Holiday Party: How to Throw the Best Holiday Party Ever in Your Apartment

holiday lightsq

Throw an amazing holiday party that you and your guests will remember and cherish for years to come.

There’s a reason why your office still talks about the time when the Regional Manager had a little too much eggnog at the holiday potluck. Or why when people mention snow you have flashbacks to your extended family visiting for the holidays every winter when you were a child. The holidays are about getting together with parties, which become our memory making events of infamy that we’ll treasure for years to come. Are you thinking of hosting a holiday party in your Tribridge apartment this winter? No pressure–but you may want to do your research if you want to make it an amazing event. Here are a few tips on how to be the perfect hostess with the mostest in your two bedroom apartment:

  • Drinks and food are the centerpieces of a holiday party. The old adage says that “food is the way to man’s heart”, but the truth is, it’s the way into your guests’ fond memories. Keep yourself from getting trapped behind the bar by having a signature holiday drink. Make easy to prepare and delicious holiday snacks that your guests will love.
  • Set the stage. You want a  festive environment that will accent the great architectural elements of your apartment, but also create a warm and inviting holiday feel. Try the DIY decor ideas we recommend in our last post.
  • Do your research. Planning a party can be stressful, but with a great game plan, you’ll be set. Real Simple and Apartment Therapy, two go-to sites to add to your bookmarks for apartment ideas and fun, have great holiday party how-to’s and guidelines to lead you in the right direction.
Have other great hosting ideas that you want to share? Tell us your themes, tricks, schemes, and more for the perfect holiday party on our Facebook page!

Create Holiday Decor In Your Apartment Living Room and Kitchen

The holidays are a time of giving and sharing, which means that they oftentimes get expensive. DIY (Do It Yourself) projects can make the holidays more affordable, while providing you with great creative outlets, a fun party theme, and amazing holiday decor you’ll treasure for years. There are many holiday decorations and gift ideas that you can make in your apartment that are easy to make and fun to create. Whether you’re in a one bedroom apartment in Stockbridge, GA or a three bedroom with roommates in Jacksonville, FL, these DIY projects are perfect for you:

ornaments

Festive ornaments don't have to get expensive--Grab your supplies and head to your apartment's kitchen or the living room and start creating!

  • Are you looking for something a little different this year to go up on the tree? DIY Pros Sherry and John from Young House Love dried citrus cuts and painted bright, whimsical ornaments for their holiday tree.
  • Baubles, trinkets, and more are the most popular adornments during the holiday season. Rather than spend several dollars on each one, spend a few dollars and make a bunch for your apartment. Grab your supplies, a glue gun, and a snack and head into your living room with creativity in mind.
  • Sometimes, the holidays require ample preparation. Whether you do these DIY projects for yourself (a terrarium is a great way to bring some greenery into your apartment without mess or fuss) or give them as a gift, Apartment Therapy has a few great DIY holiday ideas.
  • Are you working to have a more eco-friendly life in your multi-family community? Living in a TriBridge apartment is a great step towards going green–Take another and create these faux holiday tree looks without the chemicals of an artificial tree or chopping down a real one.
wreath

Holiday wreaths are a welcoming addition to your apartment. Get creative with color and texture.

  • A wreath is the perfect way to welcome guests and seasonal cheer. Do something different and create your own DIY wreath–Your friends will appreciate the effort, and the unique welcome!
  • Ornaments and small decor items make great hostess gifts or parting gifts after a holiday get-together. Throw a holiday party in your apartment, then after the eggnog and fun, present everyone with a homemade ornament.

How do you do DIY around the holidays? Share your photos and tips with us via Facebook or Twitter.

Create Your Own Stockings–A Fun Apartment Project

Holiday StockingsCreating home holiday crafts can be a fun activity for the entire family during the holiday season. It’s a great way to connect again, when everyone puts down their technology for a little while and sits around the table creating something new with seasonal cheer. Get your family or roommates together in your TriBridge apartment, and get ready to have some fun making holiday stockings.

Woman’s Day magazine suggests gathering a few items for your stocking craft activities. Pencil, paper, scissors, felts, ribbon, craft glue, needle, and thread are items needed for the stockings. You can generally find these items at your local craft store, such as a Michael’s or Hobby Lobby, or discount store. Take a piece of paper and draw a template or pattern for your stocking, the designs, and the letters.

Once you cut out the patterns, you can sew the stocking, leaving one end open. You will then glue the decorations and letter on the stocking. Lastly, you will add the ribbon to create the loop for handing the stocking. Will you create stockings to hang or do you already have a stocking? How do you decorate your apartment home for the holidays?

CC andrewmalone

 

 

 

Cyber Monday: The online holiday shopping day

Impromptu Laptop Location

Did you know that the first official Cyber Monday occurred in the year 2005? In 2004 people noticed the increase in online sales after Black Friday. I did not know that Cyber Monday is older than Small Business Saturday, but not nearly as long as Black Friday.

If you noticed, the Black Friday advertisements, a lot of stores are not waiting until Friday to begin the shopping season. Some of the stores now open their doors the evening of Thanksgiving. A lot of online stores took their cue from brick and mortar stores and began their sales early.

According to Inc.’s online magazine, you can find online discounts throughout the month of December. Some of these online discounts began early November. If you type in Cyber Monday, you will see a lot websites dedicated to Cyber Monday discounts. Stores like Target and Amazon offer cyber Monday previews or they couple the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. Where will you shop this weekend?

CC Enokson

Shop Black Friday, Small Business Saturday or both?

Small Business shopping

A lot of people think that Small Business Saturday is an alternative to Black Friday. Avoiding the traffic, the mass of people, and the lines are great reasons to shop Saturday instead of Friday.

2011 is the second year of the Small Business Saturday shopping day. More people are familiar with this shopping day and strategize their Thanksgiving shopping weekend accordingly. Small businesses offer discounts during the Saturday shopping event. American Express offers a $25 credit to its card holders who shop at registered small businesses and spend $25 or more.

If you own a small business, you can register to participate. The Small Business Saturday website has material you can use to promote your small business during this shopping day. I’ve watched the small business ticker all day. More and more people like the Facebook page and pledge to shop on Saturday, November 26th.  Find small businesses near your TriBridge apartment. Will you support Small Business Saturday?

CC Robert Gaal