Hosting for the Holidays with Kroger

Who said being the hostess with the mostest has to break the bank? Thanks to Kroger, I’m able to make one stop for all of our necessities. The best part? I can host a get together that looks like we had an event planner! Keep reading for a few of my favorite tips, tricks and Kroger finds that make hosting easier than ever.

START WITH A BLANK SLATE

Clear off countertops and inventory everything you have on hand. It’s much easier to get a vision of your setup when you have a completely clean slate!  When I’m ready to start, I begin with largest pieces first, then fill in with smaller dishes. My chip-and-dip trays take up the most room, so those are “anchors” in my setup. Floral arrangements tend to be large as well, so keep their placement in mind with your initial setup.

Having the placement of these items helps ensure you’re less rushed. It also prevents rearranging when you’re moving cold items from the fridge into their planned location. Grouping like items is helpful to keep the flow of snackers going in one direction. Keep your drinks and cups in one area, desserts centrally located and “mains” for snacking together, too.

FLORAL AND DECOR PLACEMENT

Once my larger dishes are placed, it’s time to decide on florals and decor. As you can tell, I’m a sucker for eucalyptus. It’s affordable, it looks so pretty when laid out and also placed in a vase. We started with moderately filled floral vases, then began stringing eucalyptus between the trays. I cut pieces of baby’s breath and intertwine it into the countertop pieces (like in the photo above) to fill any gaps.

After placing these, we reassessed how much we had left of each. We added more to vases, did another round of filling out the island and still had plenty for a second large vase display. Using 3 bundles of baby’s breath and 3 bundles of eucalyptus, I was able to fill 3 vases and cover our 6 ft island. You can break up florals being your only decor by putting tea candles in glass vases as well!

FINISHING TOUCHES

It’s safe to assume guests will start arriving a solid 30 minutes early. Fear not, you’re the hostess with the mostest! I like to save the last 20-30 minutes for last minute tasks you can knock out while guests start arriving. Use that time for lighting candles, opening the cold items you’ve kept in the fridge and pouring bags of chips into bowls. Avoid tasks that would make a mess or require clean up (such as slicing blocks of cheese!) in the last 30 minutes.

My number one tip for hosting? Have fun with it! Don’t stress or rush through the day. Your guests won’t remember the flavor of punch you chose, but they will remember how you made them feel. Welcome them with open arms, greet them with a drink and enjoy yourself.

Okay friends, what hosting tips am I forgetting? I hope you’re excited for upcoming holiday hosting and all that this magical season has to offer!