Last night we hosted our Sparkles Christmas party 🙂 it was a biggie for us because it was the first time SBean slept over at Grandma and Grandpa’s!!!! We invited all the guys from our business… And to make it less of a “sausage party” I invited a couple ladies from school and my cousin and her husband.
It is weird how awkward and difficult it is to invite friends… and not their children.
We were in no way trying to offend anybody or hurt anybody’s feelings.
So, here’s the thing we live in a house that’s one floor so the entertaining space is the living room/dining room. When I looked at the people invited I realized there was 16 adults and 18 children LOL there was no way 18 children were fitting in HBear and SBean’s shared bedroom. So we made it an adult party and even sent our children out for the night so there were no favorites LOL. This was a problem for a few couples that were unable to come based on the fact. Of course I don’t want any hard feelings and I hope everybody understood we would love to have full family holiday get-togethers but just not at our work party 🙂
But to be perfectly honest… some nights we need, ALL of us need, a night away from being a Mommy/Daddy and just enjoy the company of adults. I have no problem going out or having people in without my children. I love my kids. I love our family time together. I love spending 99% of my time with them. Seriously, I do lol. BUT, I can also be Kristin… in fact sometimes it can change my whole perspective and does me a world of good to be that girl, you know the one I was BC (before children)… Absence DOES makes the heart grow fonder they say LOL.
I didn’t take pictures. Whaaaat? I know, weird! lol
I did some easy appys and we had a few yummy drinks to bring on the holiday cheer 🙂
Papa and HBear did some intense cleaning of the chairs and furniture while Ninja and SBean did some… Well they just got out of the house 🙂
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I made some Christmas Scent. One of our young guys walked in and said, “Wow, this house smells AH-MAZING” lol
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I did a grape and cheese platter but don’t mess with my broccoli star! LOL,
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Spiced rum and eggnog, hot buttered spiced rum, beer, wine, Xmas martinis, and apple cider,
We did sweets like mini Chocolate cheesecakes from Epicure (super easy and tasty!), chocolate covered strawberries, home made sugar cookies, nuts and Christmas candies.
HBear helped me make candycane holders to label our yummy treats 🙂
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I took a selfie to show my sister I can wear something other than yoga pants lol she suggested I ditch the kiddie towels in the background… I explained it took me 5 minutes to even take a picture in the reflection so this was the best she was getting lol.
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We also had veggies, teriyaki meatballs, spinach and artichoke dip, Tuscan bread dip, marinara and homemade breadsticks (cut with Xmas cookie cutters!) but those recipes will come in a later post 🙂
My favorite dish were the Jell-O shots! They were so delicious and looked pretty spectacular if I do say so myself 🙂 they take a while to make but that is all in the cooling of each layer. Other than that they were incredibly easy to make. A MUST at your next holiday party. You could even change the colors and do them for Easter or just because it is Sunday 🙂
Holly Jolly Jelly Shots
Adapted from Tablespoon
1 3-ounce box cherry gelatin dessert
1 3-ounce box lime gelatin dessert
3 packets unflavored gelatin
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 cups vanilla vodka
dollops whipped cream (for garnish)
mint leaves (for garnish)
small red candies (for garnish)
Lightly coat a square dish with cooking spray, and then using a paper towel, wipe out the dish. It will leave a light residue to help unmold your shots, but it won’t affect the taste.
For red layer, sprinkle half of a packet of gelatin over ¼ cup of water. Allow it to soak in a minute or two.
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Add one box of the cherry gelatin, along with 1 cup boiling water.
Stir until everything has dissolved.
Add 3/4 cup of vodka.
Repeat the same process to make the green layer.
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To make the white layer, sprinkle two packets of gelatin over ½ cup of water. Allow it to soak in a minute or two. Pour in 1 cup of boiling water and one 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk. Stir until everything is thoroughly mixed and gelatin is dissolved. You’ll have approximately 3 cups of liquid. Allow to cool to room temperature.
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Pour half of the red mixture into the prepared pan. Place pan in refrigerator to set, about 20 minutes or so. Once set, add 1/3 of the white mixture to the top of the red mixture. Pop any air bubbles and return to fridge to set for about 20 minutes. Repeat with half of the green mixture. Then white, then red, then white again, then green. Allow finished pan to set another 2-3 hours, or overnight.
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When you’re ready to serve, gently pull the edges away from the pan, and invert onto a cutting board. Slice into even squares.
Place on serving platter and top with whipped cream. Top with a small mint leaf and a red candy (or two) to simulate a holly leaf.
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