrs. Lemon-Lime
wonderful pea / 17279 posts

Dec 6, 2015

Here's what I've done so far in my my less is more/ sprinkled holiday decor. This turquoise ball thing sits atop the coffee table in the living room. I simply added some mini red ornaments from Wal-Mart.

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