Say No To Holiday Party Doldrums and Spice Up Your Get Together!

How many dull parties must we endure before we finally put our collective foot down and say, “No More”? Let’s say no to boring holiday party doldrums and try something new and exciting for a change! Here are four simple ways to do just that!

Host a Cookie Exchange

A cookie exchange is a nice break from the usual dull Christmas party. Here’s how it works: when you send out your invitations, assign each guests a type of cookie to bake. Ration at least five of each kind of cookie for each guest. For example: if you are having 10 guests, request that each guest bake 50 cookies, so each attendee can sample (or take home) five cookies. Make this even more fun by having a cookie connoisseur contest, and offer prizes for the best cookie based on a secret ballot vote. Deck your halls with festive decorations (or cookie decorations, if you prefer to stick with the cookie theme). Serve and display all cookies on festive flat wear and serve egg nog, punch and/or spiced apple cider. Before your guests leave, package their uneaten cookies in a holiday to-go container and voila! They have Christmas goodies for the season!

Plan a Murder Mystery Party

We may be a bit biased, but a murder mystery or mystery (no murder) party is the best way to crank up an otherwise dull get-together. They are a host’s dream! Everything comes in the package or download, and it keeps your guests entertained so you can do more entertaining and less – well, entertaining! Purchase the perfect holiday murder mystery game for your December soiree at www.shotinthedarkmysteries.com!

Invite your friends to an Ugly Christmas Sweater party

The idea behind this holiday get together is simple: everyone attending must wear the ugliest, tackiest Christmas sweater they can find. Whether it is purchased at the mall, Goodwill or even something from the dark depths of their closet, the uglier the better! Give prizes for the ugliest sweaters, accessories and hats. Then give a booby prize to the person with the nicest sweater of the bunch.

Christmas Shopping Marathon

Those who don’t dread Christmas shopping most likely have their presents bought by December 1^st. *gag* If you’re like the majority of people, you leave your shopping until the last minute. December 24^th has a way of creeping out from under the Christmas tree. Instead of feeling stressed, gather everyone together to do last minute Christmas shopping! Here’s how it works. Your guests must arrive with their list of outstanding presents or gift recipients. For each person or gift on their list, the attendee gets fifteen minutes (this evens out the playing field between those with two people on their list and those with twenty). Have one person sit at a central location (a coffee shop or the food court) with a stop watch while the rest of the attendees race to complete their lists. Make it even more fun with teams, prizes and challenges!

We’ll be exploring unique Christmas and Holiday party ideas and themes between now and Christmas. Have a great party idea? Email mysterymaiden@shotinthedarkmysteries.com to share yours and have it featured in our articles!