This post has been sponsored by SheSpeaks, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I love entertaining friends and family around the holidays. The time from November to February is just one big festive celebration in my book. The more parties I host, the more I like to think I’m improving my hostess with the mostest skills. Today I’m sharing some of my favorite Time Saving Tips for Planning Holiday Parties with you. Soon enough you too will be planning your holiday parties like a pro!
Planning to entertain in your home is time consuming. You have a ton to do for each event. Don’t even get me started on cleaning the house for guests. However, one of the best time savers I’ve learned is to use the Club Pickup at my local Sam’s Club. Club Pickup is a free service for Sam’s Club members. Members go online and order whatever they need from their local club location, then schedule a time to pick up your order that is convenient. It’s a great way to save time for your holiday party planning. Fill your cart online, and the club will gather all your selections and have them ready for you.
Head into your local Sam’s Club and head to the Club Pickup kiosk. Next scan your club card, and your order pops up on the screen for you to review. Once you’ve reviewed and ready to pick up, a Sam’s Club team member selects your filled cart in the fenced area.
All that’s left for you to do is pay and head out to your car. Payment for Club Pickup is easy. Most credit cards are accepted, as well as debit cards, gift cards, and of course cash. You have a choice of how you want to pay for your Club Pickup. If you pay online, a receipt will be emailed. If you choose to pay in club, then you will receive a receipt at the time of payment. Since I can’t always get my husband to grocery shop with me, using Club Pickup when purchasing heavier items, like all our favorite Coca-Cola® beverages and bulky boxes of appetizers is a no brainer.
The only thing missing from Club Pickup is enjoying all the free samples around the store, and stopping in the cafe for a super cheap slice and a Coca-Cola® combo for a speedy lunch. That is one of my favorite perks of being a Sam’s Club member.
Speaking of food, I’m going to tell you straight up right now. A party’s success is determined by it’s food and beverage options for your guests. It’s important you properly plan your menu in direct relation to the established time of your party. If you plan a party over a standard meal time frame, then you should plan to prepare a more hearty menu for your guests. If it’s an evening party that starts after 7, then appetizers, desserts and refreshments are typically sufficient. I like to cover all the bases and offer an entree-style dish in a smaller portion size at all my parties. One of my go to recipes is meatballs in a slow cooker. You can go traditional Italian with sauce, or less traditional like buffalo chicken style meatballs. I like to provide an assortment of roll sizes from a bite-sized slider to a larger club roll. This way, I cover all sizes of appetites.
I prefer to prepare two separate beverage bars for my guests. I like to present all the non-alcoholic options front and center for guests, while keeping alcoholic options in a more secure area for adults only. I’m all about getting guest their first beverage of the party as I welcome them and show them where the beverage bars are located. Once they have their first drink, then I let them know they are on their own for any refills. It’s great Sam’s Club has the new Sprite® Mini-Cans in a 30 pack for the holiday season. They are perfect for mixing cocktails or when you only want about half of a typical size can.
I’ve found many guests just enjoy snacking while socializing at any event. Sam’s club offers some of the best ready-for-the-oven appetizers in my opinion. There’s no shame in buying premade snacks and simply heating them all up for the party. Why wouldn’t you, when it gives you more time to sit back, put your feet up, and enjoy an icy cold Coca-Cola®, or in my case a Diet Coke®, while waiting for your guests to arrive.
You can find all your favorite Coca-Cola® products (including Coca-Cola®, Sprite®, Gold Peak® Sweet Tea, Dasani®, and Diet Coke®) at Sam’s Club this holiday season. Stock up with Club Pickup at your local Sam’s Club and save time, as well as money. Learn more here
What’s your best holiday party planning tip to share?
