30 Things I Learned From Throwing a Holiday Party... With My Sister
Rule No. 1: Try not to strangle each other.
Clare and I hosted our first Christmas Carroll Holiday Party over the weekend at our winter wonderland, and it was a smashing success, if I do say so myself. (And this is my newsletter, so I’m allowed to.) As you might expect from Kim Carroll’s daughters, we went a little overboard with our options, but we had to live up to her moniker: the Appetizer Queen.
That means we had six cookie options — Mexican chocolate marshmallow cookies, tiramisu snowballs, chocolate-dipped orange palmiers, matcha bow cookies, peppermint bark, and white chocolate drizzled gingerbread blondies — an entire table as a cheeseboard with homemade bread, and three appetizers.
We also had five cocktail options: peppermint espresso martinis, a Jingle Tits spritz, cranberry rosemary margaritas, mulled wine, and a hot cocoa bar. Of course, there was also wine. We’re not heathens.
Yes, we’re extra. And we’re — or at least I am — proud of it. (Although clean-up sucked!)
In the spirit of giving, here’s everything I learned from throwing our holiday party.
If you think you’re in good shape for your party, you’re not.
If you think you’re in bad shape, lol, you’re in even worse shape. (Start praying.)
You do not need six types of cookies — two types will do.
You do not need five types of cocktails — one will do. (As long as it’s an espresso martini.)
Make Alison Roman’s dip. Double it.
There’s no such thing as having too much cheese.
(But maybe have some Lactaid around.)
Don’t accidentally invite Houston Texans quarterback and Offensive Rookie of the Year shoo-in C.J. Stroud.
Related: Don’t save a Bumble date’s name in your phone under the name of his favorite quarterback — especially if it’s a quarterback whom you’ve forgotten you’ve interviewed and whose number you have.
Paper snowflakes are a lot harder to make than you remember them being. Like, soooo much harder.
Order everything you need from Amazon at least a week before so that you aren’t tracking the truck for things you need to arrive 20 minutes before your party is set to start. (The package arrived with 11 minutes to spare, thanks for asking.)
Friends who will yell at you to let them handle the final setup and for you to go get ready are priceless.
Friends in general are priceless.
Paint your nails and wash your hair the day before. You will not have time (see: Nos. 1 and 2).
When you don’t have much time to get ready, wear the sparkliest, most attention-grabbing thing in your closet. Everyone will be too focused on your outfit to notice that your makeup isn’t quite blended and that your wet hair is up in a loose bun.
If you have stitches in your hand, take it easy so that you don’t open your wound back up. Blood isn’t a good party accessory.
All you really need to have fun lots of fun is a karaoke mic and a good DJ.
Everyone will sing along to “I Want It That Way.”
It doesn’t matter if wine spills on the carpet, as long as: 1) it’s you or your sister who spills it (in our case, both); or 2) you don’t like your carpet that much anyway.
Secure anything that may fall while dancing (RIP, BTS Funko Pop stuck behind my bookshelves).
Have friends invite their friends. The more the merrier. And everyone will always have someone to talk to.
Wear your most fun, impractical shoes — they’ll come off within 20 minutes, anyway.
Bows make everything cuter.
Taper candles make everything vibe-ier.
Disposable cameras are your friend.
Any dog will be the belle of the ball. (Well, if your dog is as cute as mine is.)
If you have a ginormous bathtub (we do), make sure it’s clean. It’s a great drunk hangout spot.
Drunkenly tell everyone they’re your favorite person and invite them to all sorts of events in the next week — even though your soberer, introverted self might wonder what on earth you’ve done. So many friends!
Plan all your parties with your sister.
Just try not to kill each other.